WO2006080809A1 - Apparatus for processing semiconductor package - Google Patents

Apparatus for processing semiconductor package Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006080809A1
WO2006080809A1 PCT/KR2006/000300 KR2006000300W WO2006080809A1 WO 2006080809 A1 WO2006080809 A1 WO 2006080809A1 KR 2006000300 W KR2006000300 W KR 2006000300W WO 2006080809 A1 WO2006080809 A1 WO 2006080809A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
package
packages
transfer
singulated
singulation
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/KR2006/000300
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hyun-Gyun Jung
Kyu-Seok Hwang
Soek-Bae Kim
Original Assignee
Hanmi Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hanmi Semiconductor Co., Ltd. filed Critical Hanmi Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
Publication of WO2006080809A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006080809A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/677—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations
    • H01L21/67703—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations between different workstations
    • H01L21/67721—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations between different workstations the substrates to be conveyed not being semiconductor wafers or large planar substrates, e.g. chips, lead frames
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/67005—Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/67011—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
    • H01L21/67092—Apparatus for mechanical treatment
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/677—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations
    • H01L21/67703—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations between different workstations
    • H01L21/67712—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations between different workstations the substrate being handled substantially vertically
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/677—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations
    • H01L21/67739—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations into and out of processing chamber
    • H01L21/67751—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for conveying, e.g. between different workstations into and out of processing chamber vertical transfer of a single workpiece
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L21/00—Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof
    • H01L21/67—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere
    • H01L21/683—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping
    • H01L21/6838—Apparatus specially adapted for handling semiconductor or electric solid state devices during manufacture or treatment thereof; Apparatus specially adapted for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or electric solid state devices or components ; Apparatus not specifically provided for elsewhere for supporting or gripping with gripping and holding devices using a vacuum; Bernoulli devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a semiconductor package . More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a semiconductor package, which singulates a semiconductor package strip into individual semiconductor packages and loads the individual semiconductor packages onto a package tray device .
  • a semiconductor package is obtained through various fabrication processes of preparing a semiconductor chip including a silicon semiconductor substrate formed with highly integrated circuits, such as transistors and capacitors, attaching the semiconductor chip to a lead frame or a printed circuit board, electrically connecting the semiconductor chip to the lead frame or the printed circuit using wires, and molding
  • EMC epoxy molding compound
  • FIGS . 1 and 2 show a conventional package processing apparatus .
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the conventional package processing apparatus
  • FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG .
  • FIGS . 3 to 5 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of the conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
  • the conventional package processing apparatus includes a singulation device 100 for singulating a semiconductor package into individual packages , a package transfer device 200 for transferring the individual packages by picking the individual packages using a vacuum, a package carrier 300 for carrying the packages transferred thereto from the package transfer device 200 , a package stacker 400 for stacking packages by picking the packages from the package carrier 300 using a vacuum, and a package tray device 500 onto which the packages stacked on the package stacker 400 are finally loaded.
  • the singulation device 100 includes a punch 120 on which the package is mounted, a die 130 for singulating the package in cooperation with the punch 120, and a package protector 140 for preventing the package mounted on the punch 120 from spring out of the punch 120 during the singulation process .
  • the package protector 140 is elastically biased toward a predetermined direction by means of an elastic member 142.
  • the package transfer device 200 includes a transfer picker 220 having a plurality of vacuum pads 222 attached to the transfer picker 220 in series .
  • the package carrier 300 includes a plurality of package mounting seats 320 which are aligned corresponding to the vacuum pads 222 (see, FIG. 1) .
  • the semiconductor package P is fed onto an upper surface of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100
  • the package transfer device 200 picks the singulated packages from the punch 120 using a vacuum and then moves up to a second position corresponding to a predetermined height h.3. After that, the package transfer device 200 moves toward the package carrier
  • the package transfer device 200 transfers the packages while simply moving up and down between the first and second positions .
  • the conventional package processing apparatus may not rapidly transfer the package to the next stage because the package transfer device 200 must be waited until the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 has moved to a position corresponding to the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200.
  • the stroke of the punch 120 may be lengthened, thereby lowering the speed of the singulation process .
  • the package protector 140 must be provided so as to prevent the packages mounted on the punch 12 from spring out of the punch 120 during the singulation process, so the manufacturing cost for the conventional package processing apparatus may increase and the structure of the conventional package processing apparatus may be complicated.
  • the package protector 140 may be easily broken due to the consecutive rotating action of the package protector 140 and the friction between the package protector 140 and the punch 120.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above- mentioned problems, and it is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a semiconductor package processing apparatus capable of improving the speed of the singulation process for the semiconductor package and rapidly transferring the semiconductor package to the next stage after the singulation process .
  • the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a semiconductor packages, the apparatus comprising : a singulation device including a punch on which a package to be singulated is mounted and a die for singulating the package into individual packages in cooperation with the punch; a pair of package transfer devices, which alternately pick the packages singulated by the singulation device using a vacuum so as to transfer the packages after a singulation process for the package has been completed; and a package carrier including package mounting seats aligned in corresponding to vacuum pads of the package transfer devices and carrying the packages from the package transfer devices to a package tray device, wherein the package transfer device moves down to a singulation stage of the singulation device so as to directly pick the packages singulated through interaction between the punch and the die .
  • the package transfer device includes a picker block, a transfer picker installed in the picker block such that the transfer picker is movable up and down, a rack installed at one side of the transfer picker, and a server motor having a pinion engaged with the rack.
  • a rotator is installed between the singulation device and the package carrier to rotate the singulated packages by a predetermined angle .
  • the rotator is movable in an x-axis direction synchronized with the package transfer device .
  • Each package transfer device includes a first package transfer device for transferring the singulated packages to the rotator, and a second package transfer device for transferring the singulated packages, which has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator, to the package carrier .
  • the transfer picker is controlled in such a manner that the transfer picker transfers the singulated packages to the package carrier while being aligned in a first position, which is approximate to a lower end portion of the die of the singulation device, a second position, which is approximate to an upper surface of the package carrier, or a third position, at which the transfer picker moves toward the package carrier .
  • a widthwise pitch or a lengthwise pitch of the packages is adjusted when the packages , which have been singulated by the singulation device, are transferred to the package carrier by means of the transfer picker, and a lengthwise pitch or a widthwise pitch of the singulated packages is adj usted when the singulated packages are stacked on the package tray device from the package carrier .
