Universal matrix tray for electronic devices

Abstract

A tray having three dimensionally adjustable sized pockets for holding a plurality of electronic components. A rectangular tray base has a cavity with a flat bottom, and four sides configured with wall notches for receiving and captivating ends of elongated transverse and longitudinal dividers. Each divider has a plurality of notches spaced along a length. The notches are configured to allow each transverse divider to interlock with a plurality of longitudinal dividers to form a rectangular array. The array is positioned in the tray base cavity, forming a plurality of rectangular pockets. The lengths and widths of the pockets are adjustable by selecting a particular divider notch for intersection of each longitudinal and lateral divider. A rectangular top frame of selected thickness is positioned over the wall notches to retain the dividers, and to define a height of each pocket upon placing a lid over the tray.

1 . A tray for holding semiconductor components comprising: 
 a tray base including 
 a bottom support structure;  
 a wall including first and second opposing side walls, and first and second opposing end walls, said wall extending from said bottom support structure to form a cavity in said tray base, said wall having a wall top and wall notches formed on a side of said wall facing inward to said cavity;  
   a plurality of lateral dividers for placement in said cavity, each lateral divider having a plurality of lateral divider notches and having end portions for placement in selected wall notches;    a plurality of longitudinal dividers for placement in said cavity, each having a plurality of longitudinal divider notches configured for engagement with lateral divider notches to form a matrix of pockets upon placement of said lateral and longitudinal dividers in said cavity; and    a frame placed on said wall top and attached to said base for captivating said lateral and longitudinal dividers in said wall notches.    
   
   
       2 . A tray for holding semiconductor components comprising: 
 a tray base, said base having a tray bottom and a wall structure forming a cavity in said tray base;    an adjustable matrix of dividers wherein said dividers can be positioned to adjust sizing of a plurality of pockets formed by said tray bottom and said dividers; and    a frame for captivating said dividers in said cavity.    
   
   
       3 . A tray as recited in  claim 2  wherein said wall structure includes 
 first and second opposing side walls; and    first and second opposing end walls.    
   
   
       4 . A tray as recited in  claim 3  wherein said dividers include 
 a plurality of longitudinal dividers each having a plurality of longitudinal divider notches; and    a plurality of lateral dividers each having a plurality of lateral divider notches for engaging with corresponding said longitudinal divider notches.    
   
   
       5 . A tray as recited in  claim 4  wherein each of two opposing walls include a plurality of wall notches for captivating ends of corresponding dividers.  
   
   
       6 . A tray as recited in  claim 2  wherein said frame includes a frame height selected to limit movement of a component in a pocket when a tray cover is placed over said tray.  
   
   
       7 . A tray as recited in  claim 3  wherein each of two opposing walls include a plurality of wall notches for captivating ends of corresponding dividers.  
   
   
       8 . A tray as recited in  claim 7  wherein a plurality of said dividers are configured as meandering wire.  
   
   
       9 . A tray as recited in  claim 7  wherein each said divider includes first and second opposing end portions that are narrowed for insertion in said wall notches.  
   
   
       10 . A tray as recited in  claim 9  wherein said dividers include 
 a plurality of longitudinal dividers, each having a plurality of elongated longitudinal divider notches; and    a plurality of lateral dividers, each having a plurality of elongated lateral divider notches,    wherein said lateral and longitudinal notches are configured to provide clearance for continuous movement of a lateral divider relative to a longitudinal divider within a length of a said notch.    
   
   
       11 . A tray as recited in  claim 3  wherein said dividers include 
 at least one section divider, each section divider for partitioning off sections in said cavity;    a plurality of longitudinal dividers configured for each said section; and    a plurality of lateral dividers configured for each said section.    
   
   
       12 . A tray as recited in  claim 11  wherein said walls have a plurality of wall notches for captivating end portions of said lateral, longitudinal and section dividers, and said section dividers have a plurality of section divider notches on two sides for captivating end portions of lateral and longitudinal dividers in two sections.  
   
   
       13 . A tray recited in  claim 11  wherein each of two opposing walls include a plurality of wall notches for captivating ends of corresponding dividers.  
   
   
       14 . A tray as recited in  claim 1  wherein each said lateral and longitudinal divider has a reduced width portion on each of two opposing ends for placement in said wall notches, for achieving a finer adjustment of position of said dividers.  
   
   
       15 . A tray as recited in  claim 13  wherein said lateral and longitudinal divider notches are each elongated to provide continuous movement of said dividers relative to each other at a point of crossover of a lateral and longitudinal divider, for the purpose of accommodating smaller incremental position selection from one wall notch to another.  
   
   
       16 . A tray as recited in  claim 1  further comprising at least one section divider for dividing said cavity into sections, whereby said lateral and longitudinal dividers in one section are independently adjustable relative to adjustment of lateral and longitudinal dividers in another section.  
   
   
       17 . A tray as recited in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of said longitudinal and lateral dividers are formed as a meandering wire, and wherein said divider notches are defined by space between downward and upward excursions of said wire.  
   
   
       18 . A tray as recited in  claim 2  further comprising a cover plate for placement within an inner perimeter of said frame.  
   
   
       19 . A tray as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a spacer for placement over said cover plate.  
   
   
       20 . A tray as recited in  claim 19  further compressing a tray cover.  
   
   
       21 . A tray as recited in  claim 20  wherein end spacer and said cover plate are attached to an underside of said tray cover.  
   
   
       22 . A tray as recited in  claim 21  wherein said tray cover is a second tray placed on said tray.  
   
   
       23 . A method of adjusting a tray for holding semiconductor components, said tray including a tray base having a cavity with a bottom and a wall structure including first and second opposing side walls and first and second opposing end walls, said wall structure extending from said bottom, wherein said cavity is divided into a matrix of pockets, the method comprising: 
 inserting at least one first divider within said cavity;    placing at least one second divider transverse to said first divider within the cavity by interlocking the second divider with the first divider to form a matrix of pockets; and    attaching a frame to said tray base for retaining said dividers in said cavity.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising placing a tray cover on said tray.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said matrix of pockets includes pockets of different sizes.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising placing a cover plate within an inner perimeter of said frame.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising providing a spacer on said cover plate.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said spacer is configured so that said spacer is in contact with an underside portion of said tray cover.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said spacer and cover plate are attached to an underside of said tray cover.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said tray cover is a second tray stacked on said tray.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a said first divider is repositioned to adjust at least one pocket size within the matrix of pockets.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 23  wherein a said second divider is repositioned to adjust at least one pocket size within the matrix of pockets.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein a said first divider and a said second divider are repositioned to adjust at least one pocket size within the matrix of pockets.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said tray cover is a second tray that is placed on said tray.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising securing end portions of said first divider to said wall structure with notches in said opposing end walls.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising securing end portions of said second dividers to said wall structure with notches in said opposing side walls.  
   
   
       37 . A tray comprising: 
 a tray configured for holding semiconductor components including    a tray base, said base having a tray bottom and a wall structure forming a cavity in said tray base; and    an adjustable matrix of dividers for placement in said cavity, wherein said divider can be positioned to adjust a size of a plurality of pockets for holding semiconductors, said pockets formed by said tray bottom and said dividers.    
   
   
       38 . A tray as recited in  claim 37  wherein said wall structure includes 
 first and second opposing side walls;    first and second opposing end walls; and    wherein said dividers include a plurality of longitudinal dividers each having a plurality of longitudinal divider notches;    a plurality of lateral dividers each having a plurality of lateral divider notches for engaging with corresponding said longitudinal divider notches, and    wherein each of said opposing walls include a plurality of wall notches for captivating ends of corresponding dividers.