Patent Publication Number: US-2016240416-A1

Title: Device and method for conveying and flipping a component

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device and method for conveying and flipping a component, and more particularly to a device and method for conveying and flipping a semiconductor component for use in conjunction with a rotary turret module in semiconductor industry. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Semiconductor processing can be divided into two sequential sub-processes generally referred to as front-end and back-end processes. Rotary turret module is widely used in the back-end processes such as testing, inspection and packaging of the semiconductor components due to its high throughput rates. 
     During processing of the semiconductor components, orientation of the semiconductor components may need to be changed according to the various conditions or requirements in the back-end processes. For example, some of the semiconductor components are required to change from “live-bug” position to “dead-bug” position or vice versa before testing or inspection can be carried out. It should be noted that the desired orientation of the semiconductor components can be changed by flipping or inverting the component 180 degrees. The existing flipping module used in the industry involves complex procedures and thus could affect the progress of the entire back-end processes as more time is spent in changing or inverting the orientation of the semiconductor components to the desired orientation. 
     Therefore, it is desirous to provide a device that is configured to flexibly use in conjunction with a rotary turret module and is capable of carrying out simple yet efficient process to change the orientation of the semiconductor components for further processing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for conveying and flipping a component for use in conjunction with a rotary turret module. In the preferred embodiment, the device includes at least a pair of spaced apart flipping arms, a first flipping arm and a second flipping arm suitably mounted on a platform. It should be noted that the flipping arms are preferably positioned adjacent to one another. 
     Each of the flipping arms is provided with one nozzle, wherein a first nozzle is associated with the first flipping arm and a second nozzle is associated with the second flipping arm. Each of the first and second nozzles has one end configured to pick a component from a pick-up head of the rotary turret module and another end fixedly mounted on a shaft with a longitudinal axis of the nozzle substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaft is supported on the flipping arm and is operatively connected to a rotary actuating means. The rotary actuating means is adapted to be capable of affecting a rotational motion of the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, thereby rotating the nozzles by substantially 90 degrees. It should be noted the nozzles are rotated in a counter direction so as to position the ends of the nozzles to pick the component to face each other. Preferably, the device is provided with a pneumatic means to control the pressure of the nozzle either to hold or to release the component. 
     Preferably, the device is provided with a linear actuating means suitably mounted on the platform. It should be noted that the linear actuating means is operatively connected to at least one of to the flipping arms. The linear actuating means is adapted to be capable of moving the flipping arm or arms in a horizontal direction. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the linear actuating means is operatively connected to the first flipping arm. In this embodiment, the first flipping arm is moving horizontally towards or apart from the second flipping arm. In another embodiment, the linear actuating means is operatively connected to the second flipping arm. In this embodiment, the second flipping arm is moving horizontally towards or apart from the first flipping arm. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the linear actuating means is operatively connected to the first and second flipping arms. In this embodiment, the flipping arms are capable of moving towards or apart from one another. 
     It should be noted that the linear actuating means of each of the three embodiments above is provided with a sensor and/or an encoder. The sensor and/or the encoder is adapted to control and determine the distance travelled by the moving flipping arm or arms so as to position the ends of the nozzles configured to pick the component proximate to each other, thereby allowing the transfer of the component from the first nozzle to the second nozzle. It will be appreciated that the component is flipped 180 degrees when the component is transferred from the first nozzle to the second nozzle. 
     The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawing, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing which is given by way of illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the perspective view of a device for conveying and flipping a component for use in conjunction with a rotary turret module; 
         FIG. 2  shows the back view of the device with a first nozzle holds the component picked from a pick-up head of the rotary turret module; 
         FIG. 3  shows the back view of the device with the nozzles of a first and second flipping arms rotated to substantially 90 degrees; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the back view of the device with the second nozzle holds the 180 degrees flipped component. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to a device for conveying and flipping a component for use in conjunction with a rotary turret module. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
     The device for conveying and flipping a component for use in conjunction with a rotary turret module according to the preferred mode of carrying out the present invention will now be described in accordance to the accompanying drawings  FIGS. 1 to 4 , either individually or in any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , illustrated therein is a device  1  for conveying and flipping a component  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device  1  includes at least a pair of spaced apart flipping arms, a first flipping arm  100  and a second flipping arm  300 . The flipping arms  100  and  300  are preferably positioned adjacent to one another and suitably mounted on a platform  500 . It should be noted that each of the flipping arms  100 ,  300  is provided with a nozzle, a first nozzle  110  and a second nozzle  310 , wherein the first nozzle  110  is associated with the first flipping arm  100  and the second nozzle  310  is associated with the second flipping arm  300 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the nozzles  110 ,  310  is having one end  111 ,  311  configured to pick the component  10  preferably from a pick-up head  31  of a rotary turret module  30  and another end  113 ,  313  fixedly mounted on a shaft  130 ,  330  with a longitudinal axis of the nozzle  110 ,  310  substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the shaft  130 ,  330 . It should be noted that the component  10  can include but not limited to semiconductor die or chip. In the preferred embodiment, each of the shafts  130 ,  330  is supported on the flipping arm  100 ,  300  and is operatively connected to a rotary actuating means  150 ,  350 . By way of example but not limitation, the rotary actuating means  150 ,  350  is of the voice coil type or the like. 
     The rotary actuating means  150  and  350  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be capable of affecting a rotational motion of the shafts  130  and  330  about the longitudinal axis of the shaft  130 ,  330  so as to rotate the nozzles  110  and  310  by substantially 90 degrees. It should be noted that the first nozzle  110  and the second nozzle  310  are rotated in a counter direction so as to position the end  111  of the first nozzle  110  and the end  311  of the second nozzle  310  to face each other as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device  1  is provided with a pneumatic means (not shown) to control the pressure of the nozzles  110  and  310  so as to enable the nozzles  110  and  310  either to hold or to release the component  10 . It should be noted that the pneumatic means can include but not limited to pressure regulators or vacuum pump. 
     The device  1  is provided with a linear actuating means  400 . The linear actuating means  400  is suitably mounted on the platform  500  and operatively connected to at least one of the flipping arms  100 ,  300 . The linear actuating means  400  is adapted to be capable of moving the flipping arm  100 ,  300  or arms  100  and  300  in a horizontal direction so as to bring the nozzles  110 ,  310  towards or apart from one another. The linear actuating means  400  is provided with a sensor and/or an encoder (not shown). It should be noted that the sensor and/or encoder is adapted to control and determine the distance travelled by the moving flipping arm  100 ,  300  or arms  100  and  300 . The ends  111  and  311  of the nozzles  110  and  310  configured to pick-up the component  10  are brought into close proximity with each other during transferring of the component  10  from the first nozzle  110  to the second nozzle  310 . Once the component  10  is transferred to the second nozzle  310 , the linear actuating means  400  is operable to return the flipping arm  100 ,  300  or arms  100  and  300  to the respective original position. The rotary actuating means  150  and  350  then rotate the shafts  130  and  330  about the longitudinal axis of the shafts  130  and  330  to return the nozzles  110  and  310  to the respective original position. In this way, the component  10  held on the second nozzle  310  would have been flipped by 180 degrees while the first nozzle  110  is ready to receive another component to be flipped as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     In one embodiment, the linear actuating means  400  is operatively connected to the first flipping arm  100 , thereby effecting the horizontal movement of the first flipping arm  100  towards or apart from the second flipping arm  300 . In another embodiment, the linear actuating means  400  is operatively connected to the second flipping arm  300 . In this embodiment, the second flipping arm  300  is moving horizontally towards or apart from the first flipping arm  100 . In yet another embodiment, the liner actuating means is operatively connected to the first and second flipping arms  100  and  300 , thereby effecting the horizontal movements of the first and second flipping arms  100  and  300  towards or apart from one another. By way of example but not limitation, the linear actuating means  400  is of the voice coil type or the like. 
     The present invention also relates to a method for conveying and flipping a component  10  for use in conjunction with a rotary turret module  30  according to the device  1  described above wherein the method includes steps of:
         a. connecting a first nozzle  110  associated with a first flipping arm  100  with a source of negative pressure;   b. picking a component  10  preferably from a pick-up head  31  of a rotary turret module  30  with the first nozzle  110 ;   c. rotating the first nozzle  110  and a second nozzle  310  associated with a second flipping arm  300  by substantially 90 degrees in a counter direction so as to position the nozzles  110  and  310  to face each other;   d. moving at least one of the flipping arms  100 ,  300  or  100  and  300  in a horizontal direction, thereby bringing the nozzles  110  and  310  to close proximity to each other;   e. connecting the negative pressure to the second nozzle  310 ;   f. neutralising the negative pressure at the first nozzle  110 , thereby transferring the component  10  from the first nozzle  110  to the second nozzle  310 ;   g. moving the flipping arms  100  and  300  apart in the horizontal direction;   h. moving the first and second nozzles  110  and  310  to a vertically upward position, thereby flipping the component  10  180 degrees; and   i. repeating steps a to h for picking and flipping a second component.       