  • the present invention also provides a method for processing a semiconductor package, the method comprising the steps of : feeding a semiconductor package to be singulated onto an upper surface of a punch of a singulation device; moving down a package transfer device to a first position, which corresponds to a height hi and is approximate to a lower end portion of a die of the singulation device; moving up the punch of the singulation device in such a manner that the package fed onto the punch can be singulated through interaction between the punch and the die; and picking the singulated packages by using the package transfer device located in the first position .
  • the method further comprises the steps of : moving the package transfer device, which has picked the singulated packages, up to a third position, which corresponds to a height h3, and then moving the package transfer device toward a package carrier; and moving down the package transfer device to a second position, which corresponds to a height h2 and is approximate to an upper surface of a package mounting seat of the package carrier, when the package transfer device unit reaches the upper surface of the package mounting seat of the package carrier, thereby loading the packages onto the package mounting seat of the package carrier .
  • the package transfer device moves down to the singulation position and picks the singulated packages, so that the transfer speed for the package may be improved.
  • the punch of the singulation device is instantly moved downward for a new singulation process without being moved up to the package transfer position of the package transfer device, so that the efficiency of the singulation process may be significantly improved.
  • the package transfer device directly picks the singulated packages using the vacuum, so the conventional package protector can be omitted.
  • the structure of the semiconductor package processing apparatus can be simplified and the efficiency of the semiconductor package processing apparatus can be improved .
  • the semiconductor package processing apparatus further includes a rotator, it is possible to rotate the stacked packages in a desired direction without exerting a bad influence upon the efficiency of the semiconductor package processing apparatus .
  • FIG . 1 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a conventional package processing apparatus
  • FIG . 2 is a front view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIGS . 3 to 5 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of a conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG . 6 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG . 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 6;
  • FIG . 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a singulation device of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 7 ;
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a package transfer device of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 7 ;
  • FIGS . 10 to 14 are plan views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
  • FIGS . 15 to 19 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS . 20 and 21 are views for explaining a method for mounting singulated packages onto a package carrier in a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG . 23 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 22 ;
  • FIG . 24 is a plan view illustrating a rotator installed on a package processing apparatus ;
  • FIGS . 25 to 32 are plan views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS . 33 to 37 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention . Best Mode
  • reference numerals and the names designated to the elements of the conventional package processing apparatus will be reused for the elements of the package processing apparatus according to the present invention if they have the same structure and function .
  • the reference numeral will be designated only to one of them.
  • reference character P represents a semiconductor package, it may not be limited thereto, but may be used to refer to other semiconductor devices similar to the semiconductor package .
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG . 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 6
  • FIG . 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a singulation device of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 7
  • FIG . 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a package transfer device of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 7.
  • the package processing apparatus mainly includes a singulation device 100 , a package transfer device 200 , a package carrier 300 , a package stacker 400 and a package tray device 500.
  • the singulation device 100 singulates a semiconductor package strip into individual semiconductor packages .
  • the singulation device 100 includes a base 110, a punch 120, which is installed in the base 110 in such a manner that that the punch 120 can vertically move along the base 110 and on which the semiconductor package to be singulated into individual packages is mounted, and a die 130 for singulating the package in cooperation with the punch 120.
  • the singulation device 100 simultaneously singulates a plurality of packages into individual packages .
  • the singulation device 100 simultaneously singulates six packages corresponding to vacuum pads 222 of the package transfer device .
  • the structure of the singulation device 100 is similar to the structure of the conventional singulation device except that the package protector 140 , which prevents the package from spring out of the punch during the singulation process, is not installed in the singulation device 100.
  • the punch 120 must move up to the position corresponding to the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 so as to allow the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 to pick the singulated packages by using a vacuum.
  • the singulation for the package is completed when an upper end portion of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 has moved to a singulation position, which corresponds to a height hi and is slightly higher than a lower end portion of the die 130, and the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 directly picks the package P in the singulation position.
  • the package transfer device 200 picks the packages singulated by the singulation device 100 by using the vacuum and transfers the packages to the package carrier 300.
  • a pair of package transfer devices 200 are provided in such a manner that the package transfer devices 200 may pick the packages singulated by the singulation device 100 by turns .
  • the package transfer devices 200 are mounted on a transfer block 202 and spaced apart in opposition to each other by a predetermined distance .
  • the transfer block 202 of the package transfer device 200 can horizontally move in an x-axis direction along a main guide rail 206 by means of a driving device (not shown) , such as a servo motor, and a ball screw 204.
  • each package transfer device 200 includes a picker block 210, a transfer picker 220 installed in the picker block 210 such that the transfer picker 220 can move up and down, a rack 230 installed at one side of the transfer picker 220 and a servo motor 250 having a pinion 240 engaged with the rack 230.
  • the transfer picker 220 is moved up and down according to interaction between the rack 230 and the pinion 240 , so that it is possible to precisely adjust the position of the transfer picker 220 by adjusting a rotating angle of the pinion 240.
  • Each transfer picker 220 includes a plurality of vacuum pads 222, which are aligned in parallel to each other in at least two rows .
  • the vacuum pad 222 receives the vacuum force from a vacuum source (not shown) so as to pick the package .
  • the picker block 210 of the package transfer device 200 horizontally moves in a y-axis direction along a transfer guide rail 209 according to interaction between a servo motor 207 and a ball screw 208.
  • the servo motor is employed as a driving device for moving the transfer picker 220 up and down, it is possible to precisely adjust the height of the transfer picker 220. That is, as shown in FIG . 7 , the transfer picker 220 is driven by the server motor in such a manner that the transfer picker 220 can be aligned in a first position (singulation position) , which corresponds to a height hi and is approximate to the lower end of the die 130 of the singulation device 100, a second position
  • mounting position which corresponds to a height h2 and is approximate to an upper surface of the package carrier 300
  • transfer position which corresponds to a height h3 and at which the transfer picker 220 moves toward the package carrier 300.
  • the package transfer device 200 instantly moves towards the package carrier 300 when the package transfer device 200 has picked all packages singulated through the singulation process .
  • the transfer picker 220 includes six vacuum pads 222 aligned in the form of a ( 3x2 ) matrix pattern.
  • the number and alignment of the vacuum pads can be variously selected by adj usting the widthwise pitch of the packages .
