Patents by Inventor Roberto Crippa

Roberto Crippa 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: 12571838
    Abstract: A probe head for a testing apparatus of electronic devices is disclosed having a plurality of contact probes, a guide provided with a plurality of guide holes for slidingly housing the contact probes, and a containment element which is adapted to support the guide. The containment element includes a first portion and a second portion which is movable with respect to the first portion, movement means adapted to move the second portion of the containment element with respect to the first portion, and a test optical signal distribution element configured to transmit a test optical signal to the device under test. The test optical signal distribution element is associated with the second portion of the containment element and is arranged to be moved integrally therewith. The movement means is configured to allow the alignment of the test optical signal distribution element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Riccardo Vettori, Roberto Crippa
  • Patent number: 12455299
    Abstract: A contact element for a probe head for an electronic device test apparatus is disclosed, having a body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first and a second opposite contact end, each made of electrically conductive material. The body includes a first section which extends over a distance less than 1000 ?m along the longitudinal axis starting from the first contact end towards the second contact end, a second section which extends along the longitudinal axis starting from the second contact end towards the first contact end, and a third section, interposed between the first and second sections, made of an electrically insulating material. The sections follow each other along the longitudinal axis so that the first contact end is included only in the first section, the second contact end is included only in the second section, and the third section electrically insulates the first section from the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Crippa
  • Patent number: 12105118
    Abstract: A testing head for testing the functionality of an electronic device is disclosed having a plurality of contact probes including a probe body extended between respective end portions adapted to contact respective contact pads, a lower guide provided with guide holes for housing the contact probes, and a conductive portion in the lower guide. The conductive portion includes a group of the guide holes and is adapted to contact and short-circuit a corresponding group of contact probes housed in the group of holes. The contact probes housed in the group of holes include a deformable portion adapted to be partially inserted into the guide holes of the group. The deformable portion, when housed in the guide holes, is in a configuration in which it is deformed by the contact with a wall of the guide holes and exerts on the wall a reaction force ensuring a sliding contact during testing of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Crippa
  • Patent number: 12032003
    Abstract: A probe head for a test equipment of electronic devices comprises a plurality of contact probes inserted in guide holes provided in at least one upper guide and one lower guide, a bending area for the contact probes being defined between the upper and lower guides, each contact probe having at least one first terminal portion which protrudes of a first length from the lower guide and ends with a contact tip (22A) adapted to abut onto a respective contact pad of a device to be tested, as well as a second terminal portion which protrudes of a second length from the upper guide and ends with a contact head adapted to abut onto a contact pad of a board for connecting or interfacing with the test equipment, suitably comprising at least one protection structure projecting from the upper guide in direction of a longitudinal development axis of the contact probes towards the board, the protection structure thus extending in correspondence of the contact heads of the contact probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Technoprobe, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Roberto Crippa
  • Patent number: 12019111
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layer for a probe card comprises providing first contact pads on an exposed face of a first dielectric layer and second contact pads on an exposed face of a last dielectric layer. Each dielectric layer is laser ablated to realize pass-through structures and the pass-through structures are conductively filled to realize conductive structures. The dielectric layers are superimposed in a way that each conductive structure contacts a corresponding conductive structure of a contiguous dielectric layer in the multi-layer and forms conductive paths electrically connected the first and second contact pads. The second contact pads having a greater distance between its symmetry centers than the first contact pads, the multi-layer thus performing a spatial transformation between the first and second contact pads connected through the connective paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Flavio Maggioni, Raffaele Vallauri
  • Patent number: 11953522
    Abstract: A probe head for a testing apparatus integrated on a semiconductor wafer is disclosed having a first plurality of contact probes having a first transversal diameter, a second plurality of micro contact probes having a second transversal diameter, smaller than the first transversal diameter, and a flexible membrane having conductive tracks for connecting a first plurality contact probe with a corresponding second plurality micro contact probe. The second plurality contact probes are arranged between the testing apparatus and the flexible membrane, and the second plurality micro contact probes are arranged between the flexible membrane and a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Stefano Felici
