With Component Orienting Patents (Class 29/834)
  • Patent number: 7188409
    Abstract: The present invention features a method wherein a component in a multi-head component placement machine is rejected during the placement cycle. A component is imaged and the image processed using an automated vision system. The image processing determines whether the component is placeable based upon a comparison of the component image to preprogrammed mechanical parameters for the component. A non-placeable component is rejected into a reject station, which is contiguous with the head. Because a component can be rejected during the placement cycle, there is no slowdown of the placement machine cycle rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Universal Instruments Corp.
    Inventor: Koenraad Gieskes
  • Patent number: 7168161
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a camera module having a CMOS image sensor, a semiconductor chip to serve as a light sensor is mounted on a optical-component-mounting face of a wiring substrate mother board and, after bonding wires are connected to the semiconductor chip, a lens barrel is joined to the wiring substrate mother board so as to cover the semiconductor chip. A position adjustment pin and a through hole are provided on the lens barrel and the wiring substrate mother board respectively outside a junction face between the lens barrel and the wiring substrate mother board to be used for adjusting the position of the lens barrel with respect to the wiring substrate mother board by inserting the position adjustment pin into the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignees: Renesas Technology Corp., Renesas Eastern Japan Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Hanada, Akio Ishizu
  • Patent number: 7165321
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a printed wiring board having an embedded electric device is as follows. A first resin film having an opening or a sheet member having a recess is piled with a plurality of second resin films, on which a plurality of conductive layers is formed. The first and second resin films and the sheet member include thermoplastic resin. An electric device is inserted in the opening or the recess. Then, the piled body including the electric device is pressed and heated to integrate the piled body. When the piled body is pressed and heated, electrodes of the electric device are electrically connected to the conductive layers while the first and second resin films and the sheet member plastically deformed to seal the electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Kondo, Tomohiro Yokochi, Toshihiro Miyake, Satoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7165318
    Abstract: A substantial apparatus width along a board carrying direction of an electronic component placing apparatus for placing electronic components on a board having a length L along the board carrying direction is a total dimension 4L+SL. Specifically, 4L denotes a length of the sum of the lengths of a first board retreat position, a first component placement position, a second board retreat position and a second component placement position. Further, SL denotes a length of the sum of the lengths of the spaces for positioning a board stop mechanism provided at each of the first board retreat position, the first component placement position, the second board retreat position and the second component placement position. Finally, the substantial apparatus width is between 450 mm and 1000 mm inclusively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Nakamura, Kunio Sakurai, Kazumasa Okumura, Ken Takano, Minoru Yamamoto, Hirokazu Honkawa, Kentaro Nishiwaki, Yoshihiko Misawa
  • Patent number: 7162793
    Abstract: Reflow soldering of a variety of circuit boards (9, 11, 15) in a variety of sizes and shapes to assigned locations on the base or carrier (13) of the electronic module housing (3) is simplified by eliminating custom made metal blocks previously used to clamp the circuit boards against the carrier metal. Instead, the solder-backed circuit boards are placed in assigned positions in the module housing and the inside volume of that housing is filled (22) with particulate, such as small beads (17), covering the circuit boards, but leaving the edges of the upstanding metal shields (5 and 7) visible. A plate (21) backed foam sheet (19) is placed over the module housing (24) and clamped down (26), pressing against the beads. The clamped assembly is then heated (28) to reflow the solder, soldering the circuit boards in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Kintis, Charles G. Turner
  • Patent number: 7138919
    Abstract: A method for processing a surface of an item and providing an association using a surface processing system includes receiving an item having a first identification marking on a surface of the item to provide a received item for providing a first identification signal in response to a first interrogation signal and applying a second identification marking to the surface of the item for providing a second identification signal in response to a second interrogation signal. At least one of the first and second interrogation signals is applied to the item to provide at least one of the first and second identification signals. At least one of the first and second identification signals is received in response to the at least one of the first and second interrogation signals. An association is made is determined in response to the first receiving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Checkpoint Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clare, Andre Cote