  • the package carrier 300 carries the packages transferred from the package transfer device 200 to the package tray device 500.
  • a pair of package carriers 300 are provided in such a manner that the package carriers 300 may carry the packages transferred from the package transfer device 200 by turns .
  • each package carrier 300 includes a carrier block 310 , which is movable in an x-axis direction along a carrier guide rail 302 , and package mounting seats 320 installed on an upper surface of the carrier block 310.
  • the package mounting seats 320 have matrix patterns corresponding to the matrix patterns of the vacuum pads 222 of the transfer picker 220.
  • the packages are mounted on the package mounting seats 320 in the form of a ( 3x2 ) matrix pattern .
  • the carrier block 310 of the package carrier 300 horizontally moves in an x-axis direction along the carrier guide rail 302 by means of a driving device (not shown) , such as a servo motor .
  • the package stacker 400 receives the packages from the package carrier 300 by using a vacuum and loads the packages onto the package tray device 500.
  • the package stacker 400 includes a stacking block 410, which is movable in a y-axis direction along a stacker guide rail 402 and stacking pickers 420 which are moved up and down in the stacking block 410 so as to pick a plurality of packages by using a vacuum.
  • the stacking pickers 420 pick six packages aligned in series .
  • the stacking pickers it is possible to design the stacking pickers such that the stacking pickers are aligned in three rows so as to simultaneously pick packages aligned in three rows .
  • the stacking pickers can simultaneously pick packages aligned in three or more than three rows by adjusting the lengthwise pitch of the packages .
  • the package tray device 500 receives the packages from the package stacker 400.
  • the package tray device 500 includes a plurality of trays 510 having a stacked structure .
  • Each tray 510 is formed with a plurality of package loading seats 520 onto which the packages are loaded.
  • a tray picker (not shown) is installed on the package tray device 500 so as to feed empty trays .
  • FIGS . 10 to 14 are plan views illustrating operational states of the package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention and FIGS . 15 to 19 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of the package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention .
  • elements colored with black represent workpieces, that is , semiconductor packages .
  • the semiconductor package P to be singulated into individual packages is fed onto the upper surface of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100.
  • the transfer picker 220 of the package transfer device 200 is waiting at the first position, which corresponds to the height hi and is approximate to the lower end portion of the die 130 of the singulation device 100 ( see, FIG. 15 ) .
  • a press unit (not shown) of the singulation device 100 is operated so that the punch 120 moves upward.
  • the semiconductor package P makes contact with the die 130 so that the semiconductor package P is singulated into individual packages .
  • the transfer picker 220 located in the first position directly picks the singulated packages by using a vacuum ( see, FIG . 16) .
  • the transfer picker 220 moves up to the third position, which corresponds to the height h3 , and then moves toward the package carrier 300 ( see, FIGS . 17 and 18 ) .
  • the package transfer device 200 moves down to the second position, which corresponds to the height h2 and is approximate to the upper surface of the package mounting seat 320 of the package carrier 300 , to load the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 (see, FIG . 19 ) .
  • packages aligned in a first row are primarily loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 and then the package carrier 300 moves in the left direction so as to allow remaining packages to be loaded onto the remaining package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300. This is because the interval between rows of the vacuum pads 222 aligned on the transfer picker 220 is different from the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300.
  • the interval between rows of the package loading seats 520 formed on the tray 510 is determined according to an order of a customer, and the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300 matches with the interval between rows of the package loading seats 520, so that the interval between rows of the vacuum pads 222 aligned on the transfer picker 220 may be different from the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300. If the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 matches with both the interval between rows of vacuum pads 222 aligned on the transfer picker 220 and the interval between rows of the package loading seats 520 formed on the tray 510, the semiconductor packages P can be simultaneously loaded on the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300.
  • the package transfer device 200 moves back to the singulation device 100.
  • another package transfer device 200 picks new packages P by using a vacuum and loads the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300 through the above-mentioned procedure ( see, FIG . 13 ) .
  • Such a procedure may be repeated until all packages are loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300.
  • the package carrier 300 moves toward the package tray device 500 and another package carrier 300 returns to its initial position so as to receive new packages (see, FIG. 14 ) .
  • two carrier guide rails 302 and two carrier blocks 310 are provided. However, it is also possible to provide three or more than three carrier guide rails and carrier blocks in order improve the transfer speed for the packages .
  • the stacking picker 420 located at the stacking position sequentially or simultaneously picks the packages P from the package carrier 300 by using a vacuum and loads the packages P onto the package tray device 500.
  • the stacking picker 420 simultaneously picks packages in a row unit .
  • the stacking picker 420 it is also possible to design the stacking picker 420 such that the stacking picker 420 can simultaneously pick all packages aligned in three rows so as to improve the stacking speed.
  • the stacking picker 420 which has simultaneously picked all packages aligned in three rows, may sequentially lay down the packages onto the package tray device 500 in a row unit while adj usting the lengthwise pitch of the packages .
  • FIGS . 20 and 21 are views for explaining a method for mounting singulated packages onto the package carrier in a package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention .
  • the singulated packages transferred by the package transfer devices 200 after the singulation process can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the left to the right .
  • FIG. 20 the singulated packages transferred by the package transfer devices 200 after the singulation process can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the left to the right .
  • the package transfer devices 200 in such a manner that the packages P transferred by one package transfer device 200 (that is , the left package transfer device) can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the left to the right and the packages P transferred by the other package transfer device 200 (that is, the right package transfer device) can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the right to the left .
  • the method for mounting the singulated packages onto the package carrier can be variously modified according to the structure of the package processing apparatus .
  • the package transfer device 200 directly picks the singulated packages at the first position, which corresponds to the height hi, the transfer speed for the packages can be improved.
  • the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 is instantly moved downward in order to perform a new singulation process without being moved up to the third position, which corresponds to the height h3, the efficiency of the singulation process is remarkably improved.
  • FIG . 22 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG . 23 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 22.
  • detailed description for elements similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted for the purpose of convenience .
  • the package processing apparatus mainly includes a singulation device 100, a package transfer device 200, a package carrier 300, a package stacker 400 and a package tray device 500.
  • the structure and operation of the above elements are basically identical to those of the first embodiment of the present invention .
  • the package processing apparatus further includes a rotator 600 for rotating the singulated packages by a predetermined angle .
