Patents by Inventor Andrew W. McFarland

Andrew W. McFarland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110128029
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener assembly for use with testing devices can be part of a probe card assembly that can include a stiffener assembly comprising an upper stiffener coupled to a plurality of lower stiffeners; and a substrate constrained between the upper stiffener and the plurality of lower stiffeners, the stiffener assembly restricting non-planar flex of the substrate while facilitating radial movement of the substrate with respect to the stiffener assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: FORMFACTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland
  • Patent number: 7884627
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener assembly for use with testing devices can be part of a probe card assembly that can include a stiffener assembly comprising an upper stiffener coupled to a plurality of lower stiffeners; and a substrate constrained between the upper stiffener and the plurality of lower stiffeners, the stiffener assembly restricting non-planar flex of the substrate while facilitating radial movement of the substrate with respect to the stiffener assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland
  • Patent number: 7843202
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing semiconductor devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, an assembly for testing semiconductor devices can include a probe card assembly; and a thermal barrier disposed proximate an upper surface of the probe card assembly, the thermal barrier can restrict thermal transfer between tester side boundary conditions and portions of the probe card assembly disposed beneath the thermal barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Nobuhiro Kawamata, Andrew W. McFarland, Carl V. Reynolds, Yoichi Urakawa
  • Patent number: 7688063
    Abstract: A thermal adjustment apparatus for adjusting one or more thermally induced movements of an electro-mechanical assembly includes: a compensating element expanding at a first rate different from a second rate at which the electro-mechanical assembly expands for generating a counteracting force in response to changes in temperature; and a coupling mechanism coupling the compensating element to the electro-mechanical assembly, and being adjustable to control an amount of the counteracting force applied to the electro-mechanical assembly as temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. McFarland, Kevin Youl Yasumura, Eric D. Hobbs, Keith J. Breinlinger
  • Publication number: 20090206860
    Abstract: A thermal adjustment apparatus for adjusting one or more thermally induced movements of an electro-mechanical assembly includes: a compensating element expanding at a first rate different from a second rate at which the electro-mechanical assembly expands for generating a counteracting force in response to changes in temperature; and a coupling mechanism coupling the compensating element to the electro-mechanical assembly, and being adjustable to control an amount of the counteracting force applied to the electro-mechanical assembly as temperature changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: FORMFACTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Andrew W. McFarland, Kevin Youl Yasumura, Eric D. Hobbs, Keith J. Breinlinger
  • Publication number: 20090108861
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener for use with testing devices includes an inner member; an outer member disposed in a predominantly spaced apart relation to the inner member; and a plurality of alignment mechanisms for orienting the inner and outer members with respect to each other, wherein the alignment mechanisms transfer forces applied to a lower surface of the inner member to the outer member and provide the predominant conductive heat transfer passageway between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland
  • Patent number: 7471078
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener for use with testing devices includes an inner member; an outer member disposed in a predominantly spaced apart relation to the inner member; and a plurality of alignment mechanisms for orienting the inner and outer members with respect to each other, wherein the alignment mechanisms transfer forces applied to a lower surface of the inner member to the outer member and provide the predominant conductive heat transfer passageway between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20080186040
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for testing semiconductor devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, an assembly for testing semiconductor devices can include a probe card assembly; and a thermal barrier disposed proximate an upper surface of the probe card assembly, the thermal barrier can restrict thermal transfer between tester side boundary conditions and portions of the probe card assembly disposed beneath the thermal barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: FORMFACTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20080157791
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener assembly for use with testing devices can be part of a probe card assembly that can include a stiffener assembly comprising an upper stiffener coupled to a plurality of lower stiffeners; and a substrate constrained between the upper stiffener and the plurality of lower stiffeners, the stiffener assembly restricting non-planar flex of the substrate while facilitating radial movement of the substrate with respect to the stiffener assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: FORMFACTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland
  • Publication number: 20080157790
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener for use with testing devices includes an inner member; an outer member disposed in a predominantly spaced apart relation to the inner member; and a plurality of alignment mechanisms for orienting the inner and outer members with respect to each other, wherein the alignment mechanisms transfer forces applied to a lower surface of the inner member to the outer member and provide the predominant conductive heat transfer passageway between the inner and outer members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: FORMFACTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Eric D. Hobbs, Andrew W. McFarland