Carrier tape is typically used to store large numbers of electronic devices—such as electronic chips and other circuit components—in a convenient and space-conserving manner. The electronic devices are stored in numerous pockets that are arranged in a serial fashion along the length of the tape. The pockets are usually sealed using cover tape to prevent damage to or loss of the electronic devices while the devices are stored in the pockets. Once loaded with electronic devices and sealed with cover tape, the carrier tape is wound around a reel for storage or transport.
At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a carrier tape system, comprising: a tape; a series of index holes along a length of said tape; a series of pockets along said length; a first series of standoff units along said length; and a second series of standoff units along said length, wherein the series of pockets is positioned between the first series of standoff units and the second series of standoff units, wherein the standoff units create a clearance space between the bottom surfaces of said pockets and the tape when said tape is wound on a reel. At least some of these embodiments may be supplemented using one or more of the following concepts, in any order and in any combination: further comprising a cover tape adhered to the tape between the first and second series of standoff units, said clearance space existing between at least some of said bottom surfaces and at least some of the cover tape; wherein the series of index holes is positioned between the first series of standoff units and a first edge along the length of the tape, the first series of standoff units is positioned between the series of pockets and the series of index holes, and the second series of standoff units is positioned between the series of pockets and a second edge along the length of the tape; wherein the depths of the standoff units create said clearance space; wherein the widths of the standoff units create said clearance space; wherein spacing between the series of standoff units and the series of pockets create the clearance space; wherein the spacing between each of the standoff units in each of the series of standoff units creates said clearance space; wherein the first and second series of standoff units are arranged in a staggered pattern in relation to each other; wherein at least two standoff units on opposing sides of the series of pockets are aligned with each other; wherein the standoff units are hollow; wherein the standoff units are filled; wherein the pockets in the series have a pitch between 1 mm and 2 mm, inclusive.
At least some embodiments are directed to a method for manufacturing a carrier tape with standoff units, comprising: producing a series of index holes along a length of a tape; producing a series of pockets along said length; and producing a first series of standoff units and a second series of standoff units along said length, wherein the series of pockets is between the first and second series of standoff units. At least some such embodiments may be supplemented using one or more of the following concepts, in any order and in any combination: further comprising producing the first and second series of standoff units to have depths such that a clearance space exists between the bottom surfaces of the pockets and the tape when said tape is wound on a reel; further comprising producing the first and second series of standoff units to have widths such that a clearance space exists between the bottom surfaces of the pockets and the tape when said tape is wound on a reel; further comprising spacing the series of standoff units and the series of pockets such that a clearance space exists between the bottom surfaces of the pockets and the tape when said tape is wound on a reel.
At least some embodiments are directed to a method for using a carrier tape with standoff units, comprising: obtaining a carrier tape having a series of pockets along a length of the carrier tape and a first and second series of standoff units along said length, the series of pockets positioned between said first and second series; populating at least one of the pockets with an electronic device; sealing a cover tape over the series of pockets; and winding said carrier tape on a reel. At least some such embodiments may be supplemented using one or more of the following concepts, in any order and in any combination: further comprising the standoff units preventing contact between the bottom surfaces of said pockets and the cover tape after said winding is complete; further comprising sealing said cover tape to the carrier tape between the series of pockets and the first series of standoff units and between the series of pockets and the second series of standoff units; wherein said pockets have a 1 mm pitch.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS.
Implementations will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:
Disclosed herein are methods and systems pertaining to a carrier tape having standoff units that prevent electronic devices populating carrier tape pockets from adhering to cover tape used to seal the pockets. In particular, two series of standoff units extend along the length of the carrier tape, and a series of pockets extends along the length of the carrier tape in between the two series of standoff units. The standoff units have a particular depth, width, and spacing relative to the pockets and/or each other to ensure that when the carrier tape is wound on a reel, the standoff units create a clearance space between the pockets and the cover tape positioned on the layer of carrier tape below the pockets. Thus, the bottom surfaces of the pockets do not contact the cover tape positioned below the pockets. By preventing such contact, the bottom surfaces of the pockets do not apply pressure to the cover tape; thus, the cover tape is less likely to adhere to the electronic devices that they cover. As a result, when the tape is unwound and the cover tape is removed, the electronic devices remain in the pockets.
The carrier tape 100 is composed of any suitable material, such as polycarbonates and polystyrenes. Other materials also may be used. The length of the carrier tape 100 is variable depending on the number of electronic devices that are to be carried. The width of the carrier tape 100 between opposing edges 104 and 106 also may vary, but, in at least some embodiments, it is between 8 millimeters and 24 millimeters, inclusive.
