Probe card test apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A system for analyzing properties of a probe card, the system comprising:
- a wafer prober in which the probe card is placed;
switch electronics electrically connected to the probe card;
a measurement unit electrically connected to the switch electronics, wherein the measurement unit comprises a 4-wire resistance meter that performs measurements through four measurement rails, and wherein the measurement unit through the switch electronics is able to perform measurements of a probe that the switch electronics selects from among a plurality of probes on the probe card; and
a fixture that is held on a wafer stage in the wafer prober and brought into contact with the probe card by the wafer prober.
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Abstract
A probe card analyzer mounts on a probe card in a wafer prober and a use a fixture in the wafer probe and switch electronics in place of an ATE head. Methods of testing can confirm that probe cards are operating within their specifications over large temperature ranges and the mechanical force ranges seen in real manufacturing environments. This reduces the cost and improves the accuracy and speed of analyzing probe cards and improves diagnosing problems with probe cards.
35 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for analyzing properties of a probe card, the system comprising:
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a wafer prober in which the probe card is placed; switch electronics electrically connected to the probe card; a measurement unit electrically connected to the switch electronics, wherein the measurement unit comprises a 4-wire resistance meter that performs measurements through four measurement rails, and wherein the measurement unit through the switch electronics is able to perform measurements of a probe that the switch electronics selects from among a plurality of probes on the probe card; and a fixture that is held on a wafer stage in the wafer prober and brought into contact with the probe card by the wafer prober. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for analyzing properties of a probe card, the system comprising:
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a wafer prober in which the probe card is placed; switch electronics electrically connected to the probe card, wherein the switch electronics comprises a plurality of substantially identical switch matrix cards that are connected to the probe card, and wherein each of the switch matrix cards stores a board ID representing a position of the switch matrix card position on the probe card, the board ID being initialized by software and a single wire connection between adjacent switch matrix cards; a measurement unit electrically connected to the switch electronics, wherein the measurement unit through the switch electronics is able to perform measurements of a probe that the switch electronics selects from among a plurality of probes on the probe card; and a fixture that is held on a wafer stage in the wafer prober and brought into contact with the probe card by the wafer prober.
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20. A system for analyzing properties of a probe card, the system comprising:
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a wafer prober in which the probe card is placed; switch electronics electrically connected to the probe card, wherein the switch electronics comprise one or more switch matrix cards, with each switch matrix card having one or more DUT connectors matching ATE connectors on the probe card, and wherein the switch electronics further comprises one or more daughter card connectors allowing the one or more daughter cards to electrically connect to the one or more switch matrix cards and electrically connect to the DUT connector pins on the one or more switch matrix cards to which those daughter cards are connected; a measurement unit electrically connected to the switch electronics, wherein the measurement unit through the switch electronics is able to perform measurements of a probe that the switch electronics selects from among a plurality of probes on the probe card; and a fixture that is held on a wafer stage in the wafer prober and brought into contact with the probe card by the wafer prober. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A system for diagnostic measurement of a probe card, the system comprising:
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a wafer prober in which the probe card is placed; switch electronics electrically connected to the probe card; a measurement unit electrically connected to the switch electronics, wherein the measurement unit through the switch electronics is able to perform measurements of a probe that the switch electronics selects from among a plurality of probes on the probe card; and a diagnostic probe containing one or more probe tips, the diagnostic probe being mounted on a chuck stage of the wafer prober;
wherein the diagnostic probe can be moved laterally and vertically relative to the probe card to bring the diagnostic probe tip into contact with any desired location on the probe card including probe tips on the probe card, terminals of components on the probe card and electrical contacts on the probe card. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification