Patent Abstract:
A die storage method and apparatus comprising a cover tape and a strip coupled to the cover tape wherein the strip comprises a material that is: flexible or compressible, or combinations thereof.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     According to a particular embodiment, a semiconductor wafer may be diced into a number of individual electronic die comprising integrated circuits (ICs). The dice may be subsequently assembled into a package that is mounted to a printed circuit board. Prior to assembly on a printed circuit board, individual ICs may be transported by placing individual electronic die onto a flexible carrier tape comprising apertures. In a particular embodiment, the carrier tape may comprise crossbars on the front and back of each aperture in the carrier tape. The assembly further includes a cover tape for securing the integrated circuits within the carrier tape. The carrier tape, cover tape and electronic die assembly may be rolled onto a reel that may be shipped and stored. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a particular embodiment of a carrier tape and cover tape assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a particular embodiment of a carrier tape and cover tape assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subject matter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter. 
     The term ‘pick and place process’ is used in this description and is intended to refer to a process wherein a machine capable of picking a part from a loading station and placing the part at a delivery location is operating. The term ‘storage media assembly’ is used throughout this description and is intended to refer to an assembly capable of storing integrated circuits. The terms ‘electronic die’ and ‘integrated circuit’ are used interchangeably throughout this description. The term “length” is used throughout this description and is intended to refer to the longer of the two straight-line dimensions of a surface or plane or the longest of the three straight line dimensions of a solid. The term “width” is used throughout this description and is intended to refer to a measure taken at right angles to length and the term “thickness” is used throughout this description and is intended to refer to a perpendicular measurement downward from a surface. The term “Tape and Reel Die Sort (TRDS) machine’ is used throughout this description and is intended to refer to a machine capable of picking-up individual electronic die and placing the electronic die into a carrier tape aperture and applying cover tape is to the carrier tape. A TRDS machine may comprise an output reel capable of winding up all the electronic die in carrier tape for storage. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an elevation view of storage media assembly  100 . In a particular embodiment, storage media assembly  100  may comprise carrier tape  102  assembled to cover tape  104 . In a particular embodiment, carrier tape  102  may comprise aperture  110  which may be covered by cover tape  104 . According to a particular embodiment, a gap  106  may exist between carrier tape  102  and cover tape  104 . In a particular embodiment, a number of electronic die  108  may be shipped and stored on reels (not shown) of carrier tape  102 . During processing, electronic die  108  in aperture  110  may rotate through a number of vertical stations of a TRDS machine and traverse over a number of output reel bends. Electronic die  108  may be damaged by movement within aperture  110  and/or may migrate through gap  106  and out of aperture  110  during processing, transport and/or storage. In a particular embodiment, a lack of tension on cover tape  102  and/or air bubbles between carrier tape  102  and cover tape  104  may generate gap  106 . If electronic die  108  migrates out of carrier tape  102 , electronic die  108  may be damaged or lost during assembly, transport and/or storage. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an elevation view of storage media assembly  200 . In a particular embodiment, storage media assembly  200  may comprise carrier tape  202  assembled to cover tape  204  which may be further assembled to strip  203 . In a particular embodiment, carrier tape  202  may comprise aperture  210  which may be covered by cover tape  204 . In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may comprise a variety of flexible and/or compressible materials, such as, for instance, plastic, rubber, natural fiber, man-made fiber, metal, glass and/or ceramic and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may be disposed between carrier tape  202  and cover tape  204  and may substantially fill gap  206  where electronic die  208  may migrate out of pocket  210 . In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may be capable of blocking electronic die  208  substantially preventing migration of electronic die  208  out of aperture  210  and/or dampening movement of electronic die  208  within aperture  210 . 
     In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may be coupled to cover tape  204  by a variety of appropriate methods, materials and/or devices. Such methods, materials and/or devices may include, for instance, friction, adhesive, solder, pins, clips, hooks and/or Velcro® and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. 
     In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may be fed into storage media assembly  200  between carrier tape  202  and cover tape  204  during a pick and place process. In another embodiment, strip  203  may be pre-applied to adhesive side  214  of cover tape  204 . In a particular embodiment, adhesive side  214  of cover tape  204  may have adhesive material only on outer edges (not shown) of cover tape  204 . In a particular embodiment, when coupled to cover tape  204 , strip  203  may comprise a variety of shapes, such as, for instance flat, folded, and/or corrugated and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. 
     As discussed above, in a particular embodiment, a number of electronic die  208  may be shipped and stored on reels (not shown) of carrier tape  202 . Again, during processing, electronic die  208  in aperture  210  may rotate through a number of vertical stations of a TRDS machine and may traverse over a number of output reel bends. During transport and storage, electronic die  208  may be subjected to a variety of forces capable of causing movement or migration of electronic die  208 . In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may be positioned within or may expand into aperture  210  substantially dampening movement and preventing migration of electronic die  208  during processing, transport and/or storage. Securing electronic die  208  in this way may substantially preventing electronic die  208  from being damaged or lost (migrating out of aperture  210 ) during assembly, transport and/or storage. Strip  203  may substantially prevent movement and/or migration of a variety of electronic die  208  sizes from about 75.0 μm in thicknesses and 2.5 mm in length by 2.5 mm in width to about 800.0 μm in thickness and 23.0 mm in width by 32.0 mm in length and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. 
     According to a particular embodiment, strip  203  may comprise a variety of dimensions. For instance, strip  203  may comprise any width from about 12.0 mm to 48.0 mm. In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may comprise any appropriate length to cover a desired length of cover tape  204 , such as 40.0 m (standard reel length). According to a particular embodiment, strip  203  may comprise a variety of thicknesses. For instance, strip  203  may comprise a substantially uniform thickness of 0.2 mm to 1.14 mm or may comprise varied thicknesses. In a particular embodiment, strip  203  may be thicker in sections that may be disposed with aperture  210  enabling strip  203  to be positioned within or to expand into aperture  210 . These are, however, merely examples of dimensions for strip  203  and claimed subject matter is not so limited. 
     Example 1 
     In this example, 20 electronic dice were processed by a TRDS machine and manually inserted into carrier tape pockets. Strips of two different compressible materials were fed between the cover tape and carrier tape as it was sealed in the TRDS machine. One strip comprised plastic bubble wrap and the other strip comprised plastic packaging material. Both strips of material expanded into pockets of the carrier tape and substantially held electronic die in position. 
     The dice were sealed in place by the TRDS machine. The adhesive of the cover tape was sufficient to keep the two strips in place. 
     After the dice were sealed into position by the TRDS machine, the tape was indexed 150 steps to cause the sealed dice in the tape to traverse over the output reel bend and down the vertical section of the machine and onto the output storage reel. During this index, none of the die migrated out of position. Furthermore, none of the dice were broken and the cover tape remained sealed to the carrier tape. 
     Example 2 
     In this example, 68 dice were tested. Thirty (30) dice were placed in a carrier tape pocket without a blocking strip and 38 dice were placed in a carrier tape pocket with a blocking strip. After processing through the TRDS machine, 25/30 (83.3%) of the dice migrated out of the carrier tape pockets without a blocking strip whereas only 2/38 (5.2%) dice migrated out of the carrier tape pockets with the blocking strip. 
     While certain features of claimed subject matter have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such embodiments and changes as fall within the spirit of claimed subject matter.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8