The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1998
John May, Tucson, AZ (US);
Timothy J. Provencher, Oro Valley, AZ (US);
Robotic Vision Systems, Inc., Canton, MA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for placing solder balls in a pattern on a substrate, e.g., to form a ball grid array, the apparatus comprising a template having a first plane, a second plane, and a plurality of holes passing substantially orthogonally through the first and second planes parallel to an axis and corresponding in location to the pattern. Each of the holes is slightly larger than a solder ball diameter. The apparatus also including a porous base having first and second planes, wherein the first plane of the base contacts the second plane of the template. The base is permeable to a fluid in a first direction from the first plane of the template toward the second plane of the base. The apparatus further includes a fluid controller in fluid communication with the base for selectively causing the fluid to pass through the holes and through the base in the first direction to force the solder balls into the holes. The base optionally but preferably comprises a carbon material, such as a carbon graphite material, and the fluid preferably comprises air.