Apparatus and method for flipping electronic components

An apparatus and method is provided for flipping electronic components in the sense of changing their orientation, such as for changing the orientation of electronic components between ‘live bug’ and ‘dead bug’ orientations. The apparatus comprises a rotary device that is configured to receive the electronic component and a force actuator operative to bias the electronic component into engagement with the rotary device. A driving mechanism coupled to the rotary device is operative to rotate said rotary device for changing the orientation of the electronic component, after which an ejector is used to eject the electronic component from the rotary device after changing the orientation of the electronic component.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the automated handling of electronic components such as semiconductor devices, and in particular, to changing an orientation of an electronic component.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

In the manufacture of electronic components such as molded semiconductor devices, after the electronic components have been encapsulated and singulated, they have to go through other processes such as testing, inspection and final packing of the electronic components into tubes, trays or in tape and reel format. Some of these processes are preferably performed when the component is in a ‘live bug’ orientation (with the pins of the semiconductor device facing down) while others are preferably performed when the component is in a ‘dead bug’ orientation (with the pins of the semiconductor device facing up). Therefore, when transferring the component from one process to another process, there may be a need for an intermediate process to turn the component to a ‘live bug’ or to a ‘dead bug’ orientation by flipping the component. This is usually not a problem if the processes are carried out in standalone machines, in which case the electronic components will simply be fed into the respective machine in either a ‘live bug’ or a ‘dead bug’ configuration.

However, in a demanding and competitive semiconductor industry, efforts are continually being made to integrate and automate multiple semiconductor backend processes such as final test, inspection and packing within a single system. Such integrated systems typically include a rotary turret based handling system, which is widely used in the semiconductor industry. Rotary turret based handling systems are highly efficient, flexible and are capable of operating at high speeds. The system has numerous individual high-speed turret pick heads and it provides a means for integrating a variety of test, inspection, packing and other processing operations on individual stations around the periphery of the rotary turret platform. The sequence of the stations can be flexibly configured to meet the process requirements of different package types. In some cases, a smaller auxiliary rotary table may be interfaced with a specific mainstream turret station for the transfer of devices to the auxiliary table for testing or some other operations before returning the device to the mainstream turret for further processing. In general, these systems depend on a central, highly accurate, direct-drive indexing actuator to move devices sequentially to various stations on the platform.

It is therefore desirable to have an apparatus or device that may be flexibly configured at any station adjacent to the rotary turret system to flip an electronic component. The function of the device or module would be to receive an electronic component from an upstream process via a turret pick head, move the electronic component to a flipping mechanism, flip the electronic component and then return the electronic component to a pick-up position to be picked by the turret pick head and moved to a downstream station for further processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to seek to provide an apparatus and method for changing the orientation of electronic components in a relatively simple yet effective way.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for changing an orientation of an electronic component, comprising: a rotary device that is configured to receive the electronic component; a force actuator operative to bias the electronic component into engagement with the rotary device; a driving mechanism coupled to the rotary device that is operative to rotate said rotary device for changing the orientation of the electronic component; and an ejector for ejecting the electronic component from the rotary device after changing the orientation of the electronic component.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for changing an orientation of an electronic component, comprising the steps of: biasing the electronic component into engagement with a rotary device with a force actuator; rotating the rotary device with a driving mechanism coupled to the rotary device to change the orientation of the electronic component; and thereafter ejecting the electronic component from said rotary device.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the broad identification of the invention as defined by the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to flip an electronic component. “Flipping” here refers to turning the electronic component to change its orientation, for example, to change it from a ‘live bug’ orientation to a ‘dead bug’ orientation or vice versa. The apparatus and method seek to provide a simple but high-speed station for receiving an electronic component from another location, flipping the electronic component to change its orientation and then returning the device to its original position with the correct orientation.

