Contact Probe Patents (Class 324/754.03)
  • Patent number: 11940486
    Abstract: A probe station includes a frame, a platform, a testing equipment, a probe holder and at least one probe. The frame defines an accommodation space. The platform is connected with the frame. The platform has an opening. The opening is communicated with the accommodation space. The testing equipment is at least partially disposed in the accommodation space and is at least partially exposed through the opening. The probe holder is disposed on the platform. The probe is held by the probe holder. The probe holder is configured to control the probe to contact with a device under test disposed on the testing equipment through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: NANYA TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yi-Kai Chao
  • Patent number: 11927621
    Abstract: Cryogenic testing systems for testing electronic components such as wafers under cryogenic conditions are provided. The novel designs enable fast throughput by use of a cryogenically maintained test surface to which wafers may be rapidly introduced, cooled, and manipulated to contact testing elements while maintaining high quality cryogenic conditions. Thermal shielding is achieved by floating shields and/or flexible bellows that provide effective thermal shielding of the test environment while enabling manipulation of wafers with a wide range of motion. Also provided are novel door assemblies, chuck configurations, and vacuum plate bases that enable effective maintenance of cryogenic conditions and high throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: High Precision Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Snow, Joshua West
  • Patent number: 11927628
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer includes: a scribe line between a first row of dies and a second row of dies; and a benchmark circuit disposed adjacent to the scribe line and electrically coupled to a first conductive contact and a second conductive contact. The benchmark circuit includes a first device-under-test (DUT); a second DUT; a first switching circuit configured to selectively couple the first DUT and the second DUT to the first conductive contact; and a second switching circuit configured to selectively couple the first DUT and the second DUT to the second conductive contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chu-Feng Liao, Hung-Ping Cheng, Yuan-Yao Chang, Shuo-Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 11867752
    Abstract: A contact assembly for a Kelvin testing system for testing integrated circuit devices is disclosed. The contact assembly includes at least one grouping of blades including a first force blade, a second force blade, a first sense blade, and a second sense blade; an electrical insulation layer disposed between the first force blade and the first sense blade and between the second force blade and the second sense blade; and an elongated elastomer. The elastomer is configured to be retained by the first force blade, the second force blade, the first sense blade, and the second sense blade. Each of the first force blade, the second force blade, the first sense blade, and the second sense blade includes a recess having an opening and sized to receive and retain at least a portion of the elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Johnstech International Corporation
    Inventors: Valts Treibergs, Max A. Carideo, David Skodje, Melissa Hasskamp
  • Patent number: 11823965
    Abstract: Implementations of a substrate carrier may include: a top ring configured to enclose an edge of a first side of a substrate; and a bottom support configured to enclose an entire second side and an edge of the second side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Seddon
  • Patent number: 11768226
    Abstract: Provided are an inspection jig and an inspection apparatus in which a configuration for bending a plurality of contacts in the same direction can be simplified. The inspection jig includes a plurality of contacts each of which has a rod shape, a first support portion that supports the first end portion side of the plurality of contacts, and a second support portion that supports the second end portion side of the plurality of contacts. The first support portion includes a facing support plate that is disposed to face the second support portion in a manner separated from the second support portion and has a plurality of through holes through which the plurality of contacts are inserted, and a cross section of each of the through holes has an elliptical shape whose major axis extends in a predetermined specific direction along a plane direction of the facing support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC READ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohei Tsumura, Takanori Furukawa, Jyun Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 11662367
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes: a probe card having a probe to be in contact with an object to be inspected; an upper module having a mounting portion on which the object to be inspected is mounted; a movement mechanism that is configured to support the upper module to be liftable and lowerable and that is able to move the upper module in a horizontal direction; and a lifting and lowering mechanism that is provided under the movement mechanism and that is able to push up the upper module toward the probe card, wherein an axis passing through a point of action of a pushing force when the lifting and lowering mechanism pushes up the upper module and an axis passing through a point of action of a load received by the probe card are arranged at positions to be common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masahito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11658059
