Probe Card Patents (Class 324/756.03)
  • Patent number: 11879913
    Abstract: A probe card structure is provided. The probe card structure includes a circuit board, an adapter board, and a probe head assembly. The adapter board is disposed on one side of the circuit board, a plurality of electrically conductive pillars are formed on one surface of the adapter board that faces the circuit board. A solder ball is disposed on one end of each of the plurality of electrically conductive pillars facing the circuit board, and the adapter board is coupled to the circuit board through the solder balls of the plurality of electrically conductive pillars. The probe head assembly including a plurality of probes, the probe head assembly is coupled to the adapter board, and the plurality of probes are electrically connected to the adapter board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: XINZHUO TECHNOLOGY (ZHEJIANG) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Choon Leong Lou
  • Patent number: 11693047
    Abstract: One example includes a cryogenic wafer test system. The system includes a first chamber that is cooled to a cryogenic temperature and a wafer chuck confined within the first chamber. The wafer chuck can be configured to accommodate a wafer device-under-test (DUT) comprising a plurality of superconducting die. The system also includes at least one wafer prober configured to implement a test on a superconducting die of the plurality of superconducting die via a plurality of electrical probe contacts. The system further includes a wafer chuck actuator system confined within a second chamber. The wafer chuck actuator system can be configured to provide at least one of translational and rotational motion of the wafer chuck to facilitate alignment and contact of a plurality of electrical contacts of the superconducting die to the respective plurality of electrical probe contacts of the at least one wafer prober.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tessandra Anne Sage, Stanley Katsuyoshi Wakamiya, Jonathan Francis Van Dyke, Kevin Collao, Joshua P. Osborne
  • Patent number: 11675010
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a wafer test device with a conformal laminate and rigid probes extending from the laminate to form an electrical connection with a microcircuit under test. The wafer test device also includes a spring plate on a side of the laminate that is opposite a side from which the rigid probes extend. The spring plate includes a conformal inner frame and a rigid outer frame. The laminate is attached to the inner frame of the spring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Audette, Grant Wagner, Jacob Louis Moore, Peter William Neff
  • Patent number: 11610800
    Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a support surface that defines a substrate seat. The assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body. The assemblies may include a heater embedded within the chuck body. The assemblies may include a first bipolar electrode embedded within the electrostatic chuck body between the heater and support surface. The assemblies may include a second bipolar electrode embedded within the chuck body between the heater and support surface. The assemblies may include at least one inner capacitive sensor embedded within the electrostatic chuck body at a position proximate a center of the substrate seat. The assemblies may include at least one outer capacitive sensor embedded within the electrostatic chuck body at a position proximate a peripheral edge of the substrate seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Job George Konnoth Joseph, Syam Sundeep Boosa, Gopu Krishna, Rupankar Choudhury
  • Patent number: 11585848
    Abstract: A semiconductor device test apparatus for improving a loss rate of a test signal in testing a device under test is provided. The semiconductor device test apparatus includes a probe interface board, a pogo block disposed on the probe interface board and electrically connected to a device under test, an equipment board disposed under the probe interface board, an alternating current (AC) controller, transferring and receiving an AC signal for performing an AC test on at least one of the device under test and the pogo block, being mounted on the equipment board, and a physical layer equalizing (PLE) board disposed between the probe interface board and the equipment board, a first equalizing circuit, decreasing loss of the AC signal, being mounted on the PLE board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: EXICON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Kyoung Shin, Ji Man Park
  • Patent number: 11585832
    Abstract: A probe card and a probe module thereof are provided. The probe card includes a first strengthening board, a fixed frame, a probe module, and a slidable frame. The first strengthening board includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and a mounting hole. An inner wall of the mounting hole is formed with an inner flange. The fixed frame is disposed on the top surface of the first strengthening board and surrounds the mounting hole. The probe module is disposed in the mounting hole and includes an outer flange including a physical region and multiple gap regions. The physical region abuts against the inner flange of the first strengthening board. The slidable frame is disposed on an inner wall of the fixed frame and is slidable between a released position and a fixed position. Multiple pressing portions are disposed on an inner wall of the slidable frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: MPI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chung-Yen Huang, Chih-Wei Wen, Sheng-Feng Xu, Fuh-Chyun Tang, Chih-Hao Ho
  • Patent number: 11585833
    Abstract: A probe card includes a sub-board, having a heating layer, connected to a probe pin. A main board is connected to the sub-board and includes a first output terminal configured to output first power received from a first power supply to the heating layer in a first mode. A power converter is configured to lower a first voltage corresponding to residual power received from the first power supply to a second voltage and output the residual power in a second mode. A second output terminal is configured to receive the residual power from the power converter and second power from a second power supply and output third power including the residual power and the second power to a device under test in the second mode. A first switch unit is connected to the first power supply, the first output terminal, and the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sehoon Park
  • Patent number: 11566996
    Abstract: A corrosion resistance tester for a coated metal material including a surface treatment film on a metal substrate includes: a container placed on the surface treatment film, and having a bottom surface in contact with the surface treatment film, the container including a plurality of water-containing electrolyte material holders that open through the bottom surface; the water-containing electrolyte material contained in each of the water-containing electrolyte material holders of the container, and being in contact with an associated one of a plurality of separate measurement target portions of the surface treatment film; a plurality of electrodes being each in contact with the water-containing electrolyte material contained in an associated one of the water-containing electrolyte material holders; an external circuit connecting the electrodes together; and a conduction means configured to conduct electricity to the metal substrate through the electrodes and the external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teruaki Asada, Katsunobu Sasaki, Tsutomu Shigenaga
  • Patent number: 11552379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transition from a stripline to a waveguide, wherein: the stripline, preferably a microstrip line, is located on a substrate; an upper side of the substrate has a metallised surface and the lower side of the substrate has a metal layer, preferably a high-frequency ground-potential layer; the upper side and the lower side are connected to vias; and at least part of the metallised surface on the upper side of the substrate acts as a waveguide wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: CRUISE MUNICH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Trummer
  • Patent number: 11454670
    Abstract: A wafer inspection device 10 is provided with a chuck top 20 on which a wafer W having semiconductor devices formed thereon is placed, a probe card 18 having multiple contact probes 28 protruding toward the wafer W, a pogo frame 23 for holding the probe card 18, a cylindrical internal bellows 26 configured to suspend from the pogo frame 23 to surround the contact probes 28, and a cylindrical external bellows 27 configured to suspend from the pogo frame 23 to surround the internal bellows 26. When the chuck top 20 approaches the probe card 18 and the contact probes 28 are brought into contact with the devices, the internal bellows 26 and the external bellows 27 come in contact with the chuck top 20, a sealing space P is formed between the internal bellows 26 and the external bellows 27, and the sealing space P is compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamada
  • 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: 11436423
    Abstract: A kit and method for improving the security of a card reader having a plurality of wafers for insertion individually into the card reader via a card slot in the card reader, where each wafer is shaped and sized so that the wafer can be inserted through the card slot in an insertion direction and positioned in a cavity in the card reader. The plurality of wafers are configured to couple together when inside the cavity to form a stack of wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CENNOX LIMITED
