Patent ID: 7841071
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: G01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An integrated circuit component handling apparatus for automatically connecting a testing device to integrated circuit components to be tested, the integrated circuit components of the type each having first and second surfaces with plural electrical contacts disposed on the first surfaces thereof, the handling apparatus comprising: a contact base comprising plural electrical contacts arranged to make electrical contact with corresponding plural electrical contacts disposed on the first surface of an integrated circuit component to be tested, a component holder floatably mounted in relation to and distanced from the contact base and a centering frame member disposed on the contact base, the component holder applying vacuum suction to the second surface of the integrated circuit component to be tested to thereby hold the integrated circuit component as the component holder passes the integrated circuit component to the contact base so that the first surface plural electrical contacts thereof can be positioned into electrical contact with the contact base plural electrical contacts, the centering frame member being arranged such that it can be displaced in relation to the contact base, a position-detection device for detecting the position of an integrated circuit component the component holder holds with said vacuum suction, a computation device for calculating position-correction values from the difference between the detected position and a setpoint position of the component, and a drive device operatively connected to the centering frame member in order to controllably displace the centering frame member linearly and angularly and thus displace the floatable component holder linearly and angularly as a function of the correction values calculated by the computation device such that the integrated circuit component to be tested moves to its setpoint position in relation to the contact base to align the first surface plural electrical contacts thereof with the contact base plural electrical contacts.