Fixture for an integrated circuit chip

• US 4,007,479 A
• Filed: 03/29/1976
• Issued: 02/08/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Information Systems, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Information Systems, Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kowalski, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wojciechowicz, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US05/671,238
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 357/69, 357/70, 357/74, 174/52 FP, 317/101 CC, 339/176 MP
• US Class Current: 29/760
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/32 Holders for supporting the complete device in operation, i.e. detachable fixtures H01L23/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/49572 consisting of thin flexible metallic tape with or without a film carrier H01L23/49503 - H01L23/49568 and H01L23/49575 - H01L23/49579 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53265 with work-holder for assembly

Abstract

A fixture for a segment of a film strip having a flexible beam lead frame mounted on the segment and an integrated circuit chip bonded to inner portions of the leads of the lead frame. The fixture is provided with an aperture so that when a segment is held by the fixture, the aperture provides access to the integrated circuit chip and a portion of the lead frame so that the chip and a part of the lead frame may be removed from the fixture prior to the chip being mounted on a substrate. The fixture protects the chip and its lead frame from damage during various manufacturing processes such as testing, sorting, and accumulating the proper number and types of chips prior to their being mounted on a substrate while facilitating automation of these processes.

Claims

1. A fixture for a segment of a film strip, said segment having a lead frame affixed to the segment and an integrated circuit chip bonded to the lead frame,

said segment having reference sprocket holes formed therein,

a window formed in each segment, the window having a predetermined position relative to the reference sprocket holes,

the lead frame having a plurality of electrically distinct leads, each lead having outer portions and inner portions, the outer portion of each of the leads being secured to the segment and the inner portion of each lead extending over the window, the leads having a predetermined position relative to the reference sprocket holes, and

the integrated circuit chip being bonded to inner portions of leads of the lead frame, and being positioned in the window;

said fixture comprising;

a laminar layer, an aperture in said layer, the dimensions of the aperture being substantially equal to or greater than the dimensions of the window in said segment but substantially less than the dimensions of said segment;

means forming access openings formed in said fixture, said access openings being located to permit access to the reference sprocket holes of a segment when positioned in said fixture;

positioning means on the laminar layer adapted to position a segment so that the window of the segment is accessible through the aperture of the laminar layer; and

means for retaining a segment in said position and for providing access to the chip, the lead frame, and the reference sprocket holes.

2. In combination:

a segment of a film strip, said film strip having rows of sprocket holes formed therein, one row on each side, with one sprocket hole in each row being a reference sprocket hole;

means forming a window in each segment, the window having a fixed position relative to the reference sprocket holes;

a lead frame, said lead frame having a plurality of leads, each lead having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion of each of the leads being secured to the segment and the inner portion of each lead extending over the window, the leads having a predetermined position relative to the reference sprocket holes;

an integrated circuit chip, said chip being bonded to inner portions of the leads of the lead frame, and being positioned within the window;

a fixture comprising a laminar layer,

means forming an aperture in said layer, the dimensions of the aperture being substantially equal to or greater than the dimensions of the window in said segment but less than the dimensions of said segment;

positioning means integral with the laminar layer for positioning the segment so that the window of the segment is accessible through the aperture, said segment being positioned by said positioning means;

means forming access openings in said fixture, said access openings being located to permit access to the reference sprocket holes of the segment positioned on said fixture; and

means for retaining the segment in said position said means providing access to the lead frame and reference sprocket holes of the segment.

3. A fixture for a segment of a film strip having a lead frame attached to the segment and an integrated circuit chip bonded to the lead frame;

said segment having reference sprocket holes formed therein, one on each side thereof;

a window formed in each segment, said window having a position fixed with respect to the reference sprocket holes;

the lead frame having a plurality of leads each lead having an inner and an outer portion, the outer portions being secured to the segment and the inner portions extending over the window;

the integrated circuit chip being bonded to inner portions of the leads so that the chip is positioned substantially within the window of the segment;

said fixture comprising;

first and second laminar layers, the second laminar layer being hinged to the first layer, each layer having an aperture formed therein with each aperture having a center;

positioning means integral with said first layer for positioning a segment of film strip so that the window of the segment is centrally located within the apertures formed in the first layer of the fixture when the laminar layers are folded together;

means for securing the first and second layers together so the center of the aperture in the second layer substantially coincides with the center of the aperture in the first layer, and

access openings formed in both layers, to provide access to reference sprocket holes of a segment positioned in said fixture.