  • the package transfer device 200 consists of a first package transfer device 200a for transferring the singulated packages to the rotator 600 and a second package transfer device 200b for transferring the singulated packages to the package carrier 300 after the singulated packages has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator 600.
  • the rotator 600 is installed between the singulation device 100 and the package carrier 300.
  • the rotator 5 600 includes a rotator block 610 and a package mounting section 620 formed on an upper surface of the rotator block 610.
  • a pair of package mounting sections 620 are provided on the upper surface of the rotator block 610, so that the packages,
  • the package mounting sections 620 are rotated by means of a typical rotating mechanism, which is generally known in the art .
  • the rotator 600 is fixed to a pair of transfer guide rails
  • the rotator 600 can move in the x-axis direction synchronized with the transfer guide rail 290.
  • the rotator block 610 of the rotator 600 moves along a rotator guide rail 650 by means of a 0 servo motor 630 and a ball screw 640 connected to the servo motor 630.
  • a picker block 210a of the first package transfer device 200a can horizontally move in a y-axis direction along the transfer guide rail 209 by means of a first server motor 207a and 5 a first ball screw 208a
  • a picker block 210b of the second package transfer device 200b can horizontally move in the y-axis direction along the transfer guide rail 209 by means of a second server motor 207b and a second ball screw 208b.
  • the semiconductor package P to be singulated is fed onto the upper surface of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100.
  • the transfer picker 220a of the first package transfer device 200a is waiting at the first position, which corresponds to the height hi and is approximate to the lower end portion of the die 130 of the singulation device 100 ( see, FIG . 33) .
  • a press unit (not shown) of the singulation device 100 is operated so that the punch 120 moves upward. As the punch 120 moves upward, the semiconductor package P makes contact with the die 130 so that the semiconductor package P is singulated into individual packages .
  • the transfer picker 220a located in the first position directly picks the singulated packages by using a vacuum ( see, FIG . 34 ) .
  • the transfer picker 220a of the first package transfer device 200a moves up to the third position, which corresponds to the height h3, and then moves toward the rotator 600 ( see, FIGS . 35 and 36) .
  • the first package transfer device 200a moves down to the second position, which corresponds to the height h2 and is approximate to the upper surface of the package mounting section 620 of the rotator 600 , to load the packages P onto the package mounting section 620 of the rotator 600 (see, FIG. 37 ) .
  • the second package transfer device 200b picks the packages, which have been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator 600, by using a vacuum and then moves toward the package carrier 300.
  • the second package transfer device 200b moves down to the second position, which corresponds to the height h2 and is approximate to the upper surface of the package mounting seat 320 of the package carrier 300 , to load the packages P onto the package mounting seat 320 of the package carrier 300 ( see, FIGS . 34 to 37 ) .
  • packages aligned in a first row are primarily loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 and then the package carrier 300 slightly moves so as to allow remaining packages to be loaded onto the remaining package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300.
  • the reason for this has already been described above in relation to the first embodiment of the present invention .
  • the second package transfer device 200b moves back to the rotator 600. At this time, another second package transfer device 200b picks a new package P, which has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator
  • Such a procedure may be repeated until all packages are loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300.
  • the package carrier 300 moves toward the package tray device 500 and another package carrier 300 returns to its initial position so as to receive new packages (see, FIG. 32) .
  • the stacking picker 420 located at the stacking position sequentially or simultaneously picks the packages P from the package carrier 300 by using a vacuum and loads the packages P onto the package tray device 500. Such a procedure is continuously repeated so that the singulated packages are transferred to and loaded onto the package tray device 500.
  • the semiconductor package processing apparatus can be applied to a semiconductor sawing and transferring apparatus used for sawing and transferring the semiconductor packages .
  • the semiconductor package processing apparatus according to the present invention is applicable for Pick & Place equipment for processing the semiconductor packages .

Abstract

Disclosed is a semiconductor package processing apparatus. The semiconductor package processing apparatus has a singulation device including a punch on which a package to be singulated is mounted and a die for singulating the package into individual packages in cooperation with the punch, a pair of package transfer devices, which alternately pick the packages singulated by the singulation device using a vacuum so as to transfer the packages after a singulation process for the package has been completed, and a package carrier including package mounting seats aligned in at least two rows corresponding to vacuum pads of the package transfer devices and carrying the packages from the package transfer devices to a package tray device. The package transfer device moves down to a singulation stage of the singulation device so as to directly pick the packages singulated through interaction between the punch and the die.

Description

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a semiconductor package . More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for processing a semiconductor package, which singulates a semiconductor package strip into individual semiconductor packages and loads the individual semiconductor packages onto a package tray device .
Background Art
In general, a semiconductor package is obtained through various fabrication processes of preparing a semiconductor chip including a silicon semiconductor substrate formed with highly integrated circuits, such as transistors and capacitors, attaching the semiconductor chip to a lead frame or a printed circuit board, electrically connecting the semiconductor chip to the lead frame or the printed circuit using wires, and molding
EMC (epoxy molding compound) onto the semiconductor chip such that the semiconductor chip can be protected from external environment . Such a semiconductor package is singulated into individual packages by means of a singulation device and the individual packages are transferred to a package tray device by means of a package transfer device and then loaded onto the package tray device .
FIGS . 1 and 2 show a conventional package processing apparatus .
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the conventional package processing apparatus , FIG . 2 is a front view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 1, and FIGS . 3 to 5 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of the conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in FIGS . 1 and 2 , the conventional package processing apparatus includes a singulation device 100 for singulating a semiconductor package into individual packages , a package transfer device 200 for transferring the individual packages by picking the individual packages using a vacuum, a package carrier 300 for carrying the packages transferred thereto from the package transfer device 200 , a package stacker 400 for stacking packages by picking the packages from the package carrier 300 using a vacuum, and a package tray device 500 onto which the packages stacked on the package stacker 400 are finally loaded.
As shown in FIGS . 3 to 5 , the singulation device 100 includes a punch 120 on which the package is mounted, a die 130 for singulating the package in cooperation with the punch 120, and a package protector 140 for preventing the package mounted on the punch 120 from spring out of the punch 120 during the singulation process . The package protector 140 is elastically biased toward a predetermined direction by means of an elastic member 142. The package transfer device 200 includes a transfer picker 220 having a plurality of vacuum pads 222 attached to the transfer picker 220 in series . The package carrier 300 includes a plurality of package mounting seats 320 which are aligned corresponding to the vacuum pads 222 (see, FIG. 1) .
