IP Library Granted Patent US 11,041,881
Granted Patent B2
US 11,041,881 · App. 16/424,198 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Hybrid probe head assembly for testing a wafer device under test

Inventors: Valts Treibergs (St. Paul, MN); Mitchell Nelson (St. Paul, MN)
Assignee: XCERRA CORPORATION
G01R1/06727G01R1/06722G01R1/07307G01R31/2831
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,041,881
App. No.
16/424,198
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid probe head assembly for testing a wafer device under test includes a housing, at least a portion of a lead frame assembly disposed in the housing, the lead frame assembly including a at least one cantilever portion, the at least one cantilever portion including an undeflected position and a deflected position, where the lead frame assembly hinges between the undeflected position and the deflected position at a lead frame pivot point, and the at least one cantilever portion extends to a wafer contact. In the undeflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 8-12 degree angle, and in the deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 2-4 degree angle. One or more spring probes are disposed within the housing and have a wafer contact tip.

Claims (31)

1. A hybrid probe head assembly for testing a wafer device under test (DUT), the hybrid probe head assembly comprising:

a housing defined in part by a generally horizontal frame;

at least a portion of a lead frame assembly disposed in the housing, the lead frame assembly including at least one cantilever portion, the at least one cantilever portion including an undeflected position and a deflected position, where the lead frame assembly hinges between the undeflected position and the deflected position at a lead frame pivot point, the at least one cantilever portion extending to a wafer contact;

in the undeflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 8-12 degree angle relative to the generally horizontal frame;

in the deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 2-4 degree angle relative to the generally horizontal frame; and

one or more spring probes disposed within the housing, the spring probes have a spring probe undeflected position and a spring probe deflected position, the one or more spring probes have a wafer contact tip.

2. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising, when the at least one cantilever portion moves from the undeflected position to the deflected position, the wafer contact slides relative to a testing contact of the wafer DUT.

3. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lead frame assembly is an impedance controlled lead frame assembly.

4. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the undeflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at about a 10 degree angle relative to the horizontal frame.

5. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein in the deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 3-4 degree angle relative to the horizontal frame.

6. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a ledge at which the at least one cantilever portion hinges relative to the horizontal frame.

7. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wafer contact of the lead frame assembly is disposed at a substantially same height as the wafer contact tip of the one or more spring probes.

8. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein a reaction force between the wafer DUT and the one or more spring probes and between the wafer DUT and the at least one cantilever portion are substantially the same.

9. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lead frame assembly includes a platform portion.

10. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wafer contact is at least one of a cup or slot.

11. A hybrid probe head assembly for testing a wafer device under test (DUT):

a housing;

at least a portion of a lead frame assembly disposed in the housing, the lead frame assembly including a platform portion and at least one cantilever portion, the cantilever portion including an undeflected position and a deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion extending to a wafer contact;

the lead frame assembly having a lead frame pivot between the platform portion and the at least one cantilever portion;

in the undeflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 8-12 degree angle relative to the platform portion;

in the deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 2-4 degree angle relative to the platform portion;

at least one printed circuit board (PCB) disposed adjacent to the housing; and

one or more spring probes disposed within the housing, the spring probes have a spring probe undeflected position and a spring probe deflected position, the one or more spring probes have a wafer contact tip, the one or more spring probes coupled with the at least one PCB.

12. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , further comprising, when the at least one cantilever portion moves from the undeflected position to the deflected-position, the wafer contact slides relative to a testing contact of the wafer DUT.

13. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the lead frame assembly is an impedance controlled lead frame assembly.

14. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein in the undeflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at about a 10 degree angle relative to the platform portion.

15. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein in the deflected position, the at least one cantilever portion is disposed at a 2-3 degree angle relative to the platform portion.

16. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a ledge at which the at least one cantilever portion hinges relative to the platform portion.

17. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wafer contact of the lead frame assembly is disposed at a substantially same height as the wafer contact tip of the one or more spring probes.

18. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein a reaction force between the wafer DUT and the one or more spring probes and between the wafer DUT and the at least one cantilever portion are substantially the same.

19. The hybrid probe head assembly as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wafer contact is at least one of a cup or slot.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2020
From: TREIBERGS, VALTS; NELSON, MITCHELL
To: XCERRA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053326/0533 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62679488 · Jun 1, 2018
Related Publication 20190369142A1 · Dec 5, 2019