IP Library Granted Patent US 7,960,981
Granted Patent B2
US 7,960,981 · App. 12/547,118 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Apparatus for obtaining planarity measurements with respect to a probe card analysis system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,960,981
App. No.
12/547,118
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of mitigating the effects of component deflections in a probe card analyzer system may implement three-dimensional comparative optical metrology techniques to model deflection characteristics. An exemplary system and method combine non-bussed electrical planarity measurements with fast optical planarity measurements to produce “effectively loaded” planarity measurements.

Claims (41)

1. A probe card analysis system, comprising:

a probe card;

a probe card fixture supporting the probe card;

a fiducial plate; and

a stage providing relative movement of the probe card and fiducial plate; and

a data processing component executing instructions including:

measuring a planarity of a probe card;

computing planarity effects due to fiducial plate deflection; and probe card fixture deflection; and

calculating a load compensated planarity for said probe card by applying to the measured planarity of the probe card the computed planarity effects due to fiducial plate deflection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the instructions further comprise accounting for planarity effects due to stage deflection and wherein said calculating is further responsive to said accounting.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said accounting comprises utilizing a distance sensor proximate to said stage deflection.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said computing comprises utilizing an optical metrology technique.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said utilizing an optical metrology technique comprises:

acquiring image data of a fiducial on said fiducial plate;

responsive to said acquiring, identifying deflection data values representative of a deflection of said fiducial plate; and

responsive to said identifying, providing correction data values enabling a first order correction of said deflection.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said utilizing an optical metrology technique further comprises:

further identifying rate data values representative of a rate of deflection of said fiducial plate; and

responsive to said further identifying, providing additional correction data values enabling a second order correction of said deflection.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said combining comprises:

obtaining measurements of optical planarity and electrical planarity for said probe card;

measuring fiducial plate deflection at first electrical contact; and

responsive to said obtaining and said measuring, computing a combined deflection value for said probe card and said probe card fixture.

8. A probe card analysis system, comprising:

a probe card;

a probe card fixture supporting the probe card;

a fiducial plate;

an optics assembly obtaining measurements of optical planarity;

a component obtaining measurements of electrical planarity for all non-bussed probes by providing relative movement of the probe card and the fiducial plate; and

a data processing component executing instructions comprising:

identifying fiducial plate deflection at first electrical contact at all non-bussed probe locations;

calculating planarity effects due to fiducial plate deflection and, responsive to said obtaining and said identifying, calculating a load compensated planarity for said probe card by applying to the measured planarity of the probe card the planarity effects due to fiducial plate deflection.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the instructions further comprise acquiring stage deflection measurements at proximal sensor locations and wherein calculating is further responsive to said acquiring.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said stage deflection measurements are assumed to be zero.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said identifying fiducial plate deflection comprises:

selectively positioning an imaging apparatus to acquire optical data at a selected non-bussed probe location;

acquiring said optical data when a non-bussed probe makes contact with said fiducial plate at said selected non-bussed probe location; and

responsive to said acquiring, measuring said fiducial plate deflection at said selected non-bussed probe location.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said identifying fiducial plate deflection further comprises selectively repeating said selectively positioning, said acquiring, and said measuring for a different selected non-bussed probe location.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said identifying fiducial plate deflection comprises computing said fiducial plate deflection as a function of full overtravel plate deflection at a particular probe location and of optical planarity.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said computing comprises utilizing a two dimensional interpolation calculation.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE CHAIN OF TITLE BEFORE THE CONVEYING PARTY ONTO INNOVATION INC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 053117 FRAME: 0623. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 5, 2021
From: STROM, JOHN T; KRAFT, RAYMOND; APPLIED PRECISION, LLC; RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES, INC
To: ONTO INNOVATION INC.
Reel/Frame 057711/0041 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2020
From: RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: ONTO INNOVATION INC.
Reel/Frame 053117/0623 →