  • Publication number: 20240044940
    Abstract: A contact probe is disclosed having a first contact end portion adapted to abut onto a contact pad of a device under test, a second contact end portion adapted to abut onto a contact pad of a PCB board of a testing apparatus, and a rod-shaped probe body extended between the first and second contact end portions according to a longitudinal direction. The contact probe also includes an opening that extends along the probe body and along at least one contact end portion, a first opening part defining a pair of arms in the probe body and a second opening part defining a pair of end sections in the contact end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto CRIPPA, Flavio MAGGIONI
  • Publication number: 20240012025
    Abstract: A contact element for a probe head for an electronic device test apparatus is disclosed, having a body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first and a second opposite contact end, each made of electrically conductive material. The body includes a first section which extends over a distance less than 1000 ?m along the longitudinal axis starting from the first contact end towards the second contact end, a second section which extends along the longitudinal axis starting from the second contact end towards the first contact end, and a third section, interposed between the first and second sections, made of an electrically insulating material. The sections follow each other along the longitudinal axis so that the first contact end is included only in the first section, the second contact end is included only in the second section, and the third section electrically insulates the first section from the second section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto CRIPPA
  • Patent number: 11828774
    Abstract: A testing head comprises a plurality of contact probes, and a guide having a plurality of guide holes for housing the contact probes and including a conductive portion. Each contact probe includes a first end region and a second end region, and a body which extends between the first and second end regions. Suitably, the conductive portion includes a group of the guide holes and electrically connects contact probes of a first group of the contact probes. The contact probes of the first group slide in the guide holes in the conductive portion and are adapted to carry a same signal, and each contact probe of a second group of the plurality of contact probes is surrounded by an insulating coating layer that extends along the body of each contact probe of the second group, thereby insulating the contact probes of the second group from the conductive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Flavio Maggioni
  • Publication number: 20230324438
    Abstract: A testing head comprises a plurality of contact probes, and a guide having a plurality of guide holes for housing the contact probes and including a conductive portion. Each contact probe includes a first end region and a second end region, and a body which extends between the first and second end regions. Suitably, the conductive portion includes a group of the guide holes and electrically connects contact probes of a first group of the contact probes. The contact probes of the first group slide in the guide holes in the conductive portion and are adapted to carry a same signal, and each contact probe of a second group of the plurality of contact probes is surrounded by an insulating coating layer that extends along the body of each contact probe of the second group, thereby insulating the contact probes of the second group from the conductive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Flavio Maggioni
  • Publication number: 20230305054
    Abstract: A probe head for a testing apparatus of electronic devices is disclosed having a plurality of contact probes, a guide provided with a plurality of guide holes for slidingly housing the contact probes, and a containment element which is adapted to support the guide. The containment element includes a first portion and a second portion which is movable with respect to the first portion, movement means adapted to move the second portion of the containment element with respect to the first portion, and a test optical signal distribution element configured to transmit a test optical signal to the device under test. The test optical signal distribution element is associated with the second portion of the containment element and is arranged to be moved integrally therewith. The movement means is configured to allow the alignment of the test optical signal distribution element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Riccardo VETTORI, Roberto CRIPPA
  • Publication number: 20230288447
    Abstract: A contact probe for a probe head for test equipment of electronic devices is provided. The contact probe includes a first end portion and a second end portion configured to realize a contact with suitable contact structures, and a body portion extended along a longitudinal development axis between respective the first and second end portions. The first end portion includes a base portion, a peripherally protruding element protruding from the base portion, and a hollow part having a base at a surface of the base portion and being surrounded by the peripherally protruding element. In addition, the peripherally protruding element is configured to penetrate into the contact structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano FELICI, Fabio MORGANA, Roberto CRIPPA
  • Publication number: 20230029150
