System and method for improved auto-boating

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, a system used in auto-boating includes a tape substrate supported by a boat. The tape substrate includes a pair of lateral edges parallel to one another and each having respective first and second ends, and a pair of longitudinal guide strips parallel to one another. One of the longitudinal guide strips extends between the respective first ends of the pair of lateral edges and the other longitudinal guide strip extends between the respective second ends of the pair of lateral edges. The tape substrate also includes a plurality of die attach regions disposed within the area defined by the pair of lateral edges and the pair of longitudinal guide strips. The system further includes a boat clip coupled to the boat such that the tape substrate is sandwiched between the boat and the boat clip. Each longitudinal guide strip includes a pair of tabs disposed at opposite ends thereof such that each tab extends beyond a respective one of the lateral edges.

1 . A method for auto-boating, comprising:
 supporting a tape substrate on a boat, the tape substrate comprising:
 a pair of lateral edges parallel to one another, each lateral edge having respective first and second ends; 
 a pair of longitudinal guide strips parallel to one another, one of the longitudinal guide strips extending between the respective first ends of the pair of lateral edges and the other longitudinal guide strip extending between the respective second ends of the pair of lateral edges, each longitudinal guide strip comprising a pair of tabs disposed at opposite ends thereof such that each tab extends beyond a respective one of the lateral edges; and 
 coupling a boat clip having a plurality of windows to the boat such that the boat clip engages the tabs as the boat clip approaches the boat to ensure that the lateral edges of the tape substrate do not engage edges of respective windows proximate the lateral edges. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs are triangularly shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tabs are oriented at an angle of between approximately thirty degrees and sixty degrees with respect to the respective lateral edge. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tabs are oriented at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with respect to the respective lateral edge. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs lie in the same plane as the tape substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tape substrate is formed from polyimide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tabs are formed integral with the longitudinal guide strips. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the boat clip comprises magnetically coupling the boat clip. 
     
     
         9 . A method for auto-boating, comprising:
 providing a tape substrate strip, the tape substrate strip comprising a pair of longitudinal guide strips and a die attach region disposed between the longitudinal guide strips;   separating the tape substrate strip into a plurality of tape substrates by: cutting the die attach region perpendicular to the longitudinal guide strips to create one or more lateral edges; and   cutting each longitudinal guide strip at an angle with respect to a respective lateral edge to create one or more tabs extending beyond the respective lateral edge.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the angle is between approximately thirty degrees and sixty degrees with respect to the respective lateral edge. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the angle is approximately forty-five degrees with respect to the respective lateral edge. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the tape substrate strip is formed from polyimide.