IP Library Granted Patent US 8,232,816
Granted Patent B2
US 8,232,816 · App. 11/641,255 · Granted Jul 31, 2012

Probe head with machine mounting pads and method of forming same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,232,816
App. No.
11/641,255
Granted
Jul 31, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A probe head for testing semiconductor wafers has a probe contactor substrate have a first side and a second side. A plurality of probe contactor tips are coupled to the first side and the plurality of tips lie in a first plane. A plurality of mounting structures are coupled to the second side with each of the mounting structures each having a top surface lying in a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane.

Claims (33)

1. A probe head for testing semiconductor wafers, comprising:

a probe contactor substrate having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of probe contactor tips coupled to the bottom side, the plurality of probe contactor tips lying substantially in a first plane; and

a plurality of mounting structures on the top side, each mounting structure having an upper surface planarized such that each upper surface lies substantially in a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane, and each upper surface is adapted to be attached to a probe contactor substrate support structure.

2. The probe head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting structures are lithographically plated to the probe contactor substrate.

3. The probe head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting structures include at least one recessed portion adapted for receiving one of an adhesive or a solder.

4. The probe head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mounting structures are metal.

5. The probe head of claim 1 , wherein the probe contactor substrate is of non-uniform thickness.

6. The probe head of claim 1 , wherein the first plane is less than 10 μm from parallel of the second plane.

7. A probe card assembly, comprising:

a wiring board;

a probe contactor substrate having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of probe contactor tips coupled to the bottom side, the plurality of probe contactor tips lying substantially in a first plane; and

a plurality of mounting structures on the top side, each mounting structure having an upper surface planarized such that each upper surface lies substantially in a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane, and each upper surface is adapted to be coupled to the wiring board.

8. The probe card assembly of claim 7 , further including an interposer coupled between the probe contactor substrate and the wiring board.

9. The probe card assembly of claim 7 , further including at least one post coupled between the wiring board and at least on of the plurality of mounting structures, wherein the post is adhesively bonded to the at least one of the plurality of mounting structures.

10. The probe card assembly of claim 9 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of mounting structures has a recessed portion adapted to receive one of an adhesive or a solder.

11. The probe card assembly of claim 10 , wherein the recessed portion is an adhesive well.

12. The probe card assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first plane is less than 10 μm from parallel of the second plane.

13. The probe card assembly of claim 7 , wherein the probe contactor substrate is of non-uniform thickness.

14. The probe card assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of mounting structures are lithographically plated to the probe contactor substrate.

15. The probe card assembly of claim 7 , further including a clamp coupled to at least one of the plurality of mounting structures, the clamp at least partially securing the wiring board to the at least one mounting structure.

16. A probe head for testing semiconductor wafers, comprising:

a probe contactor substrate having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of probe contactors, the plurality of the probe contactors each having a base and a tip, the plurality of bases being coupled to the bottom side of the probe contactor substrate, and the plurality of tips lying substantially in a first plane; and

at least three mounting structures lithographically plated on the top side of the probe contactor substrate, each mounting structure having an upper surface planarized such that each upper surface lies substantially in a second plane, wherein the first plane of the tips is substantially parallel to the second plane of the upper surfaces, and each upper surface is adapted to be attached to a probe contactor substrate support.

17. The probe head of claim 16 , wherein the first plane is less than 10 μm from parallel of the second plane.

18. A probe head for testing semiconductor wafers, comprising:

a plurality of probe contactor substrates each having a top side and a bottom side;

a plurality of probe contactor tips coupled to each bottom side, the plurality of probe contactor tips lying substantially in a first plane;

a plurality of mounting structures on each top side, each mounting structure having an upper surface planarized such that each upper surface lies substantially in a second plane, wherein the first plane is substantially parallel to the second plane, and each upper surface is adapted to be attached to a support surface of a sub-mounting structure; and

the sub-mounting structure is adapted to be attached to a probe contactor substrate support.

19. The probe head of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of mounting structures are lithographically plated to the plurality of probe contactor substrates.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2025
From: FORMFACTOR, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072263/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2021
From: ADVANTEST AMERICA, INC.
To: FORMFACTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 057219/0246 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 17, 2012
From: VERIGY US, INC
To: ADVANTEST AMERICA, INC
Reel/Frame 028054/0852 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2012
From: TOUCHDOWN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: VERIGY US, INC.
Reel/Frame 027906/0497 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2009
From: LAKE ACQUISITION, INC.
To: TOUCHDOWN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 023003/0771 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2009
From: TOUCHDOWN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: LAKE ACQUISITION, INC.
Reel/Frame 022868/0913 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2009
From: MERITECH CAPITAL PARTNERS III L.P.; MERITECH CAPITAL AFFILIATES III L.P.; FIRSTMARK III, L.P.; FIRSTMARK III OFFSHORE PARTNERS, L.P.; ADAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT II, L.P.; ADAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT III, L.P.; CHANCELLOR V, L.P.; CHANCELLOR V-A, L.P.; CITIVENTURE 2000, L.P.; E-INVEST LIMITED; FALCON FUND; THE ROBERT AND ANNE POCHOWSKI LIVING TRUST DATED MAY 5, 1999; FORT WASHINGTON PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS IV, L.P.; KENTUCKY CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; J.F. SHEA CO., AS NOMINEE 2000-129; 3VS1 ASIA GROWTH FUND LTD.
To: TOUCHDOWN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 022824/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2009
From: TOUCHDOWN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MERITECH CAPITAL PARTNERS III L.P.; MERITECH CAPITAL AFFILIATES III L.P.; FIRSTMARK III, L.P.; FIRSTMARK III OFFSHORE PARTNERS, L.P.; ADAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT II, L.P.; ADAMS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT III, L.P.; CHANCELLOR V, L.P.; CHANCELLOR V-A, L.P.; CITIVENTURE 2000, L.P.; E-INVEST LIMITED; FALCON FUND; THE ROBERT AND ANNE POCHOWSKI LIVING TRUST DATED MAY 5, 1999; FORT WASHINGTON PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTORS IV, L.P.; KENTUCKY CO-INVESTMENT PARTNERS, L.P.; J.F. SHEA CO., AS NOMINEE 2000-129; 3VS1 ASIA GROWTH FUND LTD.
Reel/Frame 022619/0478 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2006
From: ISMAIL, SALLEH; GARABEDIAN, RAFFI; WANG, STEVEN
To: TOUCHDOWN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 018728/0774 →