  • Patent number: 7120995
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting semiconductors contains a bonding station, whereby the bonding station comprises a wafer table for presenting the semiconductor chips, a substrate table and a pick and place system with a bondhead with a chip gripper. Part of the wafer table is located underneath the substrate table. The pick and place system has a first linear motor that comprises a rigidly arranged stator and a shuttle that can be moved in a first direction guided by first guide elements, and a second linear motor that comprises a rigidly arranged stator and a shuttle that can be moved in a second direction. The shuttle of the first linear motor has second guide elements that guide the shuttle of the second linear motor. The bondhead with the chip gripper is arranged on the shuttle of the second linear motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: ESEC Trading SA
    Inventor: Dieter Vischer
  • Patent number: 7117588
    Abstract: The present technique provides a multi-tile detector and a process for assembling the multi-tile detector using a flexible structure and intermediate electrical connections. The present technique minimizes edge gaps between adjacent detector tiles by coupling the detector tiles to the flexible structure and then flexing the flexible structure to close the edge gaps. Intermediate electrical connections, such as interlayer solder bumps, also may be used to minimize visible artifacts associated with tiling of the detector tiles. The present technique also may use a plurality of soldering materials having different melting temperatures to facilitate multiple soldering steps that are nondestructive of previous soldering steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Habib Vafi, David C. Neumann, Scott W. Petrick, Jeffrey A. Kautzer
  • Patent number: 7118939
    Abstract: A formation surface of electrodes and a formation surface of leads are imaged along an axis which intersects an XY plane at right angles. A projected image of the formation surface of the electrodes and the formation surface of the leads is obtained, the projected image being projected onto a plane which intersects the Z axis at right angles. A difference between an image of one of the electrodes and an image of one of the leads in the projected image is calculated. A deformation value of at least one of a substrate and a semiconductor chip due to expansion or shrinkage is calculated, the deformation value being necessary for eliminating the difference. A change in temperature of at least one of the substrate and the semiconductor chip is calculated the change in temperature being necessary for obtaining the deformation value. The temperature of at least one of the substrate and the semiconductor chip is changed based on the change in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Imai
  • Patent number: 7114244
    Abstract: A disc centering device includes a base plate, a chuck which is installed on the base plate, a hub unit which is detachably engaged to the chuck and receives discs and spacers to be stacked, disc pushers which are slidably provided outside the hub unit and include corresponding pressure members which center the discs by pushing circumferences of the discs, a driving unit which slides the disc pushers, and biasing units which are slidably provided outside the hub unit and push circumferences of the spacers. Accordingly, by performing a spacer biasing along with a disc centering, the accuracy of a centering is increased, thereby providing the discs having data recorded thereon with a uniform quality. Additionally, vibration of a rotation body can be minimized due to the simple configuration of the disc centering device. Furthermore, the productivity and manufacturability of HDDs are improved in view of the simplified maintenance and repair of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-keon Yeom, Sang-jin Choi, Young-kun Kwon, Hyun-jin Lee, Dong-ok Kwak
  • Patent number: 7100278
    Abstract: A component mounting apparatus have a pair of component supply sections, and first and second mounting head sections. Each of the first and second head sections has a rotary member driven about a horizontal axis, component suction nozzles attached to the rotary member, driving mechanisms for rotating corresponding component suction nozzle, and a recognition section for recognizing components sucked by the component suction nozzle. Each of the first and second mounting head section performs successive suction, recognition, posture adjustment, and mounting of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanji Hata, Noriaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7089655
    Abstract: A system for performing an operation to a printed wiring board (PWB) having an apparatus for automatically resetting a PWB supporting device including a supporting table, supporting members which are set on a surface of the supporting table to support the PWB, a supporting-member storing device for storing the supporting members, a holding head for holding each of the supporting members, a moving device which moves the holding head relative to each of the supporting table and the storing device, in a direction parallel to the supporting table surface, so that the holding head takes a prescribed one of the supporting members from the storing device and sets the supporting member at a prescribed setting position on the surface of the supporting table, and takes the supporting member from the setting position and stores the supporting member in the storing device, and a control device which controls the moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Isogai, Noriaki Iwaki
