Buckling Patents (Class 324/755.06)
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Patent number: 12032003Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 2, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Technoprobe, S.p.A.Inventor: Roberto Crippa
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Patent number: 12000865Abstract: Vertical probes, formed of at least one layer that longitudinally includes a first and a second end and a central portion, with the central portion including at least three compliant arms wherein each of the two outer arms include a material having a yield strength greater than a first amount and the at least one intermediate arm is formed of a material having a yield strength less than the first yield strength amount wherein a yield strength of the material of the intermediate arm has a ratio to that of an outer arm of less than 1, more preferably less than 0.8, even more preferably less than 0.6, and most preferably less than 0.4.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: Microfabrica Inc.Inventor: Uri Frodis
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Patent number: 11921133Abstract: A testing head apt to verify the operation of a device under test integrated on a semiconductor wafer includes a plurality of contact elements, each including a body that extends between a first end portion and a second end portion, and a guide provided with a plurality of guide holes apt to house the contact elements. The guide includes a conductive portion that includes and electrically connects the holes of a group of guide holes to each other and is apt to contact a corresponding group of contact elements apt to carry a same type of signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.Inventor: Flavio Maggioni
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Patent number: 11619653Abstract: A testing apparatus comprises a tester base, a supporting member, a frame, one or more electrical connectors and an upper cover. Each electrical connector includes a set of contact members that are positioned on a substrate and having first and second arm portions made of an electrically conductive material. The one or more electrical connectors are mounted on top of ribs in the supporting members and each of the electrical connectors is separated from an adjacent electrical connector by a respective pair of protrusions formed on opposite sides of the frame. Each of the second arm portions of the set of contact members of each electrical connector are disposed in a respective through hole formed in a panel of the supporting member.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: GITech Inc.Inventor: John Williams
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Patent number: 11209461Abstract: A probe card device and a neck-like probe thereof are provided. The neck-like probe includes a conductive pin and a ring-shaped insulator. The conductive pin includes a stroke segment and two end segments extending from the stroke segment. The stroke segment has two broad side surfaces and two narrow side surfaces, and each of the broad side surfaces has a long slot extending from one of the narrow side surfaces to the other one. The two long slots have a minimum distance therebetween that is 75%-95% of a maximum distance between the two broad side surfaces. The ring-shaped insulator surrounds a portion of the conductive pin having the two long slots, and a portion of the neck-like probe corresponding in position to a part of the ring-shaped insulator on the two broad side surfaces has a thickness that is 85%-115% of the maximum distance.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2020Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: CHUNGHWA PRECISION TEST TECH. CO., LTD.Inventors: Wen-Tsung Lee, Hsun-Tai Wei, Kai-Chieh Hsieh, Wei-Jhih Su
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Patent number: 10132833Abstract: A multiple conduction path probe can provide an electrically conductive signal path from a first contact end to a second contact end. The probe can also include an electrically conductive secondary path and an electrically insulated gap between the signal path and the secondary path. A probe assembly can comprise multiple such probes disposed in passages in substantially parallel electrically conductive guide plates. In some configurations, the probe assembly can include one or more secondary probes disposed in passages of the conductive guide plates and electrically connected to one or both of the guide plates. Some of the probes can be electrically insulated from the guide plates and thus provide signal paths, and others of the probes can be electrically connected to the guide plates and thus provide secondary paths.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.Inventor: Benjamin N. Eldridge
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Patent number: 9459283Abstract: A probe is fitted into cylindrical retaining holes formed in an upper block and a lower block. A plunger of the probe has a plate-like guide portion, and an edge contact portion. A bottomed one of the cylindrical retaining holes is formed in the upper block from a lower part thereof and a guide groove is formed from an upper surface thereof. The plate-like guide portion is movably guided vertically while being prevented from turning and slipping out by the guide groove.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2011Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: SEIKEN CO., LTD.Inventor: Hiroyuki Tomioka
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Patent number: 9429593Abstract: A testing head for a test equipment of electronic devices comprises a plurality of contact probes inserted into guiding holes made in at least one upper guide and in a lower guide, separate from one another by an air zone, the contact probes comprising at least one enlarged portion suitable for preventing the escape of such probes from the guiding holes. Conveniently, the enlarged portions of the contact probes adjacent according to a direction of distribution of contact pads of an integrated device to be tested have respective larger sides orthogonal to one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.Inventor: Roberto Crippa