    Inventor: Katherine Elizabeth Scott
  • Patent number: 11428727
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a prober that is able to carry out accurate inspection of semiconductor device in wafer state by reducing the effect of the external noises and the leakage of current and further by eliminating the stray capacitance of the chuck stage against the prober housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON MICRONICS
    Inventors: Katsuo Yasuta, Mamoru Aruga
  • Patent number: 11402407
    Abstract: A positionable probe card includes a space transformer, a plurality of positioning pins, and a probe head. The space transformer includes a space transforming substrate, the space transforming substrate includes a plurality of apertures, and the positioning pins are respectively fixed in the apertures. The probe head includes a plurality of positioning holes, and the positioning pins are respectively inserted into corresponding positioning holes. In addition, a method of manufacturing a positionable probe card is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MPI Corporation
    Inventors: Zhi-Wei Su, Tzung-Je Tzeng, Wen-Chi Chen, Huo-Kang Hsu, Hsueh-Chih Wu, Sheng-Wei Lin, Chin-Yi Lin, Che-Wei Lin, Jian-Kai Hong, Shu-Jui Chang
  • Patent number: 11385260
    Abstract: A probe card holding device includes: a frame that holds a probe card by vacuum suction; a sealing member provided on the frame and configured to form an enclosed space by contacting the probe card; a placement section in which a first engaging portion provided at an outer circumference of the probe card is placed when the probe card is attached to the frame; a second engaging portion configured to be engaged with the first engaging portion; and an actuator configured to drive the second engaging portion between a first position and a second position. When the second engaging portion is engaged with the first engaging portion in response to dissipation of the vacuum suction, the probe card is held by the probe card holding device while the sealing member maintains a seal with the probe card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kazumi Yamagata, Tatsuo Kawashima
  • Patent number: 11313897
    Abstract: There is provided a testing wafer that simulates heat generation of an inspection target substrate. The testing wafer includes a heater pattern, a plurality of temperature sensors, and first and second electrode pads. The heater pattern is configured to heat the testing wafer having the same shape as a shape of the inspection target substrate. The temperature sensors are configured to respectively measure temperatures of multiple locations on the testing wafer. The first electrode pads are connected to the heater pattern and the second electrode pads are connected to the temperature sensors. The first and second electrode pads are installed to be in contact with probes of a probe card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yoshihito Yamasaki, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11307221
    Abstract: A cantilever contact probe includes a shaped probe body included between a descending probe section and an ascending probe section. At least one end portion is formed in the descending probe section, and bent with respect to a longitudinal axis starting from a bending point and ending with a contact tip of the cantilever contact probe that is configured to abut onto a contact pad of a device under test of that wafer. Suitably, the shaped probe body comprises at least one base portion, an upper portion extending, starting from the base portion, along a longitudinal extension axis of the shaped probe body, orthogonally to the reference plane and a top portion, connected to the upper portion and having a greater diameter than a diameter of the upper portion to form a T, the upper portion being the stem of the T and the top portion being the crosspiece of the T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Vettori
  • Patent number: 11293947
    Abstract: A probe-on-carrier architecture is provided, where several vertical probes are disposed on each probe carrier and the probe carriers are affixed to the space transformer. Each vertical probe has two flexible members. The first flexible member makes electrical contact to the space transformer. The second flexible member makes temporary electrical contact to the device under test. A mechanical stiffener can be used to deal with the possible lack of flatness and thermal expansion of the space transformer. The mechanical stiffener can be affixed to the space transformer to bring the flatness and thermal expansion of the space transformer to within specifications. Alternatively, the mechanical stiffener can be affixed to the space transformer without trying to bring the flatness and thermal expansion of the space transformer to within specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FormFactor, Inc.
