IP Library Granted Patent US 8,907,689
Granted Patent B2
US 8,907,689 · App. 12/871,420 · Granted Dec 9, 2014

Probe retention arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,907,689
App. No.
12/871,420
Granted
Dec 9, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A retention arrangement that includes one or more templates for securing and aligning probes for testing a device under test.

Claims (44)

1. A probe retention arrangement for holding one or more probes comprising:

at least two guide plates, wherein each said guide plate comprises at least one opening for disposing said one or more probes;

at least one spacer; and

at least one anti-wicking template disposed between at least two of said guide plates;

wherein said at least one anti-wicking template prevents a potting agent from wicking up and/or down a shaft of each of said one or more probes.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said potting agent comprises epoxy.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 comprising two guide plates.

4. The arrangement of claim 1 comprising two anti-wicking templates.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said template comprises a pliable material.

6. The arrangement of claim 5 wherein said pliable material comprises a polyimide material.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein each said guide plate comprises a compliant material.

8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said compliant material comprises a polyimide material.

9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said arrangement does not comprise a holder at a probe tip level.

10. A retention arrangement for holding one or more probes comprising:

a top plate having openings for said one or more probes;

a bottom plate having openings for said one or more probes;

an anti-wicking template between said top and bottom plates; and

a removable tip holder disposed on said retention arrangement, said removable tip holder comprising openings for holding said one or more probes near one or more probe tips;

wherein said anti-wicking template prevents a potting agent from wicking up and/or down a shaft of each of said one or more probes.

11. The arrangement of claim 10 further comprising a frame positioning said bottom plate relative to said tip holder.

12. The arrangement of claim 10 wherein said top plate and said bottom plate comprise a space therebetween.

13. The arrangement of claim 10 further comprising a potting region between said top plate and said bottom plate for potting the potting agent in said retention arrangement.

14. The arrangement of claim 13 further comprising at least one intermediate plate located in said potting region and having probe guide openings for said one or more probes.

15. A retention arrangement for holding one or more probes comprising:

a top plate having openings for said one or more probes;

a bottom plate having openings for said one or more probes;

an anti-wicking template between said top and bottom plates; and

a tip holder disposed on said retention arrangement, said tip holder comprising openings for holding said one or more probes near tips of said one or more probes; and

a frame positioning said bottom plate relative to said tip holder

wherein said anti-wicking template prevents a potting agent from wicking up and/or down a shaft of each of said one or more probes.

16. The retention arrangement of claim 15 further comprising a potting region between said top plate and said bottom plate for potting the potting agent in said retention arrangement,

17. The retention arrangement of claim 16 further comprising an intermediate plate located in said potting region and having probe guide openings for said probes.

18. The retention arrangement of claim 15 wherein said tip holder is removable.

19. The retention arrangement of claim 15 further comprising a lateral barrier for enclosing said potting agent.

20. A retention arrangement for holding one or more probes comprising:

a top plate having opening for said one or more probes;

a bottom plate having opening for said one or more probes;

an anti-wicking template between said top and bottom plates;

a potting region between said top plate and said bottom plate for potting a potting agent in said retention arrangement; and

at least one intermediate plate located in said potting region and having one or more probe guide openings for said one or more probes;

wherein said anti-wicking template prevents the potting agent from wicking up and/or down a shaft of each of said one or more probes.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a tip holder disposed on said retention arrangement, said tip holder comprising openings for holding said probes near said contacting tips.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising a frame positioning said bottom plate relative to said tip holder.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a lateral barrier for enclosing said potting agent in said potting region.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2025
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FORMFACTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 072853/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS Recorded Jul 12, 2016
From: FORMFACTOR, INC.; ASTRIA SEMICONDUCTOR HOLDINGS, INC.; CASCADE MICROTECH, INC.; MICRO-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 039184/0280 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2010
From: KISTER, JANUARY; SHTARKER, ALEX
To: MICROPROBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 025045/0295 →