     The method also includes step of providing a rotary actuating means  150 ,  350  operatively connected to a shaft  130 ,  330  supported on the flipping arm  100 ,  300 . It should be noted that one end  111 ,  311  of the nozzles  110 ,  310  of the flipping arms  100 ,  300  is configured to pick the component  10  and another end  113 ,  313  is fixedly mounted on the shaft  130 ,  330  with a longitudinal axis of the nozzle  110 ,  310  substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the shaft  130 ,  330 . The rotary actuating means  150 ,  350  is adapted to be capable of effecting a rotational motion of the shaft  130 ,  330  about the longitudinal axis of the shaft  130 ,  330  and hence the nozzles  110 ,  310  in a counter direction. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the method further includes step of providing a pneumatic means to control the pressure of the nozzles  110 ,  310  so as to enable the nozzles  110 ,  310  to either hold or release the component  10 . It should be noted that the method in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention also includes step of providing a linear actuating means  400  operatively connected to at least one of the flipping arms  100 ,  300  or  100  and  300 . In the preferred embodiment, the linear actuating means  400  is suitably mounted on a platform  500 . 
     The linear actuating means  400  is configured to effect a horizontal motion of the flipping arm  100 ,  300  or arms  100  and  300  so as to position the nozzles  110 ,  310  sufficiently proximate to each other for transferring of the component  10  between the first and second nozzle  110  and  310 . In one embodiment, the first flipping arm  100  is adapted to move horizontally towards or apart from the second flipping arm  300 . In another embodiment, the second flipping arm  300  is adapted to move towards or apart from the first flipping arm  100 . In yet another embodiment, the first and second flipping arms  100  and  300  are adapted to move horizontally towards or apart from one another. The linear actuating means  400  is provided with a sensor and/or an encoder to determine and control the distance travelled by the flipping arm  100 ,  300  or arms  100  and  300 . 
     Once the component  10  has been transferred to the second nozzle  310 , the flipping arms  100  and  300  moved apart and followed by rotations of the first and second nozzles  110  and  310  back to their respective original positions. The component  10 , held in the second nozzle  310  would have been flipped  180  degrees and ready to be picked by a pick-up head  31  of the rotary turret module  30  for further processing while the first nozzle is ready to receive another component  10 . 
     The invention being thus described, it is obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the principle and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art intended to be included within the scope of following claims.