Patent · US Expired

Probing method and device

US5559446A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
6References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 18, 1994
Grant dateSep 24, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 18, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/4913
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A probing device for inspecting semiconductor devices such as IC chips includes a mounting section for supporting a silicon substrate wafer (i.e., an object to be inspected), a moving section for moving a probe card in such a way that contacts formed on a surface of the probe card can be pushed against electrode pads formed on the wafer, and a measuring section. The probe card is formed by joining a silicon nitride (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4) thin film (whose thermal expansion coefficient is roughly equal to that of the silicon wafer) to a lower surface of a wiring substrate. The wiring substrate is composed of a polyamide thin film (as an insulating layer) and conductive layers (as conductive signal line paths) formed in and on both the surfaces of the polyamide thin film. Further, bumps (contacts) are arranged on the lower surface of the silicon nitride thin film. A plurality of through holes are formed penetrating from the upper surface of the wiring substrate to the lower surface of the silicon nitride film at an area outside the bump arrangement region. These through holes mechanically connect the silicon nitride thin film to the wiring substrate and further electrically connect the bu…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.