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United States Patent 6,417,484
Canella ,   et al. July 9, 2002
Laser marking system for dice carried in trays and method of operation

Abstract

A laser marking system for IC packages including a tray input shuttle assembly, a tray transport borne by a transport actuator for moving a cooperatively configured 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 sliding wedge-type lift mechanism for raising and lowering the tray carrier vertically with respect to the transport so as to facilitate tray loading of the tray carrier from a stack of trays on 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 onto a stack of trays on the output shuttle assembly. The lift mechanisms and tray shuttle assemblies may each be driven by air cylinders. A method of operation of the laser marking system is also disclosed.

Inventors: Canella; Robert L. (Nampa, ID); Ibarra; Tony T. (Nampa, ID)
Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc. (Nampa, ID)
Appl. No.: 217040
Filed: December 21, 1998

Current U.S. Class: 219/121.68; 219/121.69
Intern'l Class: B23K 026/00
Field of Search: 219/121.82,121.68,121.69,121.67 414/222.01,222.13 198/347.1

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Other References

Pending Patent Application, "An Apparatus for Actuating the Retaining Locks of a Cassette" (without claims or abstract), Ser. No. 08/923,359, filed Sep. 8, 1997.
Pending Patent Application, "Integrated Circuit Chip Handling Apparatus and Method" (without claims or abstract), Ser. No. 09/307,498, filed May 7, 1999.
Pending Patent Application "Automated Multi-Chip Module Handler, Method of Module Handling, and Module Magazine" (without claims or abstract), Ser. No. 09/065,799, filed Apr. 23, 1998.
Pending Patent Application "Method of Efficiently Laser Marking Singulated Semiconductor Devices" (without claims or abstract), Ser. No. 08/590,919, filed Jan. 24, 1996.
Pending Patent Application, "Shuttle Assembly for Tray Handling" (without claims or abstract), Serial. No. 09/219,501, filed Dec. 21, 1998.
Pending Patent Application, "Controlled Motion Lift Mechanism" (without claims or abstract), Serial No. 09/217,032, filed Dec. 21, 1998.
Pending Patent Application, "Self-Aligning Tray Carrier Apparatus with Tilt Feature" (without claims or abstract), Ser. No. 09/217,029, filed Dec. 21, 1998.

Primary Examiner: Dunn; Tom
Assistant Examiner: Johnson; Jonathan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: TraskBritt
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