    Inventors: Mukesh Selvaraj, January Kister
  • Patent number: 11287475
    Abstract: A method for compensating to a first distance between a probe tip and a device under test (DUT) after a temperature change of the DUT includes: capturing a first image having the probe and its reflected image on a reflective surface of the DUT at a first temperature; measuring a second distance between a reference point of the probe and its reflected image; changing the first temperature of the DUT to a second temperature; capturing a second image having the probe and its reflected image on the reflective surface at the second temperature; measuring a third distance between the reference point of the probe and its reflected image; dividing the difference between the third and the second distances by two to obtain a fourth distance; and determining a relative position between the probe and the DUT by the fourth distance to compensate to the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: MPI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stojan Kanev, Yu-Hsun Hsu, Chien-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11243232
    Abstract: A probe apparatus includes a tester including a voltage supply, and a probe card including a first probe and a first sensing pin. The first probe is electrically connected to both an output port of the voltage supply and an electrode pad of a first semiconductor device. The first sensing pin is electrically connected to both a controller and a sensing pad of the first semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyuyeol Kim, Yukyum Kim
  • Patent number: 11231443
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a test socket for a semiconductor device, comprising: a base layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and having, on the second surface, an external connection pad formed at a pitch corresponding to an electrode terminal of a test board; a plurality of circuit patterns formed to be partially exposed on the surface of the base layer and rearranged at a pitch corresponding to the external connection pad; a plurality of electrode patterns formed on the first surface to be electrically connected to the circuit patterns and an external connection terminal of a semiconductor device, and arranged at a pitch corresponding to the external connection terminal; and an elastic layer covering the electrode patterns such that the electrode patterns are partially exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MICRO FRIEND CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yong Ho Cho, Sang Hee Park
  • Patent number: 11209463
    Abstract: A probe card for a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises a probe head housing a plurality of contact probes, each contact probe having at least one contact tip adapted to abut onto contact pads of a device under test, as well as a main support and an intermediate support connected to the main support and adapted to realize a spatial transformation of distances between contact pads on its opposite faces as a space transformer, the probe card suitably also comprising at least one connecting element adapted to link the space transformer and the main support, this connecting element having a substantially rod-like body and being equipped with a first end portion comprising at least one terminal section adapted to be engaged in a corresponding housing realized in the space transformer and with a second terminal portion adapted to abut onto an abutment element linked to the main support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Technoprobe S.p.A.
    Inventor: Riccardo Liberini
  • Patent number: 11175312
    Abstract: A staggered probe card and a conductive probe are provided. The staggered probe card includes an upper guide board, a lower guide board spaced apart from the upper guide board, and a plurality of conductive probes arranged in rows and passing through the upper and lower guide boards. Each of the conductive probes has an elongated structure defining a longitudinal direction, and includes a bottom surface and two long side surfaces respectively connected to two edges of the bottom surface. A distance between the two long side surfaces gradually decreases in a tapering direction that extends away from the bottom surface. In two of the rows of the conductive probes adjacent to each other, any two long side surfaces respectively belonging to the two adjacent rows and arranged adjacent to each other have a lateral interval along a direction that is non-parallel to the arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CHUNGHWA PRECISION TEST TECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Chieh Hsieh, Hsiao-Kang Li, Ying-Ming Tiao, Wei-Jhih Su
  • Patent number: 11162980
    Abstract: A probe card in an automated test equipment (ATE) is disclosed. The probe card may be a portion of a vertical-type probe card assembly in which pads on a circuit board are contacted by probe pins, with vertical vias in the circuit board interconnecting various conductive elements. Disclosed herein is a probe card having ground vias in a coaxial arrangement around a signal via that provide electromagnetic shielding to a signal via to reduce crosstalk between adjacent signal vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Brecht
  • Patent number: 11163000
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plate-shaped connection system for the connection of two test units, such as for example a testing device (tester) and a handling device (handler). The handling device serves for the feeding of semiconductor elements to the tester of a test system, for the testing of such semiconductor elements. The plate-shaped connection system comprises a master frame and an insert frame. The master frame is designed for connection with a first of the two test units and one or more docking elements are provided for releasable connection with the other second test unit. The insert frame is designed that it may be connected to the master frame. The insert frame extends inwards from an inner edge of the master frame, wherein the insert frame has mounting elements for the mounting of a test board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Turbodynamics GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Thurmaier
  • Patent number: 11099227