    Abstract: A wafer carrier that exhibits a thin, low-profile includes a bottom support plate upon which a thinned semiconductor wafer may be positioned, with a holding ring disposed to surround the periphery of the wafer and engage with the bottom support plate to hold the wafer in a fixed position between the two components. The bottom support plate is formed to include a plurality of apertures for pulling a vacuum through the carrier, as well as features that engage with the holding ring and alignment fiducials for properly registering the orientation of the wafer's surface with respect to the wafer carrier and other testing equipment using the wafer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Stayt, Jr., Thomas Barrie, Raven Persaud, Garrett Korpinen, Geoffrey Robert Hale
  • Patent number: 11630127
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes for use in die level testing of semiconductor devices) from a core material and a shell or coating material that partially coats the surface of the structure. Other embodiments are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for producing structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material that completely coats the surface of each layer from which the probe is formed including interlayer regions. Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to electrochemical fabrication methods for forming structures or devices (e.g. microprobes) from a core material and a shell or coating material wherein the coating material is located around each layer of the structure without locating the coating material in inter-layer regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Ming Ting Wu, Rulon J. Larsen, III, Young Kim, Kieun Kim, Adam L. Cohen, Ananda H. Kumar, Michael S. Lockard, Dennis R. Smalley
  • Patent number: 11543453
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor die having conductive pads and an electronic component with a first terminal coupled to a third conductive pad and a second terminal coupled to a fourth conductive pad. A resistor has a first terminal coupled to the fourth conductive pad and a second terminal coupled to the fifth conductive pad, and a first transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first conductive pad, a second terminal coupled to the fifth conductive pad, and a control terminal. A second transistor has a first terminal coupled to the first transistor, a second terminal coupled to the third conductive pad, and a control terminal. A pulse generator has an input coupled to the second conductive pad and an output coupled to the control terminal of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Yogesh Kumar Ramadass
  • Patent number: 11368015
    Abstract: A process tests an operability of a circuit breaker device (18, 20, 34) to establish/sever a connection of two circuit areas (36, 38, 40, 42). The circuit breaker device includes a MOSFET (44) with a source terminal (46) connected with a circuit area, a drain terminal (48) connected with a circuit area, and a gate terminal (50) with a gate voltage applied by an associated gate driver device (52) to switch into a connection switching state connecting the two circuit areas during a connection phase. The gate voltage is monitored during the connection phase, a base voltage being applied to the source terminal or/and to the drain terminal during the connection phase is monitored. If a difference between the gate voltage and the base voltage falls below a predefined reference difference during the connection phase, it is determined that a circuit defect is present in the MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: EBERSPÄCHER CONTROLS LANDAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: André Egelhof, Kenneth Midtgaard Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11307246
    Abstract: A probing apparatus includes a chuck supporting a DUT, and a platform with an opening above the chuck. The probing apparatus further includes first and second rails positioned at first and second sides of the platform, respectively. The probing apparatus further includes a probing device, the probing device includes a probing module slidably along the first and second rails, and a first motor system configured to automatically align a probe card with the DUT. The probing module includes a third rail with two ends slidably attached to the first and second rails, respectively, a probing stage slidably attached to the third rail, and the probe card attached to the probing stage. The first motor system includes a first motor configured to control movement of the probing stage along the third rail, and a second motor configured to control movement of the probing module along the first and second rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Star Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Choon Leong Lou, Yi Ming Lau
  • Patent number: 11257724
    Abstract: Implementations of methods of making a semiconductor device may include: providing a partial semiconductor wafer. The method may also include providing a wafer holder including a tape portion with one or more openings through the tape portion. The method may include mounting the partial semiconductor wafer over the one or more openings in the tape portion of the wafer holder and providing an electrical connection to the partial semiconductor wafer through the one or more openings in the tape portion during probe test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Seddon
  • Patent number: 11226352
    Abstract: An electrical connection assembly includes a main body and a spring. One end of the main body is configured to be in contact with a device under test. The spring is sleeved around the main body. Two ends of the spring are respectively defined as a first end and a second end. The first end is abutted against a limiting protrusion, and a concealed section of the main body is correspondingly arranged inside of the spring. The spring has a first tightly-coiled section, an elastic section, and a second tightly-coiled section in sequence from the first end to the second end. A pitch of the spring within the elastic section is greater than a pitch of the spring within the first tightly-coiled section, and the pitch of the spring within the elastic section is greater than a pitch of the spring within the second tightly-coiled section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: C.C.P.CONTACT PROBES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shu-Lin Wu, Yen-Wei Lin, Wei-Chu Chen, Bor-Chen Tsai
  • Patent number: 11209460
    Abstract: An electrical connection device includes: a plurality of probes (10) in which distal end portions contact an inspection object (2) during measurement; and a space transformer (30) including a plurality of connection wirings (33), in each of which a first terminal electrically connected to any of proximal end portions of the plurality of probes (10) is arranged on a first main surface (301), and a second terminal is exposed to a second main surface (302), and having a short-circuit wiring pattern formed on the first main surface, the short-circuit wiring pattern electrically connecting, to the same connection wiring (33), proximal end portions of a plurality of same-potential probes (10) set at a same potential during measurement among the plurality of probes (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ito
  • Patent number: 11188187
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including an image acquisition part that acquires an image captured by an imaging part, and a display controller that causes a virtual object to be displayed in accordance with a recognition result of a real object shown in the image. The display controller controls the virtual object on a basis of a size of the real object in a real space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 11175310
    Abstract: A method for upgrading an automatic testing system includes electrically connecting at least one pogo pin attaching device to an expansion instrument and a pogo pin of a pogo pin interface of the automatic testing system wherein the pogo pin attaching device comprises at least one metal attaching member and at least one cable, each of said at least one cable having two opposite ends, a first end electrically connected to the metal attaching member and a second end electrically connected to the expansion instrument, and the metal attaching member attaches to the pogo pin. In response to operating the automatic testing system, electrically connecting the pogo pin to a subject so that a measurement path is established between the subject and the expansion instrument through the pogo pin attaching device, wherein the measurement path is configured to connect signals for upgrading the automatic testing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Chien Wen Chang
  • Patent number: 11131709
    Abstract: Probe systems for optically probing a device under test (DUT) and methods of operating the probe systems. The probe systems include a probing assembly that includes an optical probe that defines a probe tip and a distance sensor. The probe systems also include a support surface configured to support a substrate, which defines a substrate surface and includes an optical device positioned below the substrate surface. The probe systems further include a positioning assembly configured to selectively regulate a relative orientation between the probing assembly and the DUT. The probe systems also include a controller programmed to control the operation of the probe systems. The methods include methods of operating the probe systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph George Frankel, Kazuki Negishi, Michael E. Simmons, Eric Robert Christenson, Daniel Rishavy
  • Patent number: 11069654
    Abstract: A metal frame that is used in a dummy wafer in which chip-like semiconductor elements and a rewiring layer are integrated. A plurality of openings in which the chip-like semiconductor elements are disposed are formed in the metal plate, and a lattice structure is formed with the frames that are the portions between adjacent openings of the plurality of openings. Of the frames forming the lattice structure, the frames located in dicing areas of the dummy wafer are arranged in a discontinuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jo Umezawa
  • Patent number: 11054467
    Abstract: A dynamic probe for probing a dynamic data signal comprising a switching unit configured to provide at least two different input impedances, wherein the switching unit is configured to select a first input impedance in a first mode and a second input impedance in a second mode, the switching unit being configured to be operated dynamically based on an event in the data signal processed. Further, a dynamic measurement system and a method for probing a dynamic data signal are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Peschke, Alexander Kunze
  • Patent number: 10996269
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing a self-test procedure of an integrated circuit are provided, where the self-test procedure comprises testing for an electrical connection between first and second input-output pads of the integrated circuit. A control device is capable of adapting a functional configuration of usage of the first and second input-output pads in dependence on presence of the electrical connection. A corresponding integrated circuit, printed circuit and method are also provided. These techniques allow the integrated circuit to be used in a variety of contexts, without requiring physical customisation of the integrated circuit to adapt it to its usage context, in particular where connections from the context to the pads of the integrated circuit may be made to individual pads in some contexts or may span more than one pad in other contexts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: James Edward Myers, Parameshwarappa Anand Kumar Savanth
  • Patent number: 10989754
    Abstract: A per-chip equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) circuit sensor resides in an integrated circuit. The per-chip EOT circuit sensor determines electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit. The measured electrical characteristics include leakage current. The determined electrical characteristics are used to determine physical attributes of the integrated circuit. The physical attributes, including EOT, are used in a reliability model to predict per-chip failure rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carole D. Graas, Nazmul Habib, Deborah M. Massey, John G. Massey, Pascal A. Nsame, Ernest Y. Wu, Emmanuel Yashchin
  • Patent number: 10989748
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to test devices, for example testing devices by measuring signals emitted by a device. One example apparatus can include a first portion including a number of sidewalls positioned to at least partially surround a device under test; and a second portion electrically coupled to the first portion, wherein the second portion is configured to move in the x-direction, the y-direction, and z-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Gregory, Randon K. Richards
  • Patent number: 10950507
    Abstract: An interposer is provided which includes: a substrate having a first surface with a plurality of first conductive pads and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the second surface having a plurality of second conductive pads; a plurality of conductive through holes penetrating the first and second surfaces of the substrate and electrically connecting the first and second conductive pads; and a first removable electrical connection structure formed on the first surface and electrically connecting a portion of the first conductive pads so as to facilitate electrical testing of the interposer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lu-Yi Chen, Chi-Hsin Chiu, Shih-Kuang Chiu
  • Patent number: 10948520
    Abstract: A connector pin device includes a test socket body made of a flexible insulating material and including a pin mounting part in which mounting holes have been formed and a support part supporting the pin mounting part, sliding contact pins respectively formed in the mounting holes and each including a first contact pin having a first end externally exposed and a second end located within the mounting hole and a second contact pin having a first end externally located on the side opposite the first end of the first contact pin and a second end located within the mounting hole, wherein the first and second ends of the first and the second contact pins are provided to slide and come into contact with each other, and an cavity portion formed in a portion where the second ends of the sliding contact pins in the mounting hole are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: Jaesuk Oh, Kyungsook Lim
  • Patent number: 10852344
    Abstract: A testing probe apparatus for testing die. The testing probe may include a probe interface and a carrier for supporting at least one die comprising 3DI structures. The probe interface may be positionable on a first side of the at least one die and include a voltage source and at least one first inductor operably coupled to the voltage source. A voltage sensor and at least one second inductor coupled to the voltage sensor may be disposed on a second opposing side of the at least one die. The voltage source of the probe interface may be configured to inductively cause a voltage within the 3DI structures of the at least one die via the at least one first inductor. The voltage sensor may be configured to sense a voltage within the at least one 3DI structure via the at least one second inductor. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony M. Lindenberg, Kurt J. Bossart, Jonathan S. Hacker, Chandra S. Tiwari
  • Patent number: 10809293
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing electronic apparatus includes: a step (A) of preparing a structure provided with an adhesive film and at least one electronic component affixed to an adhesive surface of the adhesive film; a step (B) of disposing the structure in an electronic component testing apparatus such that the electronic component is positioned over an electronic component installation region of a sample stand with the adhesive film interposed between the electronic component and the electronic component installation region, the electronic component testing apparatus being provided with a probe card at a position facing the sample stand and includes a probe terminal; a step (C) of evaluating the properties of the electronic component while being affixed to the adhesive film with the probe terminal being in contact with a terminal of the electronic component; and a subsequent step (D) of picking up the electronic component from the adhesive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS TOCHELLO, INC.
    Inventor: Eiji Hayashishita
  • Patent number: 10769340
    Abstract: Probe location candidates for parasitic extraction are identified from geometric elements on a probe layer. The probe layer is a physical layer of a layout design for a circuit design predetermined for placing one or more new probes. The probe location candidates are geometric elements on the probe layer within a boundary of an area having a predetermined size and covering an original probe location or having a distance from the original probe location less than a predetermined value. Moreover, the probe location candidates are conductively connected to the original probe location. One or more new probe locations on the probe location candidates are selected based on predetermined criteria. From the layout design, a parasitic resistance value for parasitic resistance between a geometric element representing a circuit pad or another device pin and the new one or more probe locations is extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Sridhar Srinivasan, Yi-Ting Lee, Patrick D. Gibson, Padmaja Susarla, Alex Thompson
  • Patent number: 10753961
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential test probe tip. The probe tip comprises a socket of electrically conductive material at a proximate end of the probe tip. The socket includes a concavity to receive a signal pin. The probe tip also comprises a reference body of conductive material surrounding the socket. The probe tip further comprises a insulating spacer element of non-conductive material surrounding the reference body at the proximate end of the probe tip. The insulating spacer element includes a signal port to receive the signal pin into the socket. The insulating spacer element further includes a reference port to receive a reference pin and maintain the reference pin in electrical communication with a proximate end of the reference body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mende, David T. Engquist, Richard A. Booman
  • Patent number: 10718805
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to test devices, for example testing devices by measuring signals emitted by a device. One example apparatus can include a first portion including a number of sidewalls positioned to at least partially surround a device under test; and a second portion electrically coupled to the first portion, wherein the second portion is configured to move in the x-direction, the y-direction, and z-direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Gregory, Randon K. Richards
  • Patent number: 10705118
    Abstract: A testing apparatus includes a holster including a jack defining a conductive periphery configured to connect with a reference lead of the voltage probe to form a common ground. The apparatus includes a shunt defining first and second regions of different potential having predetermined difference. The second region is configured to connect with a reference lead of the shunt probe. The apparatus includes a bridge configured to connect the shunt probe lead with the common ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xi Lu, Krishna Prasad Bhat, Chingchi Chen, Zhuxian Xu, Guangyin Lei
  • Patent number: 10700305
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a substrate, a display panel and a display device. The substrate includes a body provided with an opening, and guiding protrusions arranged on the body at a position adjacent to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Wang, Ziyu Zhang, Song Zhang
  • Patent number: 10627442
    Abstract: A method for estimating resistances of a source contact and a drain contact of a MOS transistor includes the following steps. A MOS transistor is provided. The MOS transistor includes a substrate, a gate, a source region and a drain region, a source contact electrically connected to the source region, and a drain contact electrically connected to the drain region. A resistance difference between a source contact resistance and a drain contact resistance is obtained. A resistance sum of the source contact resistance and the drain contact resistance is obtained. The source contact resistance and the drain contact resistance are calculated based on the resistance sum of the source contact resistance and the drain contact resistance, and on the resistance difference between the source contact resistance and the drain contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nanya Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shih-Ting Lin, Kung-Ming Fan, Hung-Hsiang Xsiao
  • Patent number: 10466292
    Abstract: A tester apparatus is provided. Slot assemblies are removably mounted to a frame. Each slot assembly allows for individual heating and temperature control of a respective cartridge that is inserted into the slot assembly. A closed loop air path is defined by the frame and a heater and cooler are located in the closed loop air path to cool or heat the cartridge with air. Individual cartridges can be inserted or be removed while other cartridges are in various stages of being tested or in various stages of temperature ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Aehr Test Systems
    Inventors: Jovan Jovanovic, Kenneth W. Deboe, Steven C. Steps
  • Patent number: 10468341
    Abstract: A semiconductor package assembly includes a redistribution layer (RDL) structure, which RDL structure includes a conductive trace. A redistribution layer (RDL) contact pad is electrically coupled to the conductive trace, and the RDL contact pad is composed of a symmetrical portion and an extended wing portion connected to the symmetrical portion. The RDL structure includes a first region for a semiconductor die to be disposed thereon and a second region surrounding the first region, and the extended wing portion of the RDL contact pad is offset from a center of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Nai-Wei Liu, Tzu-Hung Lin, I-Hsuan Peng, Che-Hung Kuo, Che-Ya Chou, Wei-Che Huang
  • Patent number: 10461715
