Mass transfer tool manipulator assembly with remote center of compliance

• US 9,522,468 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Parks, Paul Argus, Light, Nile Alexander, Bathurst, Stephen P., Higginson, John A., Bibl, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US14/273,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20150321338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 18/007 the end effector rotating around a fixed point
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 7/00 Micromanipulators specimen supports for investigating or analysing materials G01N23/2204; associated with microscopes G02B21/32; means for supporting or positioning the objects or the material in discharge tubes H01J37/20
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0015 Flexure members, i.e. parts of manipulators having a narrowed section allowing articulation by flexion
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/7565 Means for transporting the components to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/75822 Rotational mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20354 Planar surface with orthogonal movement only

Abstract

Systems and methods for transferring a micro device or an array of micro devices to or from a substrate are disclosed. In an embodiment, a remote center robot allows on-the-fly alignment between a micro pick up array and a target substrate. The remote center robot may include a plurality of symmetric linkages that move independently and share a remote rotational center. In an embodiment, the remote rotational center may be positioned at a surface of the micro pick up array to prevent damage to the array of micro devices during transfer.

Claims

1. A remote center robot, comprising:

a first linkage having a first upper joint and a first lower joint separated along a first axis by a first link arm having a first length, wherein the first link arm is coupled to a first coupler link by the first lower joint; and

a second linkage having a second upper joint and a second lower joint separated along a second axis by a second link arm having a second length equal to the first length, wherein the second link arm is coupled to a second ground link by the second upper joint, and wherein the second ground link is fixed to the first coupler link.

2. The remote center robot of claim 1, wherein the first upper joint is coplanar with the first lower joint in a first plane, and wherein the second upper joint is coplanar with the second lower joint in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane.

3. The remote center robot of claim 2, wherein the first plane and the second plane intersect along a z-axis, and wherein a first angle between the first axis and the z-axis is equal to a second angle between the second axis and the z-axis.

4. The remote center robot of claim 3, wherein the first upper joint is coplanar with the second upper joint in an upper plane orthogonal to the z-axis, and wherein the first lower joint is coplanar with the second lower joint in a lower plane orthogonal to the z-axis.

5. The remote center robot of claim 3 further comprising a third upper joint coplanar with a third lower joint in the first plane, wherein the third upper joint and the third lower joint are separated along a third axis by a third link arm, and wherein the third lower joint is coupled with the first lower joint by the first coupler link of the first linkage.

6. The remote center robot of claim 5, wherein a third angle between the third axis and the z-axis is equal to the first angle.

7. The remote center robot of claim 6, wherein the third upper joint is coplanar with the first upper joint in the upper plane.

8. The remote center robot of claim 5 further comprising:

a first linear actuator having a first end fixed relative to the first upper joint and a second end coupled with the first link arm, such that actuation of the first linear actuator changes the first angle; and

a second linear actuator having a third end fixed relative to the second upper joint and a fourth end coupled with the second link arm, such that actuation of the second linear actuator changes the second angle.

9. The remote center robot of claim 8, wherein the first axis intersects the z-axis at a remote tipping center, wherein the second axis intersects the z-axis at a remote tilting center, and wherein the remote tipping center is coincident with the remote tilting center at a remote rotational center.

10. The remote center robot of claim 9 further comprising:

a z-flexure having an upper portion coupled with a second coupler link of the second linkage and a lower portion separated from the upper portion along the z-axis; and

a distribution plate coupled with the lower portion of the z-flexure, the distribution plate configured to receive a micro pick up array having an electrostatic transfer head such that the remote rotational center is coincident with the electrostatic transfer head.

11. The remote center robot of claim 1, wherein a first combined stiffness of the first linkage is equal to a second combined stiffness of the second linkage.

12. The remote center robot of claim11, wherein the upper joints and the lower joints include a plurality of living hinges.

13. The remote center robot of claim 1, wherein the first linkage further includes an adjuster link between the first upper joint and an adjustment joint, wherein the adjustment joint is coupled with a first ground link of the first linkage.

14. The remote center robot of claim 13, wherein the adjuster link is adjustable such that a lateral distance between the first upper joint and the z-axis changes when the adjuster link is adjusted.

15. The remote center robot of claim 14, wherein the adjustment joint pivotally couples the adjuster link with the first ground link, such that the lateral distance changes when the adjuster link pivots about the adjustment joint.

16. The remote center robot of claim 14, wherein the adjuster link includes a variable length, such that the lateral distance changes when the variable length changes.