Device manipulation apparatus and method

A method of bonding a first element to a second element comprising the steps of:

• mounting the first element in an upper mounting member that is vertically moveable;
• mounting the second element on a lower mounting member;
• lowering the upper mounting member to bring the first element into contact with the second element and causing parts of the first element to be bonded to parts of the second element, wherein the improvement comprises:
• providing a first flat surface as a lower surface of the upper mounting member and providing a second flat surface as an upper surface on the lower mounting member, the second flat surface facing the first flat surface;
• supporting the lower mounting member on a spherical cushion of air;
• aligning the second flat surface with the first flat surface comprising the step of lowering the upper mounting member to bring the first flat surface into contact with the second flat surface, thereby to make the second flat surface coplanar with the first flat surface;
• removing the air cushion and fixing the position of the lower mounting member such that the second flat surface remains coplanar with the first flat surface;
• and mounting the first element in the upper mounting member in predetermined registration with the first flat surface and mounting the second element on the lower mounting member in predetermined registration with the second flat surface, whereby the first element is aligned with the second element.

Manufacturing apparatus comprising:

• an upper mounting member having a first flat surface portion;
• a lower mounting member having a second flat surface portion facing the first flat surface portion;
• said lower mounting member having a spherical lower surface portion;
• a support member having a spherical upper surface portion;
• means for producing a cushion of air between the upper surface of the support member and the lower surface portion of the lower mounting member;
• the upper mounting member being vertically moveable to a position at which the first surface portion thereof contacts the second flat surface portion of the lower mounting member, thereby to cause an adjustment in the position of the lower mounting member to make the second surface portion substantially coplanar with the first surface portion;
• means for removing the cushion of air and supplying a sufficient vacuum to the lower mounting member to cause the lower surface portion of the lower mounting member to bear against the upper surface portion of the support member, thereby to fix the second surface portion so as to be in alignment with the first surface portion;
• means for holding a first element in the lower mounting member;
• and means for holding a second element in the upper mounting member that may be selectively brought into contact with the first element.

A method for manufacturing comprising the steps of:

• providing an upper member having a first flat surface portion and a lower mounting member having a second flat surface portion facing the first flat surface portion;
• supporting the lower mounting member on a spherical cushion of air, the air cushion being defined between a lower spherical surface portion of the lower mounting member and an upper surface spherical portion of a support member;
• contacting the first flat surface portion of the upper member with the second flat surface portion of the lower member, thereby to cause an adjustment in the position of the lower member to make the second surface portion substantially coplanar with the first surface portion;
• and removing the cushion of air and applying a sufficient vacuum to the lower mounting member to cause the lower surface portion of the lower mounting member to bear against the upper surface portion of the support member, thereby to fix the second surface portion so as to be in alignment with the first surface portion;
• and thereafter using the upper member to move against the lower member for manufacture of a workpiece therebetween.