  • Patent number: 7086134
    Abstract: An apparatus for passively aligning first and second substrates having micro-components disposed thereon when the substrates do not include patterned surfaces which face each other. The apparatus includes a first depression which cooperates with an alignment sphere to mechanically engage a corresponding depression disposed on the front surface of the first substrate and a second depression which cooperates with a second alignment sphere to mechanically engage a corresponding depression disposed on the front surface of the second substrate. The first and second depression of the alignment apparatus and the alignment spheres cooperate to passively align micro-components disposed on each of the substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mindaugas F. Dautartas, Dan A. Steinberg, Jasean Rasnake
  • Patent number: 7080444
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing blocks in a fluid over a substrate. The apparatus includes a first tube having a first end and a second end. A compression device is coupled to the first tube. A second tube is connected to the first tube to deliver a slurry having blocks to the first tube. The compression device pulsates at least one block in the slurry which is flowing through a portion of the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Alien Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon S. W. Craig, Ming X. Chan, Cornelius V. Sutu, Omar R. Alvarado, Hoang Pham, Mark Alfred Hadley
  • Patent number: 7076867
    Abstract: A pressurizing method for pressurizing a second component arranged on a first component, against the first component by using a pressurizing apparatus having a stage on which the first component is mounted, a tool, and a protection sheet supplying section. The tool is disposed so as to face the stage and moved between a first position at which the tool faces the first and second components while spaced therefrom, and a second position at which the tool is biased toward the stage to pressurize the second component against the first component. When the tool is at the second position, the protection sheet supplying section supplies a protection sheet so that the protection sheet is placed between the second component and the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamamoto, Sakae Kobayashi, Yoshikazu Yoshimura, Naoto Hosotani, Kenji Takahashi, Hiroshi Nasu, Naomi Kaino, Hidenobu Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7069648
    Abstract: Disclosed is a component mounting method. Moved in first and second orthogonal directions is a first mounting head section having first nozzles. The first mounting head is rotated such that the first nozzles rotate and successively pickup components from a first component supply table arranged on one side of a board transfer path. These components are then successively mounted onto a board positioned in the board transfer path. Moved in third and fourth orthogonal directions is a second mounting head section having second nozzles. The second mounting head section is rotated such that the second nozzles rotate and successively pickup components from a second component supply table arranged on an opposite side of the board transfer path. These components are then successively mounted onto the board while positioned in the board transfer path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanji Hata, Noriaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7065866
    Abstract: In accordance with a component mounting method, a component stored in a component feeder is held by a component holding member and is then mounted in a mounting position on an object. The method includes, when a mounting posture of the component in which the component is mounted onto the object is inclined with respect to a basic posture of the component by a mounting angle, the operation of holding the component from the component feeder by the component holding member that has preliminarily been rotated to the mounting angle in such a direction as to depart from a reference posture of the component holding member prior to the mounting of the component on the object. And afterwards, the component holding member is rotated in a specified direction to finally return the component holding member to the reference posture, and then the component is mounted on the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Yoshida, Takeshi Takeda, Akira Kabeshita
  • Patent number: 7065868
    Abstract: A method is provided for installing circuit components, such as memory devices, in a support, such as a socket. The device to be installed is supported in a holder or shell. The holder is positioned over a support region in the receiving socket. A manual actuator is pressed into the holder to eject the device from the holder and to install the device in the support. The holder may be configured to hold a single device, or multiple devices aligned in slots defined by partitions. A multi-device tray may be provided for indexing devices toward an ejection slot, through which the devices are installed by manual actuation of an ejecting actuator. The technique provides protection for the device prior to and during installation, and facilitates manual installation of such devices without requiring direct hand contact with the device either prior to or during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Kinsman, Mike Brooks, Warren M. Farnworth, Walter Moden, Terry Lee