    Abstract: Included are an insulating plate 41 including a plurality of insulating synthetic resin layers, wiring circuits 44a, 44b, and 44c provided in the insulating plate 41, a thin-film resistor 46 formed to be buried in the insulating plate 41 and electrically connected to the wiring circuits 44a, 44b, and 44c, a heat dissipating portion 47 provided over one surface of the insulating plate to be opposed to the thin-film resistor 46 via a part of the plurality of insulating synthetic resin layers and having higher heat conductivity than that of the insulating plate 41, a pedestal portion 48 formed to be buried in the insulating plate 41 and provided to be opposed to the thin-film resistor 46 via a part of the plurality of insulating synthetic resin layers on an opposite side of the heat dissipating portion 47 and having higher heat conductivity than that of the insulating plate 41, and a heat dissipation and pedestal connecting portion 49 connecting the heat dissipating portion 47 to the pedestal portion 48 and havi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Noboru Otabe, Yoshiyuki Fukami
  • Patent number: 11099234
    Abstract: A method for loading a probe card into a prober is provided. The method includes placing a probe card on a carrier plate and analyzing signals produced by two detection sensors. The detection sensor produces the correct signal when the probe card is placed in a normal state, and produces a false signal when the probe card is placed in an abnormal state. In addition, the method includes sending the probe card into the prober in response to the correct signals produced by both detection sensors. Alternatively, the method includes removing the probe card from the carrier plate and placing the probe card on the carrier plate again after adjustment of the probe card in response to a false signal produced by either of the detection sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chia-Wei Wang, Wei-Jr Yang, Chien-Fang Huang
  • Patent number: 11094862
    Abstract: A bonding method of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes steps of forming a plurality of holes on two bonding parts of a main substrate, respectively; disposing a semiconductor device on the main substrate, and aligning the two bonding parts with two conduction parts of the semiconductor device; aligning a laser to the conduction parts and operating the laser to emit a laser beam from a lower part of the main substrate, wherein the laser beam passes through the holes of the bonding part to strike on the conduction part, so as to melt each conduction part to bond with the bonding part. With configuration of the holes, the conduction parts and the bonding part can be smoothly bonded by using laser, so as to achieve the purpose of transferring the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: PRILIT OPTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Biing-Seng Wu, Chao-Wen Wu, Hsing-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11067602
    Abstract: To maintain the horizontalness of a probe card even, if the number of measured DUTs is increased. An electrical connecting apparatus according to the present, disclosure comprises a support member having a lower surface region in which a level part is formed and a wiring board provided adjacent to the lower surface of the support member, and to be connected to a testing device side. The electrical connecting apparatus comprises: a connection unit having multiple connection terminals; a probe substrate electrically connecting multiple probes to the connection terminals; multiple anchors arranged on the upper surface of the probe substrate; and multiple supports functioning as supports between corresponding ones of the anchors and the support member via the wiring board and the connection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA NIHON MICRONICS
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kudo, Takayuki Narumi, Yoshinori Kikuchi, Takao Yasuta
  • Patent number: 11037850
    Abstract: A passivation structure may include a first passivation pattern on an upper surface of a semiconductor chip provided on a semiconductor substrate, and a second passivation pattern arranged on a scribe lane of the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the semiconductor chip. The second passivation pattern is spaced apart from the first passivation pattern to form a crack-blocking groove between the second passivation pattern and the first passivation pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Joo-Young Oh
  • Patent number: 10962569
    Abstract: Provided are a probe that enables control of a bending direction and can be simply manufactured, an inspection jig using the probe, an inspection device, and a method of manufacturing the probe. A probe has a substantially bar-like shape extending linearly and includes: a tip end portion, a body portion continuous with the tip end portion Pa; and a base end portion continuous with the body portion. The body portion includes a first connection region having a thickness in a thickness direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the bar-like shape that gradually decreases away from the tip end portion, and a second connection region having a thickness that gradually decreases away from the base end portion. A dimension of the body portion in a width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction is larger than dimensions of the tip end portion and the base end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignees: Nidec-Read Corporation, SV Probe Technology Taiwan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Kaida, Huei Che Yu
  • Patent number: 10939554
    Abstract: A circuit board assembly allowing a higher population density of electronic components on the board includes a first circuit board, a second circuit board, and an interposer electrically connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board. The interposer includes a substrate sandwiched between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the substrate includes a first surface facing the first circuit board, a second surface facing the second circuit board, and a lateral surface connecting the first circuit board and the second circuit board. It is the lateral surface which carries a test pad, allowing all testing of components to be done on the test pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Xiang Liu
