System for evaluating probing networks
First Claim
1. An assembly for use in evaluating signal conditions in a probe measurement network, said probe measurement network being of the type having spaced-apart first and second device-probing ends, said assembly comprising:
- (a) a base having an upper face including a dielectric area;
(b) respective first and second conductive planar probing areas located on said upper face in spaced-apart, mutually coplanar relationship to each other, said first and second conductive planar probinq areas being insulated from each other by means of said dielectric area and arranged so that said first and second device-probing ends can be simultaneously placed on said first and second conductive planar probing areas, respectively;
(c) a reference junction; and
(d) a high-frequency transmission structure connecting said first and second conductive planar probing areas to said reference junction such that for each position that said device-probing ends can occupy while on the corresponding areas, a transmission line of substantially constant high-frequency transmission characteristic is provided by said transmission structure between said device-probing ends and said reference junction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interconnect assembly for evaluating a probe measurement network includes a base, respective inner and outer probing areas in mutually coplanar relationship on the upper face of the base, a reference junction, and a high-frequency transmission structure connecting the probing areas and the reference junction so that high-frequency signals can be uniformly transferred therebetween despite, for example, variable positioning of the device-probing ends of the network on the probing areas. A preferred method for evaluating the signal channels of the network includes connecting a reference unit to the reference junction and successively positioning each device-probing end that corresponds to a signal channel of interest on the inner probing area. Because the transmission structure uniformly transfers signals, the relative condition of the signals as they enter or leave each end will substantially match the condition of the signals as measured or presented by the reference unit, thereby enabling calibration of the network in reference to the device-probing ends. The assembly is particularly well-adapted for the evaluation of probe measurement networks of the type used for testing planar microelectronic devices.
84 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An assembly for use in evaluating signal conditions in a probe measurement network, said probe measurement network being of the type having spaced-apart first and second device-probing ends, said assembly comprising:
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(a) a base having an upper face including a dielectric area; (b) respective first and second conductive planar probing areas located on said upper face in spaced-apart, mutually coplanar relationship to each other, said first and second conductive planar probinq areas being insulated from each other by means of said dielectric area and arranged so that said first and second device-probing ends can be simultaneously placed on said first and second conductive planar probing areas, respectively; (c) a reference junction; and (d) a high-frequency transmission structure connecting said first and second conductive planar probing areas to said reference junction such that for each position that said device-probing ends can occupy while on the corresponding areas, a transmission line of substantially constant high-frequency transmission characteristic is provided by said transmission structure between said device-probing ends and said reference junction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification