Patents Assigned to Cascade Microtech, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7533462
    Abstract: A substrate, preferably constructed of a ductile material and a tool having the desired shape of the resulting device for contacting contact pads on a test device is brought into contact with the substrate. The tool is preferably constructed of a material that is harder than the substrate so that a depression can be readily made therein. A dielectric (insulative) layer, that is preferably patterned, is supported by the substrate. A conductive material is located within the depressions and then preferably lapped to remove excess from the top surface of the dielectric layer and to provide a flat overall surface. A trace is patterned on the dielectric layer and the conductive material. A polyimide layer is then preferably patterned over the entire surface. The substrate is then removed by any suitable process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Reed Gleason, Michael A. Bayne, Kenneth Smith
  • Patent number: 7518387
    Abstract: A probe measurement system for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Eric W. Strid, Mike Andrews, John Martin, John Dunklee, Leonard Hayden, Amr M. E. Safwat
  • Patent number: 7518358
    Abstract: A chuck for a probe station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Dunklee
  • Patent number: 7514944
    Abstract: A probe head including an elastic membrane capable of exerting a restoring force when one of the surfaces of the elastic membrane is distorted. A conductive probe includes a beam having a first end and a second end, with a probe tip proximate the first end for contacting a device under test. A beam contact proximate the second end of the beam. The beam being movable to deform at least one surface of the elastic membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Smith, Michael Jolley, Victoria Van Syckel
  • Patent number: 7514915
    Abstract: A chuck for a probe station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Dunklee
  • Patent number: 7504842
    Abstract: A system for low-current testing of a test device includes a probing device for probing a probing site on the test device. The probing device includes a dielectric substrate having first and second sides, an elongate conductive path on the first side of the substrate, an elongate probing element connected to the elongate conductive path so as to extend in a cantilevered manner beyond the substrate, and a conductive area on the second side of the substrate. The probe housing is matingly detachably engageable with the probing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Randy Schwindt
  • Patent number: 7504823
    Abstract: An accessible optical path to a lower surface of a heatable device under test is provided by a thermal optical chuck comprising a transparent resistor deposited on transparent plate arranged to supporting the device in a probe station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 7501842
    Abstract: A probe for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies may include a dielectric substrate that supports a signal path interconnecting test instrumentation and a probe tip and a ground path that shields both the signal path and the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Mike Andrews, John Martin
  • Patent number: 7501810
    Abstract: A chuck for a probe station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Dunklee
  • Patent number: 7498829
    Abstract: A probe for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies may include a dielectric substrate that supports a signal path interconnecting test instrumentation and a probe tip and a ground path that shields both the signal path and the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Mike Andrews, John Martin
  • Patent number: 7498828
    Abstract: A probe assembly suitable for high-current measurements of an electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dunklee, Clarence E. Cowan
  • Patent number: 7495461
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe for testing of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Hayden, John Martin, Mike Andrews
  • Patent number: 7492172
    Abstract: A chuck that includes an upper surface for supporting a device under test and a conductive element that extends through the chuck to the upper surface of the chuck. The conductive element is electrically isolated from the upper surface of the chuck, and makes electrical contact with any device under test supported by the chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Stewart, Anthony Lord, Jeff Spencer, Terry Burcham, Peter McCann, Rod Jones, John Dunklee, Tim Lesher, David Newton
  • Patent number: 7492175
    Abstract: A membrane probing assembly includes a probe card with conductors supported thereon, wherein the conductors include at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. A membrane assembly includes a membrane with contacts thereon, and supporting at least a signal conductor located between a pair of spaced apart guard conductors. The guard conductors of the probe card are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly. The guard conductors of the membrane assembly are electrically interconnected proximate the interconnection between the probe card and the membrane assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Smith, Reed Gleason
  • Patent number: 7492147
    Abstract: A probe station includes a fully guarded chuck assembly and connector mechanism for increasing sensitivity to low-level currents while reducing settling times. The chuck assembly includes a wafer-supporting first chuck element surrounded by a second chuck element having a lower component, skirting component and upper component each with a surface portion extending opposite the first element for guarding thereof. The connector mechanism is so connected to the second chuck element as to enable, during low-level current measurements, the potential on each component to follow that on the first chuck element as measured relative to an outer shielding enclosure surrounding each element. Leakage current from the first chuck element is thus reduced to virtually zero, hence enabling increased current sensitivity, and the reduced capacitance thus provided by the second chuck element decreases charging periods, hence reducing settling times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy J. Schwindt, Warren K. Harwood, Paul A. Tervo, Kenneth R. Smith, Richard H. Warner
  • Patent number: 7489149
    Abstract: A probe for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies may include a dielectric substrate that supports a signal path interconnecting test instrumentation and a probe tip and a ground path that shields both the signal oath and the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Eric W. Strid, Mike Andrews, John Martin, John Dunklee, Leonard Hayden, Amr M. E. Safwat
  • Patent number: 7482823
    Abstract: A probe for measuring the electrical characteristics of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices at high frequencies may include a dielectric substrate that supports a signal path interconnecting test instrumentation and a probe tip and a ground path that shields both the signal path and the probe tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Reed Gleason, Tim Lesher, Eric W. Strid, Mike Andrews, John Martin, John Dunklee, Leonard Hayden, Amr M. E. Safwat
  • Patent number: 7468609
    Abstract: A probe assembly having a switch that selectively electrically connects, for example, either a Kelvin connection or a suspended guard element with the probe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventor: John Dunklee
  • Patent number: 7456646
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a probe for testing of integrated circuits or other microelectronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Hayden, John Martin, Mike Andrews
  • Patent number: 7453276
    Abstract: A direct current and a modulation signal are simultaneously applied to contact pads on a device under test, such as a laser diode, with a probe that reduces signal distortion and power dissipation by transmitting a modulated signal through an impedance matching resistor and transmitting of a direct current over a second signal path that avoids the impedance matching resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Cascade Microtech, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Hayden, Scott Rumbaugh, Mike Andrews