Patents by Inventor Charles Andrew Coots

Charles Andrew Coots has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11156993
    Abstract: A method and system for improving an automated pick and place apparatus semiconductor device placement process is provided. The method includes automatically executing a shift measurement associated with an offset from an original placement of a plurality of semiconductor die of a semiconductor wafer for processing. An associated shift measurement value is retrieved and stored in a database that includes previously retrieved shift measurement values of previously measured shift measurements. Specified models are executed with respect to all shift measurement values and a predicted shift measurement value associated with a future offset for a new plurality of semiconductor die on a new semiconductor wafer for processing is determined. Placement hardware of the pick and place apparatus is placed in multiple positions for generating the new plurality of semiconductor die on the new semiconductor wafer in accordance with the predicted shift measurement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Andrew Coots, John Joseph Pichura, Maxim Factourovich
  • Patent number: 11044841
    Abstract: A feeder system includes a feeder configured to receive a component, a pick location configured to present the component from the carrier tape for a subsequent picking process, a camera system configured to view the component at or prior to the pick location. The camera system is configured to measure an offset between one or more topside features of the component and an outline of the component. A pick and place machine that includes the feeder, and a method of inspecting components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Andrew Coots, Michael Joseph Kane
  • Publication number: 20200301404
    Abstract: A method and system for improving an automated pick and place apparatus semiconductor device placement process is provided. The method includes automatically executing a shift measurement associated with an offset from an original placement of a plurality of semiconductor die of a semiconductor wafer for processing. An associated shift measurement value is retrieved and stored in a database that includes previously retrieved shift measurement values of previously measured shift measurements. Specified models are executed with respect to all shift measurement values and a predicted shift measurement value associated with a future offset for a new plurality of semiconductor die on a new semiconductor wafer for processing is determined. Placement hardware of the pick and place apparatus is placed in multiple positions for generating the new plurality of semiconductor die on the new semiconductor wafer in accordance with the predicted shift measurement value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Andrew Coots, John Joseph Pichura, Maxim Factourovich
  • Publication number: 20190191607
    Abstract: A feeder system includes a feeder configured to receive a component, a pick location configured to present the component from the carrier tape for a subsequent picking process, a camera system configured to view the component at or prior to the pick location. The camera system is configured to measure an offset between one or more topside features of the component and an outline of the component. A pick and place machine that includes the feeder, and a method of inspecting components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Andrew Coots, Michael Joseph Kane
  • Patent number: 10058018
    Abstract: An assembly machine includes a plurality of track modules, each track module including a section of track, the plurality of track modules connectable to form a continuous circuitous track, the continuous circuitous track configured to receive a dispensing head, the dispensing head configured to rotate about the continuous circuitous track and at least partially assemble an unfinished product. The machine includes a first feeder module attached to a first length of the continuous circuitous track configured to feed a component to the dispensing head, and a first placement module attached to a second length of the continuous circuitous track configured to receive the unfinished product. The dispensing head is configured to place the component on the unfinished product. The assembly machine is reconfigurable by attaching or removing one or more of the plurality of track modules, the first feeder module and the first placement module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koenraad Alexander Gieskes, Charles Andrew Coots, John Edward Danek
  • Publication number: 20150173204
    Abstract: An assembly machine includes a plurality of track modules, each track module including a section of track, the plurality of track modules connectable to form a continuous circuitous track, the continuous circuitous track configured to receive a dispensing head, the dispensing head configured to rotate about the continuous circuitous track and at least partially assemble an unfinished product. The machine includes a first feeder module attached to a first length of the continuous circuitous track configured to feed a component to the dispensing head, and a first placement module attached to a second length of the continuous circuitous track configured to receive the unfinished product. The dispensing head is configured to place the component on the unfinished product. The assembly machine is reconfigurable by attaching or removing one or more of the plurality of track modules, the first feeder module and the first placement module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Koenraad Alexander Gieskes, Charles Andrew Coots, John Edward Danek
  • Patent number: 8151449
    Abstract: A component placement machine for assembling at least one component on to at least one printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. The component placement machine comprises at least one head configured for picking a component from at least one feeder and placing the picked component on to a PCB of a first PCB product. The component placement machine also includes at least one feeder bank system separate from the head, wherein the feeder system includes a first feeder bank and a second feeder bank and a positioning system for moving both the entire first feeder bank and the entire second feeder bank in both a horizontal X direction and a perpendicular horizontal Y direction, wherein the feeder bank system is configured to enable a setup of a second PCB product on the component placement machine while the component placement machine assembles the PCB of the first PCB product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Andrew Coots, James Daniel Lamuraglia
  • Publication number: 20080163484
    Abstract: A component placement machine for assembling at least one component on to at least one printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. The component placement machine comprises at least one head configured for picking a component from at least one feeder and placing the picked component on to a PCB of a first PCB product. The component placement machine also includes at least one feeder/nozzle bank system, wherein the feeder/bank system is configured to enable a setup of a second PCB product on the component placement machine while the component placement machine assembles the PCB of the first PCB product. The component placement machine facilitates methodology for product changeover on a production line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles Andrew Coots, James Daniel Lamuraglia
  • Patent number: 6368045
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tape feeder for use with electronic assembly machines. The feeder simultaneously presents multiple electronic components in a pick up zone for access by a pick up head having a plurality of pick up spindles. The effective feed rate for the electronic components is increased and waiting time for the pick up head is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Scott Ashman, Charles Andrew Coots, Mark Jonathan Erickson, Stanislaw Wladyslaw Janisiewicz, Charles H. Dunlap, John I. Burgin, Jr.