IP Library Granted Patent US 8,890,558
Granted Patent B2
US 8,890,558 · App. 13/022,861 · Granted Nov 18, 2014

Test head and semiconductor wafer test apparatus comprising same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,890,558
App. No.
13/022,861
Granted
Nov 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Providing a test head capable of suppressing a probe card from bending. The test head 40 comprises: a test head main body 51 having a frame 51 ; an interface apparatus 60 electrically connecting a probe card 20 and the test head main body 50 with each other; and a brake unit 80 positioned between the probe card 20 and the frame 51 to transmit a pressing force F applied to the probe card 20 to the frame 51.

Claims (58)

1. A test head comprising:

a test head main body having a frame; and

an interface apparatus electrically connecting a probe card and the test head main body with each other and a stiffener that reinforces the probe card, wherein

the test head further comprises:

a transmitter positioned between the probe card and the frame and configured to transmit a pressing force applied to the probe card to the frame;

a holding mechanism provided at a top plate of the interface apparatus and configured to hold the probe card; and

a limiter provided at the top plate and configured to limit a movement of the holding mechanism in a direction departing from the probe card reinforced by the stiffener, wherein

the transmitter has:

a contact member being movable relative to either one of the limiter or the frame and contacting other of the limiter or the frame; and

a lock mechanism provided at either one of the limiter or the frame and configured to lock a relative movement of the contact member.

2. The test head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

the holding mechanism grasps a clamp head provided at a center portion of the probe card.

3. The test head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

the top plate has a coupling portion which is to be coupled with a head plate of a prober,

a center of the probe card is nearer to the contact member than the coupling portion with respect to a planar view.

4. The test head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

the transmitter has a biasing member that biases the contact member.

5. The test head as set forth in claim 1 , wherein

the lock mechanism accepts a relative movement of the contact member before the test head main body is positioned relative to a prober, and the lock mechanism locks the relative movement of the contact member after the test head main body is positioned relative to the prober.

6. A test head comprising:

a test head main body having a frame; and

an interface apparatus electrically connecting a probe card and the test head main body with each other and a stiffener that reinforces the probe card, wherein

the test head further comprises:

a holding mechanism provided at a top plate of the interface apparatus and configured to hold the probe card;

a limiter provided at the top plate and configured to limit a movement of the holding mechanism in a direction departing from the probe card reinforced by the stiffener; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a pressing force applied to the probe card to the frame, the transmitter having:

a contact member being movable relative to either one of the top plate or the frame and contacting other of the top plate or the frame; and

a lock mechanism provided at either one of the top plate or the frame and configured to lock a relative movement of the contact member.

7. The test head as set forth in claim 6 , wherein

the holding mechanism grasps a clamp head provided at a center portion of the probe card.

8. The test head as set forth in claim 6 , wherein

the top plate has a coupling portion which is to be coupled with a head plate of a prober,

a center of the probe card is nearer to the contact member than the coupling portion with respect to a planar view.

9. The test head as set forth in claim 6 , wherein

the transmitter has a biasing member that biases the contact member.

10. The test head as set forth in claim 6 , wherein

the lock mechanism accepts a relative movement of the contact member before the test head main body is positioned relative to a prober, and the lock mechanism locks the relative movement of the contact member after the test head main body is positioned relative to the prober.

11. A semiconductor wafer test apparatus comprising:

the test head as set forth in claim 6 ; and

a prober pressing a semiconductor wafer to the probe card.

12. A test head comprising:

a test head main body having a frame; and

an interface apparatus electrically connecting a probe card and the test head main body with each other and a stiffener that reinforces the probe card, wherein

the test head further comprises:

a holding mechanism provided at a top plate of the interface apparatus and configured to hold the probe card;

a limiter provided at the top plate and configured to limit a movement of the holding mechanism in a direction departing from the probe card reinforced by the stiffener; and

a transmitter configured to transmit a pressing force applied to the probe card to the frame, the transmitter having:

a contact member being movable relative to either one of the holding mechanism or the frame and contacting other of the holding mechanism or the frame; and

a lock mechanism provided at either one of the holding mechanism or the frame and configured to lock a relative movement of the contact member.

13. The test head as set forth in claim 12 , wherein

the holding mechanism grasps a clamp head provided at a center portion of the probe card.

14. The test head as set forth in claim 12 , wherein

the top plate has a coupling portion which is to be coupled with a head plate of a prober,

a center of the probe card is nearer to the contact member than the coupling portion with respect to a planar view.

15. The test head as set forth in claim 12 , wherein

the transmitter has a biasing member that biases the contact member.

16. The test head as set forth in claim 12 , wherein

the lock mechanism accepts a relative movement of the contact member before the test head main body is positioned relative to a prober, and the lock mechanism locks the relative movement of the contact member after the test head main body is positioned relative to the prober.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 18, 2018
From: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
To: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047987/0626 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2011
From: DOI, ATSUYUKI
To: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026446/0671 →