Universal storage tray for electronic components
A universal storage tray for holding a plurality of electronic components during storage, processing and transport. The tray includes an adjustable sidewall, a stationary sidewall, and opposing end walls. The adjustable sidewall engages to opposing end walls to form channels of a predetermined length. The channel is configured to have a longitudinal dimension greater than the longitudinal dimension of the components. The universal storage tray also includes a cover for securing components to the trays.
A number of different trays exist for storing, processing, and transporting components. Since electronic components have various sensitive and delicate features, they must be handled with extreme care. Traditionally, trays for storing electronic components have had stationary side walls.
Accordingly, there is a need for an adjustable tray and method designed to enhance the efficiency of processing electronic components of different channel lengths.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention concerns a universal storage tray for automation handling and transporting electronic components. In particular, the tray is an adjustable tray that can receive wafer segments of varying dimensions.
In one embodiment the storage trays comprise a tray frame having opposing end walls; and a removable sidewall, The slots from the removable sidewall and an opposing sidewall together form channels for receiving wafer segments. The removable sidewall has terminal ends that engage to a portion of the tray frame, in particular to the end walls of the frame.
In a second embodiment, the storage trays comprise end walls integral with a frame, each having a groove; and a stationary sidewall. This embodiment includes an adjustable sidewall that can be moved along the grooves to a predetermined position relative to the stationary sidewall to form a channel for receiving a wafer segment. The resulting channel is configured to have a longitudinal dimension greater than a longitudinal dimension of said wafer segment.
Another aspect of the invention comprises securing the contents of the storage tray with a hollow cover. The hollow cover can be either solid or fitted with rectangular gaps. In either case, the hollow cover is preferably fabricated from a clear material that allows the contents of the tray to be easily viewed.
Yet another aspect of the invention comprises a method of storing a wafer segment. In one embodiment the method comprises determining the length of the wafer segment; selecting a plurality of regions that cause a channel to be formed having a first channel length corresponding substantially to the desired wafer segment; positioning a removable sidewall into the selected regions to form the channel of said first channel length; and inserting the wafer segment into the channel.
The advantages provided by the present invention include a universal storage tray that can be used to process, handle, or transport electronic components in strip format.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention encompasses an adjustable tray for holding components during processing or shipping. Components may include unfinished die, wafer segments, semiconductor devices, and other material contained on a strip. Components stored in accordance with the present invention may be subject to various process steps, including testing, inspection, washing and chemical treatment. These process steps are wholly or partially performed in an automated computer-controlled environment. The primary purpose of the invention is for use as a storage and processing tray. However, when the tray is provided with a solid cover, the present invention may also be used as a shipping tray.
Stop points identify predetermined channels available for receiving the components. Components such as disk heads are inserted into one of the numbered channels 45. Although only two possible regions are shown in
The present invention allows the same tray to be used for different lengths of wafer segments, such as disk head strips. In a first embodiment, as shown in
Sidewall 25 preferably has an equal number of slots 50 and depressions 48 as sidewall 15. Depressions 48 are for drainage purposes and do not receive wafer segments. Indeed, depressions 48 are an optional feature of the present invention.
The present invention is considered to have universal applications because it incorporates an adjustable sidewall 25. The channel length is adjusted by moving sidewall 25 along parallel grooves (
In each embodiment, the slot width is greater than the width of the wafer segment to ensure that the delicate features of the wafer segment are properly safeguarded. In a preferred embodiment, the slot width is greater than the width dimension of the wafer segment so that the slot width clearance, or free space between the slot width and the wafer segment is between 0.50 mm and 1.0 mm. In a more preferred embodiment, the clearance between the wafer segment and the slot width should be between 0.50 and 0.65 mm, inclusive.
