Patents by Inventor Craig Z. Foster

Craig Z. Foster 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).

  • Method for using probe card
    Patent number: 8120375
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a wafer prober and a probe card comprising a stiffening member having a feature defining a first plane. The stiffening member is mountable atop the central portion of the probe card. A reference member is provided to mount to the wafer prober and has an underside with a feature defining a second plane. When the feature of the stiffening member defining the first plane is urged against the feature of the reference member defining a second plane the probe tips of the probe card are substantially planarized relative to the wafer prober.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nextest Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Z. Foster, Ray Wakefield
  • Apparatus for planarizing a probe card and method using same
    Patent number: 7098650
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with a wafer prober and a probe card comprising a stiffening member having a feature defining a first plane. The stiffening member is mountable atop the central portion of the probe card. A reference member is provided to mount to the wafer prober and has an underside with a feature defining a second plane. When the feature of the stiffening member defining the first plane is urged against the feature of the reference member defining a second plane the probe tips of the probe card are substantially planarized relative to the wafer prober.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Nextest Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Z. Foster, Ray Wakefield