Patent · US Expired

Vacuum loading chuck and fixture for flexible printed circuit panels

US5395198A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
24References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1992
Grant dateMar 7, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67772
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for handling large area, in-process, circuit panel layers. The circuit panel layers are thin and flimsy, and require rigid support for certain processing steps. The system includes a peripheral frame fixture for surrounding and supporting the in process circuit panel layer, and a a loading chuck for mounting the in-process circuit panel layer in the peripheral frame fixture. The peripheral frame fixture includes a bottom plate having a central opening to expose the circuit panel layer, a top frame having a corresponding central opening to expose the opposite surface of the circuit panel layer, and a compressive apparatus, as screws, bolts, or the like, for applying a z axis compressive force to the bottom plate, the top frame, and a panel layer therebetween. Optionally, the fixture may include alignment pins or fiducials for aligning the bottom plate, a panel layer, and the top frame, and a robotic interface for a robotic arm to grasp and transfer the peripheral frame fixture. The system also includes a loading chuck for mounting the in-process circuit panel layer in the peripheral frame fixture. The loading chuck includes a peripheral edge for receiving the b…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.