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:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Dec. 21, 1998
Robert L. Canella, Nampa, ID (US);
Tony T. Ibarra, Nampa, ID (US);
Micron Electronics, Inc., Nampa, ID (US);
Abstract
A laser marking system for IC packages including a tray input shuttle assembly, a tray transport borne by a transport actuator for moving a cooperatively configured tray carrier carrying a tray of unmarked packaged ICs received from the tray input shuttle assembly to a tray output shuttle assembly over a transport actuator path extending under an open-bottomed enclosure of a laser marking station. The tray input shuttle assembly, laser marking station and tray output shuttle assembly each has associated therewith a sliding wedge-type lift mechanism for raising and lowering the tray carrier vertically with respect to the transport so as to facilitate tray loading of the tray carrier from a stack of trays on the tray input shuttle assembly, insertion and withdrawal of the tray carrier bearing a tray of packaged ICs for marking into and out of the marking station and unloading of a tray of marked packaged ICs from the tray carrier onto a stack of trays on the output shuttle assembly. The lift mechanisms and tray shuttle assemblies may each be driven by air cylinders. A method of operation of the laser marking system is also disclosed.