  • Patent number: 10914756
    Abstract: A miniature probe for measuring small voltage signals of a DUT includes a probe body having a flexible substrate and signal transmission lines running a longitudinally, and a first probe connection circuit located at a first end of the probe body and including exposed wires, SMT components coupled between the exposed wires and the signal transmission lines, respectively, and a local mechanical stiffener mounted adjacent the SMT components. The wires are connectable to the DUT for receiving the voltage signals. The probe further includes a second probe connection circuit located at a second end of the probe body, and including transmission line connectors coupled to the signal transmission lines, respectively, and a bent portion of the flexible substrate between the probe body and the transmission line connectors. The bent portion enables the transmission line connectors to exit the probe substantially axially, relative to the longitudinal length of the probe body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Andrew Swaim, Daniel A. Garcia, Michael Thomas McTigue
  • Patent number: 10908180
    Abstract: Disclosed is a probe card ease for accommodating a probe card. The probe card case includes: a first case member configured to mount the probe card at a predetermined position therein; a second case member configured to be fitted to a top side of the first case member, and including a card fixing mechanism for fixing the probe card; and a case fixing mechanism configured to fix the first case member and the second case member. The probe card is capable of being transferred in a state where the probe card is accommodated in the probe card case and the first case member and the second case member are fixed, and the probe card is capable of being transferred only with the second case member in a state where the probe card is fixed to the second case member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN ELECTRONIC MATERIALS CORP.
    Inventors: Chikaomi Mori, Takashi Amemiya
  • Patent number: 10892142
    Abstract: A system for fabricating a semiconductor device may include a chamber, an electrostatic chuck used to load a substrate, a power source supplying an RF power to the electrostatic chuck, an impedance matcher between the power source and the electrostatic chuck, and a power transmission unit connecting the electrostatic chuck to the impedance matcher. The power transmission unit may include a power rod, which is connected to the electrostatic chuck and has a first outer diameter, and a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable may include an inner wire, an outer wire, and a dielectric material between the outer and inner wires. The inner wire connects the power rod to the impedance matcher and has a second outer diameter less than the first outer diameter. The outer wire is connected to the chamber and is provided to enclose the inner wire and has a first inner diameter less than the first outer diameter and greater than the second outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sangjean Jeon, Jinyoung Park, Chanhoon Park, Hoyong Park, Jin Young Bang, JungHwan Um, Il Sup Choi, Je-Woo Han
  • Patent number: 10845385
    Abstract: A probe card device is provided, and includes a plurality of conductive probes and a flat signal transfer structure that includes a transfer plate and a retaining cover. The transfer plate has a first surface and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The transfer plate includes a receiving slot recessed from the first surface and a plurality of signal circuits each having a signal contact arranged at a bottom of the receiving slot. A portion of the transfer plate arranged around and adjacent to the receiving slot is defined as a supporting portion. The retaining cover has a plurality of thru-holes and is disposed on the supporting portion. The retaining cover and the receiving slot of the transfer plate jointly and surroundingly define a receiving space, and the signal contacts of the transfer plate are arranged in the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CHUNGHWA PRECISION TEST TECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wen-Tsung Lee, Kai-Chieh Hsieh, Wei-Jhih Su
  • Patent number: 10832921
    Abstract: An electronic device and a manufacturing method thereof. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide an electronic device having a top side pin array, for example which may be utilized for three-dimensional stacking, and a method for manufacturing such an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: AMKOR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Devarajan Balaraman, Daniel Richter, Greg Hames, Dean Zehnder, Glenn Rinne
  • Patent number: 10775416
    Abstract: A method for producing a contact spacing converter space transformer) which has electrical contacts that form electrical paths and in which a first contact spacing of the contacts is converted into a comparatively different, second contact spacing of the electrical contacts including producing at least one base part from each of at least some of the electrical contacts. At least a section of the base part is produced from plastic. The method subsequently includes metallization of at least the section of the base part that is produced from plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FEINMETALL GMBH
    Inventors: Christian König, Jörg Burgold, Gunther Böhm, Wolfgang Schäfer
  • Patent number: 10761113
    Abstract: A probe card for a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises at least one testing head housing a plurality of contact probes, each contact probe having at least one contact tip abutting onto contact pads of a device under test, as well as at least one space transformer realizing a spatial transformation of the distances between contact pads made on its opposite sides and connected by means of suitable conductive tracks or planes, as well as a plurality of filtering capacitors provided between the space transformer and a PCB, which comprises direct conductive tracks or planes contacting conductive portions of the filtering capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TECHNOPROBE S.P.A.
