Patent Publication Number: US-2002000803-A1

Title: COF autohandler

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention relates to a chip on film (COF) autohandler for inspecting and screening integrated circuits (ICs) on a COF tape.  
       [0003] 2. Related Art  
       [0004] A tape automated bond (TAB) autohandler is well known by Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 7-239366 and the like. The well known TAB autohandler is first described. FIG. 4 shows a schematic view showing the conventional TAB autohandler, and FIGS.  5 (A, B, C) are views showing a sprocket (pulley) and a tensioner.  
       [0005] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conventional TAB autohandler  30  is a device for inspecting and classifying an IC chip  31  on a TAB tape  33  which is formed of a film  32  made of polyimide and the like having a pattern  34  at a first face and the IC chip  31  such as a semiconductor chip and the like at the other face which is bonded and connected to the pattern  34 . FIG. 5(B) exaggeratedly displays the pattern  34  of the TAB tape  33 .  
       [0006] As shown in FIG. 4, the TAB autohandler  30  comprises a supply reel  2   a  and an receive real  2   b,  and the TAB tape  33  is wound around the supply reel  2   a  and receive real  2   b.  The TAB tape  33  wound around the supply reel  2   a  and receive real  2   b  is held by a supply side sub-sprocket  21   a,  a receive side sub-sprocket  21   b,  a supply side pulley  22   a,  a receive side pulley  22   b,  a supply side tensioner  23   a,  a receive side tensioner  23   b,  a supply side main sprocket  24   a,  a receive side main sprocket  24   b  and the like.  
       [0007] A pusher  3  is provided between the main sprockets  24   a,    24   b,  and it grips the TAB tape  33  held between the main sprockets  24   a,    24   b  together with the main sprockets  24   a,    24   b  and also it is driven to freely push down and pull up the TAB tape  33  in the direction of the arrows A, B in FIG. 4. The tensioners  23   a,    23   b  are provided for preventing the TAB tape  33  from slacking when the TAB tape  33  is pushed down and pulled up by the pusher  3 . When the TAB tape  33  is pressed by the tensioners  23   a,    23   b  at a given pressure, the tension of the TAB tape  33  is maintained.  
       [0008] The TAB tape  33  wound around the reels  2   a,    2   b  is sequentially transported in the direction of the arrow T in FIG. 4, and the TAB tape  33  which is transported at the position of the pusher  3  is pushed down by the pusher  3  in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 4 when the pusher  3  is driven and pushed. The IC chip  31  on the thus pushed down TAB tape  33  is brought into contact with a probe on a probe card and is energizable. Since the probe card, not shown, is connected to an IC tester, not shown, the IC chip  31  is inspected by the IC tester in electric characteristics.  
       [0009] A classifying unit, not shown, is disposed at the downstream side of the pusher  3  for classifying the IC chip  31  on the TAB tape  33  to into a defective one or non-defective one on the bases of the inspection result by the IC tester.  
       [0010] The sub-sprocket  21   a,  the pulley  22   a  and the main sprocket  24   a  are respectively constructed, as shown in FIG. 5(A), such that they guide and support the face of the TAB tape  33  at the side of the IC chip  31 , in view of the construction thereof, while they have cylindrical guide faces  5  for guiding and supporting the TAB tape  33 . A groove  15  is provided on the guide faces  5  at the portion in the neighborhood of the center thereof in a width direction corresponding to the mounting area of the IC chip  31 . In the case of the sub-sprocket  21   a,  the main sprocket  24   a,  teeth for engaging with a perforation holes of the TAB tape  33 , not shown, are provided on the guide faces  5 .  
       [0011] On the other hand, the tensioner  23   a  presses the TAB tape  33  at the side of the pattern  34  as shown in FIGS.  5 (B) and  5 (C), and it has contact faces  6  for pressing the TAB tape  33 . A groove  16  is provided at the portion in the neighborhood of the center between the contact faces  6  in a width direction corresponding to a formation area of the pattern  34 . The constituents of the TAB autohandler  30  are disposed line-symmetrically with respect to the center of the pusher  3 , and hence the explanation of the constituents at the right side of FIG. 4 is omitted.  
       [0012] Meanwhile, it is known that a COF is used by an IC for driving a liquid crystal display instead of the TAB. FIG. 6 is a view showing the COF tape. The mounting of an IC chip on a film is common to the COF and the TAB. That is, the COF tape  11  has a pattern  1 A formed of leads on a film  12  as shown in FIG. 6, wherein an IC chip  1 B is mounted relative to the pattern  1 A. Depicted by  1 C shown in FIG. 6 is a test pad,  1 D is a resist provided on the pattern  1   a,  and  1 E is perforation holes for engaging with a sprocket and the like.  
       [0013] The COF tape has the following three characteristics which are different from the characteristics of a TAB.  
