Patent ID: 7751924

Claim:
An apparatus for placing solder bumps on a mold plate, the apparatus comprising: a solder fill head for dispensing molten solder onto the mold plate, and for relative movement over said mold plate; and a control mechanism for controlling positions of the solder fill head relative to the mold plate, said control mechanism comprising: an input for receiving a control input signal comprising data about an ideal positioning of the solder fill head for maintaining a predetermined height of a gap between said solder fill head and the mold plate for preventing solder leakage while simultaneously allowing air to escape from the mold plate; at least one sensor for providing position feedback comprising an actual gap height between the solder fill head and the mold plate; a position controller for receiving the actual gap height and comparing the actual gap height with the predetermined gap height from the control input signal, wherein said position controller provides an inequality signal if the actual gap height and the predetermined gap height from the control input signal are not equal; an amplifier for receiving the inequality signal and amplifying said inequality signal; and at least one actuator for receiving the amplified inequality signal and controlling movement positioning of the solder fill head in response to the inequality signal received for maintaining the predetermined gap height.