Laser marking system for dice carried in trays and method of operation

• US 7,361,862 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Ibarra, Tony T., Canella, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, JONATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US10/007,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,331 Days
• Field of Search: 219/121.82, 219/121.68, 219/121.69, 219/121.67, 414/222.01, 414/222.13, 198/347.1
• US Class Current: 219/121.62
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2101/007 Marks, e.g. trade marks
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0838 by using an endless conveyor belt
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 21/67282 Marking devices

Abstract

A laser marking system for IC packages including a tray input shuttle assembly and a tray transport borne by a transport actuator for moving a tray carrier carrying a tray of unmarked packaged ICs received from the tray input shuttle assembly to a tray output shuttle assembly over a transport actuator path extending under an open-bottomed enclosure of a laser marking station. The tray input shuttle assembly, laser marking station and tray output shuttle assembly each has associated therewith a lift mechanism for raising and lowering the tray carrier relative to the transport so as to facilitate tray loading of the tray carrier from the tray input shuttle assembly, insertion and withdrawal of the tray carrier bearing a tray of packaged ICs for marking into and out of the marking station and unloading of a tray of marked packaged ICs from the tray carrier to the output shuttle assembly.

Claims

1. A system for marking integrated circuit (IC) packages comprising:

a plurality of trays, each tray being sized and configured to carry a plurality of discrete integrated circuit (IC) packages;

a transport actuator including a tray transport;

a tray carrier carried by, and unsecured to, the tray transport of the transport actuator for receiving at least one tray of IC packages of the plurality of trays;

an input shuttle assembly for providing the at least one tray of IC packages to the tray carrier;

an output shuttle assembly for receiving the at least one tray of IC packages from the tray carrier; and

a laser marking station disposed adjacent a portion of the transport actuator between the input shuttle assembly and the output shuttle assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the tray transport and a lower surface of the tray carrier include mutually cooperative physical structures.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mutually cooperative physical structures are adapted to align the tray carrier on the tray transport when the tray carrier is disposed thereon.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein portions of the mutually cooperative physical structures provide a fulcrum for tilting of the tray carrier with respect to the tray transport.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the tray transport is rectangular, but for a corner severed therefrom adjacent the fulcrum.

6. The system of claim 5, further including a lifting device extendable to contact the tray carrier at a location remote from the fulcrum.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the tray transport is of lesser longitudinal extent than the tray carrier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the tray transport is rectangular, but for a corner severed therefrom adjacent the fulcrum.

9. The system of claim 7, further including a lifting device extendable to contact the tray carrier at a location remote from the fulcrum.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the lifting device is extendable from a location below the tray carrier and adjacent a longitudinal end of the tray transport.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the tray carrier is substantially rectangular and includes a substantially planar upper surface having upwardly extending stops at each corner thereof.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tray carrier includes a portion of reduced width defined by mutually longitudinally coextensive elongated notches in parallel sides thereof.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the tray carrier includes a plurality of downwardly facing notches in the parallel sides thereof.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of downwardly facing notches comprises two notches on each of the parallel sides of the tray carrier.