       [0014] 1. The thickness of a film is thin, i.e., not more than 40 μm (not less than 75 μm in the conventional TAB).  
       [0015] 2. A mounting face of an IC chip and a forming face of a pattern are the same (it is the mainstream in the conventional TAB that an IC chip is mounted on the pattern from the back face thereof).  
       [0016] 3. There is no window for bending purpose, and hence there is no electrical short circuit at the back face (there is a window for bending purpose in the conventional TAB).  
       [0017] The COF tape comprising the foregoing COF is similar to the TAB tape in a configuration. Accordingly, when inspecting and screening an IC chip on a COF tape, it has been considered that a device similar to the foregoing TAB autohandler may be used.  
       [0018] As is explained in the characteristics of the foregoing COF, in the case of the COF, the thickness of the film  12  is thin and soft compared with the TAB in reality, so that when a tension is applied to the COF tape  11  by the tensioners  23   a,    23   b,  there is a possibility that the COF tape  11  falls in the groove  16  (see FIG. 5(B)) of contact faces  6  of the tensioners  23   a,    23   b,  the COF tape  11  falls in the groove  15  (see FIG. 5(A)) between the guide faces  5  of the pulleys  22   a,    22   b,  or feed holes  1 E of the COF tape  11  are damaged when engaging with the sprockets  21   a,    21   b  or main sprockets  24   a,    24   b,  and hence a stable transportation is not secured.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019] The invention has been developed in the foregoing circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide a COF autohandler capable of inspecting and screening an IC chip on a COF tape, and also capable stably transporting the COF tape.  
       [0020] To achieve the above objects, the COF autohandler according to a first aspects of the invention comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, transportation means  2 C- 2 K for transporting a COF tape  11  having a pattern  1 A and an IC chip  1 B on a first face of a tape member  12 , and inspection means  3  for sequentially inspecting the IC chip  1 B on the COF tape  11  transported by the transportation means  2 C- 2 K, characterized in that the transportation means  2 C- 2 K comprises transportation rotary bodies  2 C- 2 F,  2 J,  2 K for guiding and supporting the COF tape  11 , and each of the transportation rotary bodies  2 C- 2 F,  2 J,  2 K has a cylindrical support face  25  which contacts a second face opposite to the first face of the tape member  12  and supports the COF tape  11  to prevent the COF tape  11  from falling in a gap W.  
       [0021] The COF autohandler according to a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the transportation rotary bodies  2 C- 2 F,  2 J,  2 K of the first aspect of the invention comprises two split pieces  70  each comprising flange sections  80 ,  80  and cylindrical support section  81 ,  81 , and wherein the cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  of the split pieces  70  contact each other or approach to each other to form the support face  25 .  
       [0022] The COF autohandler according to the third aspects of the invention comprises transportation means  2 C- 2 K for transporting a COF tape  11  having a pattern  1 A and an IC chip  1 B on a first face of a tape member  12 , and inspection means for sequentially inspecting the IC chip  1 B on the COF tape  11  transported by the transportation means  2 C- 2 K, characterized in that the transportation means  2 C- 2 K have tape tension holding means  2 G,  2 H, and the tape tension holding means  2 G,  2 H have a pair of press rotary bodies  95  which are freely rotatable and contact the first face of the COF tape  11 , and a contact prevention gap  98  provided between the press rotary bodies or small sprockets  95  corresponding to the position of the pattern  1 A and IC chip  1 B provided on the first face.  
       [0023] The COF autohandler according to the fourth aspect of the invention is characteristics in that press rotary bodies  95  of the third aspect of the invention have teeth  96  engageable with the tape member  12 .  
       [0024] The COF autohandler according to the fifth aspects of the invention is characteristics in that the transportation means  2 C- 2 K of the third or fourth aspect of the invention have transportation rotary bodies  2 C- 2 F,  2 J,  2 K of the first or second aspect of the invention.  
       [0025] With the foregoing construction, even if a strong tension is applied to the transportation rotary bodies  2 C- 2 F,  2 J,  2 K, the COF tape  11  is supported by the cylindrical support face  25 .  
       [0026] Since the rotating press rotary bodies  95  contact and press the COF tape  11  at the tape tension holding means  2 G,  2 H, a load applied to the COF tape  11  is reduced.  
       [0027] Reference numerals are given to each constituent corresponding to each constituent in the figures for the convenience&#39;s sake, and hence the invention is not limited to the reference numerals depicted in the drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0028]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a COF autohandler according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
     [0029]FIG. 2 is a view showing a sprocket (pulley).  
     [0030]FIG. 3 is a view showing a tensioner.  
     [0031]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a conventional TAB autohandler.  
     [0032]FIG. 5 is a view showing a sprocket (pulley) and a tensioner in FIG. 4.  
