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:
Jun. 04, 2002
Filed:
May. 11, 2000
Eric G. Parker, Wylie, TX (US);
George D. Skidmore, Plano, TX (US);
Zyvex Corporation, Richardson, TX (US);
Abstract
A system and method which provide a gripping mechanism and a complementary “handle,” which enable a microcomponent to be grasped with the gripping mechanism are disclosed. A preferred embodiment provides a gripper and a complementary handle, which is implemented on a microcomponent to be grasped, to enable the gripper to effectively grasp the microcomponent by grasping the complementary handle implemented for such component. A preferred embodiment provides a gripper and a complementary handle that is implemented on a microcomponent to enable the microcomponent to be accurately picked-and-placed with the gripper. The complementary handle may be an integrated part of the microcomponent to be grasped, or the handle may be a separate component that is capable of being permanently or temporarily coupled to a microcomponent. Most preferably, the gripper and complementary handle may be implemented to constrain all six degrees of freedom, both translational and rotational, of a grasped handle relative to the gripper.