Anisotropic Conductive Film Carrying Tape and Packaging Method

Abstract

An anisotropic conductive film carrying tape (1) carrying on it an anisotropic conductive film is disclosed. A splice tape (5) is bonded by an adhesive tape (6) to one or both of longitudinal ends of a base film (3) of synthetic resin of the tape (1) on which has been affixed an anisotropic conductive film (2). On both the front and back surfaces of a base film (11) of the splice tape are layered polypropylene films (12), (13). The polypropylene films, formed on the respective surfaces of the base film (11), are dyed to different colors.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, used for a process for interconnecting a counterpart connecting member carrying a large number of electrodes, to an electronic part or component, as a connecting member facing the counterpart connecting member. The anisotropic conductive film carrying tape is used for a packaging process employing the anisotropic conductive film operating as a material for connection. This invention also relates to a method for packaging e.g. an electronic part or component using this anisotropic conductive film. [0002] The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2004-134510 and 2004-203787, filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Apr. 28, 2004 and on Jul. 9, 2004, respectively. The contents of these Applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety in the present Application. BACKGROUND ART [0003] Heretofore, in a process of affixing electronic devi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, which may be connected to another such tape easily reliably by thermal fusion, and a method for packaging electronic parts or components, for example, using this tape carrying thereon an anisotropic conductive film.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape in which a plural number of tapes, each carrying an anisotropic conductive film, are positively connected to one another to permit continued use of the tape to provide for effective elongation of the tape length without elongating the length of the individual tapes, and a packaging method. The production efficiency in the process of packaging the part or component on a substrate may be improved with the use of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape.

[0011] The present invention also provides a packaging method for affixing electronic devices or electronic parts or components in a preset pattern, using an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape including a substrate of synthetic resin carrying an anisotropic conductive film affixed thereon. The packaging method includes supplying an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, as taken up on a tape reel, to a packaging unit, and detecting an end of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, as taken up on the tape reel, when the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape is about to be depleted. The packaging method also includes thermally fusing an end of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, as taken up on the tape reel, to an end of an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, as taken up on another tape reel. This interconnects the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, as taken up on the tape reel and the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, as taken up on the other tape reel. The packaging method also includes exchanging the tape reel on which the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape is about to be depleted, for a new tape reel, carrying thereon an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, for thereby enabling continued supply of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape to a packaging unit for electronic devices or electronic parts or components. The packaging method further includes subsequently affixing the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape in a preset pattern.

[0012] According to the present invention, the splice tape, provided to an end of an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, is heat-fused to a splice tape of another anisotropic conductive film carrying tape. Hence, plural anisotropic conductive film carrying tapes may be interconnected easily reliably to enable continued use of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape.

[0013] Moreover, according to the present invention, the front and back surfaces of the splice tape, as a connecting part of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape, are dyed to different colors, so that the front and back sides of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape may be discriminated based on colored zones. Hence, the torsion of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape may be detected and cured. Thus, according to the present invention, the tape torsion may be prevented, so that it is possible to interconnect the anisotropic conductive film carrying tapes of narrow tape widths that may be extremely liable to torsions.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the present invention, when an anisotropic conductive film carrying tape is about to be depleted, it may be connected to another anisotropic conductive film carrying tape easily reliably by thermal fusion in the course of the process of affixing the electronic devices or electronic parts or components with the use of the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape. Hence, the anisotropic conductive film carrying tape may be supplied in a continued manner without halting the operation, so that packaging may be carried out continuously without interrupting the driving.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, this reel exchange operation occurs several times a day, which means loss of much time and represents a principal factor in lowering the production efficiency.

However, since the film is wound on a reel, there is a limitation to the radial size of the tape wound on the reel, depending on the size of the device for packaging.

In addition, if the tape carrying thereon an anisotropic conductive film of an excessive length is wound on a reel, it may be an occurrence that a given turn of the anisotropic conductive film is deviated from other turns, as the film is tightened, thus detracting from the quality of the anisotropic conductive film.

This indicates that difficulties may be met in increasing the length of the anisotropic conductive film wound in a reel.

On the other hand, if two PET layers 101 are to be connected to each other, as shown in FIG. 2, difficulties are met in the fusing because of the high melting point of the PET layer.

If such fusion could be achieved, there is a fear that the resulting product is lowered in quality because of insufficiency in strength caused by excessive melting of a weld 103.

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