Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP
Method and system for reducing water vapor in integrated circuit packages prior to reflow
 A system and method for assembling components onto a circuit board is disclosed. The system includes: a thermal chamber for receiving a plurality of components therein and for heating the plurality of components at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined length of time; an outfeed slot located on a wall of the thermal chamber which allows at least one component from the plurality of components to pass therethrough and emerge externally of the thermal chamber; and a pick and place machine, located adjacent to the thermal chamber, which automatically retrieves the at least one component which has passed through the outfeed slot and automatically places the at least one component onto a designated circuit board. The method includes: placing at least one component into an interior chamber of a thermal oven; heating the at least one component at a predetermined temperature within the thermal oven for a predetermined length of time; passing the at least one component through an outfeed slot located on a wall of the thermal oven, at the expiration of the predetermined length of time, such that the at least one component emerges externally of the thermal oven; and retrieving the at least one component which emerges from the thermal oven through the outfeed slot with an automated pick and place machine which thereafter places the at least one component onto a designated circuit board. 
Micron Electronics, Inc.
F F F B F B H
F26B F26B F26B B23K F26B B23K H05K
inventional inventional inventional additional inventional inventional inventional
Roland Derek T.
Ochoa Smith