Patents Examined by Paresh Patel
  • Patent number: 11448695
    Abstract: A cartridge, including a cartridge frame, formations on the cartridge frame for mounting the cartridge frame in a fixed position to an apparatus frame, a contactor support structure, a contactor interface on the contactor support structure, a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting contacts on a device, and a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the interface to the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Aehr Test Systems
    Inventors: Scott E. Lindsey, Jovan Jovanovic, David S. Hendrickson, Donald P. Richmond, II
  • Patent number: 11442079
    Abstract: The disclosure includes a contact device for electrical test, the contact device for electrical test including a second body portion, a first body portion stacked above the second body portion, a middle portion stacked above the first body portion, and having a first protrusion that is sharp and has a first apex portion, the first protrusion being formed on an upper side of the middle portion, and the first body portion, the middle portion, and the contact portion are sequentially and upwardly stacked, the middle portion and the contact portion include materials different from each other, and a first protrusion is provided inside the second protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ISC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Young Bae Chung
  • Patent number: 11428711
    Abstract: A testing apparatus includes a chip carrying device and a pressing device. The chip carrying device includes a circuit board and a plurality of electrically connecting units that are disposed on the circuit board and each can receive a chip. The pressing device includes a cover and an abutting member disposed between the cover and the electrically connecting units. The cover is disposed on the circuit board to jointly define an accommodating space that accommodates the abutting member and the electrically connecting units. The cover can be connected to an air suction apparatus for expelling air in the accommodating space. When the air suction apparatus performs a suction operation to expel the air in the accommodating space, the abutting member is abutted against the electrically connecting units and the chips so as to connect each of the electrically connecting units and the corresponding chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: ONE TEST SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Chen-Lung Tsai, Gene Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 11428727
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a prober that is able to carry out accurate inspection of semiconductor device in wafer state by reducing the effect of the external noises and the leakage of current and further by eliminating the stray capacitance of the chuck stage against the prober housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON MICRONICS
    Inventors: Katsuo Yasuta, Mamoru Aruga
  • Patent number: 11422156
    Abstract: A contact probe includes: a cylindrical pipe member; a collar including a hollow portion and fixed to an inner circumferential side of at least one end in a longitudinal direction of the pipe member; and an inner conductor including a flange configured to abut on a stepped portion formed by the pipe member and the collar, the inner conductor being expandable and contractible along the longitudinal direction and penetrating the pipe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Kazuya Soma
  • Patent number: 11415600
    Abstract: A probe card for testing a device under test having a plurality of contact pads includes a support plate having first contact pads thereon. A flexible membrane has a first face and a peripheral portion including second contact pads thereon. A plurality of contact probes are associated with a first face of the flexible membrane and are configured to abut onto the plurality of contact pads of the device under test. A sliding contact area includes: the first contact pads formed on the support plate; the second contact pads formed on the peripheral portion of the flexible membrane, the peripheral portion of the flexible membrane configured to come in pressing contact onto the support plate at the sliding contact area. A pressing element contacts the peripheral portion of the flexible membrane at the sliding contact area, and the pressing element puts the second contact pads into pressing contact with the first contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Vettori
  • Patent number: 11415604
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium are provided herein for providing an indication of a connection terminal on a measurement device for use in performing a test of a target device. The system can include a target device and a measurement device. The measurement device can couple to the target device via a plurality of connection terminals to perform a test of the target device. The measurement device can receive an input identifying a test to be performed on the target device by the measurement device. The measurement device can determine, based on the received input, an indication identifying at least one connection terminal of the plurality of connection terminals to connect to the target device to perform the test. The measurement device can provide the indication of the at least one connection terminal via an indication mechanism associated with the at least one connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Brian Rhodes
  • Patent number: 11408916
    Abstract: A novel modular probe may include an interchangeable (connectable/disconnectable) probe-tip adaptor having a tip connector for coupling to a device under test, and further having a probe-tip terminal for coupling to a first assembly connector of a cable assembly, which further has a second assembly connector for coupling to a first build-out terminal of a build-out adaptor, which also has a second build-out terminal for coupling to an assembly connector of an interchangeable instrument connector cable assembly, which also has an instrument-end connector for coupling to a measurement instrument. The built-out adaptor may include a compensation adjustment circuit for compensating the probe for varying system capacitances. The probe may include one or more corrective circuits in the interchangeable probe-tip adaptor and/or in the build-out adaptor for at least partially terminating each end of the cable assembly with a characteristic impedance of the cable in the cable assembly to attenuate reflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventor: Mark Whittington
  • Patent number: 11402428
    Abstract: A probe card for a test equipment of electronic devices includes a flexible membrane configured to carry high frequency signals between a device under test and a support plate. The flexible membrane is connected to the support plate through a peripheral zone, and a damping structure is arranged between the support plate and the flexible membrane. A plurality of micro contact probes include a body extending between a first end and a second end, and the second end is configured to abut onto contact pads of the device under test, and the damping structure and the first ends of the micro contact probes are in contact with opposite faces of a same contact zone of the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane includes at least one weakening zone arranged between the contact zone and the peripheral zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Vettori
  • Patent number: 11402408
    Abstract: An electrical characteristics inspection tool capable of inspecting electrical characteristics even when an oxide film is formed on pads or bumps formed at a fine pitch. The electrical characteristics inspection tool includes: a flexible sheet; a through electrode having a recess that is recessed from one surface of the flexible sheet; and a conductive elastomer disposed in the recess of the through electrode. Electrical characteristics can be inspected even when an oxide film is formed on pads or bumps of an inspection object by bringing the conductive elastomer into contact with the pads or bumps and bringing a probe into contact with the through electrode since the conductive particles in the conductive elastomer break through the oxide film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Ishimatsu, Hiroyuki Kumakura, Masaharu Aoki, Takako Kubota
  • Patent number: 11391758
    Abstract: A testing apparatus includes a first coordinates obtaining unit, a second coordinates obtaining unit, and a controller that performs determining card gravity center coordinates of a probe card held at a pogo frame opposite to an alignment stage, determining reference coordinates in a target coordinate system of a reference target at predetermined coordinates, determining alignment coordinates when the first coordinates obtaining unit is aligned with the second coordinates obtaining unit, determining wafer gravity center coordinates of a wafer, and calculating contact coordinates by using the determined card gravity center coordinates, the determined alignment coordinates, and the determined wafer gravity center coordinates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tomoya Endo
  • Patent number: 11391805
    Abstract: A solid-state power controller (SSPC) system with a built-in-test circuit includes a SSPC field-effect transistor (FET) switch. The system includes a current sense resistor electrically connected to the SSPC FET switch in series. A resistor is electrically connected to the current sense resistor in series. A switch is electrically connected to the resistor in series. A method for testing a current sense resistor value in a solid-state power controller (SSPC) system includes determining a cycle count, generating a new bit with a processing unit, and outputting the new bit to a switch operatively connected to the processing unit to at least one of turn the switch on or turn the switch off. The method includes reading a load current with the processing unit to determine whether a current sense resistor electrically coupled to the switch is operating within a desired resistance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: John A. Dickey
  • Patent number: 11378610
    Abstract: An inspection system includes an inspection device that includes a stage on which a substrate is mounted and inspects the substrate on the stage, a temperature adjustment mechanism that adjusts the temperature of the stage, a substrate accommodating part, a temperature measurement substrate standby part that makes a temperature measurement substrate wait, a transfer unit that transfers the substrate and the temperature measurement substrate onto the stage, and a camera used for aligning the substrate on the stage. The temperature measurement substrate includes, on the surface thereof, a temperature measurement member whose state changes depending on the temperature. The transfer unit transfers the temperature measurement substrate onto the stage, the camera images the temperature measurement member, and the temperature of the temperature measurement substrate is measured from a change in the state of the temperature measurement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Mochizuki, Yoshihito Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11360116
    Abstract: A testing device with power protection includes a power interface and a testing platform. The testing platform includes a casing, a fixed frame and a sliding frame. The power interface is disposed at one surface of the casing. The fixed frame covers the power interface. One side of the fixed frame formed with an entrance that exposes the power interface outwards from the fixed frame. The sliding frame includes a rack body slidably that is located on the casing, and a shielding door that is rotatably connected to the rack body for covering the entrance of the fixed frame. When the rack body is slid towards the power interface so as to rotate the shielding door away from the entrance by the fixed frame, the power interface is exposed outwards from the fixed frame through the entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CHENBRO MICOM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Han Yu