    Abstract: A testing head for testing the functionality of an electronic device is disclosed having a plurality of contact probes including a probe body extended between respective end portions adapted to contact respective contact pads, a lower guide provided with guide holes for housing the contact probes, and a conductive portion in the lower guide. The conductive portion includes a group of the guide holes and is adapted to contact and short-circuit a corresponding group of contact probes housed in the group of holes. The contact probes housed in the group of holes include a deformable portion adapted to be partially inserted into the guide holes of the group. The deformable portion, when housed in the guide holes, is in a configuration in which it is deformed by the contact with a wall of the guide holes and exerts on the wall a reaction force ensuring a sliding contact during testing of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Roberto CRIPPA
  • Publication number: 20230021227
    Abstract: A probe head for a testing apparatus integrated on a semiconductor wafer is disclosed having a first plurality of contact probes having a first transversal diameter, a second plurality of micro contact probes having a second transversal diameter, smaller than the first transversal diameter, and a flexible membrane having conductive tracks for connecting a first plurality contact probe with a corresponding second plurality micro contact probe. The second plurality contact probes are arranged between the testing apparatus and the flexible membrane, and the second plurality micro contact probes are arranged between the flexible membrane and a semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto CRIPPA, Stefano FELICI
  • Patent number: 11442080
    Abstract: A contact probe comprises a probe body being extended in a longitudinal direction between respective end portions adapted to realize a contact with respective contact pads, at least one end portion having transverse dimensions greater than the probe body. Suitably, the end portion comprises at least one indentation adapted to house a material scrap being on the contact probe after a separation from a substrate wherein the contact probe has been realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Raffaele Vallauri
  • Patent number: 11340262
    Abstract: A contact probe for a testing head of an apparatus for testing electronic devices comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion being adapted to contact pads of a device under test. Suitably, the contact probe comprises a first section, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the first end portion and is made of an electrically non-conductive material, and a second section, which extends along the longitudinal axis from the second end portion up to the first section, the second section being electrically conductive and extending over a distance less than 1000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Flavio Maggioni, Andrea Calaon
  • Publication number: 20220155344
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for manufacturing at least one contact probe for a probe head of a test equipment of electronic devices, comprising a step of submicrometric 3D printing of the contact probe with at least one printing material selected from a conductor material or a semiconductor material is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Roberto CRIPPA
  • Publication number: 20220155348
    Abstract: A probe head for a test equipment of electronic devices comprises a plurality of contact probes inserted in guide holes provided in at least one upper guide and one lower guide, a bending area for the contact probes being defined between the upper and lower guides, each contact probe having at least one first terminal portion which protrudes of a first length from the lower guide and ends with a contact tip (22A) adapted to abut onto a respective contact pad of a device to be tested, as well as a second terminal portion which protrudes of a second length from the upper guide and ends with a contact head adapted to abut onto a contact pad of a board for connecting or interfacing with the test equipment, suitably comprising at least one protection structure projecting from the upper guide in direction of a longitudinal development axis of the contact probes towards the board, the protection structure thus extending in correspondence of the contact heads of the contact probes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Roberto CRIPPA
  • Patent number: 11293941
    Abstract: An interface element (20) for a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises at least one support (21) provided with a plurality of through-openings (22) that house respective interconnections elements (23), which extend between a first end (23a) and a second end (23b). Suitably, the interconnections elements (23) are made of a conductive elastomer that fills the openings (22) of the support (21), each of the interconnection elements (23) forming a conductive channel between different and opposing faces (Fa, Fb) of the support (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Crippa, Riccardo Vettori
  • Publication number: 20210247422
    Abstract: A contact probe comprises a probe body being extended in a longitudinal direction between respective end portions adapted to realize a contact with respective contact pads, at least one end portion having transverse dimensions greater than the probe body. Suitably, the end portion comprises at least one indentation adapted to house a material scrap being on the contact probe after a separation from a substrate wherein the contact probe has been realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Roberto CRIPPA, Raffaele VALLAURI