Hereinafter, the operation of the conventional package processing apparatus having the above structure will be described. First, the semiconductor package P is fed onto an upper surface of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100
(see, FIG. 3) . As the semiconductor package has been mounted on the upper surface of the punch 120, the punch 120 moves upward, so that the package makes contact with the package protector 140 and is elastically supported by the package protector 140 (see, FIG. 4 ) . In this state, as the punch 120 further moves upward, the package makes contact with the die 130, so that the packages are singulated into individual packages . Meanwhile, as the punch
120 further moves upward, the package protector 140 rotates counterclockwise while overcoming the bias force of the elastic member 150 applied thereto . When the punch 120 has moved up to a first position corresponding to a predetermined height h2 , the package transfer device 200 picks the singulated packages from the punch 120 using a vacuum and then moves up to a second position corresponding to a predetermined height h.3. After that, the package transfer device 200 moves toward the package carrier
300 (see, FIG. 5) . That is, since the package transfer device 200 moves up and down by means of an air cylinder (not shown) , the package transfer device 200 transfers the packages while simply moving up and down between the first and second positions .
Best Mode
Technical problem
However, even if the singulation process for the semiconductor package has been completed, the conventional package processing apparatus may not rapidly transfer the package to the next stage because the package transfer device 200 must be waited until the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 has moved to a position corresponding to the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200.
In addition, since the package is off-loaded from the punch 120 in a state in which the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 has moved to the position corresponding to the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 , the stroke of the punch 120 may be lengthened, thereby lowering the speed of the singulation process .
Furthermore, according to the conventional package processing apparatus, the package protector 140 must be provided so as to prevent the packages mounted on the punch 12 from spring out of the punch 120 during the singulation process, so the manufacturing cost for the conventional package processing apparatus may increase and the structure of the conventional package processing apparatus may be complicated. In addition, the package protector 140 may be easily broken due to the consecutive rotating action of the package protector 140 and the friction between the package protector 140 and the punch 120.
The present invention has been made in view of the above- mentioned problems, and it is an obj ect of the present invention to provide a semiconductor package processing apparatus capable of improving the speed of the singulation process for the semiconductor package and rapidly transferring the semiconductor package to the next stage after the singulation process . Technical Solution
In order to accomplish the above obj ect , the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a semiconductor packages, the apparatus comprising : a singulation device including a punch on which a package to be singulated is mounted and a die for singulating the package into individual packages in cooperation with the punch; a pair of package transfer devices, which alternately pick the packages singulated by the singulation device using a vacuum so as to transfer the packages after a singulation process for the package has been completed; and a package carrier including package mounting seats aligned in corresponding to vacuum pads of the package transfer devices and carrying the packages from the package transfer devices to a package tray device, wherein the package transfer device moves down to a singulation stage of the singulation device so as to directly pick the packages singulated through interaction between the punch and the die .
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the package transfer device includes a picker block, a transfer picker installed in the picker block such that the transfer picker is movable up and down, a rack installed at one side of the transfer picker, and a server motor having a pinion engaged with the rack. A rotator is installed between the singulation device and the package carrier to rotate the singulated packages by a predetermined angle .
The rotator is movable in an x-axis direction synchronized with the package transfer device .
Each package transfer device includes a first package transfer device for transferring the singulated packages to the rotator, and a second package transfer device for transferring the singulated packages, which has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator, to the package carrier .
The transfer picker is controlled in such a manner that the transfer picker transfers the singulated packages to the package carrier while being aligned in a first position, which is approximate to a lower end portion of the die of the singulation device, a second position, which is approximate to an upper surface of the package carrier, or a third position, at which the transfer picker moves toward the package carrier . A widthwise pitch or a lengthwise pitch of the packages is adjusted when the packages , which have been singulated by the singulation device, are transferred to the package carrier by means of the transfer picker, and a lengthwise pitch or a widthwise pitch of the singulated packages is adj usted when the singulated packages are stacked on the package tray device from the package carrier .
The present invention also provides a method for processing a semiconductor package, the method comprising the steps of : feeding a semiconductor package to be singulated onto an upper surface of a punch of a singulation device; moving down a package transfer device to a first position, which corresponds to a height hi and is approximate to a lower end portion of a die of the singulation device; moving up the punch of the singulation device in such a manner that the package fed onto the punch can be singulated through interaction between the punch and the die; and picking the singulated packages by using the package transfer device located in the first position . The method further comprises the steps of : moving the package transfer device, which has picked the singulated packages, up to a third position, which corresponds to a height h3, and then moving the package transfer device toward a package carrier; and moving down the package transfer device to a second position, which corresponds to a height h2 and is approximate to an upper surface of a package mounting seat of the package carrier, when the package transfer device unit reaches the upper surface of the package mounting seat of the package carrier, thereby loading the packages onto the package mounting seat of the package carrier .
Advantageous Effects
As described above, according to the present invention, the package transfer device moves down to the singulation position and picks the singulated packages, so that the transfer speed for the package may be improved.
In addition, according to the present invention, the punch of the singulation device is instantly moved downward for a new singulation process without being moved up to the package transfer position of the package transfer device, so that the efficiency of the singulation process may be significantly improved.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the package transfer device directly picks the singulated packages using the vacuum, so the conventional package protector can be omitted. Thus , the structure of the semiconductor package processing apparatus can be simplified and the efficiency of the semiconductor package processing apparatus can be improved .
In addition, since the semiconductor package processing apparatus further includes a rotator, it is possible to rotate the stacked packages in a desired direction without exerting a bad influence upon the efficiency of the semiconductor package processing apparatus .
Description of the Drawings
FIG . 1 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a conventional package processing apparatus; FIG . 2 is a front view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 ;
FIGS . 3 to 5 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of a conventional package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG . 6 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG . 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 6;
FIG . 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a singulation device of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 7 ;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a package transfer device of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 7 ; FIGS . 10 to 14 are plan views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS . 15 to 19 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS . 20 and 21 are views for explaining a method for mounting singulated packages onto a package carrier in a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG . 23 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 22 ;
FIG . 24 is a plan view illustrating a rotator installed on a package processing apparatus ;
FIGS . 25 to 32 are plan views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIGS . 33 to 37 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention . Best Mode
Hereinafter, a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings .
In the following description, the reference numerals and the names designated to the elements of the conventional package processing apparatus will be reused for the elements of the package processing apparatus according to the present invention if they have the same structure and function . In addition, in the case of symmetrical elements or plural elements, the reference numeral will be designated only to one of them. It should be noted that although reference character P represents a semiconductor package, it may not be limited thereto, but may be used to refer to other semiconductor devices similar to the semiconductor package .
FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of a package processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG . 7 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 6, FIG . 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a singulation device of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 7 , and FIG . 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a package transfer device of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG . 7.
As shown in FIGS . 6 and 7 , the package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a singulation device 100 , a package transfer device 200 , a package carrier 300 , a package stacker 400 and a package tray device 500.
The singulation device 100 singulates a semiconductor package strip into individual semiconductor packages . The singulation device 100 includes a base 110, a punch 120, which is installed in the base 110 in such a manner that that the punch 120 can vertically move along the base 110 and on which the semiconductor package to be singulated into individual packages is mounted, and a die 130 for singulating the package in cooperation with the punch 120. In addition, the singulation device 100 simultaneously singulates a plurality of packages into individual packages . According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the singulation device 100 simultaneously singulates six packages corresponding to vacuum pads 222 of the package transfer device . However, it is also possible to design the singulation device 100 such that the singulation device 100 simultaneously singulates less than or more than six packages .
The structure of the singulation device 100 is similar to the structure of the conventional singulation device except that the package protector 140 , which prevents the package from spring out of the punch during the singulation process, is not installed in the singulation device 100. According to the prior art, the punch 120 must move up to the position corresponding to the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 so as to allow the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 to pick the singulated packages by using a vacuum. However, according to the present invention, the singulation for the package is completed when an upper end portion of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 has moved to a singulation position, which corresponds to a height hi and is slightly higher than a lower end portion of the die 130, and the vacuum pad 222 of the package transfer device 200 directly picks the package P in the singulation position.
The package transfer device 200 picks the packages singulated by the singulation device 100 by using the vacuum and transfers the packages to the package carrier 300. In order to improve the transfer efficiency of the package transfer device 200, a pair of package transfer devices 200 are provided in such a manner that the package transfer devices 200 may pick the packages singulated by the singulation device 100 by turns . The package transfer devices 200 are mounted on a transfer block 202 and spaced apart in opposition to each other by a predetermined distance . In addition, the transfer block 202 of the package transfer device 200 can horizontally move in an x-axis direction along a main guide rail 206 by means of a driving device (not shown) , such as a servo motor, and a ball screw 204.
In addition, each package transfer device 200 includes a picker block 210, a transfer picker 220 installed in the picker block 210 such that the transfer picker 220 can move up and down, a rack 230 installed at one side of the transfer picker 220 and a servo motor 250 having a pinion 240 engaged with the rack 230. The transfer picker 220 is moved up and down according to interaction between the rack 230 and the pinion 240 , so that it is possible to precisely adjust the position of the transfer picker 220 by adjusting a rotating angle of the pinion 240.
Each transfer picker 220 includes a plurality of vacuum pads 222, which are aligned in parallel to each other in at least two rows . The vacuum pad 222 receives the vacuum force from a vacuum source (not shown) so as to pick the package . The picker block 210 of the package transfer device 200 horizontally moves in a y-axis direction along a transfer guide rail 209 according to interaction between a servo motor 207 and a ball screw 208.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, since the servo motor is employed as a driving device for moving the transfer picker 220 up and down, it is possible to precisely adjust the height of the transfer picker 220. That is, as shown in FIG . 7 , the transfer picker 220 is driven by the server motor in such a manner that the transfer picker 220 can be aligned in a first position (singulation position) , which corresponds to a height hi and is approximate to the lower end of the die 130 of the singulation device 100, a second position
(mounting position) , which corresponds to a height h2 and is approximate to an upper surface of the package carrier 300, or a third position (transfer position) , which corresponds to a height h3 and at which the transfer picker 220 moves toward the package carrier 300.
Different from the prior art, the package transfer device 200 instantly moves towards the package carrier 300 when the package transfer device 200 has picked all packages singulated through the singulation process . According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the transfer picker 220 includes six vacuum pads 222 aligned in the form of a ( 3x2 ) matrix pattern. However, the number and alignment of the vacuum pads can be variously selected by adj usting the widthwise pitch of the packages .
The package carrier 300 carries the packages transferred from the package transfer device 200 to the package tray device 500. In order to improve the efficiency of the package carrier 300, a pair of package carriers 300 are provided in such a manner that the package carriers 300 may carry the packages transferred from the package transfer device 200 by turns . In addition, each package carrier 300 includes a carrier block 310 , which is movable in an x-axis direction along a carrier guide rail 302 , and package mounting seats 320 installed on an upper surface of the carrier block 310. The package mounting seats 320 have matrix patterns corresponding to the matrix patterns of the vacuum pads 222 of the transfer picker 220. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the packages are mounted on the package mounting seats 320 in the form of a ( 3x2 ) matrix pattern . The carrier block 310 of the package carrier 300 horizontally moves in an x-axis direction along the carrier guide rail 302 by means of a driving device (not shown) , such as a servo motor .
The package stacker 400 receives the packages from the package carrier 300 by using a vacuum and loads the packages onto the package tray device 500. The package stacker 400 includes a stacking block 410, which is movable in a y-axis direction along a stacker guide rail 402 and stacking pickers 420 which are moved up and down in the stacking block 410 so as to pick a plurality of packages by using a vacuum.
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the stacking pickers 420 pick six packages aligned in series . However, it is possible to design the stacking pickers such that the stacking pickers are aligned in three rows so as to simultaneously pick packages aligned in three rows . It is also possible to design the stacking pickers such that the stacking pickers can simultaneously pick packages aligned in three or more than three rows by adjusting the lengthwise pitch of the packages .
The package tray device 500 receives the packages from the package stacker 400. The package tray device 500 includes a plurality of trays 510 having a stacked structure . Each tray 510 is formed with a plurality of package loading seats 520 onto which the packages are loaded. In addition, a tray picker (not shown) is installed on the package tray device 500 so as to feed empty trays .
Hereinafter, an operation of the package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings .
FIGS . 10 to 14 are plan views illustrating operational states of the package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention and FIGS . 15 to 19 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of the package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention . For reference, elements colored with black represent workpieces, that is , semiconductor packages . First, the semiconductor package P to be singulated into individual packages is fed onto the upper surface of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100. At this time, the transfer picker 220 of the package transfer device 200 is waiting at the first position, which corresponds to the height hi and is approximate to the lower end portion of the die 130 of the singulation device 100 ( see, FIG. 15 ) . When the semiconductor package P has been fed onto the upper surface of the punch 120 , a press unit (not shown) of the singulation device 100 is operated so that the punch 120 moves upward. As the punch 120 moves upward, the semiconductor package P makes contact with the die 130 so that the semiconductor package P is singulated into individual packages . At this time, the transfer picker 220 located in the first position directly picks the singulated packages by using a vacuum ( see, FIG . 16) . Upon picking the singulated packages, the transfer picker 220 moves up to the third position, which corresponds to the height h3 , and then moves toward the package carrier 300 ( see, FIGS . 17 and 18 ) . As the package transfer device 200 reaches the package mounting seats 320 formed on the upper surface of the package carrier 300, the package transfer device 200 moves down to the second position, which corresponds to the height h2 and is approximate to the upper surface of the package mounting seat 320 of the package carrier 300 , to load the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 (see, FIG . 19 ) .
When the package transfer device 200 loads the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 , as shown in FIGS . 11 and 12, packages aligned in a first row are primarily loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 and then the package carrier 300 moves in the left direction so as to allow remaining packages to be loaded onto the remaining package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300. This is because the interval between rows of the vacuum pads 222 aligned on the transfer picker 220 is different from the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300. That is , the interval between rows of the package loading seats 520 formed on the tray 510 is determined according to an order of a customer, and the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300 matches with the interval between rows of the package loading seats 520, so that the interval between rows of the vacuum pads 222 aligned on the transfer picker 220 may be different from the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300. If the interval between rows of the package mounting seats 320 matches with both the interval between rows of vacuum pads 222 aligned on the transfer picker 220 and the interval between rows of the package loading seats 520 formed on the tray 510, the semiconductor packages P can be simultaneously loaded on the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300.
After loading the packages P onto the package carrier 300, the package transfer device 200 moves back to the singulation device 100. At this time, another package transfer device 200 picks new packages P by using a vacuum and loads the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300 through the above-mentioned procedure ( see, FIG . 13 ) . Such a procedure may be repeated until all packages are loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300. When all packages have been loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300 , the package carrier 300 moves toward the package tray device 500 and another package carrier 300 returns to its initial position so as to receive new packages (see, FIG. 14 ) . According to the first embodiment of the present invention, two carrier guide rails 302 and two carrier blocks 310 are provided. However, it is also possible to provide three or more than three carrier guide rails and carrier blocks in order improve the transfer speed for the packages .
Meanwhile, if the package carrier 300 reaches a stacking position, the stacking picker 420 located at the stacking position sequentially or simultaneously picks the packages P from the package carrier 300 by using a vacuum and loads the packages P onto the package tray device 500. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the stacking picker 420 simultaneously picks packages in a row unit . However, it is also possible to design the stacking picker 420 such that the stacking picker 420 can simultaneously pick all packages aligned in three rows so as to improve the stacking speed. In this case, the stacking picker 420, which has simultaneously picked all packages aligned in three rows, may sequentially lay down the packages onto the package tray device 500 in a row unit while adj usting the lengthwise pitch of the packages .
Such a procedure is continuously repeated so that the packages are transferred to and loaded onto the package tray device 500. FIGS . 20 and 21 are views for explaining a method for mounting singulated packages onto the package carrier in a package processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention . As shown in FIG . 20 , the singulated packages transferred by the package transfer devices 200 after the singulation process can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the left to the right . In addition, as shown in FIG. 21, it is also possible to control the package transfer devices 200 in such a manner that the packages P transferred by one package transfer device 200 (that is , the left package transfer device) can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the left to the right and the packages P transferred by the other package transfer device 200 (that is, the right package transfer device) can be sequentially loaded on the package mounting seats 320 from the right to the left .
The method for mounting the singulated packages onto the package carrier can be variously modified according to the structure of the package processing apparatus .
In this manner, since the package transfer device 200 directly picks the singulated packages at the first position, which corresponds to the height hi, the transfer speed for the packages can be improved. In addition, since the punch 120 of the singulation device 100 is instantly moved downward in order to perform a new singulation process without being moved up to the third position, which corresponds to the height h3, the efficiency of the singulation process is remarkably improved. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide the conventional package protector 140 because the package transfer device 200 directly picks the packages by using the vacuum. Therefore, the structure of the package processing apparatus can be simplified and the efficiency of the package processing apparatus can be improved.
Mode for Invention
Hereinafter, a package processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings .
FIG . 22 is a plan view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG . 23 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the arrangement between elements of the package processing apparatus shown in FIG. 22. Herein, detailed description for elements similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted for the purpose of convenience .
Similar to the first embodiment of the present invention, the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a singulation device 100, a package transfer device 200, a package carrier 300, a package stacker 400 and a package tray device 500. The structure and operation of the above elements are basically identical to those of the first embodiment of the present invention .
However, the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention further includes a rotator 600 for rotating the singulated packages by a predetermined angle . In addition, the package transfer device 200 consists of a first package transfer device 200a for transferring the singulated packages to the rotator 600 and a second package transfer device 200b for transferring the singulated packages to the package carrier 300 after the singulated packages has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator 600.
The rotator 600 is installed between the singulation device 100 and the package carrier 300. In addition, the rotator 5 600 includes a rotator block 610 and a package mounting section 620 formed on an upper surface of the rotator block 610. Preferably, in order to improve the efficiency of the rotator 600 , a pair of package mounting sections 620 are provided on the upper surface of the rotator block 610, so that the packages,
10 which are transferred to the rotator 600 by the package transfer device 200 , are rotated by turns . In addition, the package mounting sections 620 are rotated by means of a typical rotating mechanism, which is generally known in the art .
The rotator 600 is fixed to a pair of transfer guide rails
15 209 and is movable in an x-axis direction in cooperation with the package transfer device 200. In addition, as shown in FIG . 24 , the rotator 600 can move in the x-axis direction synchronized with the transfer guide rail 290. The rotator block 610 of the rotator 600 moves along a rotator guide rail 650 by means of a 0 servo motor 630 and a ball screw 640 connected to the servo motor 630.
