Patent ID: 6865790

Claim:
A method of removing an optical device contained within a device package from a circuit board, wherein the device package is secured to the circuit board using an adhesive pad positioned between the device package and the circuit board, and wherein the optical device includes one or more leads extending outwardly therefrom into close proximity with the circuit board for soldering thereto, the method comprising: a) peeling a portion of the adhesive pad away from the circuit board; b) inserting an optical removal tool between the optical device and the circuit board and operating the tool, thereby removing the optical device from the circuit board, wherein the optical removal tool has a pair of fork portions extending from a handle and a cavity positioned between the fork portions, and the fork portions straddle one or more of the leads on the optical device during step b); and c) prying the remainder of the adhesive pad away from the circuit board using said optical device removal tool.