Integrated circuit placement system
View Patent ↗This invention relates to a dice placement assembly for placing dice on a carrier. The assembly includes a support platform with a clamp mechanism configured to clamp the carrier onto said platform, and at least one camera operatively directed at the platform to detect alignment fiducials on the carrier. The assembly also includes a placement device having a vacuum mechanism to retrieve the dice from a supply mechanism, said placement device having actuators to align the dice with the carrier and to place the dice thereon once aligned, and a heater to heat the dice prior to placement on the test bed. Further included is a controller operatively controlling the clamp mechanism, the camera and the placement device, to facilitate accurate placement of the dice on the carrier.
1. A dice placement assembly for placing a plurality of inkjet printhead dice on a printhead carrier so as to form a pagewidth inkjet printhead, said assembly comprising:
a support platform with a clamp mechanism clamping the printhead carrier, said printhead carrier having a plurality of discrete tortuous ink paths for ducting ink to the printhead dice, each of said ink paths terminating at a respective fiducial aperture;
at least one camera operatively directed at the platform to detect the fiducial apertures on the printhead carrier;
a supply of the printhead dice, each printhead dice having a fluid inlet for connection to a corresponding fiducial aperture of the printhead carrier;
a placement device comprising:
a vacuum mechanism to retrieve a printhead die individually from the supply of printhead dice;
actuators to align each individually picked printhead die with the printhead carrier and to place the printhead die directly in contact with the printhead carrier once aligned; and
a heater to heat the printhead die prior to placement on the printhead carrier; and
a controller operatively controlling the clamp mechanism, the camera and the placement device, configured to facilitate accurate placement of the printhead dice on the printhead carrier such that a predetermined number of printhead die are sequentially positioned across the printhead carrier to form said pagewidth inkjet printhead.
2. The placement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the camera includes a camera module linked to a prism by means of an adapter tube to focus said camera on the printhead carrier.
3. The placement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuators of the placement device includes three stepper motors each separately responsible for vertical, horizontal and angular alignment of the printhead dice with the printhead carrier, respectively.
4. The placement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuators of the placement device includes a linear translation stage for moving the printhead dice in a vertical direction for placing the printhead dice onto the printhead carrier.
5. The placement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the placement device includes a heated air blower configured to direct heated air at the dice prior to the placement device placing the printhead dice onto the printhead carrier.
6. The placement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the placement device includes a lighting arrangement for illuminating the printhead carrier to assist the camera in detecting the alignment fiducials.
7. The placement assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support platform includes a pneumatically operated self-leveling platform controlled by the controller.
8. A method of placing a plurality of inkjet printhead dice on a printhead carrier so as to form a pagewidth inkjet printhead, said method comprising the steps of:
clamping the printhead carrier using a clamping mechanism, said printhead carrier having a plurality of discrete tortuous ink paths for ducting ink to the printhead dice, each of said ink paths terminating at a respective fiducial aperture;
detecting the fiducial apertures on the printhead carrier using at least one camera;
providing a supply of the printhead dice, each printhead dice having a fluid inlet for connection to a corresponding fiducial aperture of the printhead carrier;
placing the printhead dice on the printhead carrier, said placing comprising the steps of:
picking an individual printhead die from the supply of printhead dice using a vacuum mechanism;
aligning each individually picked printhead die with the printhead carrier and placing the printhead die directly in contact with the printhead carrier once aligned; and
heating the printhead die prior to placement on the printhead carrier; and
repeating said steps until a predetermined number of printhead dice are sequentially positioned across the printhead carrier to form said pagewidth inkjet printhead.