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Patent number: 9322849Abstract: A method of cleaning needles of a probe card in a test system includes mounting the probe card, which has a plurality of device under tests (DUTs) and needles, in a card mounting part. The DUTs and needles are scanned using a camera positioned in the test system to provide a scan result. A laser beam is focused on at least one of the needles based on the scan result and the laser beam is irradiated on the at least one of the needles to clean the at least one of the needles.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Do-Yun Kim, In-Seok Hwang, Sang-Boo Kang
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Patent number: 9069014Abstract: A wire probe assembly and forming process is described. In one example, a method includes inserting a plurality of wires through a probe former and a tip retainer to contact a probe head substrate, attaching the wires to a surface of the substrate, pulling the probe former laterally with respect to the substrate surface and the tip retainer to bend the wires into test probes with a resiliency to transverse movement, and removing the tip retainer to form a test probe head.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2012Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Todd P. Albertson, Michael T. Crocker, David Shia, Lothar R. Kress
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Patent number: 8994393Abstract: A test device including cobra probes and a method of manufacturing is disclosed. The test device includes a conductive upper plate having an upper guide hole and a conductive lower plate having a lower guide hole. The test device also includes a conductive cobra probe disposed between the upper guide hole of the upper plate and the lower guide hole of the lower plate. A dielectric material insulates the cobra probe from the upper plate and the lower plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hanyi Ding, John Ferrario, Barton E. Green, Richard J. St. Pierre
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Publication number: 20140239995Abstract: The formation of test probe structures is described. One test probe structure includes a tip portion and a handle portion spaced a distance away from the tip portion. The test probe structure also includes a body bend portion positioned between the tip portion and the handle portion, and an intermediate portion positioned between the body bend portion and the handle portion. The body bend portion may include a curved shape extending from the intermediate portion to the tip portion. The tip portion may be formed to be offset from a longitudinal axis defined by the intermediate portion. The test probe structure defines a length and includes a cross-sectional area that is different at a plurality of positions along the length. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2011Publication date: August 28, 2014Inventors: Roy E. Swart, Warren S. Crippen, Charlotte C. Kwong, David Shia
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Publication number: 20140184258Abstract: Approaches for performing in line wafer testing are provided. An approach includes a method that includes generating a radio frequency (RF) test signal, and applying the RF test signal to a device under test (DUT) in a wafer using a buckling beam probe set with a predefined pitch. The method also includes detecting an output RF signal from the DUT in response to the applying the RF test signal to the DUT, and sensing at least one frequency component of the detected output RF signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2013Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
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Publication number: 20140132300Abstract: An apparatus for testing electronic devices is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of probes attached to a substrate; each probe capable of elastic deformation when the probe tip comes in contact with the electronic; each probe comprising a plurality of isolated electrical vertical interconnected accesses (vias) connecting each probe tip to the substrate, such that each probe tip of the plurality is capable of conducting an electrical current from the device under test to the substrate. The plurality of probes may form a probe comb. Also disclosed is a probe comb holder that has at least one slot where the probe comb may be disposed. A method for assembling and disassembling the probe comb and probe comb holder is also disclosed which allows for geometric alignment of individual probes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: ADVANTEST AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Florent Cros, Lakshmi Namburi, Ting Hu
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Patent number: 8717056Abstract: A probing assembly is disclosed. The probing assembly includes an interface board, a structural support element, a trace support element and a probe support element. The structural support element provides structural and mechanical support to the trace support element. The trace support element includes a body and multiple trace lines located on the body. The probe support element includes a plate having multiple guide holes in which micro probes are inserted. At least one of the micro pins is in contact with one of the trace lines within the trace support element. A set of rails are utilized to secure the probe support element, the trace support element and the structural support element to the interface board.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Inventor: Francis T. McQuade
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Patent number: 8674717Abstract: A probe of the present invention includes a beam portion cantilevered by a holding portion, and a contact extending perpendicularly to and downward from a free end of the beam portion. An inner cut portion is formed on a fixed end side of the beam portion in a side portion of the contact, and an outer cut portion is formed on a free end side of the beam portion in a side portion of the contact, so that the outer cut portion and the inner cut portion are formed to bend the contact when the contact contacts an electrode of an object to be inspected at a predetermined contact pressure. According to the present invention, in inspection of electrical characteristics of the object to be inspected, suitable contact between the probe and the object to be inspected may be maintained and the durability of the probe may be improved.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Toshihiro Yonezawa
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Publication number: 20140062519Abstract: A test device including cobra probes and a method of manufacturing is disclosed. The test device includes a conductive upper plate having an upper guide hole and a conductive lower plate having a lower guide hole. The test device also includes a conductive cobra probe disposed between the upper guide hole of the upper plate and the lower guide hole of the lower plate. A dielectric material insulates the cobra probe from the upper plate and the lower plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Hanyi DING, John FERRARIO, Barton E. GREEN, Richard J. ST. PIERRE
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Patent number: 8519727Abstract: A contact probe include: a first plunger to be connected to an object to be inspected; a second plunger to be connected to a board for inspection; and a spring operable to urge the first and second plungers in directions of moving the first and second plungers apart from each other. A pillar part of one of the first and second plungers is slidably engaged with an inner periphery of a tubular part of the other of the first and second plungers. The pillar part includes an elastically deformable part which is in contact with a part of the inner periphery of the tubular part.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Yokowo Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsugio Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8330479Abstract: A testing device suitable for a testing apparatus with light inspection of a display panel is provided, in which the testing device includes a main part and two contact parts. The testing device is fixed to the testing apparatus with light inspection by the main part. Two contact parts are respectively extended from two ends of the main part along a first direction, and each of the contact parts has a plurality of tips. The tips of each contact part have different heights. Besides, a testing apparatus is also provided. Therefore, the abovementioned testing device and the testing apparatus are able to drastically extend the user lifetime, improve the inspection accuracy and save cost.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.Inventors: Yoang-Coang Wen, Xin-Xion Liang, Tao-Ming Lee, Shan-Yu Yu
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Patent number: 8305102Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a probe card in which the positional shift of the tip of a probe can be compensated for in response to a change in the temperature, and a wafer test in a wide range of temperatures can be performed. More specifically, the probe card includes a substrate, a probe composed of a first metallic material having a first thermal expansion coefficient, a base of the probe being joined to the substrate, a tip of the probe coming into contact with a connection terminal of an electronic device, and a thermal compensation member composed of a second metallic material having a second thermal expansion coefficient that is higher than the first thermal expansion coefficient, a base of the thermal compensation member being fixed to the substrate, a tip of the thermal compensation member coming into contact with the probe at an intermediate portion between the base of the probe and the tip of the probe.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yoshikazu Takahashi, Hiroshi Ban
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Patent number: 8264248Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve probes and probe assemblies. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a probe test head comprising a plurality of novel probes inserted in an array of holes in upper and lower dies of the assembly. The novel assembly includes a novel alignment layer for easy repair and maintenance of the probes.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: DSL Labs, Inc.Inventor: Francis T McQuade
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Patent number: 8159246Abstract: A testing device suitable for a testing apparatus with light inspection of a display panel is provided, in which the testing device includes a main part and two contact parts. The testing device is fixed to the testing apparatus with light inspection by the main part. Two contact parts are respectively extended from two ends of the main part along a first direction, and each of the contact parts has a plurality of tips. The tips of each contact part have different heights. Besides, a testing apparatus is also provided. Therefore, the abovementioned testing device and the testing apparatus are able to drastically extend the user lifetime, improve the inspection accuracy and save cost.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Chunghwa Picture Tubes, Ltd.Inventors: Yoang-Coang Wen, Xin-Xion Liang, Tao-Ming Lee, Shan-Yu Yu
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Patent number: 7956631Abstract: A test socket, adapted for connecting the semiconductor package and a printed circuit board comprises a base and a plurality of contacts received in the base. The base has a retaining board defining a plurality of first receiving holes and a positioning board defining a plurality of second receiving holes. The contacts has a contacting portion, an elastic portion and a retaining portion, the elastic portion is disposed between the retaining board and the positioning board and protruding rightward, and the contacting portion extends beyond the elastic portion and defines a acute angle with a horizontal line in a right hand before contacting with the semiconductor package to prevent the contacting portion from scratching with the left inner sidewall of the second receiving hole when pushed downward by the semiconductor package and rotating leftward.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2009Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ke-Hao Chen, Wen-Yi Hsieh