  • Patent number: 7065864
    Abstract: There are provided a method and apparatus of component mounting capable of avoiding damage caused by production operations with a component holder having debris thereon. If it is determined during a detecting step of a component holding condition that a component is held by a component holder in an improper condition for mounting, the component holder releases such a component into a collecting box, and skips a pick up operation at a next round of a pick up station. The component holder is then subjected to confirming whether any debris exists by using, preferably, a condition sensor, and the component holder picks up a new component if it is confirmed that no debris exists. If debris is found during the confirming step, production operations are stopped, or a warning is generated. After maintenance of the component holder is completed, production operations are restarted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Shigeki Imafuku, Keizo Izumida, Takeshi Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 7059043
    Abstract: An electronic parts mount apparatus for taking out electronic parts from a parts supply section 3by a transfer head 9 and transporting and mounting the electronic parts to and on a board 2 has a board recognition camera 15 moving independently of the transfer head 9 and advancing to and retreating from the board 2 positioned on a transfer passage 1 for picking up an image of the board 2 to detect the position thereof. The image pickup step of the board 2 by the board recognition camera 15 and the parts taking out step in the parts supply section by the transfer head 9 are performed concurrently. Thus, the tact time can be shortened and the electronic parts can be mounted on the board efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Hidese, Toshiaki Nakashima, Hiroshi Haji
  • Patent number: 7059036
    Abstract: An electronic component mounting apparatus which employs a first air feed device connected to an air passage at one end part of a spline shaft, and a second air feed device connected to the air passage in the vicinity of the other end of the spline shaft. The first and second air feeds function to supply air to the air passage to return an interior thereof to atmospheric pressure. The time required to return the vacuum pressure in the air passage to atmospheric pressure can be shortened by the use of the two separate air feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Okuda, Yoshihiro Yoshida, Akira Kabeshita, Satoshi Shida, Naoyuki Kitamura
  • Patent number: 7047631
    Abstract: A method for the automatable insertion or removal of an integrated circuit board is disclosed. One or more linear actuators or similar devices are coupled to one or more cards of an electronic device (e.g., a telecommunications switch or the like) by one or more brackets, to permit substantially automatic card withdrawal/insertion cycles. A controller is operably coupled to the actuators. The controller controls the actuators to operate through a plurality of cycles in a substantially unattended fashion. Measurement and recording or logging systems can measure the occurrence or duration of service disruptions and maintain a log of test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Spaulding
  • Patent number: 7043829
    Abstract: A motherboard is assembled into an information handling system by coupling simulated electronic connectors of an assembly platform to electronic connectors of the motherboard to support movement of the motherboard to an installation position in the information handling system chassis. Openings in the assembly platform allow insertion of attachment devices to attach the motherboard to the chassis of the information handling system. Once the motherboard is secured to the chassis, the assembly platform is removed by pulling away from the motherboard to de-couple the simulated electronic connectors of the assembly board from the electronic connectors of the motherboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Roy A. Rachui, Mark S. Manley
  • Patent number: 7036212
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing an operation on a circuit substrate, the apparatus including a plurality of operating devices which are provided in a space that is closed and opened by a safety cover and one of which performs the operation on the circuit substrate, a safety-cover switch which is switchable to an ON state thereof corresponding to a closed state of the safety cover, and to an OFF state thereof corresponding to an opened state of the safety cover, a maintenance-related control device which keeps, in a maintenance mode, at least one of the operating devices to a state thereof in which the one operating device is operable, and a maintenance-mode setting switch which cooperates with the safety-cover switch to provide a parallel circuit, and which is selectively operable to an ON state thereof in which the maintenance-mode setting switch allows setting of the maintenance mode, and to an OFF state thereof in which the maintenance-mode setting switch does not allow the setting of the maintenance mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Kato, Sumio Kadomatsu
  • Patent number: 7032298
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for replacing a defective PCB unit formed on a PCB panel with a nondefective PCB unit, in which the location of the nondefective PCB unit disposed on a location correcting table is corrected by a location correcting driver via the location correcting data read by a vision camera, realizing a precise alignment in replacing the defective PCB unit without using a precise mechanical jig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: PCB Plus, Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Myung Sin
  • Patent number: 7032299
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting electronic parts and a method of mounting electronic parts capable of effectively performing image capturing at the time of position recognition of the electronic parts. In the apparatus, when images of electronic parts are taken for position recognition of the parts in the mounting of a plurality of the electronic parts held by a mounting head on a circuit board, it is adapted such that pixel signals are output only from specific necessary pixels. More specifically, pixel selecting information for allowing image signals to be selectively output from a plurality of specific pixels of a photodetecting section (10) of a CMOS area sensor is generated based on mounting schedule data (16C) related to a mounting sequence of the electronic parts and part data of the electronic parts stored in data storage (16). A pixel selector (11) is operated in accordance with the pixel selecting information, and thus the image signals are output from the selected specific pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Arase, Takayuki Hatase
  • Patent number: 7032305
    Abstract: A method of mounting electrical component assemblies on opposite sides of a printed circuit card including inserting a chock on a first side of the printed circuit card; inserting a standoff and placing a spring around each standoff; pressing the chock against the printed circuit card; mounting a first electrical component assembly on a second side of the printed circuit card; placing a package tool having a plurality of springs on a horizontal support so that when the first mounted electrical component assembly is placed inside the package tool the springs of the package tool come into contact with the first electrical component assembly; removing the chock from the printed circuit card such that the springs of the package tool compensate for the weight of the first electrical component assembly inside the package tool; and mounting a second electrical component assembly on the first side of the printed circuit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Bull, S.A.
    Inventors: Claude Petit, Thierry Fromont
  • Patent number: 7032303
    Abstract: A method of sequentially mounting, on a printed-wiring board supported by a board supporting device, a plurality of electric components which are sucked and held by respective ends of a plurality of suction nozzles which are supported by a rotatable body such that the suction nozzles are provided along a circle whose center is located on an axis line of the rotatable body and such that each of the suction nozzles is not rotatable relative to the rotatable body and is movable relative to the body in a direction parallel to the axis line of the body, the rotatable body being attached to a movable member which is movable to an arbitrary position on a movement plane parallel to the printed-wiring board supported by the board supporting device, such that the rotatable body is rotatable about the axis line thereof perpendicular to the movement plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tosuke Kawada
  • Patent number: 7032304
    Abstract: A method for conveying printed circuit boards (PCBs) in a system that includes at least two assembly modules, where each assembly module has multiple conveyors for delivering the PCBs so that while processing some PCBs, other PCBs can bypass particular assembly modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation
    Inventor: Koenraad A. Gieskes
  • Patent number: 7020954
    Abstract: An apparatus for placing a semiconductor chip as a flipchip on a substrate has a flip device for flipping the semiconductor chip. The flip device is formed as a parallelogram construction which consists of a support bracket, a first and a second swivel arm and a connecting arm. A chip gripper is arranged on the connecting arm. A drive system serves the back and forth movement of the parallelogram construction between a first limit position where the chip gripper accepts the semiconductor chip and a second limit position where the chip gripper places the semiconductor chip on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: ESEC Trading SA
    Inventors: Dominik Hartmann, Ruedi Grueter
  • Patent number: 7010853
    Abstract: An electric-component mounting system for mounting a plurality of electric components onto a circuit board. The system includes a plurality of electric-component mounting units which are arranged in a predetermined direction with a spacing distance between each adjacent pair of the electric-component mounting units. Each of the electric-component mounting units includes (a) a board holding device which is capable of holding the circuit board in a predetermined position, (b) a component mounting device which is capable of mounting the electric components onto the circuit board held by the board holding device, and (c) a component supplying device which is capable of supplying the electric components to the component mounting device. The system further includes a spacing-distance changing device capable of changing the spacing distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Oe