4. The fixture of claim 3 in which one laminar layer is thicker than the other.

5. The fixture of claim 4 in which the positioning means is a plurality of posts mounted on a laminar layer.

6. The fixture of claim 5 in which a laminar layer is provided with means forming a recess, the depth of which is substantially equal to the thickness of the segment.

7. The fixture of claim 6 in which the laminar layers are formed of a thermoplastic material.

8. In combination:

a segment of a laminate having substantially planar surfaces;

means forming rows of sprocket holes on each side of a segment with one sprocket hole of each row being a datum sprocket hole;

means forming a window in said segment, said window having a predetermined position with respect to the datum sprocket holes;

a lead frame affixed to the segment, the lead frame comprising a plurality of leads having inner and outer portions, the outer portions of the leads being secured to the segment and the inner portions extending over the window;

an integrated circuit chip, said chip being attached to the inner portions of the leads and being positioned substantially within the window formed in the segment;

a fixture, said fixture comprising a first laminar layer and a second laminar layer, the laminar layers being hinged together so that one layer can be folded over the other;

each layer having means forming an aperture of predetermined configuration in each layer;

positioning means formed on said first layer for positioning said segment so that the window of the segment is substantially centrally located within the aperture formed in the first laminar layer of the fixture, said segment being positioned by said positioning means;

means for securing the first and second laminar layers together with the segment between them, the apertures of the first and second layers being in substantial registration with each other; and

means forming apertures in both layers to provide access to the datum sprocket holes of the segment.

9. The combination of claim 8 in which the first laminar layer is thicker than the second.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which the positioning means is a plurality of posts mounted on the first laminar layer.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the second laminar layer is provided with recess means of a depth substantially equal to the thickness of the segment.

12. The combination of claim 11 in which the laminar layers are formed of a thermoplastic material.

13. A fixture for a segment of laminate having substantially planar surfaces with a lead frame attached to the segment and an integrated circuit chip bonded to the lead frame, said segment having sprocket holes on each side with one sprocket hole on each side being a datum sprocket hole, means forming a window in said segment, said window having a position fixed relative to the datum sprocket holes;

the lead frame comprising a plurality of leads having inner and outer portions, the outer portions of the leads being secured to the segment and the inner portions extending over the window; and

the integrated circuit chip being attached to inner portions of at least some of the leads so that the chip is substantially positioned within the window of the segment;

said fixture comprising;

a laminar layer;

means forming an aperture in said laminar layer, the dimensions of said aperture being in the range of from substantially equal to the dimensions of the window formed in a segment to the dimensions of a lead frame attached to the segment;

recess means surrounding said aperture, the dimensions of the recess being such as to receive a segment and position the segment relative to said aperture;

means located in said recess for engaging selected ones of the sprocket holes in a segment other than the datum sprocket holes for holding a segment in the recess; and

means forming access openings in said fixture for providing access to the datum sprocket holes of a segment.

14. The fixture of claim 13 in which the means for engaging selected ones of said sprocket holes are lugs integral with said laminar layer.

15. The fixture of claim 14 in which the laminar layer is made of a thermoplastic material.

16. The fixture of claim 15 in which the laminar layer is provided with a polarity key.

17. The fixture of claim 16 in which the laminar layer is provided with means for recording indicia.

18. In combination:

a segment of a film strip;

said segment having a plurality of sprocket holes formed in rows therein, one row on each side of the segment, one sprocket hole of each row being a reference sprocket hole;

a window formed in each segment, said window having a predetermined position with respect to the reference sprocket holes;

a lead frame having a plurality of leads, said leads having inner and outer portions, the outer portions of the leads being secured to the segment and the inner portions extending over the window;

an integrated circuit chip attached to the inner portions of at least some leads so that the chip is positioned substantially within the window of the segment;

a fixture for the segment, said fixture comprising a laminar layer;

means forming an aperture in said laminar layer;

means forming a recess in said laminar layer surrounding said means forming an aperture, the dimensions of the recess being such as to receive and position a segment so that the window of the segment is accessible through the aperture in the fixture, said segment being so positioned in said segment;

means in said recess for engaging sprocket holes in the segment other than the reference sprocket holes to maintain the segment in said recess; and

means forming access openings in said laminar layer to provide access to the reference sprocket holes of the segment positioned and retained in said recess.

19. The combination of claim 18 in which the means for engaging selected ones of said sprocket holes are lugs integral with said laminar layer.

20. The combination of claim 19 in which the laminar layer is made of thermoplastic material.

21. The combination of claim 20 in which the laminar layer is provided with a polarity key.

22. The combination of claim 21 in which the laminar layer is provided magnetic means for recording indicia.