International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Willie Theodore Davis, Jr

Larry G Pymento

Michk Huang

Matthew Stephen Kelly

Derek Robertson

Larry D Gross

Celeste Zippetelli

Todd D Fellows

An apparatus includes at least one grip mechanism of a rework nozzle configured to grip an electrical component that is soldered to a printed circuit board. The apparatus includes at least one spring coupled to at least one grip mechanism, where the spring is configured to move beyond a minimum threshold in response to an initiation of a melt of a solder that attaches the electrical component to the printed circuit board. The apparatus includes at least one sensor coupled to at least one spring, where the sensor is configured to detect the move of at least one spring beyond the minimum threshold. At least one sensor is configured to communicate at least one activate signal in response to detection of the move of one or more springs beyond the minimum threshold.

Sensor-based removal of a soldered device

An apparatus includes a top plate and an extension card surrounding a space for a small electronic assembly. The extension card and small electronic assembly are mounted to the top plate. The apparatus includes a plurality of test probes extending through the top plate and moving relative to the top plate. A portion of the test probes are positioned to contact the extension card and a portion are positioned to contact the small electronic assembly when the test probes move with respect to the top plate. The apparatus includes a vacuum box in contact with the top plate and surrounding the extension card and small electronic assembly. The top plate moves relative to the test probes so the test probes contact the extension card and the small electronic assembly in response to a vacuum force evacuating an area under the top plate and within the vacuum box.

Method to improve strain rate control of small lead free printed circuit board assembly during in circuit test process

An apparatus for a component rework nozzle includes a nozzle with a proximal end spaced apart from a distal end along an axis. The proximal end is sized to partially enclose a component during a component rework process. The component is disposed on a substrate by way of a plurality of solder joints. The apparatus includes an indentation defined in a side of the nozzle. The side of the nozzle is parallel to the axis. The indentation is shaped to maintain a separation between the nozzle and a neighboring component. The neighboring component is disposed adjacent to the component on the substrate. The apparatus includes a plurality of notches disposed on the proximal end of the nozzle. The plurality of notches are formed to balance heat distribution, during the component rework process, across the component.

Component rework nozzle

Methods and arrangements to attach a QFN to a PCB, systems which include a QFN attached to a PCB, and apparatuses for controlling the deposit of solder upon a PCB are disclosed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to calculate a total area for the QFN IO pads. Embodiments may then determine a total area for the regions of solder applied to the PCB thermal pad to which the QFN thermal pad may be connected in dependence upon the calculated total area for the QFN IO pads. In some embodiments, the total area of the solder regions applied to the PCB thermal pad is approximately equal to the calculated total area for the QFN IO pads. In many embodiments, the number of regions of solder and the shape of the regions of solder is determined.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Willie Theodore Davis, Jr