Mass transfer tool manipulator assembly with remote center of compliance

• US 10,183,396 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Parks, Paul Argus, Light, Nile Alexander, Bathurst, Stephen P., Higginson, John A., Bibl, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Stephen A
• Application Number:
  US15/364,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 18/007 the end effector rotating around a fixed point
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 7/00 Micromanipulators specimen supports for investigating or analysing materials G01N23/2204; associated with microscopes G02B21/32; means for supporting or positioning the objects or the material in discharge tubes H01J37/20
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0015 Flexure members, i.e. parts of manipulators having a narrowed section allowing articulation by flexion
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/7565 Means for transporting the components to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/75822 Rotational mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20354 Planar surface with orthogonal movement only

Abstract

Systems and methods for transferring a micro device or an array of micro devices to or from a substrate are disclosed. In an embodiment, a remote center robot allows on-the-fly alignment between a micro pick up array and a target substrate. The remote center robot may include a plurality of symmetric linkages that move independently and share a remote rotational center. In an embodiment, the remote rotational center may be positioned at a surface of the micro pick up array to prevent damage to the array of micro devices during transfer.

Claims

1. A remote center robot, comprising:

a first linkage having a first upper joint and a first lower joint separated along a first axis by a first link arm;

a second linkage mounted on the first linkage, the second linkage having a second upper joint and a second lower joint separated along a second axis by a second link arm, wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect at a remote rotational center on a z-axis;

wherein the first axis and the z-axis extend within a first plane, and wherein the second axis and the z-axis extend within a second plane, and wherein the first plane is offset from the second plane by an angle; and

a first linear actuator having a first end fixed relative to the first upper joint, wherein actuation of the first linear actuator changes a first angle between the first axis and the z-axis.

2. The remote center robot of claim 1, wherein the angle is an orthogonal angle.

3. The remote center robot of claim 1, further comprising a second linear actuator having a second end fixed relative to the second upper joint, wherein actuation of the second linear actuator changes a second angle between the second axis and the z-axis.

4. The remote center robot of claim 3, wherein the first axis intersects the z-axis at a remote tipping center, wherein the second axis intersects the z-axis at a remote tilting center, and wherein the remote tipping center is coincident with the remote tilting center at the remote rotational center.

5. The remote center robot of claim 1, wherein the first upper joint is coplanar with the second upper joint in an upper plane orthogonal to the z-axis, and wherein the first lower joint is coplanar with the second lower joint in a lower plane orthogonal to the z-axis.

6. The remote center robot of claim 5, wherein the first linkage includes a third upper joint and a third lower joint separated along a third axis, and a first coupler link between the third lower joint and the first lower joint, wherein the second linkage is mounted on the first coupler link.

7. The remote center robot of claim 6, wherein a third angle between the third axis and the z-axis is equal to a first angle between the first axis and the z-axis.

8. The remote center robot of claim 7, wherein the third upper joint is coplanar with the first upper joint in the upper plane.

9. The remote center robot of claim 1, wherein the first linkage further includes an adjustment joint above the first upper joint and an adjuster link between the first upper joint and an adjustment joint.

10. The remote center robot of claim 9, wherein the adjuster link is adjustable such that a first angle between the first axis and the z-axis changes when the adjuster link is adjusted.

11. The remote center robot of claim 10, wherein the adjuster link includes a variable length, and wherein the first angle changes when the variable length changes.

12. A remote center robot, comprising:

a first linkage having a first upper joint and a first lower joint separated along a first axis by a first link arm;

a second linkage mounted on the first linkage, the second linkage having a second upper joint and a second lower joint separated along a second axis by a second link arm, wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect at a remote rotational center on a z-axis;

a z-flexure including an upper mount coupled with a bottom portion of the second linkage and a lower mount, such that the remote rotational center is below the lower mount;

a distribution plate coupled with the lower mount of the z-flexure; and

an insulator between the lower mount and the z-flexure.

13. The remote center robot of claim 12, further comprising a z-actuator within a central opening in the z-flexure.

14. The remote center robot of claim 13, wherein the z-flexure includes a linkage structure that moves under actuation from z-actuator.

15. The remote center robot of claim 14, wherein the linkage structure includes wedge links connected to the upper mount and the lower mount.

16. A remote center robot, comprising:

a first linkage having a first upper joint and a first lower joint separated along a first axis by a first link arm; and

a second linkage mounted on the first linkage, the second linkage having a second upper joint and a second lower joint separated along a second axis by a second link arm, wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect at a remote rotational center on a z-axis;

wherein the first and second upper joints and the first and second lower joints include a plurality of living hinges;

wherein a first combined stiffness of the first linkage is equal to a second combined stiffness of the second linkage.