    Inventor: Flavio Maggioni
  • Patent number: 10750617
    Abstract: A method of assembling a fully detachable microcircuit starts with obtaining a fabricated microcircuit housing with an upper surface, a lower surface, a first recess in the upper surface, a second recess in the lower surface, and a pin on the lower surface. A thermal layer is applied to the lower surface. A conductive elastomer signal pin connector and a ground pin connector are attached to a thin film circuit, and the thin film circuit with is inserted into the second recess with the conductive elastomer signal pin connector and the ground pin connector attached. A bonding target is applied to the upper surface. The bonding target and the microcircuit are connected with a bond wire. The microcircuit housing is screwed to a printed circuit assembly without bonding the microcircuit housing to the printed circuit assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Harriman, Ryan Michael Avella, Leonard M. Weber, Brian R. Hutchison, Naveed Edalati, David Massie, Rodrik Jon Lund, Connie Van Schaick
  • Patent number: 10718791
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a probe assembly and a probe structure thereof. The probe structure includes a first base part, a second base part, a connecting part, and a contacting part. The first base part includes a first contacting segment and a first connecting segment. The first contacting segment includes a first abutting portion and a first side end portion connected to the first abutting portion. The second base part includes a second contacting segment, a second connecting segment, and a passive component disposed between the second contacting segment and the second connecting segment. The second contacting segment includes a second abutting portion and a second side end portion connected to the second abutting portion. The first connecting segment and the second connecting segment are connected to the connection part. The contacting portion is connected to the connection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CHUNGHWA PRECISION TEST TECH. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Chieh Hsieh, Yuan-Chiang Teng, Jian-Wei Li
  • Patent number: 10705122
    Abstract: Provided is a probe card with which the adjustment of height deviations of needle tip parts of probes and the adjustment of parallelism between the probes and an object to be inspected are simplified. The probe card 1 has: a wiring substrate 2 having wiring 4 therein or on a surface thereof or the like; a plurality of probes 3; and a dielectric film 6. The dielectric film 6 is disposed to be spaced a distance away from a main surface 8 of the wiring substrate 2 at a position spaced away further from the wiring substrate 2 than the needle tip parts 13 of the probes 3, so that one surface 21 of the dielectric film 6 faces the needle tip parts 13 and faces the main surface 8 that is a probe installation surface of the wiring substrate 2. The probe card 1 configures a state in which the needle tip parts 13 face an electrode of an object to be inspected with the dielectric film 6 interposed between the probe card 1 and the needle tip parts 13, during an inspection of the object to be inspected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nihon Micronics
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Fukami, Hidehiro Kiyofuji, Noboru Otabe
  • Patent number: 10679969
    Abstract: An electronic circuit device includes a first electronic component having a set of first terminals disposed at a first pitch on a first surface, and a second electronic component having a set of second terminals disposed at a second pitch on a second surface facing the first surface of the first electronic component. The second pitch of the second terminals is set larger than the first pitch of the first terminals. By doing so, each of the second terminals is connected to at least one of the first terminals if a positional misalignment occurs. As a result, the electronic circuit device has an increased tolerance for positional misalignment between the first electronic component and the second electronic component and reduces the occurrence of connection failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Shoichi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 10557868
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wafer inspection device that can perform accurate inspection. The wafer inspection device includes a probe card having a plurality of contact probes formed to protrude toward a wafer W, a chuck top on which the wafer W is mounted and configured to move toward the probe card, and an aligner configured to adjust inclination of the chuck top relative to the probe card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10514393
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a gimbal assembly test system including: a protective cover affixed to a test surface of a wafer probe card mounted within a gimbal bearing, wherein the protective cover includes an exterior surface oriented outward from the test surface of the wafer probe card; and a recess extending into the exterior surface of the protective cover and shaped to matingly engage a load cell tip therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: David L. Gardell, David M. Audette, Peter W. Neff
  • Patent number: 10514392
    Abstract: Provided are improved manufacturing methods of semiconductor devices, probe cards, test apparatuses including the probe card, and methods for manufacturing probe cards. The probe card includes a circuit board, a support located under the circuit board, and a plurality of probe needles located on a bottom surface of the support. Each of the probe needles has a tip configured to contact a side surface of a bump included in a test target. The support may include a stress absorption layer located on a bottom surface to which the probe needles are connected. Manufacturing of semiconductor devices may comprise forming elongated conductive bumps on a body of a semiconductor device, testing the semiconductor device by contacting tips of the probe needles to sides surfaces of the bumps and packaging of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Min-woo Rhee, Duke Kimm, Jae-hong Kim, Ji-nyeong Yun, In-kyu Park, Jun-bo Yoon, Dong-uk Kwon, Seung-hwan Kim, Chang-keun Kim, Yong-hoon Yoon
  • Patent number: 10510574
    Abstract: Abbe error that needs to be considered in high accuracy positioning of a device to be maintained, is suppressed. A prober includes: a plurality of measurement sections arranged between a conveyance area and a maintenance area, each of the measurement sections having a device to be maintained which is used for inspection of a semiconductor element formed on a wafer, and a draw-out mechanism configured to draw out the device to be maintained to a side of the maintenance area; a conveyance unit configured to convey an object to be conveyed to a destination measurement section; and a loading part configured to load the object to be conveyed from the side of the maintenance area to the measurement section. The object to be conveyed is loadable into the measurement section from a conveyance area side and the maintenance area side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroo Tamura
  • Patent number: 10479676
    Abstract: A method for a MEMS device includes receiving a diced wafer having a plurality devices disposed upon an adhesive substrate and having an associated known good device data, removing a first set of devices from the plurality of devices from the adhesive substrate in response to the known good device data, picking and placing a first set of the devices into a plurality of sockets within a testing platform, testing the first set of integrated devices includes while physically stressing the first set of devices, providing electrical power to the first set of devices and receiving electrical response data from the first set of devices, determining a second set of devices from the first set of devices, in response to the electrical response data, picking and placing the second set of devices into a transport tape media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: mCube, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Lee, Ming Hong Kuo, Wen-Chih Chen, Wensen Tsai
  • Patent number: 10429439
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing a die can comprise a first printed circuit board (PCB), a space transformer, and a plurality of probes. The first PCB can be configured to connect to a second PCB. The space transformer can be attached to the PCB. The space transformer can include a plurality of traces. Each of the plurality of probes can be connected to one of the plurality of traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dae-Woo Kim, J. Daniel Bryan, Joseph W. Parks, Jr., Ethan Caughey, Mark W. Dryfuse
  • Patent number: 10312623
    Abstract: Spring-loaded contacts having an improved reliability. One example may provide spring-loaded contacts having a reduced likelihood of entanglement between a spring and a plunger. For example, a piston may be placed between a plunger and a spring. The piston may have a head portion that is wider than the diameter of the spring and located between the spring and the plunger to isolate the spring and the plunger. In these and other examples, an additional object, such as a sphere, may be placed between the plunger and spring. In another example, two additional objects, such as two spheres, may be placed between a plunger and piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Min Chul Kim, John C. DiFonzo