Patent ID: 7726540

Claim:
An apparatus for arranging a semiconductor device for processing, the semiconductor device having surface components on its surface and having sides, the apparatus comprising: a device support comprising a set of protrusions configured and positioned to contact the surface of the semiconductor device without contacting the surface components on the surface of the semiconductor device, the set of protrusions being configured to support the semiconductor device on a plane; a clamping device having a first set of clamps configured for gripping the sides of the semiconductor device along a first axis and the clamping device further having a second set of clamps configured for gripping the sides of the semiconductor device along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; each of the first and second set of clamps comprising a reference clamp having a reference guiding edge and a predetermined end position for clamping the semiconductor device, the reference guiding edge being movable into the predetermined end position and being operable for alignment of the semiconductor device along a respective axis, the reference clamp further having a lower portion and a pivot shaft positioned between the reference guiding edge and the lower portion, the reference clamp being pivotable around the pivot shaft; each of the first and second set of clamps further comprising a gripping clamp located opposite to the reference clamp of the same set, the gripping clamp having an end position which is defined by an edge of the semiconductor device being clamped and being operable to provide a gripping force onto the semiconductor device to clamp the semiconductor device against the reference guiding edge of the reference clamp along the respective axis; an adjustable stopper coupled to the reference clamp, the adjustable stopper defining the predetermined end position of the reference clamp, the adjustable stopper having a height extending along a substantial length of the lower portion of the reference clamp, the stopper being operable to control an end position of the lower portion of the reference clamp; and an actuator operable to drive the lower portion of the reference clamp into the end position in which the lower portion is fixedly secured between the actuator and the stopper, the actuator being aligned with the stopper such that the actuator is positioned entirely within a space defined by the height of the stopper.