Methods for magnetically establishing an electrical connection with a contact of a semiconductor device component

• US 7,032,288 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Ladd, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, RICK KILTAE
• Application Number:
  US10/035,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20020106911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 295/921, 295/93, 298/30, 298/31, 298/32, 298/54, 439 38- 40, 324/760, 335/285
• US Class Current: 29/593
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0416 Connectors, terminals G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2831 Testing of materials or semi-finished products, e.g. semiconductor wafers or substrates G01R31/318511 takes precedence; testing during manufacture H01L22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2863 Contacting devices, e.g. sockets, burn-in boards or mounting fixtures in general G01R1/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3025 Wireless interface with the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/22 Contacts for co-operating by abutting
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/20 for testing or measuring purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49126 Assembling bases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49174 Assembling terminal to elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

An electrical connector configured to nonrigidly apply force to a semiconductor substrate in directions substantially normal to a plane of the semiconductor substrate includes a first member with an electrically conductive element and a first attractive element and a second member that includes a support element and a second attractive element. Attractive forces, such as magnetic attraction, between the first and second attractive elements secure the first and second members of the electrical connector to the semiconductor substrate in a manner that facilitates communication between the electrically conductive element of the first member and one or more semiconductor devices carried upon the semiconductor substrate. The electrical connector may be used in stress testing of semiconductor devices or to otherwise establish an electrical connection between one or more semiconductor devices, a ground, and a power source.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a temporary electrical contact with at least one semiconductor device, comprising:

magnetically drawing at least one of a first member of an electrical connector and a contact that is in electrical communication with at least one semiconductor device toward the other of the first member and the contact to establish a temporary electrical contact between the first member and the contact; and

permitting an electrical current to flow from at least one of the electrical connector and the contact to the other of the contact and the electrical connector as the temporary electrical contact is maintained.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein magnetically drawing is effected in a direction substantially normal to a plane of the contact.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein magnetically drawing is effected in a direction substantially normal to a plane of a substrate upon which the contact is carried.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein magnetically drawing is effected by positioning a second member of the electrical connector opposite the first member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein magnetically drawing is effected by magnetically attracting at least one of the first member and the second member toward at least the other of the first member and the second member.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein magnetically drawing comprises securing the first and second members to a substrate upon which the contact is carried.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein magnetically drawing comprises magnetically securing the first member to the contact.

8. A method for stress testing a plurality of semiconductor devices carried upon a common substrate and in communication with common ground and power contacts, compnsing:

magnetically drawing at least one of a first member of an electrical connector and at least one contact of a ground contact and a power contact toward the other of the first member and the at least one contact to establish and maintain a temporary electrical contact between the first member and the at least one contact; and

permitting an electrical current to flow from at least one of the electrical connector and the contact to the other of the contact and the electrical connector as the temporary electrical contact is maintained.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein magnetically drawing is effected in a direction substantially normal to a plane of the common substrate.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the magnetically drawing nonrigidly biases the first member against the at least one contact.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein magnetically drawing comprises positioning a second member of the electrical connector opposite the substrate from the first member.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member is drawn toward at least the other of the first member and the second member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein magnetically drawing comprises magnetically attracting at least one of the first member and the second member toward at least the other of the first member and the second member.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein magnetically drawing comprises magnetically securing the first member to the at least one contact.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein magnetically drawing comprises securing at least the first member in position relative to the common substrate.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

electrically connecting another first member of another electrical connector to another of the ground contact and the power contact; and

magnetically drawing the another first member toward the another contact.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

applying a substantially constant amount of current to each semiconductor device of the plurality of semiconductor devices through the first member and the another first member.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

heating each of the plurality of semiconductor devices.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein heating comprises cycling a temperature of each of the plurality of semiconductor devices.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein heating comprises varying a temperature of each of the plurality of semiconductor devices.