Patents by Inventor John L. Dunklee

John L. Dunklee 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).

  • Patent number: 11313902
    Abstract: The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can provide a multi-site positioning mechanism suitable for long-term testing of a device(s) under test (DUT) (e.g. semiconductor wafers) across a range of temperatures with or without a controlled environment. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein include mounting components, mechanisms, and structures that can provide excellent mechanical stability, permit relatively close working distance optics with high resolution, enable fine positioning at elevated temperature in a controlled environment with minimal thermal perturbation. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can be provided with modularity, for example as modular with rails and test sites that can be easily added or removed, and that can permit access to probe modules in a densely packed array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk, Bryan J. Root
  • Publication number: 20200341055
    Abstract: The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can provide a multi-site positioning mechanism suitable for long-term testing of a device(s) under test (DUT) (e.g. semiconductor wafers) across a range of temperatures with or without a controlled environment. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein include mounting components, mechanisms, and structures that can provide excellent mechanical stability, permit relatively close working distance optics with high resolution, enable fine positioning at elevated temperature in a controlled environment with minimal thermal perturbation. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can be provided with modularity, for example as modular with rails and test sites that can be easily added or removed, and that can permit access to probe modules in a densely packed array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: John L. DUNKLEE, William A. FUNK, Bryan J. ROOT
  • Patent number: 10620262
    Abstract: The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can provide a multi-site positioning mechanism suitable for long-term testing of a device(s) under test (DUT) (e.g. semiconductor wafers) across a range of temperatures with or without a controlled environment. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein include mounting components, mechanisms, and structures that can provide excellent mechanical stability, permit relatively close working distance optics with high resolution, enable fine positioning at elevated temperature in a controlled environment with minimal thermal perturbation. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can be provided with modularity, for example as modular with rails and test sites that can be easily added or removed, and that can permit access to probe modules in a densely packed array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk, Bryan J. Root
  • Publication number: 20190235018
    Abstract: The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can provide a multi-site positioning mechanism suitable for long-term testing of a device(s) under test (DUT) (e.g. semiconductor wafers) across a range of temperatures with or without a controlled environment. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein include mounting components, mechanisms, and structures that can provide excellent mechanical stability, permit relatively close working distance optics with high resolution, enable fine positioning at elevated temperature in a controlled environment with minimal thermal perturbation. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can be provided with modularity, for example as modular with rails and test sites that can be easily added or removed, and that can permit access to probe modules in a densely packed array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: John L. DUNKLEE, William A. FUNK, Bryan J. ROOT
  • Patent number: 10295565
    Abstract: A probe card assembly is disclosed. The probe card assembly includes a probe card plate, a probe core, and an expansion gap defined in the probe card plate. The probe core includes a bonding portion for fixing the probe core to the probe plate. The expansion gap surrounds the probe core. Another probe card assembly is disclosed. The another probe card assembly includes a probe card plate, a tube, and a probe core. The tube is configured to be inserted into an opening of the probe card plate and configured to be securely fixed to the probe card plate. The probe core includes a bonding portion for fixing the probe core to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk
  • Patent number: 10261124
    Abstract: The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can provide a multi-site positioning mechanism suitable for long-term testing of a device(s) under test (DUT) (e.g. semiconductor wafers) across a range of temperatures with or without a controlled environment. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein include mounting components, mechanisms, and structures that can provide excellent mechanical stability, permit relatively close working distance optics with high resolution, enable fine positioning at elevated temperature in a controlled environment with minimal thermal perturbation. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can be provided with modularity, for example as modular with rails and test sites that can be easily added or removed, and that can permit access to probe modules in a densely packed array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk, Bryan J. Root
  • Patent number: 10254309
    Abstract: A latch assembly that can lock and unlock a probe core with respect to a circuit board is provided. The latch assembly can engage with the probe core to align the probe core with respect to a circuit board, and press down the probe core against the circuit board by rotating to lock the probe core with the circuit board. An installation tool is provided to grip or release the probe core to/from a latch assembly or a probe core carrier. The installation tool can align with the probe core and/or the latch assembly to lock and unlock the probe core with respect to a circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk, Bryan J. Root
  • Patent number: 10254311
    Abstract: A probe card assembly is disclosed. The probe card assembly includes a probe card plate, a probe core, and an expansion gap defined in the probe card plate. The probe core includes a bonding portion for fixing the probe core to the probe plate. The expansion gap surrounds the probe core. Another probe card assembly is disclosed. The another probe card assembly includes a probe card plate, a tube, and a probe core. The tube is configured to be inserted into an opening of the probe card plate and configured to be securely fixed to the probe card plate. The probe core includes a bonding portion for fixing the probe core to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CELADON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk
  • Publication number: 20190011498
    Abstract: The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can provide a multi-site positioning mechanism suitable for long-term testing of a device(s) under test (DUT) (e.g. semiconductor wafers) across a range of temperatures with or without a controlled environment. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein include mounting components, mechanisms, and structures that can provide excellent mechanical stability, permit relatively close working distance optics with high resolution, enable fine positioning at elevated temperature in a controlled environment with minimal thermal perturbation. The systems, apparatuses, and methods herein can be provided with modularity, for example as modular with rails and test sites that can be easily added or removed, and that can permit access to probe modules in a densely packed array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: John L. DUNKLEE, William A. FUNK, Bryan J. ROOT
  • Patent number: 10145863
    Abstract: A probe apparatus has probe wires with a contact pattern on one side. The contact pattern is for contacting a respective contact pattern on another test equipment or component, such as a circuit board. The probe wires have tips that probe a device desired for testing. Signals are transmitted through the probe wires from the probe card, for example, through a circuit board to other diagnostic equipment. The contact of the probe card with the circuit board allows signals to be transferred through the probe wires to the other diagnostic equipment. On another side of the probe card is a connector structure. The connector structure includes a retainer that can allow the probe card to be replaced from a test system, such as allowing it to be connected and disconnected from a holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Celadon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Funk, John L. Dunklee, Bryan J. Root
  • Publication number: 20180024165
    Abstract: A probe apparatus has probe wires with a contact pattern on one side. The contact pattern is for contacting a respective contact pattern on another test equipment or component, such as a circuit board. The probe wires have tips that probe a device desired for testing. Signals are transmitted through the probe wires from the probe card, for example, through a circuit board to other diagnostic equipment. The contact of the probe card with the circuit board allows signals to be transferred through the probe wires to the other diagnostic equipment. On another side of the probe card is a connector structure. The connector structure includes a retainer that can allow the probe card to be replaced from a test system, such as allowing it to be connected and disconnected from a holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: William A. FUNK, John L. DUNKLEE, Bryan J. ROOT
  • Publication number: 20170285069
    Abstract: A probe card assembly is disclosed. The probe card assembly includes a probe card plate, a probe core, and an expansion gap defined in the probe card plate. The probe core includes a bonding portion for fixing the probe core to the probe plate. The expansion gap surrounds the probe core. Another probe card assembly is disclosed. The another probe card assembly includes a probe card plate, a tube, and a probe core. The tube is configured to be inserted into an opening of the probe card plate and configured to be securely fixed to the probe card plate. The probe core includes a bonding portion for fixing the probe core to the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: John L. DUNKLEE, William A. FUNK
  • Patent number: 9726694
    Abstract: A probe apparatus has probe wires with a contact pattern on one side. The contact pattern is for contacting a respective contact pattern on another test equipment or component, such as a circuit board. The probe wires have tips that probe a device desired for testing. Signals are transmitted through the probe wires from the probe card, for example, through a circuit board to other diagnostic equipment. The contact of the probe card with the circuit board allows signals to be transferred through the probe wires to the other diagnostic equipment. On another side of the probe card is a connector structure. The connector structure includes a retainer that can allow the probe card to be replaced from a test system, such as allowing it to be connected and disconnected from a holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Celadon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Funk, John L. Dunklee, Bryan J. Root
  • Publication number: 20160320428
    Abstract: A latch assembly that can lock and unlock a probe core with respect to a circuit board is provided. The latch assembly can engage with the probe core to align the probe core with respect to a circuit board, and press down the probe core against the circuit board by rotating to lock the probe core with the circuit board. An installation tool is provided to grip or release the probe core to/from a latch assembly or a probe core carrier. The installation tool can align with the probe core and/or the latch assembly to lock and unlock the probe core with respect to a circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: John L. DUNKLEE, William A. FUNK, Bryan J. ROOT
  • Publication number: 20150204911
    Abstract: A probe apparatus has probe wires with a contact pattern on one side. The contact pattern is for contacting a respective contact pattern on another test equipment or component, such as a circuit board. The probe wires have tips that probe a device desired for testing. Signals are transmitted through the probe wires from the probe card, for example, through a circuit board to other diagnostic equipment. The contact of the probe card with the circuit board allows signals to be transferred through the probe wires to the other diagnostic equipment. On another side of the probe card is a connector structure. The connector structure includes a retainer that can allow the probe card to be replaced from a test system, such as allowing it to be connected and disconnected from a holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: William A. FUNK, John L. DUNKLEE, Bryan J. ROOT
  • Patent number: 9024651
    Abstract: A test apparatus for testing a semiconductor device includes a circuit board having a contact pattern on one side and an opening therethrough, and a probe card supporting a probe needle array. The probe needle array is insertable into the opening of the circuit board and is configured to probe a device under test. The probe needle array is in electrical contact with the contact pattern of the circuit board, to allow signals through the probe card and circuit board to a test equipment. A holder supports the probe card and other probe cards. The holder has multiple sides, each of which is supportable of a probe card having a probe needle array. The holder is rotatable to manipulate and position the probe needle arrays of the probe cards relative to a device under test. The holder allows disconnection and replacement of the probe needle arrays from the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Celadon Systems, Inc., Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan J. Root, William A. Funk, Michael Palumbo, John L. Dunklee
  • Patent number: 9018966
    Abstract: A probe apparatus has probe wires with a contact pattern on one side. The contact pattern is for contacting a respective contact pattern on another test equipment or component, such as a circuit board. The probe wires have tips that probe a device desired for testing. Signals are transmitted through the probe wires from the probe card, for example, through a circuit board to other diagnostic equipment. The contact of the probe card with the circuit board allows signals to be transferred through the probe wires to the other diagnostic equipment. On another side of the probe card is a connector structure. The connector structure includes a retainer that can allow the probe card to be replaced from a test system, such as allowing it to be connected and disconnected from a holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Celadon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Root, William A. Funk, John L. Dunklee
  • Patent number: 8994390
    Abstract: A probe apparatus has probe wires with a contact pattern on one side. The contact pattern is for contacting a respective contact pattern on another test equipment or component, such as a circuit board. The probe wires have tips that probe a device desired for testing. Signals are transmitted through the probe wires from the probe card, for example, through a circuit board to other diagnostic equipment. The contact of the probe card with the circuit board allows signals to be transferred through the probe wires to the other diagnostic equipment. On another side of the probe card is a connector structure. The connector structure includes a retainer that can allow the probe card to be replaced from a test system, such as allowing it to be connected and disconnected from a holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Celadon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Root, William A. Funk, John L. Dunklee
  • Patent number: D713363
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Celadon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Funk, Dennis Flanders, John L. Dunklee, Bryan J. Root
  • Patent number: D722031
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Celadon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Dunklee, William A. Funk, Matthew Page, Dennis Flanders, Bryan J. Root