System and method for constraining totally released microcomponents
First Claim
1. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
- releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
providing at least one constraining member in a predefined area to removably constrain said at least one released microcomponent to a said predefined area.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed which constrain a microcomponent that is totally released from a substrate for handling of such totally released microcomponent. A preferred embodiment provides a system and method which constrain a totally released microcomponent to a base (e.g., another microcomponent or a substrate). For example, a preferred embodiment provides constraining members that work to constrain a microcomponent to a substrate as such microcomponent is totally released from such substrate. Accordingly, such constraining members may aid in preserving the microcomponent with its substrate during the release of such microcomponent from its substrate during fabrication. Additionally, a preferred embodiment provides constraining members that are suitable for constraining a totally released microcomponent to a base for post-fabrication handling of the microcomponent. To further aid in post-fabrication handling of totally released microcomponents, a preferred embodiment may be implemented as a “pallet” having one or more microcomponents constrained thereto. Moreover, constraining members of a preferred embodiment enable the totally released microcomponent to be removed from such constraints when desired, but prevents the totally released microcomponent from inadvertently escaping such constraints. For instance, in one embodiment, the constraining members are implemented as moveable members that can be moved to unconstrain the totally released microcomponent from its base.
86 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
providing at least one constraining member in a predefined area to removably constrain said at least one released microcomponent to a said predefined area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
providing at least one constraining member to constrain said at least one released microcomponent to a base, wherein said base is another microcomponent.
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7. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
constraining said at least one released microcomponent to a base, wherein said constraining includes overhanging at least a portion of a vertical constraining member over said at least one released microcomponent to restrict vertical movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to said base. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
constraining said at least one released microcomponent to a base, wherein said constraining includes arranging at least one horizontal constraining member to restrict lateral movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to said base. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
constraining said at least one released microcomponent to a base, wherein said constraining permits an acceptable degree of movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to said base. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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fabricating at least one microcomponent on a substrate of fabrication;
releasing said at least one microcomponent from said substrate of fabrication; and
providing at least one constraining member in a predefined area to constrain said at least one released microcomponent to said predefined area, wherein said constraining includes constraining said at least one microcomponent to said predefined area during said fabricating. - View Dependent Claims (16)
constraining said at least one microcomponent during exposure of said at least one microcomponent to a releasing agent to release said microcomponent from said substrate of fabrication.
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17. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at feast one microcomponent that is released from a substrate of fabrication; and
constraining said at least one released microcomponent to a predefined area with at least one constraining member provided in said predefined area; and
unconstraining said at least one released microcomponent. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
moving said at least one constraining member to remove said at least one released microcomponent from constraint of said at least one constraining member.
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19. The method of claim 17 wherein said unconstraining includes:
applying sufficient force against said at least one constraining member to cause said at least one constraining member to flex to allow removal of said at least one released microcomponent from constraint of said at least one constraining member.
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20. An apparatus for handling microcomponents, said apparatus comprising:
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a base from which at least one microcomponent is released; and
at least one constraining member to constrain said at least one released microcomponent to said base, wherein said at least one constraining member is arranged to allow for unconstraining said at least one released microcomponent when desired. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for handling microcomponents, said apparatus comprising:
a base from which at least one microcomponent is released; and
at least one constraining member to constrain said at least one released microcomponent to said base, wherein said at least one constraining member includes at least one vertical constraining member arranged such that at least a portion of said vertical constraining member overhangs at least a portion of said at least one microcomponent to restrict vertical movement of said at least one microcomponent relative to said base.- View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for handling microcomponents, said apparatus comprising:
a base from which at least one microcomponent is released; and
at least one constraining member to constrain said at least one released microcomponent to said base, wherein said at least one constraining member includes at least one horizontal constraining member arranged to restrict lateral movement of said at least one microcomponent relative to said base.- View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A system comprising:
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at least one microcomponent that is released from a substrate; and
means for constraining movement of said at least one microcomponent relative to a base, wherein said constraining means is moveable relative to said base. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A system comprising:
at least one microcomponent that is released from a substrate; and
means for constraining, said at least one microcomponent to a base, wherein said constraining means is moveable for unconstraining said at least one microcomponent from said base.
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57. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from all substrates; and
providing at least one constraining member in a predefined area for constraining movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to said predefined area.
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58. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
constraining movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to said substrate of fabrication. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61)
constraining movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to a predefined area of said substrate of fabrication.
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60. The method of claim 58 wherein said constraining comprises:
removably constraining said at least one released microcomponent to said substrate of fabrication.
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61. The method of claim 58 wherein said constraining comprises:
overhanging at least a portion of a vertical constraining member over at least a portion of said at least one released microcomponent to restrict vertical movement of said at least one released microcomponent relative to said substrate of fabrication.
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62. A method of handling microcomponents, said method comprising:
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releasing at least one microcomponent from a substrate of fabrication; and
constraining said at least one released microcomponent to a base without bonding said at least one released microcomponent to said base.
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63. An apparatus for handling microcomponents, said apparatus comprising:
a base from which at least one microcomponent is released; and
at least one constraining member to constrain said at least one released microcomponent to said base, wherein said at least one constraining member is moveable relative to said base.- View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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66. A system comprising:
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at least one microcomponent that is released from a substrate of fabrication; and
means for constraining said at least one released microcomponent to said substrate of fabrication. - View Dependent Claims (67)
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Specification