The channel in the present invention preferably has a longitudinal dimension that is greater than the longitudinal dimension of the wafer segment. For a wafer segment that is approximately 57.5 mm in length, the distance between a slot on adjustable sidewall 25 and the corresponding slot on sidewall 15 is approximately 58 mm, while the distance between facing ribs 52 is approximately 55 mm for a tray. For a longer wafer segment—of approximately 70 mm in length—the distance between opposing slots is approximately 70.5 mm in length, while the distance between facing ribs is approximately 67 mm. To protect the contents of each tray, the channel depth should exceed the depth of the wafer segments. An optional cover may be placed on tray 20 to secure components loaded for testing, rinsing, or any other processing step.
Both tabs 40A/40B and recesses 22A/22B, 24A/24B are not limited to the shapes shown in
Accordingly, the removable sidewall of
The indentations 54, 55 of the present invention may be configured to have a serrated upper edge in end wall 35 as shown in
The adjustable sidewall 25 mates with the grooves through an alignment mechanism (not shown) on each terminal end. Non-limiting examples of suitable alignment mechanisms include a detent, a protrusion, a gear, a flange, or a roller. Grooves 95 are configured to complementarily mate with the alignment mechanism to thereby enable sidewall 25 to slide smoothly within end walls 35.
After sidewall 25 is positioned at its preferred location in grooves 95, one or more disk head strips 42, are then manually placed into the channels. After the disk heads are fully processed, sidewall 25 is adjusted to allow removal of the disk heads from tray 20 for packaging. The channels in tray 20 may then be adjusted for processing disk head segments having a different length by repositioning sidewall 25 to a new location.
It is contemplated that the trays of this invention will be moved single file along a surface where individual wafer segments are being processed. The trays remain at a specific processing station until each of the wafer segments has been processed. For example when the wafer segments of a specific tray are being tested, each wafer segment will be lifted from a channel by a test handler, individually tested, and then returned to the same channel.
Methods for securing the contents in the trays of the present invention will now be discussed. When sidewall 25 is placed in its desired position, a hollow cover may be provided to secure components within tray 20. The hollow cover is preferably thermoformed out of a clear polymeric material to form transparent covers. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow cover is manufactured from Stat-Tech™ M312, available from Noveon located in Cleveland, Ohio.
The type of cover used in accordance with the present invention will depend on whether the components are ready for shipping or not.
All of the covers discussed herein are equipped with protrusions on at least two opposing walls. The protrusions 33 are preferably located on the interior of hollow cover 80. Detent 31 on tray 20 and protrusions 33 on cover 80 snap together to form a module that securely captures the components in place.
The present invention is not restricted to using covers with a window. In fact, the cover could be made of a solid material that is transparent.
When it is necessary to adjust the channel, cover 80 must be removed. Sidewall 25 is then moved to the desired stop point on the indentations or grooves, before being secured with a cover. Alternatively, the sidewall can be adjusted by extracting tabs 40A, 40B from recesses 22A, 22B or 24A, 24B and inserting sidewall 25 into another pair of recesses. Afterwards, an optional cover may be attached to the tray depending on how the tray will be used.
In each of the embodiments, the adjustable sidewall may be provided with an index or numerical scale to identify the number of channels occupied, the length of the items loaded in the tray, or to otherwise facilitate tracking of a specific component strip.
The examples described herein are solely representative of the present invention. It is understood that various modifications and substitutions may be made to the foregoing examples without departing from either the spirit or scope of the invention. In some instances certain features of the invention will be employed without other features depending on the particular situation encountered by the ordinary person skilled in the art. Moreover the trays are not restricted to dimensions that hold wafer segments of a maximum length of 70 mm. Accordingly, the invention can be applied to trays that form channels of a different dimension than those described herein. It is therefore the intent that the invention not be limited to the particular examples disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A storage tray for holding wafer segments comprising:
- a tray frame including first and second opposing end walls; and
- a removable sidewall having terminal ends for engagement with the tray frame, said removable sidewall and an opposing sidewall having a plurality of slots to together form at least one channel for receiving said wafer segments.
2. The storage tray of claim 1, wherein said at least one channel is configured to have a longitudinal dimension greater than a longitudinal dimension of said wafer segment.
3. The storage tray of claim 1 wherein said removable side wall engages a plurality of regions on a surface of said end walls.
