Probe card identification for computer aided manufacturing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for identifying probe cards, including a prober which accepts a number of interchangeable probe cards, comprising:
- a probe card carrying a transponder tag;
a magnetic coupling antenna supported above the probe card when the magnetic coupling antenna is in use, wherein the magnetic coupling antenna comprises a coil of wire wound onto an armature, shaped as a partial toroid, having two ends and a gap between the two ends, the transponder tag being substantially located within a magnetic field generated by the magnetic coupling antenna; and
circuitry connected to the magnetic coupling antenna for receiving signals emitted by the transponder tag, for deriving data therefrom, and for communicating the data to a central computer which holds information on the probe cards in a memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for identifying probe cards including a prober which accepts a number of interchangeable probe cards, each carrying a transponder tag; a magnetic coupling antenna supported above the probe card when it is in use, the transponder tag being substantially located within a magnetic field generated by the magnetic coupling antenna; and circuitry connected to the magnetic coupling antenna for receiving signals emitted by the transponder tag, for deriving data therefrom, and for communicating the data to a central computer which holds information on the probe cards in a memory.
31 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for identifying probe cards, including a prober which accepts a number of interchangeable probe cards, comprising:
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a probe card carrying a transponder tag; a magnetic coupling antenna supported above the probe card when the magnetic coupling antenna is in use, wherein the magnetic coupling antenna comprises a coil of wire wound onto an armature, shaped as a partial toroid, having two ends and a gap between the two ends, the transponder tag being substantially located within a magnetic field generated by the magnetic coupling antenna; and circuitry connected to the magnetic coupling antenna for receiving signals emitted by the transponder tag, for deriving data therefrom, and for communicating the data to a central computer which holds information on the probe cards in a memory.
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2. A system for identifying probe cards, including a prober which accepts a number of interchangeable probe cards, comprising:
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a probe card carrying a transponder tag; a magnetic coupling antenna supported above the probe card when the magnetic coupling antenna is in use, the transponder tag being substantially located within a magnetic field generated by the magnetic coupling antenna; and a sprung contact ring, held vertically above the probe card, the magnetic coupling antenna being retained within a magnetically inert carrier, supported in a hole in the sprung contact ring; and circuitry connected to the magnetic coupling antenna for receiving signals emitted by the transponder tag, for deriving data therefrom, and for communicating the data to a central computer which holds information on the probe cards in a memory. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. An identification system comprising:
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a magnetic coupling antenna mounted within a prober, wherein said magnetic coupling antenna comprises a coil of wire wound onto an armature shaped as a partial toroid having two ends and a gap between the two ends, and a probe card including a transponder tag, wherein when said probe card is mounted within said prober, said transponder is substantially located between said two ends of said magnetic coupling antenna, and said magnetic coupling antenna receives identification information from said transponder tag.
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5. An identification system comprising:
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a magnetic coupling antenna mounted within a prober; a probe card including a transponder tag, wherein when said probe card is mounted within said prober, said magnetic coupling antenna receives identification information from said transponder tag and wherein said prober accepts a plurality of interchangeable probe cards, each transponder tag of said plurality of probe cards having different identification information; and a computer means for processing said identification information. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. An identification system comprising:
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a magnetic coupling antenna mounted within a prober wherein said magnetic coupling antenna is housed within a non-magnetic carrier mounted within a sprung contact ring of said prober; and a probe card including a transponder tag, wherein when said probe card is mounted within said prober and said magnetic coupling antenna receives identification information from said transponder tag.
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8. A method for identifying each of a plurality of interchangeable probe cards used in a prober, the method comprising:
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programming each of a plurality of transponder tags with identification information; affixing one of said plurality of transponder tags to each of said probe cards; mounting one of said probe cards within said prober; and magnetically reading said identification information from said probe card. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system for identifying each of a plurality of interchangeable probe cards used in a prober, the system comprising:
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means, affixed to each of said probe cards, for transmitting identification information in a magnetic form; means for receiving said identification information; means for processing said identification information; and means for transferring said identification information from said means for receiving to said means for processing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of increasing the reliability of a prober which uses a plurality of interchangeable probe cards, the method comprising:
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programming each of said probe cards with magnetic identification information; reading said magnetic identification information from a probe card currently in use. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification