Rigid Patents (Class 324/755.03)
  • Patent number: 11041881
    Abstract: A hybrid probe head assembly for testing a wafer device under test includes a housing, at least a portion of a lead frame assembly disposed in the housing, the lead frame assembly including a at least one cantilever portion, the at least one cantilever portion including an undeflected position and a deflected position, where the lead frame assembly hinges between the undeflected position and the deflected position at a lead frame pivot point, and the at least one cantilever portion extends to a wafer contact. In the undeflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 8-12 degree angle, and in the deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 2-4 degree angle. One or more spring probes are disposed within the housing and have a wafer contact tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: XCERRA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Valts Treibergs, Mitchell Nelson
  • Patent number: 9379029
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus for inspecting output signal of a semiconductor device is provided with a monitor device configured to sense a signal on the monitor line and a plurality of inspection circuits connected to the monitor line. Each inspection circuit is provided with a semiconductor device support allowing a semiconductor device to be set thereon and including a signal terminal to which a signal is input from the set semiconductor device, a first resistor connected between the signal terminal and the monitor line, a selector terminal, and a first diode connected between the signal terminal and the selector terminal so that a cathode of the first diode is connected to a selector terminal side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Osanai, Takashi Ushijima
  • Patent number: 8922231
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to adjustable test probe tips that are indexable. In one embodiment a mechanism is coupled to a probe tip so that the mechanism may be used to index the probe tip to a plurality of particular positions. A label portion may be provided to communicate to a user that the length of the exposed probe tip is less than a particular length, such as the maximum length an exposed probe tip may be for a particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Chris W. Lagerberg, Roger Stark
  • Publication number: 20140347085
    Abstract: A testing probe card for wafer level testing semiconductor IC packaged devices. The card includes a circuit board including testing circuitry and a testing probe head. The probe head includes a probe array having a plurality of metallic testing probes attached to a substrate including a plurality of conductive vias. In one embodiment, the probes have a relatively rigid construction and have one end that may be electrically coupled to the vias using a flip chip assembly solder reflow process. In one embodiment, the probes may be formed from a monolithic block of conductive material using reverse wire electric discharge machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yung-Hsin KUO, Wensen HUNG, Po-Shi YAO
  • Patent number: 8860449
    Abstract: A dual probing tip system uses a slot and rail system to provide variable spacing and lateral and axial compliance of the probing tips mounted on first and second support members. A movable base member is secured on a frame with the base member having a rack of linear teeth and a pair of rails angled toward the front. First and second intermediate carriers each have a slot that engages one of the angled rails. Each of the carriers has stanchions that receive a thumb wheel pinion gear mounted on a shaft. The pinion gear mates with the teeth on the base member for movement of the carriers. Each support member has an axial slot that mated with an axial slot on each one of the carriers. Each support member has a compression spring which allows axial compliance of the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Spinar, Richard R. Lynn
  • Patent number: 8832933
    Abstract: A testing probe card for wafer level testing semiconductor IC packaged devices. The card includes a circuit board including testing circuitry and a testing probe head. The probe head includes a probe array having a plurality of metallic testing probes attached to a substrate including a plurality of conductive vias. In one embodiment, the probes have a relatively rigid construction and have one end that may be electrically coupled to the vias using a flip chip assembly solder reflow process. In one embodiment, the probes may be formed from a monolithic block of conductive material using reverse wire electric discharge machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung-Hsin Kuo, Wensen Hung, Po-Shi Yao
  • Patent number: 8766659
    Abstract: A contactor includes a contactor base material including a first material and a conductor film including a second material. The conductor film is formed only on a contact surface with an electrode of a semiconductor apparatus at a tip of the contactor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Maruyama, Yoshihiro Sekizawa, Tomohiro Suzuka
  • Publication number: 20130069683
    Abstract: A testing probe card for wafer level testing semiconductor IC packaged devices. The card includes a circuit board including testing circuitry and a testing probe head. The probe head includes a probe array having a plurality of metallic testing probes attached to a substrate including a plurality of conductive vias. In one embodiment, the probes have a relatively rigid construction and have one end that may be electrically coupled to the vias using a flip chip assembly solder reflow process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Hsin KUO, Wensen HUNG, Po-Shi YAO
  • Patent number: 8400176
    Abstract: A probe card assembly can include a plurality of probes disposed on a substrate and arranged to contact terminals of a semiconductor wafer. Switches can be disposed on the probe card assembly and provide for selective connection and disconnection of the probes from electrical interconnections on the probe card assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Arkin, Alistair Nicholas Sporck
  • Patent number: 8159251
    Abstract: A probe card includes a plurality of probes that contacts a plurality of electrodes provided in the semiconductor wafer and that inputs or outputs an electrical signal in or from the electrodes, a probe head that holds the probes, a substrate having a wiring which is provided near the surface of the substrate facing the probe head so as to be contactable with the probe head and is connected to the probes, a core layer formed of a material which is buried in the substrate and has a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than that of the substrate, and a connecting member that electrically connects at least some of the probes with an external device via the wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sasaki, Hiroshi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 8154316
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to adjustable test probe tips that are indexable. In one embodiment a mechanism is coupled to a probe tip so that the mechanism may be used to index the probe tip to a plurality of particular positions. A label portion may be provided to communicate to a user that the length of the exposed probe tip is less than a particular length, such as the maximum length an exposed probe tip may be for a particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Chris W. Lagerberg, Roger Stark
  • Publication number: 20120081140
    Abstract: Provided is a probe card which has a space transformer which may be effectively changed to correspond to a change in wafer chip structure and is capable of maximizing acceptable channels of the space transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Yun Hee Shim, Sung Hee Yoon, Seung Ho Yoo, Byung Chang Song, In Buhm Chung, Dong Il Kim
  • Publication number: 20110043233
    Abstract: A probe card assembly can include a plurality of probes disposed on a substrate and arranged to contact terminals of a semiconductor wafer. Switches can be disposed on the probe card assembly and provide for selective connection and disconnection of the probes from electrical interconnections on the probe card assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Brian Arkin, Alistair Nicholas Sporck