     [0033]FIG. 6 is a view showing a COF tape as well as a TAB tape. 
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
     [0034] A COF autohandler according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 . FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a COF autohandler according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a sprocket (pulley) and FIG. 3 is a view showing a tensioner.  
     [0035] A COF autohandler  20  of the invention is substantially the same construction as the conventional TAB autohandler  30  shown in FIG. 4. Components of the COF autohandler  20  which are the same in construction and function as those of the TAB autohandler  30  and are denoted by the same reference numerals. A COF tape  11  is the same as that shown in FIG. 6.  
     [0036] That is, the COF autohandler  20  has, as shown in FIG. 1, a supply reel  2 A and an receive real  2 B wherein the COF tape  11  is wound around the reels  2 A,  2 B. The COF tape  11  wound around the reels  2 A,  2 B is held by a supply side sub-sprocket  2 C, a receive side sub-sprocket  2 D, a supply side pulley  2 E, an receive side pulley  2 F, a supply side tensioner  2 G, an receive side tensioner  2 H, a supply side main sprocket  2 J, an receive side main sprocket  2 K and the like.  
     [0037] A pusher  3  is provided between the main sprockets  2 J,  2 K and it grips the COF tape  11  held between the main sprockets  2 J,  2 K together with the main sprockets  2 J,  2 K and freely pushes down and pulls up the COF tape  11  in the direction of the arrows A, B in FIG. 1.  
     [0038] The COF tape  11  extended between the reels  2 A,  2 B is sequentially transported in the direction of the arrow T in FIG. 1, wherein the COF tape  11  transported to the position of the pusher  3  is pushed down toward the arrow A in FIG. 1 by the driving motion of the pusher  3  to push down the COF tape  11 . The IC chip  1 B on the pushed down COF tape  11  is brought into contact with a probe card, not shown, and rendered conductive, and the IC chip  1 B is inspected by an IC tester connected to the probe card, not shown.  
     [0039] A classifying unit and the like are disposed at the down stream side of the pusher  3  for classifying the IC chip  1 B on the COF tape  11  into a defective one or non-defective one on the basis of the inspection result by the IC tester.  
     [0040] The difference between the COF autohandler  20  of the invention and the conventional TAB autohandler  30  is described. Respective sprockets  2 C,  2 D,  2 J,  2 K, and the pulleys  2 E,  2 F of the COF autohandler  20  have a pair of discoid flange sections  80 ,  80 , and guide sections  61 ,  61  each having a small diameter and discoid shape are provided concentrically with and between the flange sections  80 ,  80 , to face each other at one side of the flange sections  80 ,  80 . The construction of the flange sections  80 ,  80  and the guide sections  61 ,  61  are the same as those of the prior art. The sprocket  2 C is exemplified in FIGS.  2 (A), (B).  
     [0041] Inner guide sections  62 ,  62  each having the same diameter and discoid shape as the guide sections  61 ,  61  are provided at concentrically with and between the guide sections  61 ,  61  to face each other at one side of the guide sections  61 ,  61 . Respective pairs of flange sections  80 ,  80 , guide sections  61 ,  61 , and inner guide sections  62 ,  62  constitute split pieces  70 ,  70 . That is, respective sprockets  2 C,  2 D,  2 J,  2 K and the pulleys  2 E,  2 F are constituted by a pair of split pieces  70 ,  70 .  
     [0042] The guide section  61 ,  61  and the inner guide sections  62 ,  62  have the same diameter and discoid shape are disposed concentrically with and adjacent to each other in the central axial direction in the respective split pieces  70 ,  70 , and they constitute one cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  as a whole. Outer peripheral faces of the cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  constitute a support face  25 . The cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  basically contact each other, which is considered that the groove  15  (see FIG. 5(A)) in the respective sprocket  21   a,    21   b,    24   a,    24   b  and the pulleys  22   a,    22   b  of the conventional COF autohandler is filled up by the inner guide sections  62 ,  62 .  
     [0043] In the case of the sub-sprocket  2 C,  2 D and main sprocket  2 J,  2 K, teeth, not shown, are provided in the guide sections  61 ,  61  to be engaged with the feed holes  1 E of the COF tape  11  (see FIG. 6).  
     [0044] With the foregoing construction, even if a tension is applied to the COF tape  11  by the tensioners  2 G,  2 H, since the COF tape  11  is guided and supported by the support face  25  over the entire length in the width direction thereof in the sprockets  2 C,  2 D,  2 J,  2 K and the pulleys  2 E,  2 F, even if an excessive force applied to the feed holes  1 E of the COF tape  11 , the COF tape  11  can be safely transported while the feed holes  1 E are not damaged or the COF tape  11  does not fall in a gap.  
