Carrier Tape Segment Including Mechanical Interlocking Features Thereon

Abstract

A carrier tape segment to carry a microelectronic component thereon. The carrier tape segment includes a tape segment body having a head portion and a tail portion, and a component carrying portion between the head portion and the tail portion. The head portion includes a first mechanical interlocking feature thereon. The tail portion includes a second mechanical interlocking feature thereon. The first mechanical interlocking feature is configured to mechanically interlock with a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature, and the second mechanical interlocking feature is configured to mechanically interlock with a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature. The carrier tape segment is thereby configured to be linked to other carrier tape segments to form a carrier tape chain therewith.

1 . A carrier tape segment to carry a microelectronic component thereon, the carrier tape segment including a tape segment body having a head portion and a tail portion, and a component carrying portion between the head portion and the tail portion, wherein:
 the head portion includes a first mechanical interlocking feature thereon;   the tail portion includes a second mechanical interlocking feature thereon; the first mechanical interlocking feature being configured to mechanically interlock with a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature, and the second mechanical interlocking feature being configured to mechanically interlock with a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature, the carrier tape segment being thereby configured to be linked to other carrier tape segments to form a carrier tape chain therewith.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 1 , wherein the component carrying portion is configured to carry a single component thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 1 , wherein the component carrying portion is configured to carry multiple components thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first mechanical interlocking feature and the second mechanical interlocking feature comprises a male interlocking feature, and another one of the first mechanical interlocking feature and the second mechanical interlocking feature comprises a female interlocking feature. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 4 , wherein the first mechanical interlocking feature is configured to snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature, and the second mechanical interlocking feature is configured to snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 5 , wherein the first mechanical interlocking feature is configured to automatically snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature as a result of a predetermined alignment and spacing of the carrier tape segment with the separate carrier tape segment, and the second mechanical interlocking feature is configured to automatically snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature as a result of a predetermined alignment and spacing of the carrier tape segment with the separate carrier tape segment. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 1 , wherein the tape body defines index holes on at least one side thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 1 , wherein the component carrying portion includes one or a plurality of pockets, or an adhesive portion adapted to hold the component thereon. 
     
     
         9 . A set of carrier tape segments, each of the carrier tape segments including a tape segment body having a head portion and a tail portion, and a component carrying portion between the head portion and the tail portion, wherein:
 the head portion includes a first mechanical interlocking feature thereon; and   the tail portion includes a second mechanical interlocking feature thereon; the first mechanical interlocking feature being configured to mechanically interlock with a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature, and the second mechanical interlocking feature being configured to mechanically interlock with a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature, the carrier tape segment being thereby configured to be linked to other carrier tape segments to form a carrier tape chain therewith.   
     
     
         10 . The set of  claim 9 , wherein the component carrying portion is configured to carry a single component thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The set of  claim 9 , wherein the component carrying portion is configured to carry multiple components thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The set of  claim 9 , wherein one of the first mechanical interlocking feature and the second mechanical interlocking feature comprises a male interlocking feature, and another one of the first mechanical interlocking feature and the second mechanical interlocking feature comprises a female interlocking feature. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 12 , wherein the first mechanical interlocking feature is configured to snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature, and the second mechanical interlocking feature is configured to snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier tape segment of  claim 13 , wherein the first mechanical interlocking feature is configured to automatically snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the second mechanical interlocking feature as a result of a predetermined alignment and spacing of the carrier tape segment with the separate carrier tape segment, and the second mechanical interlocking feature is configured to automatically snap into a mechanical interlocking feature belonging to a separate carrier tape segment and shaped similarly to the first mechanical interlocking feature as a result of a predetermined alignment and spacing of the carrier tape segment with the separate carrier tape segment. 
     
     
         15 . The set of  claim 9 , wherein the set comprises one of a stack and a carrier tape chain including the carrier tape segments chain linked to one another via the mechanical linking mechanisms.