Chuck with integrated wafer support
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe station comprising:
- (a) a chamber that at least partially encloses a chuck assembly therein;
(b) said chuck assembly having an upper surface thereon suitable to support a wafer thereon;
(c) a plurality of members located within a periphery of said chuck assembly suitable to support said wafer;
(d) said members moveable with respect to said upper surface so as to be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to said upper surface;
(e) said chuck assembly movable from a location completely within said chamber to a location at least partially outside said chamber, a range of vertical movement of at least one of said members relative to said upper surface variable as a consequence of said position of said chuck relative to said chamber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved chuck assembly with lift pins. The chuck assembly may have an outer periphery and an upper surface. The lift pins may be positioned within the periphery of the chuck assembly and may be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to the upper surface of the chuck assembly.
865 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A probe station comprising:
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(a) a chamber that at least partially encloses a chuck assembly therein; (b) said chuck assembly having an upper surface thereon suitable to support a wafer thereon; (c) a plurality of members located within a periphery of said chuck assembly suitable to support said wafer; (d) said members moveable with respect to said upper surface so as to be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to said upper surface; (e) said chuck assembly movable from a location completely within said chamber to a location at least partially outside said chamber, a range of vertical movement of at least one of said members relative to said upper surface variable as a consequence of said position of said chuck relative to said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A chuck assembly comprising:
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(a) said chuck assembly having an upper surface thereon suitable to support a wafer thereon; (b) a plurality of members located within the periphery of said chuck assembly suitable to support said wafer; (c) said members moveable with respect to said upper surface so as to be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to said upper surface; (d) said chuck assembly inhibited from lateral movement as a consequence of full extension of said plurality of members. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A chuck assembly comprising:
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(a) said chuck assembly having an upper surface thereon suitable to support a wafer thereon; (b) a plurality of members located within the periphery of said chuck assembly suitable to support said wafer; (c) said members moveable with respect to said upper surface so as to be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to said upper surface; (d) increasing a vacuum provided to said upper surface as a result of decreasing the extension of said plurality of members, where said plurality of members are not substantially even with said upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A chuck assembly comprising:
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(a) said chuck assembly having an upper surface thereon suitable to support a wafer thereon; (b) a plurality of members located within the periphery of said chuck assembly suitable to support said wafer; (c) said members moveable with respect to said upper surface so as to be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to said upper surface; (d) said chuck assembly inhibited from lateral movement as a consequence of displacement of said plurality of members to a first height above said upper surface and freed from being inhibited as a consequence of displacement of said plurality of members to a second height above said upper surface, wherein said first height is greater than said second height.
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19. A chuck assembly comprising:
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(a) said chuck assembly having an upper surface thereon suitable to support a wafer thereon; (b) a plurality of members located within the periphery of said chuck assembly suitable to support said wafer; (c) said members moveable with respect to said upper surface so as to be capable of relative vertical movement with respect to said upper surface; (d) said chuck assembly inhibited from relative movement of said members to a position above said upper surface when said chuck assembly is in a position suitable for probing said wafer.
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Specification