Component alignment methods

• US 6,581,281 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Gamel, Darryl L., Hines, Kreg W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arbes, Carl J.
• Application Number:
  US09/825,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20010013170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 298/33, 298/34, 297/40, 297/41, 298/40
• US Class Current: 29/834
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0269 for visual or optical inspection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 13/022 with orientation of the elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09918 Optically detected marks used for aligning tool relative to the PCB, e.g. for mounting of components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10689 Leaded Integrated Circuit [IC] package, e.g. dual-in-line [DIL]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0195 Tool for a process not provided for in H05K3/00, e.g. tool for handling objects using suction, for deforming objects, for applying local pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/166 Alignment or registration; Control of registration
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/303 Surface mounted components, e.g. affixing before soldering, aligning means, spacing means H05K3/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49131 by utilizing optical sighting device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49133 with component orienting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49137 Different components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49144 by metal fusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53022 with means to test work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53052 including position sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53091 for work-holder for assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53174 Means to fasten electrical component to wiring board, base, or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53178 Chip component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53183 : Multilead component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53261 : Means to align and advance work part

Abstract

A method of picking a component having an alignment indicating fiducial marker according to a predetermined alignment is provided. The method includes detecting the alignment of the fiducial marker of the component, comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment, determining an alignment offset and picking the component in a manner that corrects the alignment offset when the offset has a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method of picking a component having leads and a predetermined lead alignment, comprising:

forming a fiducial shape on the component, the fiducial shape being indicative of an alignment of the component;

detecting the alignment of the fiducial shape on the component, wherein said detecting comprises;

forming a recess in a surface of a nest, the recess sized to correspond to the fiducial shape of the component; and

placing the component in the recess;

comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment to determine an alignment offset from the predetermined lead alignment; and

picking the component without altering its orientation when the alignment offset has a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined value is about 0°

.

3. A method of picking a component having leads and a predetermined lead alignment, comprising:

forming a fiducial shape on the component, the fiducial shape being indicative of an alignment of the component;

detecting the alignment of the fiducial shape on the component, wherein said detecting comprises;

forming a recess in a surface of a nest, the recess sized to correspond to the fiducial shape of the component; and

placing the component in the recess;

comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment to determine an alignment offset from the predetermined lead alignment; and

picking the component in a manner that corrects the alignment offset when the alignment offset has a predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined value is about 180°

.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the component is square shaped and the predetermined value is about 90°

.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said detecting further comprises determining whether the component extends beyond the surface of the nest.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the fiducial shape is a beveled edge on the component.

8. A method of picking a component having leads and a fiducial marker indicative of a predetermined lead alignment, the method comprising:

detecting the alignment of the fiducial marker of the component;

comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment to determine an alignment offset from the predetermined lead alignment;

providing an alignment signal corresponding to the alignment offset, wherein the alignment signal corresponds to whether the component is properly aligned in a recess of a nest; and

picking the component without altering its orientation when the alignment offset has a predetermined value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined value is about 0°

.

10. A method of picking a component having leads and a fiducial marker indicative of a predetermined lead alignment, the method comprising:

detecting the alignment of the fiducial marker of the component;

comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment to determine an alignment offset from the predetermined lead alignment;

providing an alignment signal corresponding to the alignment offset, wherein the alignment signal corresponds to whether the component is properly aligned in a recess of a nest; and

picking the component in a manner that corrects the detected alignment offset from the predetermined lead alignment when the alignment offset has a predetermined value.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined value is about 180°

.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the component is square shaped and the predetermined value is about 90°

.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein properly aligned corresponds to the presence or absence of a portion of the component extending beyond the recess of the nest.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising affecting a control scheme in response to the alignment signal.