Patent · US Expired

Probe tile and platform for large area wafer probing

US6201402A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
9References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 1998
Grant dateMar 13, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 10, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R1/07342
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system and method for a plurality of probe tiles and a probe platform for electrically probing a semiconductor wafer over a broad area of the semiconductor wafer. Nine ceramic tiles are configured in a flat three by three matrix, and are held in place by a probing platform. Each tile may be moved independently in an X and Y direction. The probe platform has three control knobs on the side to move a tile in the X direction and three control knobs on the front to move a tile in the Y direction. The control knobs are attached to transmission shafts which slide back and forth into three ball detent positions. The ball detent positions determine which tile is engaged and can be manipulated. The ceramic tiles hold self-aligning tungsten probe tips to permit semiconductor wafer testing over a wide temperature range.

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