Methods and systems for removing multiple die(s) from a surface

• US 20070158024A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Addison, David, Steinmetz, Travis
• Application Number:
  US11/329,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/344
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 63/0013 Removing old coatings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1983 Poking delaminating means

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for removing dies attached to a support element are described. The support element has a first surface to which the dies are attached and a second surface that opposes the first surface. In a first example, a first vacuum is applied to the second surface outside an area defined on the second surface. At least one force element applies a force to the second surface inside the area, thereby moving a plurality of dies with respect to other dies. In a second example, heat is applied to an adhesive between the first surface and the plurality of dies to at least partially deactivate the adhesive. A second vacuum is applied to the plurality of dies to remove the plurality of dies from the first surface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

aligning at least one opening of a vacuum head with a plurality of corresponding dies that are attached to a surface;

reducing adhesion between the corresponding dies and the surface; and

applying a vacuum through the vacuum head to remove the corresponding dies from the surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing adhesion includes applying heat to an adhesive between the corresponding dies and the first surface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing the adhesion includes warping the surface, thereby at least partially peeling the corresponding dies from the surface.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein warping the surface moves the corresponding dies a predetermined distance.

5. An apparatus comprising:

means for reducing adhesion between a plurality of dies and a surface; and

a vacuum assembly having at least one opening that is configured to apply a first vacuum concurrently to the plurality of dies to remove the plurality of dies from the surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for reducing adhesion includes a heating element to heat an adhesive between the plurality of dies and the surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for reducing adhesion includes a force source to at least partially peel the plurality of dies from the surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of dies are arranged in a row.

9. A method comprising:

aligning at least one opening of a vacuum head with a plurality of corresponding dies that are attached to a first surface of a support element, wherein the support element further has a second surface that is opposite the first surface;

applying a first vacuum to the second surface of the support element outside an area;

applying a force to the second surface inside the area, thereby moving the corresponding dies toward the vacuum head; and

applying a second vacuum through the vacuum head to remove the corresponding dies from the support element.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the first vacuum includes applying the vacuum outside the area defined by a perimeter of the corresponding dies

11. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the force includes actuating at least one force element associated with the corresponding dies, thereby causing the at least one force element to come into contact with the area of the second surface.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the force moves the corresponding dies a predetermined distance.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the first vacuum includes maintaining dies attached to the support element that are outside the area.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the force causes at least partial peeling of the corresponding dies from the first surface.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein aligning the at least one opening includes aligning the at least one opening with the plurality of corresponding dies that are arranged in a row.

16. A method of removing a plurality of dies from an array of dies that are attached to a first surface of a support element, the support element having a second surface that opposes the first surface, comprising:

applying a first vacuum to the second surface outside an area corresponding to a perimeter of the plurality of dies;

applying a force to the second surface inside the area, thereby moving the plurality of dies with respect to other dies of the array of dies; and

applying a second vacuum to the plurality of dies to remove the plurality of dies from the first surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein applying the force includes actuating at least one force element associated with the plurality of dies, thereby causing the at least one force element to come into contact with the area of the second surface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein applying the force moves the plurality of dies a predetermined distance.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein applying the first vacuum includes maintaining attached to the support element dies of the array of dies that are outside the area.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein applying the force causes at least partial peeling of the plurality of dies from the first surface.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein applying the second vacuum includes removing a row of dies from the first surface.

22. An apparatus comprising:

a first vacuum assembly having at least one opening that is capable of applying a first vacuum to corresponding dies to remove the corresponding dies from a first surface of a support element;

a second vacuum assembly configured to apply a second vacuum to a second surface of the support element outside an area;

at least one force element configured to apply a force to the second surface inside the area, wherein the at least one force element is capable of moving the corresponding dies toward the first vacuum assembly.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the area is defined by a perimeter of the corresponding dies.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

an actuator to actuate the at least one force element, wherein the actuator is configured to cause the at least one force element to come into contact with the area of the second surface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the actuator is configured to actuate the at least one force element a predetermined distance.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second vacuum assembly is configured to maintain dies that are outside the area in a substantially planar configuration.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one force element is configured to partially peel the corresponding dies from the first surface.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one force element comprises a pin, a bar, or a blade.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the corresponding dies are arranged in a row.

30. An apparatus for removing a plurality of dies from an array of dies that are attached to a first surface of a support element, the support element having a second surface that opposes the first surface, comprising:

means for applying a first vacuum to the second surface outside an area corresponding to a perimeter of the plurality of dies;

means for applying a force to the second surface inside the area, wherein the means for applying the force is configured to move the plurality of dies with respect to other dies of the array of dies; and

means for applying a second vacuum to the plurality of dies to remove the plurality of dies from the first surface.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the area corresponds to a perimeter of the plurality of dies.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for applying the force includes means for actuating at least one force element associated with the plurality of dies, wherein the means for actuating is configured to cause the at least one force element to come into contact with the area of the second surface to move the dies.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for applying the force is configured to move the plurality of dies a predetermined distance.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for applying the first vacuum is configured to maintain dies of the array of dies that are outside the area in a substantially planar configuration.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for applying the force causes at least partial peeling of the plurality of dies from the first surface when the force is applied.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plurality of dies is a row of dies.

37. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising:

at least one force element configured to be applied by the force applying means.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the at least one force element comprises a pin, a bar, or a blade.