US4875614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alignment device
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1988-10-31
•
Granted: 1989-10-24
•
Expires: 2008-10-31
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface. The apparatus includes a means for movably mounting the first body to a support which permits rotation of the first surface so that when the first surface is pressed against the second surface, the first surface rotates with respect to the support resulting in the first surface being against the second surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Cipolla
- 👤 Raymond R. Horton
- 👤 Philip Murphy
- 👤 Michael J. Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/50; B; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/02; H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/04; H10P72/0446; H10W; H10W72/00; H10W72/071; H10W72/0711; H10W72/07173; H10W72/07178; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S269/00; Y10S269/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be substantially against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first body; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; means for movably mounting said first surface by curved surfaces to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface about a first axis and a second axis, so that when said support is moved to press said first surface against said second surface, said first surface rotates about said first and second axis, resulting in said first surface being substantially against said second surface; and said first axis and said second axis are substantially fixed in orientation and position with respect to said support as said first surface rotates.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
An apparatus for adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be substantially against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first body; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; means for movably mounting said first surface by curved surfaces to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface about a first axis and a second axis, so that when said support is moved to press said first surface against said second surface, said first surface rotates about said first and second axis, resulting in said first surface being substantially against said second surface; and said first axis and said second axis are substantially fixed in orientation and position with respect to said support as said first surface rotates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first axis and said second axis are perpendicular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first axis and said second axis intersect.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
154 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support, said base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; and said second carriage having said first surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first axis and said second axis intersect and wherein said first surface is substantially planar and contains said first and said second axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first axis and said second axis are perpendicular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said concave surface of said base is movably mounted to said convex surface of said first carriage by a bearing means and said concave surface of said first carriage is movably mounted to said convex surface of said second carriage by a bearing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said bearing means comprises at least two bearing assemblies containing a plurality of bearing balls sandwiched between bearing tracks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and said second surface are substantially planar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a bonding tool for bonding the ends of a plurality of beam leads to a plurality of contact locations on a substrate, said first surface being a bondhead for pressing said ends against said contact locations and said second surface being said plurality of said contact locations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a bonding tool for bonding a plurality of contact locations on a first substrate to a plurality of contact locations on a second substrate, said first surface being said plurality of contact locations on said first substrate and said second surface being said plurality of contact locations on said second substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first surface rotates about a substantially fixed point substantially in said first surface, said first and said second axis substantially intersecting at said point.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be substantially against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first body; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; means for movably mounting said first body to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface about a first axis and a second axis, so that when said support is moved to press said first surface against said second surface, said first surface rotates about said first and second axis, resulting in said first surface being substantially against said second surface; said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support, said base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having said first surface; and means for holding said base, said first carriage and said second carriage together.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
276 words
An apparatus for adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be substantially against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first body; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; means for movably mounting said first body to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface about a first axis and a second axis, so that when said support is moved to press said first surface against said second surface, said first surface rotates about said first and second axis, resulting in said first surface being substantially against said second surface; said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support, said base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having said first surface; and means for holding said base, said first carriage and said second carriage together.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
297 words
An apparatus for adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be substantially against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first body; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; and means for movably mounting said first body to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface about a first axis and a second axis, so that when said support is moved to press said first surface against said second surface, said first surface rotates about said first and second axis, resulting in said first surface being substantially against said second surface. said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support, said base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having said first surface; and said first surface is held to said first body by a vacuum applied through a flexible member extending through an aperture in said means for movably mounting said first body to said support.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
297 words
