Patents by Inventor Eric Watje

Eric Watje 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: 20060066334
    Abstract: Microelectronic spring contacts with fiducial alignment marks for use on a semiconductor wafer contactor or similar apparatus, and methods for making such marks, are disclosed. Each alignment mark is placed on a pad adjacent to a contact tip. The alignment mark is positioned on the pad so that it will not contact the terminal or any other part of a wafer under test. The alignment mark and the contact tip are preferably positioned on the pad in the same lithographic step. Then, the pad and like pads, selected ones of which also have similar alignment marks, are attached to the ends of an array of resilient contact elements. A plurality of alignment marks in accurate registration with a plurality of contact tips on a contactor is thus disclosed. Configurations for ensuring that the alignment marks remain free of debris and easily located for essentially the entire life of the contactor are disclosed, as are various different exemplary shapes of alignment marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Martin, Eric Watje