FIG. 1is an isometric view of some of the primary components of the apparatus10for flipping electronic components, such as semiconductor packages16, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The apparatus10includes a support platform such as package support12for receiving and supporting a semiconductor package16from a conveying device. Typically, the conveying device is a pick head18of a rotary turret system (19) that utilizes vacuum suction to hold the semiconductor package16. The pick head16is configured to move between a supply of electronic components (not shown) and the package support12. Semiconductor packages16picked up by the pick head18are held by the pick head18while the turret system19is rotated to bring the semiconductor packages16towards the package support12.

Positioned at a close distance to and substantially level with the package support12is a rotary device such as a flipper22. The package support12is first aligned with the rotary turret system19during set-up. When a package16is brought over to the package support12by the pick head18, the package16is first held directly above the package support12. After the pick head18indexes downward such that the package is positioned at a close distance to the package support12, its vacuum suction is deactivated and instead replaced with an ejection of compressed air. This will cause the package16to be released and it will be supported on a track14of the package support12. The track14helps to support the package16and is aligned with the flipper22for guiding motion of the package16from the package support12to the flipper22. At the same time, vacuum suction at the base of the package support12is activated to hold onto the package16firmly.

FIG. 2is an isometric view of the apparatus10inFIG. 1including a force actuator in the form of an air nozzle20. The air nozzle20is located on a side of the package support12opposite to the flipper22and is operative to bias the package16towards the flipper22so that it comes into engagement with the flipper22. The air nozzle20is used for directing pressurized air onto the package16.

Alternatively, the force actuator may be in the form of a piston assembly21comprising one or more piston rods that contact and push the package16towards the flipper22.FIG. 3is an isometric view of the apparatus10inFIG. 1including a force actuator in the form of a piston assembly21.

Once the electronic component is placed on the track14of the package support12, the force actuator will be activated to force the package16along the package support12into engagement with the flipper22. For example, in case an air nozzle20is used, pressurized air is directed at the package16in the direction of the flipper22. When a piston assembly is used, a piston rod is extended to push the package16into engagement with the flipper22. Inside the recess23of the flipper22, there could be two stoppers (not shown), one on each side wall of the flipper to prevent the package from moving beyond the stoppers. This is especially useful in the case when pressurized air is used as there is no means to control how far the package will move.

FIG. 4is a side view of a flipper22including a recess23adapted to receive an electronic component for flipping. The recess23is preferably shaped for receiving the semiconductor package16in a predetermined orientation, and the mechanism is adapted such that the package16may be slid into the recess23for engagement with the flipper22.

The flipper22is preferably driven to rotate by a driving mechanism coupled to the flipper22. The driving mechanism preferably comprises a pulley mechanism including a pulley belt26that is driven by a pulley motor24. Once the package16is inside the recess23of the flipper22, the pulley motor24will drive the pulley belt26, which will turn the cylindrical flipper22by the required angle, such as an angle of 180 degrees. This will in effect flip the package16by a corresponding 180 degrees to change its orientation between a ‘live bug’ and a ‘dead bug’ orientation.

After the flipping process, the next step is to remove the flipped package16from the recess of the flipper22and return it to the package support12. This may be done by activating an ejector28. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ejector28and package support12are located on opposite sides of the flipper22. The ejector28is drivable by a rotary motor32through the use of mechanical linkages30. The rotary motor32will drive and move the linkages30such that the ejector28is driven towards the flipper22. Other kinds of motors can be used to drive the ejector28.

There may be an opening25in the flipper22that is shaped to allow insertion of the ejector28into the said recess23of the flipper22. In this way, the ejector28is operable to contact and eject the package16out from the recess23of the flipper22. The package16will be moved back onto the track14of the package support12. From this position, compressed air at the base of the package support is activated instead of the vacuum suction, and the package is pushed toward the direction of the turret pick head18. At the same time the vacuum suction is again activated at the turret pick head18, which will allow it to hold onto the flipped package16that has been raised from the package support12. The package16can now be conveyed to a downstream process.