A picker block 210a of the first package transfer device 200a can horizontally move in a y-axis direction along the transfer guide rail 209 by means of a first server motor 207a and 5 a first ball screw 208a, and a picker block 210b of the second package transfer device 200b can horizontally move in the y-axis direction along the transfer guide rail 209 by means of a second server motor 207b and a second ball screw 208b. Hereinafter, the operation of the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings . FIGS . 25 to 32 are plan views illustrating operational states of the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS . 33 to 37 are vertical sectional views illustrating operational states of the package processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention .
First, the semiconductor package P to be singulated is fed onto the upper surface of the punch 120 of the singulation device 100. At this time, the transfer picker 220a of the first package transfer device 200a is waiting at the first position, which corresponds to the height hi and is approximate to the lower end portion of the die 130 of the singulation device 100 ( see, FIG . 33) . When the semiconductor package P has been fed onto the upper surface of the punch 120 , a press unit (not shown) of the singulation device 100 is operated so that the punch 120 moves upward. As the punch 120 moves upward, the semiconductor package P makes contact with the die 130 so that the semiconductor package P is singulated into individual packages . At this time, the transfer picker 220a located in the first position directly picks the singulated packages by using a vacuum ( see, FIG . 34 ) . Upon picking the singulated packages, the transfer picker 220a of the first package transfer device 200a moves up to the third position, which corresponds to the height h3, and then moves toward the rotator 600 ( see, FIGS . 35 and 36) . As the first package transfer device 200a reaches the package mounting section 620 formed on the upper surface of the rotator 600 , the first package transfer device 200a moves down to the second position, which corresponds to the height h2 and is approximate to the upper surface of the package mounting section 620 of the rotator 600 , to load the packages P onto the package mounting section 620 of the rotator 600 (see, FIG. 37 ) .
While the first package transfer device 200a is moving toward the rotator 600 , the second package transfer device 200b picks the packages, which have been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator 600, by using a vacuum and then moves toward the package carrier 300. As the second package transfer device 200b reaches the package mounting seats 320 aligned on the upper surface of the package carrier 300 , the second package transfer device 200b moves down to the second position, which corresponds to the height h2 and is approximate to the upper surface of the package mounting seat 320 of the package carrier 300 , to load the packages P onto the package mounting seat 320 of the package carrier 300 ( see, FIGS . 34 to 37 ) .
Herein, as shown in FIGS . 26 and 27 , when the second package transfer device 200b loads the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 , packages aligned in a first row are primarily loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 and then the package carrier 300 slightly moves so as to allow remaining packages to be loaded onto the remaining package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300. The reason for this has already been described above in relation to the first embodiment of the present invention .
After loading the packages P onto the package mounting seats 320 of the package carrier 300 , the second package transfer device 200b moves back to the rotator 600. At this time, another second package transfer device 200b picks a new package P, which has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator
600 , by using a vacuum and loads the new package P onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300 through the above-mentioned procedure (see, FIG. 13) .
Such a procedure may be repeated until all packages are loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300. When all packages have been loaded onto the package mounting seats 320 formed on the package carrier 300, the package carrier 300 moves toward the package tray device 500 and another package carrier 300 returns to its initial position so as to receive new packages (see, FIG. 32) .
Meanwhile, if the package carrier 300 reaches a stacking position, the stacking picker 420 located at the stacking position sequentially or simultaneously picks the packages P from the package carrier 300 by using a vacuum and loads the packages P onto the package tray device 500. Such a procedure is continuously repeated so that the singulated packages are transferred to and loaded onto the package tray device 500. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to rotate the packages in a desired direction by using the rotator 600 without exerting a bad influence upon the efficiency of the semiconductor package processing apparatus .
While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and the drawings, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and variations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims .
Industrial Applicability
As can be seen from the foregoing, the semiconductor package processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a semiconductor sawing and transferring apparatus used for sawing and transferring the semiconductor packages . In addition, the semiconductor package processing apparatus according to the present invention is applicable for Pick & Place equipment for processing the semiconductor packages .

Claims

Claims
1. An apparatus for processing a semiconductor package, the apparatus comprising : a singulation device including a punch on which a package to be singulated is mounted and a die for singulating the package into individual packages in cooperation with the punch; a pair of package transfer devices, which alternately pick the packages singulated by the singulation device using a vacuum so as to transfer the packages after a singulation process for the package has been completed; and a package carrier including package mounting seats aligned in corresponding to vacuum pads of the package transfer devices and carrying the packages from the package transfer devices to a package tray device, wherein the package transfer device moves down to a singulation stage of the singulation device so as to directly pick the packages singulated through interaction between the punch and the die .
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the package transfer device includes a picker block, a transfer picker installed in the picker block such that the transfer picker is movable up and down, a rack installed at one side of the transfer picker, and a server motor having a pinion engaged with the rack.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotator installed between the singulation device and the package carrier so as to rotate the singulated packages by a predetermined angle .
4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the rotator is movable in an x-axis direction synchronized with the package transfer device .
5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein each package transfer device includes a first package transfer device for transferring the singulated packages to the rotator, and a second package transfer device for transferring the singulated packages , which has been rotated at a predetermined angle by means of the rotator, to the package carrier .
6. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the transfer picker is controlled in such a manner that the transfer picker transfers the singulated packages to the package carrier while being aligned in a first position, which is approximate to a lower end portion of the die of the singulation device, a second position, which is approximate to an upper surface of the package carrier, or a third position, at which the transfer picker moves toward the package carrier .
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein a widthwise pitch or a lengthwise pitch of the packages is adj usted when the packages, which have been singulated by the singulation device, are transferred to the package carrier by means of the transfer picker, and a lengthwise pitch or a widthwise pitch of the singulated packages is adjusted when the singulated packages are stacked on the package tray device from the package carrier .
PCT/KR2006/000300 2005-01-31 2006-01-26 Apparatus for processing semiconductor package WO2006080809A1 (en)

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TWI451517B (en) * 2006-09-06 2014-09-01 Hanmi Semiconductor Co Ltd Semiconductor package processing apparatus and control method thereof

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TWI451517B (en) * 2006-09-06 2014-09-01 Hanmi Semiconductor Co Ltd Semiconductor package processing apparatus and control method thereof
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