  • Patent number: 7002813
    Abstract: An arrangement which has a panel-like electrical/electronic module, such as a solar power module, and a connection unit which are electrically connected to one another. The module and the connection unit each have an essentially flat printed conductor structure with connecting sections. The printed conductor structures are situated in parallel planes. The connecting sections are rigid electrical conductor sections and are bent out from the planes of the printed conductor structures of the connection unit and the module. The connecting sections of the connection unit are situated corresponding to the arrangement of the connecting sections of the module so that for the connection unit connected to the module each connecting section of the module is electrically connected to a respective connecting section of the connection unit and these adjoin one another in one section situated in a different spatial position than that of the planes of the printed conductor structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignees: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG, Solarworld AG
    Inventors: Eduard Bergmann, Herwig Rilling, Peter Westermayr, Clemens Hofbauer, Boris Klebensberger, Karsten Wambach
  • Patent number: 7003211
    Abstract: Mounting and alignment structures for optical components allow optical components to be connected to an optical bench and then subsequently aligned, i.e., either passively or actively, in a manufacturing or subsequent calibration or recalibration, alignment or realignment processes. The structures comprise quasi-extrusion portions. This portion is “quasi-extrusion” in the sense that it has a substantially constant cross section in a z-axis direction as would be yielded in an extrusion manufacturing process. The structures further comprise at least one base, having a laterally-extending base surface, and an optical component interface. At least one armature connects the optical component interface with the base. In the preferred embodiment, the base surface is securable to an optical bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Flanders, Peter S. Whitney
  • Patent number: 6990733
    Abstract: A land grid array connector is formed by attaching a reinforcing member to a frame and coating the reinforcing member with an elastomeric compound to form a reinforced, flexible body portion of the connector. Conductive wires are inserted in pairs in an array in the fabric extent. Free ends of the wires extend past the elastomeric compound to provide contacts of the connector. The pairs of wires provide redundancy for the contacts to ensure a reliable connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: John E. Lopata, James L. McGrath, Arindum Dutta, Marvin Menzin, Daniel Fisher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6986200
    Abstract: A method for mounting parts may include recognizing a particular part feeder where a part to be mounted is contained among a plurality of part feeders, moving a head unit to a position for picking up a part on the part feeder, moving an image sensor installed to be capable of moving to a position close to the particular part feeder, picking up a part from the particular part feeder with a suction nozzle installed at the had unit, moving the head unit to a position above the image sensor, detecting an image of the part held by the suction nozzle, moving the suction nozzle to a printed circuit board from the image sensor, and aligning the part with the printed circuit board while determining and compensating for an error generated when the part is picked up, and mounting the aligned part on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-soo Hwang, Tae-yeon Cho, Jhin-woo Shin
  • Patent number: 6983535
    Abstract: A method for reducing the impedance of a reference path in a printed circuit board includes forming a printed circuit board having a plurality of conductive layers including first, second, third, and fourth layers. The printed circuit board includes two or more vias interconnecting two or more of the conductive layers. A first via is part of a signal path configured to carry a signal from the first layer to the second layer. A second via is part of a reference path configured to carry said signal from a third layer to a fourth conductive layer. The method further includes embedding an electrical component, such as a capacitor, in the second via between two of the conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Wayne Crockett, Harry Thomas Minikel
  • Patent number: 6976304
    Abstract: A substantial apparatus width along a board carrying direction of an electronic component placing apparatus for placing electronic components on a board having a length L along the board carrying direction is a total dimension 4L+SL. Specifically, 4L denotes a length of the sum of the lengths of a first board retreat position, a first component placement position, a second board retreat position and a second component placement position. Further, SL denotes a length of the sum of the lengths of the spaces for positioning a board stop mechanism provided at each of the first board retreat position, the first component placement position, the second board retreat position and the second component placement position. Finally, the substantial apparatus width is between 450 mm and 1000 mm inclusively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Nakamura, Kunio Sakurai, Kazumasa Okumura, Ken Takano, Minoru Yamamoto, Hirokazu Honkawa, Kentaro Nishiwaki, Yoshihiko Misawa