An apparatus for adjusting the orientation of a first surface of a first body to be substantially against a second surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first body; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; and means for movably mounting said first body to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface about a first axis and a second axis, so that when said support is moved to press said first surface against said second surface, said first surface rotates about said first and second axis, resulting in said first surface being substantially against said second surface. said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support, said base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having said first surface; and said first surface is held to said first body by a vacuum applied through a flexible member extending through an aperture in said means for movably mounting said first body to said support.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said flexible member is a bellows.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first substantially planar surface of a first body to be substantially parallel to a second substantially planar surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said first axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having a substantially planar surface defined by the intersection of said first axis and said second axis and said first axis and said second axis are substantially fixed in orientation and position with respect to said base as said first surface rotates when pressed against said second surface.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first substantially planar surface of a first body to be substantially parallel to a second substantially planar surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said first axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having a substantially planar surface defined by the intersection of said first axis and said second axis and said first axis and said second axis are substantially fixed in orientation and position with respect to said base as said first surface rotates when pressed against said second surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said concave surface of said base is movably mounted to said convex surface of said first carriage by a bearing means and said concave surface of said first carriage is movably mounted to said convex surface of said second carriage by a bearing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said apparatus is a bonding tool for bonding the inner ends of a plurality of beam leads to a plurality of contact locations on a substrate, said first substantially planar surface being a bondhead for pressing said inner ends against said contact locations and said second substantially planar surface being said plurality of said contact locations.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said apparatus is a bonding tool for bonding a plurality of contact locations on a first substrate to a plurality of contact locations on a second substrate, said first substantially planar surface being said plurality of contact locations on said first substrate and said second substantially planar surface being said plurality of contact locations on said second substrate.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first substantially planar surface of a first body to be substantially parallel to a second substantially planar surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said first axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having a substantially planar surface defined by the intersection of said first axis and said second axis; and said concave surface of said base is movably mounted to said convex surface of said first carriage by a bearing means and said concave surface of said first carriage is movably mounted to said convex surface of said second carriage by a bearing means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
243 words
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first substantially planar surface of a first body to be substantially parallel to a second substantially planar surface of a second body when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to and intersecting said first axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; said second carriage having a substantially planar surface defined by the intersection of said first axis and said second axis; and said concave surface of said base is movably mounted to said convex surface of said first carriage by a bearing means and said concave surface of said first carriage is movably mounted to said convex surface of said second carriage by a bearing means.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first surface to be in contact with a second surface at more than one location when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first surface; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; and means for movably mounting said first surface to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface with respect to said support, so that when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said first surface rotates about a substantially fixed point substantially on said first surface, resulting in said first surface contacting said second surface at more than one location.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for automatically adjusting the orientation of a first surface to be in contact with a second surface at more than one location when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said apparatus comprising: a support for said first surface; means for pressing said first surface against said second surface; and means for movably mounting said first surface to said support, permitting rotation of said first surface with respect to said support, so that when said first surface is pressed against said second surface, said first surface rotates about a substantially fixed point substantially on said first surface, resulting in said first surface contacting said second surface at more than one location.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first and said second surface are substantially planar and when pressed together are substantially flush and parallel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said apparatus is an electronic device bonding apparatus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support; said base having a substantially spherically concave surface of a predetermined radius; a carriage having a substantially spherically convex surface having substantially the same radius as said concave surface of said base; said carriage has a substantially planar surface containing the center of said substantially spherical convex surface of said carriage; and said concave surface of said base is movably mounted to said convex surface of said carriage.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said concave surface of said base is movably mounted to said convex surface of said carriage by disposing said convex surface against said concave surface with a lubricant therebetween.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for movably mounting said first body to said support comprises: a base attached to said support, said base having a cylindrically concave surface having a first radius and a first axis; a first carriage, said first carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said first radius and said first axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said base movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said first carriage; said first carriage having a cylindrically concave surface having a second radius and a second axis; a second carriage, said second carriage having a cylindrically convex surface having a radius and axis substantially the same as said second radius and said second axis, said cylindrically concave surface of said first carriage movably mounted to said cylindrically convex surface of said second carriage; and said second carriage having said first surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein there is a first and a second axis of rotation substantially intersecting at said point, said first surface rotates about said first and said second axis when rotating about said points.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said means for movably mounting said first surface to said support comprises curved surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1059545A
Cited
US2325387A
Cited
US3259367A
Cited
US3529759A
Cited
US3574923A
Cited
US3608809A
Cited
US3669333A
Cited
US3823863A
Cited
US3905537A
Cited
US3957185A
Cited
JPS5252369A
Cited
US4184623A
Cited
JPS58215286A
Cited
JPS6094749A
Cited
US4600228A
Cited
US4768702A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-10-23 | 1993-04-24 | 1993-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-23 | 1997-04-24 | 1997-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-23 | 2001-04-24 | 2001-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |