Patent ID: 7014451

Claim:
A molding assembly for molding and application of protective caps to microelectronic devices on a silicon wafer, the assembly including: a first mold and a second mold having first and second molding surfaces respectively for molding a sheet of thermoplastic material placed therebetween, which, when assembled, define at least one cavity therebetween, the first mold including at least one first aperture extending from an outer surface to the first molding surface; a release mechanism for removing the first mold from the second mold after molding of the sheet, said release mechanism including at least one first pin which extends into a respective first aperture; said first mold movable relative to the second mold and said at least one first pin between a molding position and a release position; whereby, in the molding position, the first and second molds are in contact or close together and said at least one first pin extends into a respective first aperture from the outer surface but does not extend out of the respective aperture beyond the molding surface, and, in the release position, the first and second molds are remote from each other and said at least one first pin extends into respective first aperture from the outer surface and extends out of the respective first aperture beyond the first molding surface, and, wherein at least part of at least the first or second mold is at least partially transparent or translucent to electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths in the range of about 1000 nm to about 5000 nm, and, wherein the first and second molds are formed from silicon.