  • Patent number: 6973717
    Abstract: A semiconductor device in chip format having a chip which has at least one first insulating layer and electrical connection pads free of the insulating layer is described. On the first insulating layer, interconnects run from the electrical connection pads to base regions of external connection elements. A further applied insulating layer is provided with openings leading from the outside to the base regions of the external connection elements. In the openings there is a conductive adhesive, onto which small balls which are metallic at least on the outside are placed. The semiconductor element can also contain a solder paste instead of a conductive adhesive in the openings, and metallized small plastic balls are placed onto the solder paste. The invention furthermore relates to methods for producing the semiconductor device described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Hacke, Klaus-Peter Galuschki
  • Patent number: 6971157
    Abstract: When two mounting units for performing a series of component mounting operations constituted of component holding, component recognition, and component placing are arranged, operational control is executed so that, while a component recognition or board recognition operation is performed in either one of the two mounting units, the component placing or component holding operation is not performed in the other of the mounting units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Yoshida, Osamu Okuda, Akira Kabeshita, Takeyuki Kawase
  • Patent number: 6971160
    Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit fabrication method in which an insulating substrate member and its metallic substrate carrier are made to be mating with precision through use of computer controlled machining performed on each member. A combination of disclosed specifically tailored software and commercially available software are used in the method to generate code for controlling a precision milling machine during the fabrication of substrate and substrate carrier members. The method for precision mating of substrate and substrate carrier enable disposition of a precision recess in the substrate carrier and the location of recess pillars and pedestals (the latter being for integrated circuit die mounting use) at any carrier recess location desirable for electrical, thermal or physical strength reasons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Ryan J. Welch, Tony K. Quach
  • Patent number: 6971161
    Abstract: There are provided a method and device for generating component mounting data in view of productivity, quality assurance, safety, or the like, when components are mounted onto a mounting target, and a component mounting method and device by which a mounting operation can be performed based on the data. Rules that must be observed, or are desired to be observed, based on various conditions such as mounting apparatus and component information and the like are automatically generated in view of productivity, quality assurance, safety, or the like and can be utilized for generation of component mounting data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Maenishi, Ikuo Yoshida, Masamichi Morimoto, Makoto Hirahara
  • Patent number: 6968610
    Abstract: A mounting head unit for an electronic component for making a pick-up operation of the electronic component and loading operation thereof is removably attached to a head mounting bracket of an electronic component mounting device. Each mounting head unit is provided with a control board for controlling the a mounting mechanism including a plurality of unit mounting heads each equipped with an adsorption nozzle for holding the electronic component. In the mounting operation, on the basis of the operation command from a main unit control section for controlling the entire operation of the electronic component mounting device, the control board controls the operation of each of the unit mounting heads. In this way, the replacement of wirings in replacing the mounting head can be easily made and the time delay in signal processing can be removed to realize the high speed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Nagao, Takuya Tsutsumi, Yoshikazu Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6964093
    Abstract: An electronics packaging system (1) including a printer (3), a placing unit (4) and a reflow unit (5), wherein a printed wiring board (2) is carried while being kept in an upright position. The printed wiring board (2) has solder printed on all the lands thereof at the same time, the electronic parts (10) are all placed on the lands at the same time, and the electronic parts (10) are all soldered to the lands at the same time. Thus, the system (1) can be designed more compact, and the electronic parts packaged in a shorter time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Mochida, Katsumi Togasaki, Katsumi Morita, Yusuke Masutani, Hiroji Kameda, Noboru Sekiguchi, Minoru Shimada, Toshio Toyama, Akihiro Koga, Mitsuo Inoue, Kazuhiro Abe, Tetsuya Yonemoto, Kenji Ishihara, Syunji Aoki, Fumio Matsumoto, Takanori Arai, Hisashi Naoshima
