Apparatus and method for protecting integrated circuits
First Claim
1. A carrier having a closed mode for housing an integrated circuit having conductive leads attached to a rigid body, said carrier comprising:
- (a) an enclosure having a top section and having a bottom section;
(b) means for electrically connecting said enclosure top and bottom sections together;
(c) means for maintaining said enclosure top and bottom sections in the closed mode; and
(d) means for holding the integrated circuit rigid body inside said enclosure between said top and bottom sections so that the conductive leads are unsupported by the carrier.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated circuit (IC) carrier having uniform conductivity and the ability to securely hold an IC in a predetermined position within the carrier is disclosed. The IC is securely held inside a closed enclosure without using the IC leads to support the IC. Additionally, a viewing window which allows the reading of information printed on the IC from outside the closed enclosure is disclosed. The enclosure is formed as a one-piece object which additionally includes a living hinge, a latching system, structure which aids stacking, and structure which facilitates opening of the enclosure by automated means.
91 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A carrier having a closed mode for housing an integrated circuit having conductive leads attached to a rigid body, said carrier comprising:
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(a) an enclosure having a top section and having a bottom section; (b) means for electrically connecting said enclosure top and bottom sections together; (c) means for maintaining said enclosure top and bottom sections in the closed mode; and (d) means for holding the integrated circuit rigid body inside said enclosure between said top and bottom sections so that the conductive leads are unsupported by the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A carrier for a static sensitive device having a rigid body, said carrier comprising:
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(a) an enclosure top section having surfaces constructed from an antistatic material; (b) an enclosure bottom section having surfaces constructed from an antistatic material; (c) an enclosure hinge constructed from an antistatic material, said hinge connecting said top section to said bottom section; (d) means for latching said bottom section to said top section; and (e) means, integral with one of said top and bottom section surfaces, for holding the device rigid body between said top and bottom sections so that the rigid body contacts said top and bottom section surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (10, 14, 15)
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11. A carrier for a static sensitive device having a rigid body and conductive leads attached to the rigid body, said carrier comprising:
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(a) An enclosure top section constructed from an antistatic material; (b) an enclosure bottom section constructed from an antistatic material; (c) an enclosure hinge constructed from an antistatic material, said hinge connecting said top section to said bottom section; (d) means for latching said bottom section to said top section; and (e) means, integral with one of said top section and said bottom section, for holding the device rigid body between said top and bottom sections so that the rigid body contacts said top and bottom sections and the conductive leads are isolated from contact with the carrier. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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16. A method for protecting an integrated circuit having a rigid body with information printed thereon and having conductive leads, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) enclosing the integrated circuit within an antistatic enclosure having opposing sections, said enclosing step to protect the integrated circuit from static discharges; (b) clamping the integrated circuit in a stationary position between and in contact with the opposing sections of said enclosing step to protect the conductive leads from mechanical deformation; (c) supporting the integrated circuit in said retaining step by the rigid body so that the conductive leads remain unsupported by the enclosure, said supporting step for protecting the conductive leads from contamination. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A carrier, having a closed mode, for housing a flat pack integrated circuit having conductive leads attached to a rigid body, the rigid body having information thereon, said carrier comprising:
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(a) an antistatic enclosure having a top section and having a bottom section, said enclosure bottom section having a floor; (b) an antistatic, living hinge connecting said enclosure top and bottom sections together so that said hinge and said enclosure top and bottom sections form integral portions of a one-piece object; (c) a holding pedestal centrally located within said enclosure top section; (d) an integrated circuit retaining pedestal having a base and a platform, the base being attached to the central interior of said floor, said retaining pedestal extending toward the interior of said enclosure and terminating in the pedestal platform; (e) an integrated circuit anchoring wall having first and second edges, said anchoring wall first edge being attached to said retaining pedestal platform, and said anchoring wall perpendicularly extending toward said floor; (f) a supporting lip attached to said anchoring wall second edge, said supporting lip being substantially parallel to said floor so that said enclosure in the closed mode compresses the integrated circuit rigid body between said holding pedestal and said supporting lip by spring action of said enclosure; (g) means for latching said enclosure top and bottom sections together; and (h) means, integral with said supporting lip, for displaying the integrated circuit rigid body so that information printed thereon is observable from outside said enclosure.
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Specification