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Topside Alignment Placement (TAP) Process

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March 9, 2015

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March 9, 2015 – Universal Instruments’ proprietary Topside Alignment Placement (TAP) process aligns placement based on top features, enabling high accuracy placement for a wide range of applications.

In CPV applications, TAP option maximizes efficiency and power density and automates assembly of large solar panels. In embedded applications, TAP aligns die top features for high density interconnect on large substrate.

In Automotive applications, accurate LED alignment eliminates the need for a secondary lens, thus reducing component count and overall cost of lamp.

Automotive-Car Headlamp Assembly Options

Automotive board level
Module level
Custom Housings

Topside Alignment Place (TAP) is a process in which the component bottom outline and the active top features are inspected simultaneously by upper and downward looking cameras respectively. The inspection establishes a relationship between the component bottom outline versus the component top patterns. Following top inspection by the downward looking camera (PEC), the component is picked and moved over an upward looking camera (ULC). The upward camera defines the relationship of the component outline to the spindle for placement. The relationship offset from the TAP process is added to the upward camera correction offset for final placement. This process also resolves the issue of component movement between inspect and pick.

The process:

Machine starts by feeding the component to feeder location
The PEC camera locates the programmed topside features on the component. The topside feature referred as the artwork.
The PEC camera locates a reference feature with respect to the artwork
The machine then calculates and stores the artwork‐to‐reference feature offset.
The head picks and scans them over the upward looking camera (ULC). Using ULC, it recognizes the same reference feature use by PEC.
The artwork‐to‐reference feature offset is taken into account in the determination of the final placement location.
The components are then placed on the substrate

Example:

The Topside Alignment Place (TAP) can be added to any Fuzion platform; it’s an integrated solution that supports placement of active and passive components on the a single platform.