Device and method for aligning and holding a plurality of singulated semiconductor components in receiving pockets of a terminal carrier

Abstract

In a device and a method for aligning and holding a plurality of singulated semi-conductor components in receiving pockets of a terminal carrier ( 5 ) that are separated from each other, the terminal carrier ( 5 ) has spring elements ( 12 a, 12 b ), which are part of a spring plate ( 2 ). The spring plate ( 2 ) has a plurality of recesses ( 11 ) disposed next to each other for forming a corresponding plurality of receiving pockets ( 6 ) for the semi-conductor components, wherein the spring elements ( 12 a, 12 b ) are formed from the spring plate ( 2 ) in one piece.

1 . A device configured to align and hold a plurality of singulated semiconductor components with a plate-like clamping carrier, the clamping carrier comprising:
 a plurality of receiving pockets arranged side-by-side, into which the semiconductor components are be insertable,   stop elements for accurate positioning of the semiconductor components within the receiving pockets,   spring elements for pressing the semiconductor components against the stop elements by means of spring force,   
     wherein the spring elements are part of a spring plate comprising: a plurality of recesses arranged side-by-side and providing a corresponding plurality of receiving pockets for the semiconductor components, wherein the spring elements are formed from the spring plate in one piece. 
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping carrier further comprises a multi-layer plate combination that comprises the spring plate and a base plate, or a cover plate, or both adjacent to the spring plate, wherein the spring plate extends at least over a major part of the base plate or the cover plate. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring plate comprises a flat plate, and in that the spring elements comprises spring tongues that are arranged and can be moved in the plane of the spring plate, or parallel to this plane. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping carrier per receiving pocket has at least two spring elements, arranged at an angle to one another, with spring forces of different strengths, wherein the semiconductor components are pressed in two different directions against spring elements, and wherein the device further comprises: an actuation device, which interacts with the spring elements such that the spring element with a weaker spring force firstly and the spring element with a stronger spring force only subsequently presses the semiconductor component against the respectively assigned, opposing stop element. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the base plate comprises a flat plate that forms a bottom of the receiving pockets. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the base plate comprises, arranged in the region of the receiving pockets, recesses for the introduction of the semiconductor components, wherein the recesses and the recesses of the spring plate overlay each other. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring plate per receiving pocket comprises a floatingly attached spring plate section comprising centring means, at least one spring element, and the recess for the introduction of the semiconductor component. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein that the stop elements for accurate positioning of the semiconductor components are arranged over the cover plate or spring plate. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the cover plate comprises a plane plate extending over at least the major part of the spring plate, and other recesses that are arranged above the recesses of the spring plate. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the clamping carrier is designed for the accommodation of semiconductor components having pins, wherein the base plate has pin support elements, which extend through the recesses of the spring plate so as to form a support for the pins. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the clamping carrier is designed for the accommodation of semiconductor components having pins, the cover plate consisting of an electrically insulating material, and having, arranged alongside the recesses, pin support sections which form a support for the pins. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping carrier has two or multiple spring plates arranged one above the other, on which the spring elements are arranged. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the actuation device has a main plate arranged parallel to the clamping carrier plane, and, protruding from the main plate, actuators which in the event of the approach of the actuation device towards the clamping carriers come into engagement with the spring elements so as to press the latter laterally outwards into an open position. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the main plate has, arranged above the receiving pockets of the clamping carrier, centring openings for guiding through and pre-centring the semiconductor components. 
   
   
       15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the actuators consist of wedge elements with inclined faces that are bringable in and out of engagement with the spring elements. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the actuators of the actuation device are designed and arranged relative to the spring elements such that in a particular position of the actuation device the spring element with the stronger spring force is still in compressive engagement with the assigned actuator, whereas the spring element with the weaker spring force is already out of compressive engagement with the assigned actuator. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the spring element with the weaker spring force has a first pressure face that is bringable into contact with the semiconductor component, and the spring element with the stronger spring force has a second pressure face that is bringable into contact with the semiconductor component, wherein the first pressure face has a smaller separation distance from the opposing stop element than the second pressure face has from the opposing stop element, so that a semiconductor component with a square body is pressed firstly by the spring element with the weaker spring force onto the opposing stop element. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the spring plate is displaceably arranged on the base plate, and is, by means of the actuation device, displaceable relative to the base plate such that the spring elements are pressed against the semiconductor components inserted into the receiving pockets, wherein the spring elements are pre-loaded. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the spring plate is displaceably guided on the base plate by means of a motion link guide. 
   
   
       20 . A method for aligning and holding singulated semiconductor components in receiving pockets of a clamping carrier, wherein spring elements of the clamping carrier are moved by means of an actuation device into an open position enabling the insertion of the semiconductor components into the receiving pockets, and after the insertion of the semiconductor components are brought into compressive contact with the semiconductor components so as to press the semiconductor components by means of the spring force of the spring elements against opposing stop elements, wherein the method comprises:
 providing a clamping carrier that comprises at least two spring elements per receiving pocket, the spring elements being arranged at an angle to one another with spring forces of different strengths, so as to press the semiconductor components in two different directions against the stop elements; and   after the insertion of the semiconductor components into the receiving pockets, releasing the actuation device from the spring elements, wherein the spring element with the weaker spring force firstly and the spring element with the stronger spring force only subsequently presses the semiconductor component against the respectively assigned, opposing stop element.   
   
   
       21 . A method for aligning and holding singulated semiconductor components in receiving pockets of a clamping carrier, wherein spring elements of the clamping carrier are moved by means of an actuation device into an open position, the method comprising:
 enabling the insertion of the semiconductor components into the receiving pockets, and after the insertion of the semiconductor components are brought into compressive contact with the semiconductor components so as to press the semiconductor components by means of the spring force of the spring elements against opposing stop elements, wherein a clamping carrier is provided that per receiving pocket has, arranged at an angle to one another, at least two spring elements with spring forces of different strengths so as to press the semiconductor components in two different directions against the stop elements, and in that the spring elements arranged at an angle to one another, after the insertion of the semiconductor components into the receiving pockets, are displaced by means of the actuation device such that the spring element with the weaker spring force firstly and the spring element with the stronger spring force only subsequently presses the semiconductor component against the respectively assigned, opposing stop element.   
   
   
       22 . A system for testing a multiplicity of singulated semiconductor components, the system comprising:
 a handler for the testing of the semiconductor components; and   a device according to  claim 1  for aligning and holding the multiplicity of singulated semiconductor components in the handler.