Replaceable insulator collars for semiconductor test systems

1 . A removable signal probe collar for mounting a signal probe to a contactor, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical substrate having a cylinder axis;

a hole in the substantially cylindrical substrate aligned with the cylinder axis;

a probe aperture; and

a retention structure configured to maintain the removable signal probe collar in the contactor, wherein the retention structure is selected from the group consisting of a snap-in retention structure, a screw-in retention structure and a press fit retention structure.

2 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 1 , wherein the probe aperture is configured to align the signal probe within the probe aperture.

3 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical substrate has a height of between about 0.4 millimeters and about 1.5 millimeters.

4 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 1 , wherein the retention structure comprises a spring retention feature including a retention hook.

5 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 4 , wherein the spring retention feature is aligned substantially parallel to the cylinder axis.

6 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 4 , wherein the spring retention feature includes a surface that is back cut to substantially prevent the spring retention feature from binding the signal probe when the spring retention feature is partially deflected.

7 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical substrate comprises a slot substantially aligned with the cylinder axis, the slot dividing the substantially cylindrical substrate into a first slot portion and a second slot portion.

8 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 7 , wherein the first slot portion comprises a first retention structure and the second slot portion comprises a second retention structure.

9 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 1 , further comprising an outer surface including a groove encircling the substantially cylindrical substrate.

10 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical substrate comprises a compressible material.

11 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 10 , wherein the compressible material has an elastic modulus of between about 2000 MPa and about 3300 MPa.

12 . The removable signal probe collar of claim 10 , wherein the compressible material has a dielectric constant of between about 3 and about 4 at 10 GHz.

13 . A contactor comprising:

a metal substrate having a probe hole;

a first removable signal probe collar located in the probe hole, the first removable signal probe collar having a first removable signal probe collar hole;

a second removable signal probe collar located in the probe hole, the second removable signal probe collar having a second removable signal probe collar hole;

a signal probe inserted into the first removable signal probe collar hole and into the second removable signal probe collar hole; and

wherein the first removable signal probe collar comprises a retention structure configured to maintain the first removable signal probe collar in the contactor, wherein the retention structure is selected from the group consisting of a snap-in retention structure, a screw-in retention structure and a press fit retention structure.

14 . The contactor of claim 13 , wherein the probe hole includes a first finger structure to enable snap-in of the first removable signal probe collar in the probe hole and a second finger structure to enable snap-in of the second removable signal probe collar in the probe hole.

15 . The contactor of claim 14 , wherein the first removable signal probe collar comprises a substantially cylindrical substrate having a cylinder axis, the substantially cylindrical substrate having a hole substantially aligned with the cylinder axis.

16 . The contactor of claim 15 , wherein the substantially cylindrical substrate has an outer surface including a groove encircling the substantially cylindrical substrate.

17 . The contactor of claim 16 , wherein the groove is configured to snap-in and substantially lock the first removable signal probe collar to the first finger structure.

18 . A method for retrofitting a contactor, the method comprising:

removing an original equipment signal probe and any insulating material from the contactor;

inserting a removable signal probe collar into the contactor; and

inserting a signal probe into the contactor, the signal probe having an impedance, and the removable signal probe collar to tune the impedance.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein inserting the removable signal probe collar into the contactor comprises inserting a snap-in removable signal probe collar into the contactor.