Abstract: A temperature control system, which includes a miniature liquid-cooled heat sink, is used to provide a controlled temperature surface to an electronic device, such as a semiconductor device, during the testing or burn-in phase. In one embodiment, the system includes a miniature liquid-cooled heat sink device having a monolithic counter-flowing structure. In other embodiments, the system includes a heater, a flow control valve, a controller, and/or sensors.

Abstract: A LED lighting system for reading multiple data matrix codes on device populated transport media with a line scan camera, includes a light housing, a plurality of LED circuit bars, having a plurality of LEDs, mounted to an inner surface of the light housing arranged to provide high angle lighting and low angle lighting and a light controller operatively connected to the light housing to selectively control the light intensity, the light distribution and the angle of the LEDs on each of the plurality of LED array bars, whereby the LED lighting system can reduce texture noise and detect contrast in color or contrast in texture on the device populated transport media. The LED lighting system includes a device cooling system having an air compressor for cooling the LEDs such that they can operate at an optimal level.

Abstract: A method for sorting devices in automated handling equipment, including placing a plurality of input trays containing a plurality of devices and a plurality of empty trays into a handler; sorting the plurality of devices in the plurality of input trays into the plurality of empty trays according to a category of each of the plurality of devices, dynamically assigning categories to each of the plurality of empty trays for each category of the plurality of devices, dynamically assigning categories to the plurality of input trays and placing the sorted plurality of devices into the plurality of input trays, removing the empty trays housing the plurality of sorted devices from the handler and determining whether the sorting is completed.

Abstract: A LED lighting system for reading multiple data matrix codes on device populated transport media with a line scan camera, includes a light housing, a plurality of LED circuit bars, having a plurality of LEDs, mounted to an inner surface of the light housing arranged to provide high angle lighting and low angle lighting and a light controller operatively connected to the light housing to selectively control the light intensity, the light distribution and the angle of the LEDs on each of the plurality of LED array bars, whereby the LED lighting system can reduce texture noise and detect contrast in color or contrast in texture on the device populated transport media. The LED lighting system includes a device cooling system having an air compressor for cooling the LEDs such that they can operate at an optimal level.

Abstract: A machine vision based scanner system for an offline binning handler including a line scan camera capable of scanning a full tray-width image of a media tray, a camera controller operatively connected to the line scan camera, a tray transport mechanism positioned below the line scan camera, a tray transport mechanism controller operatively connected to the tray transport mechanism and the camera controller and processing software for using the images captured by the line scan camera to identify and sort a plurality of devices.

Abstract: A temperature control device that includes a miniature liquid-cooled heat sink with integral heater and sensing elements is used as part of a system to provide a controlled temperature surface to an electronic device, such as a semiconductor device, during the testing phase. The temperature control device includes an interface surface configured to provide a thermal path from the device to a device under test. One such device has a liquid-cooled heat sink comprising a first heat transfer portion in a first plane and a second heat transfer portion in a second plane. The first and second heat transfer portions establish a three-dimensional cross-flow of coolant within the heat sink structure. An alternate embodiment includes parallel fluid conduits, each having a three-dimensional microchannel structure that directs coolant flow in three dimensions within the fluid conduits.

Abstract: A temperature control device that includes a miniature liquid-cooled heat sink with integral heater and sensing elements is used as part of a system to provide a controlled temperature surface to an electronic device, such as a semiconductor device, during the testing phase. The temperature control device includes an interface surface configured to provide a thermal path from the device to a device under test. One such device has a liquid-cooled heat sink comprising a first heat transfer portion in a first plane and a second heat transfer portion in a second plane. The first and second heat transfer portions establish a three-dimensional cross-flow of coolant within the heat sink structure. An alternate embodiment includes parallel fluid conduits, each having a three-dimensional microchannel structure that directs coolant flow in three dimensions within the fluid conduits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling devices adapted to be assigned to one of a plurality of categories are disclosed. The apparatus includes an elevator adapted to move a stack of trays along a vertical path, a locking mechanism adapted to selectively engage a tray in the stack of trays and to support the engaged tray and additional trays positioned above the engaged tray, and a tray load arm positioned at a fixed vertical position and having a support mechanism for supporting one or more trays, the tray load arm being adapted to move horizontally into and out of the vertical path.

Abstract: A temperature control system, which includes a miniature liquid-cooled heat sink, is used to provide a controlled temperature surface to an electronic device, such as a semiconductor device, during the testing or bum-in phase. In one embodiment, the system includes a miniature liquid-cooled heat sink device having a monolithic counter-flowing structure. In other embodiments, the system includes a heater, a flow control valve, a controller, and/or sensors.

Abstract: A storage/buffering system for the stocking and/or buffering of substrate and/or substrate carriers in a process environment includes a 6-axis robot. An end-effector is connected with the robot providing an additional one degree of freedom and a mechanism for grabbing and moving of substrate and/or substrate carriers. The robot is mounted in an inverted orientation to a removable service cart for easy removal of the robot to a service area in the event of breakdown. The robot receives commands from a programmable controller connected to control the robot and configured to direct the arm of the robot through a set of movements. Product is loaded in and out of the system through I/O load ports. Product is stored inside the storage/buffering system on a plurality of storage locations, each with product presence/absence detect sensor.

Abstract: A storage/buffering system for the stocking and/or buffering of substrate and/or substrate carriers in a process environment includes a 6-axis robot. An end-effector is connected with the robot providing an additional one degree of freedom and a mechanism for grabbing and moving of substrate and/or substrate carriers. The robot is mounted in an inverted orientation to a removable service cart for easy removal of the robot to a service area in the event of breakdown. The robot receives commands from a programmable controller connected to control the robot and configured to direct the arm of the robot through a set of movements. Product is loaded in and out of the system through I/O load ports. Product is stored inside the storage/buffering system on a plurality of storage locations, each with product presence/absence detect sensor.