4. The storage tray of claim 3, wherein said removable side wall is press fitted into said plurality of regions.
5. The storage tray of claim 4, wherein said plurality of regions comprise a plurality of recesses, protrusions, and indentations.
6. The storage tray of claim 4, further comprising loading a wafer segment into said at least one channel.
7. The storage tray of claim 6, further comprising securing the wafer segments with a transparent cover.
8. The storage tray of claim 7, wherein said transparent cover is either a processing cover or a shipping cover.
9. A storage tray for holding wafer segments comprising:
- a) a tray frame including first and second opposing slotted members, and first and second opposing end walls;
- b) said first opposing slotted member being adjustable to form more than one discrete channel with the slots of said second opposing slotted member;
- c) said first opposing slotted member being adjustable by engaging with a region in said opposing end walls, wherein the first and second slotted members are separated from each other.
10. The storage tray of claim 9, wherein said region is a recess, a protrusion or an indentation.
11. The storage tray of claim 9, wherein the distance between said region and said second opposing slotted member corresponds substantially to the length of the wafer segments.
12. The storage of claim 9, wherein said at least one channel is configured to have a longitudinal dimension greater than a longitudinal dimension of said wafer segments.
13. The storage tray of claim 9, wherein said first opposing slotted member is temporarily secured into position with a transparent cover.
14. The storage tray of claim 13, wherein said transparent cover contains openings at regular intervals.
15. A storage tray for holding electronic components during processing comprising:
- a) a stationary sidewall integral with a frame;
- b) a first end wall;
- c) a second end wall opposing said first end wall, each of said first and second end walls having a groove;
- d) an adjustable sidewall that is moved along said groove in said first and second end walls to a predetermined position relative to said stationary sidewall to form a channel for receiving electronic components, wherein said channel is configured to have a longitudinal dimension greater than a longitudinal dimension of said electronic components.
16. The storage tray of claim 15, wherein said adjustable sidewall has terminal ends that mate with the grooves within said first and second end walls.
17. The storage tray of claim 14 further comprising a hollow cover for temporarily securing said electronic components within the tray.
18. The storage tray of claim 15, wherein said hollow cover is transparent.
19. The storage tray of claim 18, wherein said transparent cover contains openings at regular intervals.
20. A method of handling a wafer segment comprising:
- providing a tray having a first slotted member and first and second opposing end walls;
- positioning an adjustable slotted member opposite said first slotted member to form a channel having a longitudinal dimension greater than a longitudinal dimension of a wafer segment; and
- loading said wafer segment into the tray.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising securing said wafer segment within the tray with a processing cover.
22. The method of claim 20, wherein said positioning step comprises adjusting said opposing slotted member by sliding it to a desired location along an indentation or a groove.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein said positioning step comprises connecting said opposing slotted member to a plurality of regions.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said regions comprise recesses, notches, protrusions, or indentations.
25. A method of storing a wafer segment comprising:
- a) determining the length of the wafer segment;
- b) selecting a plurality of regions that cause a channel to be formed having a first channel length corresponding substantially to the length of the wafer segment;
- c) positioning a removable sidewall into the selected regions to form said channel of said first channel length; and
- d) inserting the wafer segment into the channel.
26. The method of claim 25 comprising:
- a) removing the wafer segment and adjusting the channel length by removing the adjustable sidewall;
- b) positioning the adjustable sidewall into two regions that are different than the regions corresponding to the first channel length.
27. The method of claim 26 comprising inserting a wafer segment having a channel length different than said first channel length.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein said plurality of regions is selected from a plurality of recesses, indentations, and protrusions.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein said positioning step comprises sliding said removable sidewall on a groove within an end wall to a position that corresponds substantially to the channel length of the determined wafer segment.
30. The method of claim 25, further comprising placing a cover on the tray.
31. The method of claim 25, wherein said cover is transparent.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said transparent cover contains openings at regular intervals.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 8, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 12, 2006
Inventor: Robert White (Tracy, CA)
Application Number: 10/888,042
International Classification: B65D 85/48 (20060101); A47G 19/08 (20060101);