Handler for IC packages

US4869636A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Reid-Ashman Manufacturing, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Steven J. Reid · Austin, US
• Lewis Weiss · Scotts Valley, US
• Bryan Riley · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 24, 1987
• Grant date: Sep 26, 1989
• Expiry date: Jun 24, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L21/67769
• WIPO field: Semiconductors
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A package handling apparatus for presenting circuit packages to a test head is provided which uses a soft handling approach throughout the system. The handler works with a plurality of sticks, with each stick adapted for holding a plurality of packages in a substantially horizontal linear array, with the linear array defining a linear axis for the stick. The handler includes an input elevator element for receiving a first stick loaded with a first package, for moving the first stick vertically to an index level. An input drive moves the first stick horizontally to an index position. A first pick-up removes the first package from the first stick and then moves the first package to a stage pick-up position. A stage element receives the first package, and presents it to the test head for testing. Once tested, the stage element moves the package to a stage exit position. A stage pick-up then places the first package in a stage row stick. A third pick-up then removes the first package from the stage row stick, and places it into a storage row stick in response to a signal from the test head. With this approach, packages are transported and stored in sticks, except when on the stage elem…