The index holes 102 are used by appropriate systems—for instance, manufacturing and/or assembly systems—to handle the carrier tape 100. For example, such systems may contain protrusions that mate with the index holes 102 to grip and move the carrier tape 100 while the pockets 108 are populated with electronic devices. In some embodiments, the index holes 102 are circular and have a diameter of 1.5 millimeters, although the scope of disclosure encompasses index holes of any suitable size and shape. In some embodiments, the index holes 102 have a pitch of 4 millimeters, but other pitches are contemplated. In some embodiments, the index holes 102 are centered approximately (i.e., within 15% of) 1.85 millimeters from the edge 104.
As explained above, the pockets 108 house any suitable type of electronic device (e.g., chips, circuit components). In some cases, all pockets 108 are populated with such electronic devices, while in other cases, some or even only one of the pockets 108 may be populated with electronic devices. The pockets 108 extend below the plane of the carrier tape—for example, in the top-down view of
The series of pockets 108 is positioned between the series of standoff units 110 and 112. One purpose of the standoff units 110 and 112 is to ensure that the bottom surfaces of the pockets 108 do not touch—and, thus, do not apply pressure to—any other part of the carrier tape 100 or to the cover tape 114 when the carrier tape 100 is wound on a reel. This function of the standoff units 110, 112 will be described in greater detail below in the context of
The cover tape 114 is composed of any suitable material, such as and without limitation, polyester or polyethylene terephthalate. The cover tape 114 may be conductive, non-conductive or static dissipative tape and may include adhesive that is heat- or pressure-activated. One function of the cover tape 114 is to cover and protect the electronic devices populating the pockets 108 from dust, debris, liquids, electrical damage and/or mechanical impact. The size of the cover tape 114 relative to the rest of the carrier tape 100 may be as indicated by the dashed line in
As illustrated, each of the layers of the carrier tape 100 has a series of pockets 108 extending below the plane of the carrier tape 100, a series of standoff units 110 extending below the plane of the carrier tape 100, and a series of standoff units 112 extending below the plane of the carrier tape 100. In preferred embodiments, the standoff units 110, 112 of each layer of tape are shaped, sized, and/or spaced from each other and/or from the pockets 108 of that layer such that adjacent pockets 108 (and, more specifically, the bottom surfaces 128 of the pockets 108) of that layer do not touch—and, thus, do not apply pressure to—the layer of carrier tape and cover tape below that layer (i.e., closer to the reel). Thus, for example, the standoff units 110, 112 of the layer 120 are shaped, sized, and spaced from each other and/or from the pockets 108 so that the bottom surfaces 128 of the pockets in the layer 120 do not make contact with the layer 122 (or the cover tape adhering to the layer 122) when the carrier tape 100 is wound on a reel. Clearance space 130 represents this lack of contact. Because contact with the cover tape of layer 122 is precluded, the cover tape of layer 122 is not forced to make contact with the electronic devices in the pockets of layer 122, and so the electronic devices in those pockets do not adhere to the cover tape.
Any suitable degree of clearance space 130 is appropriate as long as contact between the pockets and underlying cover tape is precluded. As mentioned, the clearance space 130 may be achieved by manufacturing the standoff units 110, 112 with appropriate shapes, sizes and/or spacing from each other and/or from the pockets 108. For instance, the spacing units 110, 112 in layer 120 may be spaced closely enough to each other to prevent bowing of the portion of the carrier tape 100 therebetween. If the portion of carrier tape 100 between the spacing units 110, 112 does not bow, the bottom surfaces 128 of the pockets 108 do not make contact with or apply pressure to the cover tape on the carrier tape of layer 122. Such bowing may also be prevented by fabricating the standoff units 110, 112 to be sufficiently wide. Such bowing also may be prevented by fabricating the standoff units 110, 112 to be sufficiently deep. Similarly, bowing may be prevented by manufacturing the series of standoff units 110 to be in a staggered pattern with respect to the series of standoff units 112, as shown in
Numerous other variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations, modifications and equivalents.
This application is a continuation application of the earlier U.S. Utility Patent Application to Truhitte entitled “Carrier tape with Standoff Units,” application Ser. No. 15/158,424, filed May 18, 2016, now pending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20190002173 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15158424 | May 2016 | US |
Child | 16126614 | US |