    Abstract: Provided are embodiments including methods, systems, and computer-program products for mitigating power supply noise using one or more current supplies. In some embodiments, power is provided to an integrated circuit, wherein a first circuit is coupled to the integrated circuit over a first path. A variation of the current level of the integrated circuit may be determined. Additional power from a second circuit is provided to the integrated circuit may be provided based at least in part on the determined variation, wherein the second circuit is coupled to the integrated circuit over a second path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Bernhard Schmidt, Thomas Strach, Hubert Harrer, Jochen Supper
  • Patent number: 10444187
    Abstract: Systems and methods can provide a fast and accurate way to measure conductivity and Hall effect, such that transient conductivities, transient carrier densities or transient mobilities can be measured on millisecond time scales, for example. The systems and methods can also reduce the minimum magnetic field needed to extract carrier density or mobility of a given sample, and reduce the minimum mobility that can be measured with a given magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Matthew Grayson, Jiajun Luo
  • Patent number: 10424633
    Abstract: A probe card for integrated circuit testing includes a printed circuit support and a probe head having a first surface mounted to a surface of the printed circuit support. A flexible substrate is positioned adjacent to a second surface of the probe head and includes at least one flexible extension which extends beyond an edge of the probe head and includes a bend to make contact with the surface of the printed circuit support. The flexible substrate further includes a test antenna configured to support a wireless communications channel with an integrated circuit under test. The integrated circuit under test includes at least one conductive structure that extends in the peripheral portion on different planes of metallizations to form an integrated antenna that is coupled for communication and/or power transfer to the test antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Alberto Pagani, Alessandro Finocchiaro
  • Patent number: 10416194
    Abstract: A circuit adapter board has a film circuit board, a spring probe assembly, a space, and a filler. The film circuit board has a film body and multiple conductors. The film body has multiple first contacts and multiple second contacts. A density of distribution of the second contacts is higher than a density of distribution of the first contacts. The conductors are respectively connected to the first contacts. The spring probe assembly is disposed out of the first outer layer and has a plate and multiple spring probes. The spring probes are respectively disposed in the plate. Each spring probe has a base, a connecting portion, and a contacting portion being retractable. The space is formed between the film body of the film circuit board and the plate. The filler is disposed between the film body and the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Inventor: Hsin Lung Wu
  • Patent number: 10408869
    Abstract: In the modern world, electricity has become ubiquitous. Electrical connectors that connect and disconnect the electricity from the end use device have become important. If the connector has established a good quality contact across its mating conductors, there is no cause for concern. Also, if the connector has not established any contact with associated contacts being far away, then also there is no cause for a safety concern. However, when a connector has established marginal contact between the source and drain side contacts, and if the load and the source are switched on, the possibility of an arc across the thin layer of oxide separating the two contacts is high. This invention teaches a method to measure the quality of electrical connection established across an electrical connector. The method described here can be used to ascertain the quality of the connection before turning on the current across the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Satyajit Patwardhan
  • Patent number: 10359452
    Abstract: A diagnostic device comprises a comparison section to compare an input voltage with a threshold voltage, wherein the input voltage is a power supply voltage for a component on a circuit board; and an indicator to provide an indication of the result of the comparison by the comparison section, the indication to render the circuit board identifiable to direct inspection, wherein the supply of power to the component is independent of the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jordi Hernandez Creus, Marc Bautista Palacios, Juan Luis López Rodríguez
  • Patent number: 10352965
    Abstract: A testing device includes a circuit board, a carrier, a probe pin, a main body, a shaft, a pressing portion and a resilient spiral spring. The carrier is used to hold a device under test (DUT). The probe pin is electrically connected to the circuit board and the DUT. The shaft is movably connected to the main body with a screwing rotation method. The pressing portion is connected to one end surface of the shaft. The resilient spiral spring is retractably coiled on the shaft, and one end of the resilient spiral spring being far away from the shaft extends in a transverse direction intersecting an axial direction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignees: GLOBAL UNICHIP CORPORATION, TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Ting Shih, Chia-Jung Hsieh, Chia-Jen Kao
  • Patent number: 10281614
    Abstract: In one embodiment a circuit arrangement for disturber detection comprises an input for receiving an input signal, the input being adapted to be coupled to an antenna, a receiver circuit coupled to the input which is configured to provide a demodulated signal as a function of the input signal, and a disturber rejection circuit which is coupled to an output of the receiver circuit. Therein the disturber rejection circuit is configured to provide a first signal indicative of a low energy disturber and/or a second signal indicative of a square envelope disturber, the first and second signals being provided as a function of the demodulated signal at respective outputs of the disturber rejection circuit. Furthermore, a lightning detector and a method for disturber detection are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventor: Ruggero Leoncavallo
  • Patent number: 10230458
    Abstract: An integrated circuit optical die test interface and associated testing method are described for using scribe area optical mirror structures (106) to perform wafer die tests on MEMS optical beam waveguide (112) and optical circuit elements (113) by perpendicularly deflecting optical test signals (122) from the scribe area optical mirror structures (106) into and out of the plane of the integrated circuit die under test (104) and/or production test die (157).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael B. McShane, Perry H. Pelley, Tab A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 10184956
    Abstract: A probe card including a circuit board, a transformer, a probe head, and a reinforcement structure is provided. The transformer including a body, a plurality of solder balls, and a plurality of first contact points are disposed on the substrate. The body has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is located between the circuit board and the second surface. The solder balls are disposed on the first surface, and the first contact points are disposed on the second surface. The probe head is disposed on the second surface. The probe head is electrically connected to the circuit board by the first solder balls. The reinforcement structure is disposed between the probe head and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Yueh Kung, Wen-Yuan Chang, Wei-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10166779
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid-discharge-head substrate includes providing a substrate having an energy-generating element and a pad, the pad having a wiring layer and a contact-probe receiving section, the contact-probe receiving section having a Vickers hardness that is higher than a Vickers hardness of the wiring layer; bringing a contact probe into contact with the contact-probe receiving section; and performing an electrical inspection by bringing the contact probe into contact with the wiring layer in the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Sujaku, Keiji Watanabe, Kouji Hasegawa, Junya Hayasaka, Satoshi Ibe
  • Patent number: 10132836
    Abstract: A method of forming surface protrusions on an article, and the article with the protrusions attached. The article may be an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip, a test probe for the IC chip or any suitable substrate or nanostructure. The surface protrusions are electroplated to a template or mold wafer, transferred to the article and easily separated from the template wafer. Thus, the attached protrusions may be, e.g., micro-bumps or micro pillars on an IC chip or substrate, test probes on a probe head, or one or more cantilevered membranes in a micro-machine or micro-sensor or other micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) formed without undercutting the MEMS structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bing Dang, John Knickerbocker, Yang Liu, Maurice Mason, Lubomyr T. Romankiw
  • Patent number: 10119995
    Abstract: A probe card including a circuit board, a transformer, a probe head, and a reinforcement structure is provided. The transformer including a body, a plurality of solder balls, and a plurality of first contact points are disposed on the substrate. The body has a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is located between the circuit board and the second surface. The solder balls are disposed on the first surface, and the first contact points are disposed on the second surface. The probe head is disposed on the second surface. The probe head is electrically connected to the circuit board by the first solder balls. The reinforcement structure is disposed between the probe head and the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: VIA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chen-Yueh Kung, Wen-Yuan Chang, Wei-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10088522
    Abstract: An apparatus according to embodiments detects locations of faults in a multilayer semiconductor (MLS). The apparatus comprises a laser source that outputs a laser beam, an optical system that directs the laser beam selectively onto a target region in the MLS to generate an irradiated zone in the MLS, a stage and a scanner that control a relative position between the irradiated zone and the MLS so that the irradiated zone moves along the target region, a controller system that measures electrical signals or electrical signal changes induced by a temperature increase in the MLS, and identifies a location of the target region and locations of faults in the MLS based on the measured electrical signal or the measured electrical signal changes. The target region is made of a material of which thermal conductivity is higher than that of a material around the target region and has a structure penetrating from shallow layers to deep layers of the MLS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Juan Felipe Torres, Kei Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10018667
    Abstract: A method for testing semiconductor dies includes: providing a test apparatus; providing an electrically conductive carrier; providing a semiconductor substrate having a first main face, a second main face opposite to the first main face, and a plurality of semiconductor dies, the semiconductor dies including a first contact element on the first main face and a second contact element on the second main face; placing the semiconductor substrate on the carrier with the second main face facing the carrier; electrically connecting the carrier to a contact location disposed on the first main face; and testing a first semiconductor die of the plurality of semiconductor dies by electrically connecting the test apparatus with the first contact element of the first semiconductor die and the contact location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Erwin Thalmann, Michael Leutschacher, Christian Musshoff, Stefan Kramp