  • Patent number: 6961993
    Abstract: A device mounting method capable of efficiently, accurately arraying micro-devices on a circuit board is provided. The method includes a device separating step of separating a plurality of LED chips, which have been arrayed with a specific period on a wafer, into individual LED chips while keeping the arrayed state of the LED chips as it is, a device re-arraying step of handling the individually separated LED chips so as to re-array the LED chips at intervals of a value equivalent to the period multiplied by a specific magnification, and a device transferring step of transferring the re-arrayed LED chips on a mounting board while keeping the re-arrayed state of the LED chips as it is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toyoharu Oohata
  • Patent number: 6950310
    Abstract: A self-leveling heat sink includes a spring-arm device having at least one aperture and at least one spring-arm is coupled to a substrate. The substrate has at least one package mounted thereon, so that when the spring-arm device is mounted to the substrate the at least one package passes through the at least one aperture. A heat sink operable to remove heat from the at least one package has at least one heat sink post operable to receive a heat sink clip located at the distal end of each of the at least one spring-arms. Each of the at least one spring-arms extending from an inside edge of the at least one aperture and operable to couple the heat sink to the at least one package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Darvin R. Edwards
  • Patent number: 6938335
    Abstract: A component mounting method recognizes reference marks on a printed circuit board and an electronic component, and uses these reference marks to determine a shift between a position of the circuit board and a position of the electronic component. This shift is corrected and then the electronic component is mounted to the printed circuit board such that electrical connecting portions of the circuit board are connected to electrical connecting portions of the electronic component. The reference marks are formed simultaneously with corresponding electrical connecting portions via a mask, such that in order to accurately position the electrical connecting portions, it is only necessary to accurately relatively position the reference marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kuribayashi, Kazuyuki Nakano
  • Patent number: 6928718
    Abstract: An assembly and method for array processing of hermetically sealed Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Devices employs a non-conductive material having an array of spaced cavities extending into the material for receiving a SAW die face down, in a flip-chip arrangement. Each cavity has a peripheral recess dimensioned to receive a lid for hermetically sealing the die within the cavity. Conductive paths are provided from the interior of the cavity to the surface of the array for providing an electrical contact with the SAW die. Individual SAW devices are then provided by cutting along separation lines between adjacent cavities after a plurality of die have been hermetically sealed within its cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Sawtekk, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Carpenter
  • Patent number: 6925709
    Abstract: An apparatus for assembling electronics is provided, comprising a support frame, at least one pick-and-place mechanism, at least one device-engaging component, a feed device, and a programmer or tester. The pick-and-place mechanism is secured to the support frame. The device-engaging component is secured to the pick-and-place mechanism. The feed device has a slender body secured to the frame to feed a plurality of electronic devices to a feed location. The programmer or tester has a slender body secured to the support frame in a side-by-side relationship relative to the feed device. The programmer or tester has a socket located at an intermediate location. The devices are movable by the device-engaging component from the feed location to the socket at the intermediate location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Exatron, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert P. Howell
  • Patent number: 6915565
    Abstract: A method of detecting a position of a rotation axis of a suction nozzle of an electric-component mounting apparatus, the suction nozzle holding, by suction, an electric component, and being rotated about the rotation axis thereof to rotate the electric component held thereby, so that the electric component rotated is mounted on a component-mounting surface of a circuit substrate, the method including the step of detecting, on a position-detecting plane including the component-mounting surface of the circuit substrate, the position of the rotation axis of the suction nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg., Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Isogai, Kimihiko Yasuda, Noriaki Iwaki, Hiroshi Katsumi
  • Patent number: 6910262
    Abstract: An electric-component handling device includes a suction nozzle, fiducial mark, an image-taking device, a relative-movement device and an image data processing device. The electric-component handling device is operable to handle an electric component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Machine MFG. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shimizu