  • Patent number: 11360118
    Abstract: The contact probe comprises a barrel 50, an inspection device side terminal 60, a test board side terminal 70, and a spring 80 disposed in a state of being in contact with the test board side terminal 70 and the inspection device side terminal 60, the test board side terminal 70 includes a stop portion 74 that can abut on the caulked portion 52 in the barrel 50 and a terminal body that projects from the other end 56 of the barrel 50, and the terminal body includes, in order from a tip end, a first shaft section 71, a second shaft section 72 having a diameter larger than a diameter of the first shaft section 71, and a third shaft section 73 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the second shaft section 72 and having at least a part that can be housed in the barrel 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Suzuki, Seiya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11346860
    Abstract: A probe head includes a probe seat having upper, middle and lower dies, an electrically conductive layer inside the probe seat, a first spring probe penetrating through the probe seat, and at least two shorter second spring probes penetrating through the lower die in a way that top ends of the second spring probes are located inside the probe seat and abutted against the electrically conductive layer. Another probe head includes the aforesaid probe seat, an electrically conductive layer partially inside the probe seat and partially outside the probe seat, a first spring probe penetrating through the probe seat, and a shorter second spring probe penetrating through the lower die in a way that a top end of the second spring probe is located inside the probe seat and abutted against the electrically conductive layer. As such, fine pitch requirement and different high frequency testing requirements are fulfilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MPI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chin-Tien Yang, Hui-Pin Yang, Shang-Jung Hsieh, Tsung-Yi Chen, Yu-Hao Chen, Jhin-Ying Lyu
  • Patent number: 11346864
    Abstract: A flexible sensor configured to detect a physical amount of a measurement target in a state surrounding the measurement target includes a sensor cable configured to detect the physical amount of the measurement target and a holding portion on which a base end portion of the sensor cable is mounted, the holding portion having a groove portion in which a distal end portion of the sensor cable is fitted from a side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HIOKI E.E. Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nomura, Yutaka Ashida, Shunsuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11346883
    Abstract: Probe systems and methods for testing a device under test are disclosed herein. The probe systems include an electrically conductive ground loop and a structure that is electrically connected to a ground potential via at least a region of the electrically conductive ground loop. The probe systems also include nonlinear circuitry. The nonlinear circuitry is configured to resist flow of electric current within the ground loop when a voltage differential across the nonlinear circuitry is less than a threshold voltage differential and permit flow of electric current within the ground loop when the voltage differential across the nonlinear circuitry is greater than the threshold voltage differential. The methods include positioning a device under test (DUT) within a probe system that includes an electrically conductive ground loop and nonlinear circuitry. The methods also include selectively resisting and permitting electric current flow within the ground loop and through the nonlinear circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuki Negishi
  • Patent number: 11333680
    Abstract: A probe socket for inspecting electric characteristics of an object to be tested. The probe socket includes a plurality of power pins for applying power to the object to be tested, a plurality of ground pins arranged in parallel with the power pins, a support block for accommodating and supporting the plurality of power pins or ground pins in parallel, and a conductive plate arranged inside the support block in a direction transverse to lengthwise directions of the power pin and the ground pin and having at least one of a power connection pattern for electrically connecting the plurality of power pins in common and a ground connection pattern for electrically connecting the plurality of ground pins in common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Jae-hwan Jeong
  • Patent number: 11327094
    Abstract: An inspection jig includes a support member that supports a probe. The support member includes an inspection side plate-shaped body arranged on one end portion side, and an electrode side plate-shaped body arranged on the other end portion side of the support member. A probe support hole into which one end portion of the probe is inserted and supported is formed in the inspection side plate-shaped body. A probe insertion hole into which the other end portion of the probe is inserted is formed in the electrode side plate-shaped body. The probe is supported while the one end portion of the probe abuts on an inner wall of the probe support hole in a state in which a contact portion provided at the one end portion of the probe is not in contact with an inspected portion to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC-READ CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norihiro Ota