     [0045] The IC chip  1 B is mounted on the COF tape  11  at a first face on which the pattern  1 A is provided as shown in FIG. 2(A), and the contact between the COF tape  11  and the sprockets  2 C,  2 D,  2 J,  2 K and the pulleys  2 E,  2 F is effected at a second face where the pattern  1 A and IC chip  1 B are not present. Accordingly, it is convenient that both the pattern  1 A and the IC chip  1 B are not damaged even if the COF tape  11  contact the support face  25 .  
     [0046] The split pieces  70 ,  70 , namely, the cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  may be approached to or moved away from each other in the direction of the arrows C, D shown in FIG. 2(B) so that the sprockets  2 C,  2 D,  2 J,  2 K and the pulleys  2 E,  2 F can cope with the COF tape  11  having the various widths (e.g., 35 mm or 48 mm). For example, when the cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  are moved away from each other, a gap W depicted by two dotted and one chain line is formed between the cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  as shown in FIG. 2(B), but the cylindrical support sections  81 ,  81  are close to each other while a width of the gap W (e.g., 13 mm) is sufficiently small compared with a contact area relative to the COF tape  11 , and hence the COF tape  11  does not fall in the gap W.  
     [0047] Another difference between the COF autohandler  20  of the invention and the TAB autohandler  30  is described next. That is, the tensioner  2 G of the COF autohandler  20  has a pair of plate-like bodies  90  as shown in FIG. 3 but the bodies  90  have no guide faces  6  (see FIG. 5(B)) which are described in the Related Art. The bodies  90  have a pair of opposite rotary rollers  95  which are freely rotatable and positioned at positions where portions close to both ends of the COF tape  11  in width direction are brought into contact with the bodies  90  as shown in FIG. 3(A).  
     [0048] That is, the COF tape  11  contacts the outer peripheries of the rotary rollers  95 ,  95  at the tensioner  2 G. Teeth  96  are formed on the outer peripheries of the rotary rollers  95 ,  95 , and the teeth  96  engage with the feed holes  1 E of the COF tape  11 . Although the pattern  1 A and the IC chip  1 B of the COF tape  11  are respectively directed inward of the tensioner  2 G (lower side in FIG. 3 on the paper), since the contact prevention gap  98  is formed between the rotary rollers  95 ,  95  in the position corresponding to the pattern  1 A and IC chip  1 B, the pattern  1 A and the IC chip  1 B do not contact anything, and hence they are not damaged. The tensioner  2 H is disposed line symmetrically with respect to the tensioner  2 G.  
     [0049] Even if the COF tape  11  is pushed down or pulled up by the tensioners  2 G,  2 H, it is prevented from falling in the gap because it is engaged with the rotary rollers  95 . That is, since the COF tape  11  does not fall in the contact prevention gap  98  between the rotary rollers  95 , the COF tape  11  can be safely transported. Further, a load to be applied to the COF tape  11  which is caused by the rotation of the rotary rollers  95  is reduced as much as possible. The reduction of the load has an effect that the COF tape  11  does not fall in the gap, and the damage of the COF tape  11  in the feed holes  1 E is effectively prevented.  
     [0050] The rotary rollers  95 ,  95  may be freely approached to or moved away from each other in the direction of the arrow C, D in FIG. 3(A) so as to cope with the COF tape  11  having various widths.  
     [0051] The number of sprockets  2 C,  2 D,  2 J,  2 K and pulleys  2 E,  2 F and tensioners  2 G,  2 H is not limited to those set forth in the preferred embodiment but can be set at an arbitrary number.  
     [0052] According to the COF autohandler of the first aspects of the invention, even if a strong tension is applied to the COF tape in the transportation rotary bodies, the COF tape is supported by the cylindrical support face so that the COF tape does not fall in a gap. Further, it is possible to prevent an excessive force from applying to the feed holes, and the like so that the feed holes and the like are prevented from being damaged. Accordingly, it is possible to safely transport the COF tape according to the invention.  
     [0053] According to the COF autohandler of the second aspect of the invention, it is convenient because two split pieces can cope with the COF tape having various widths.  
     [0054] According to the COF autohandler of the third aspect of the invention, the rotating press rotary bodies brought into contact with the COF tape to press the COF tape in the tape tension holding means, so that a load applied to the COF tape is reduced, and the COF tape is prevented from falling in a gap or it is prevented from being damaged, and hence the COF tape can be safely transported.  
     [0055] According to the COF autohandler of the fourth aspect of the invention, since the teeth of the press rotary bodies engage with the tape member, the COF tape is not deviated in position and hence it is possible to prevent the COF tape from falling in a gap with assurance.  
     [0056] According to the COF autohandler of the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to realize an effective COF autohandler capable of preventing the COF tape from falling in a gap or from being damaged over the entire transportation means.