System for peeling semiconductor chips from tape

1. A method for peeling semiconductor chips from tape, comprising:

providing a nose on a housing, the nose having transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of a target chip;

providing apertures through the nose from the housing;

providing vacuum channels on the nose having an X pattern and connected to at least some of the apertures;

providing vacuum ports in the housing adjacent the nose;

providing vacuum channels on the housing having a ring pattern with arms extending therefrom and connected to at least some of the vacuum ports;

providing a vacuum source that controllably connects to the apertures and the vacuum ports;

positioning the nose adjacent a tape attached on the opposite side thereof to the target chip; and

applying vacuum to attract the tape against the nose and the adjacent portions of the housing to peel the tape from the peripheral edges of the target chip while supporting the tape in the center of the target chip.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a plurality of needles within the housing actuateable for movement extending the needles at least partly through the apertures and retracting the needles back through the apertures.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a plurality of needles within the housing actuateable for movement extending the needles at least partly through the apertures and retracting the needles back through the apertures;

extending the needles through the apertures to lift the target chip substantially away from the tape;

retracting the needles back through the apertures;

releasing the vacuum;

retracting the nose away from the tape; and

positioning the nose adjacent the tape opposite another chip.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the target chip is one of a plurality of chips singulated from a wafer after attachment to the tape.

5. A method for peeling semiconductor chips from tape, comprising:

providing a raised nose on a housing, the nose having transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of a target chip;

providing apertures through the nose from the interior of the housing;

providing vacuum ports in the housing adjacent the nose;

providing vacuum channels connected to at least some of the vacuum ports and vacuum channels connected to at least some of the apertures, the vacuum channels connected to the apertures further comprising an X pattern, and the vacuum channels connected to the vacuum ports further comprising a ring with arms extending outwardly therefrom;

providing a plurality of needles within the housing actuateable for movement extending the needles at least partly through the apertures and retracting the needles back through the apertures;

providing a vacuum source and a valve therefor that controllably connects to the interior of the housing and therethrough to the apertures and the vacuum ports;

centering the nose adjacent an adhesive tape attached on the opposite side thereof to the target chip;

elevating the housing and the nose thereon; and

opening the valve to attract the adhesive tape against the nose and the adjacent portions of the housing to peel the adhesive tape from the peripheral edges of the target chip while supporting the adhesive tape in the center of the target chip.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising extending the needles through the apertures to lift the target chip substantially away from the remainder of the adhesive tape.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

extending the needles through the apertures to lift the target chip substantially away from the remainder of the adhesive tape;

retracting the needles back through the apertures;

releasing the vacuum;

retracting the nose downwardly away from the adhesive tape; and

centering the nose adjacent the adhesive tape opposite another chip.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the target chip is one of a plurality of chips singulated from a wafer after attachment to the adhesive tape.

9. A system for peeling semiconductor chips from tape, comprising:

a housing;

a nose on the housing, the nose having transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of a target chip;

apertures through the nose from the housing;

vacuum channels on the nose having an X pattern and connected to at least some of the apertures;

vacuum ports in the housing adjacent the nose;

vacuum channels on the housing having a ring pattern with arms extending therefrom and connected to at least some of the vacuum ports;

a vacuum source that controllably connects to the apertures and the vacuum ports; and

the system being configured for:

positioning the nose adjacent a tape attached on the opposite side thereof to the target chip; and

applying vacuum to attract the tape against the nose and the adjacent portions of the housing to peel the tape from the peripheral edges of the target chip while supporting the tape in the center of the target chip.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of needles within the housing actuateable for movement extending the needles at least partly through the apertures to lift the target chip substantially away from the remainder of the adhesive tape.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of needles within the housing actuateable for movement:

extending the needles at least partly through the apertures; and

retracting the needles back through the apertures.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the target chip is one of a plurality of chips singulated from a wafer after attachment to the tape.

13. A system for peeling semiconductor chips from tape, comprising:

a housing;

a nose on the housing, the nose having transverse dimensions smaller than the transverse dimensions of a target chip;

apertures through the nose from the interior of the housing;

vacuum ports in the housing adjacent the nose;

vacuum channels connected to at least some of the vacuum ports and vacuum channels connected to at least some of the apertures, the vacuum channels connected to the apertures further comprising an X pattern, and the vacuum channels connected to the vacuum ports further comprising a ring with arms extending outwardly therefrom;

a plurality of needles within the housing actuateable for movement extending the needles at least partly through the apertures and retracting the needles back through the apertures;

a vacuum source and a valve therefor that controllably connects to the interior of the housing and therethrough to the apertures and the vacuum ports; and

the system being configured for:

centering the nose adjacent an adhesive tape attached on the opposite side thereof to the target chip;

elevating the housing and the nose thereon; and opening the valve to attract the adhesive tape against the nose and the adjacent portions of the housing to peel the adhesive tape from the peripheral edges of the target chip while supporting the adhesive tape in the center of the target chip.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the needles are actuateable for movement extending the needles through the apertures to lift the target chip substantially away from the remainder of the adhesive tape.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the needles are actuateable for movement:

extending the needles through the apertures; and

retracting the needles back through the apertures.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the target chip is one of a plurality of chips singulated from a wafer after attachment to the adhesive tape.