Low-cost robotics for placement of integrated circuit and method therefor

Abstract

A robotic integrated circuit placement system includes a test board comprising a socket for holding an integrated circuit, a tester coupled to the test board, a chip tray having a plurality of slots for storing respective integrated circuits including the integrated circuit, and a robotic arm system. The robotic arm system includes a robotic arm having a stepper motor for controlling a position of an end of the robotic arm, a camera, and a controller coupled to the robotic arm and adapted to operate the robotic arm automatically. The controller performs image processing on images acquired by the camera, and moves the integrated circuit between the chip tray and the socket using the robotic arm in response to the image processing.