Abstract:
An insulative material is applied to one or more selected probe tips to disable those probes, and the probes are brought into contact with a semiconductor die. One or more tests are run on the die to verify sufficient testing of the die without the disabled probes. The process may be repeated with other probes disabled to determine which probes need not be used in testing the die.
Abstract:
A method of designing and manufacturing a probe card assembly includes prefabricating one or more elements of the probe card assembly to one or more predefined designs. Thereafter, design data regarding a newly designed semiconductor device is received along with data describing the tester and testing algorithms to be used to test the semiconductor device. Using the received data, one or more of the prefabricated elements is selected. Again using the received data, one or more of the selected prefabricated elements is customized. The probe card assembly is then built using the selected and customized elements.
Abstract:
An interconnection element of a spring (body) including a first resilient element with a first contact region and a second contact region and a first securing region and a second resilient element, with a third contact region and a second securing region. The second resilient element is coupled to the first resilient element through respective securing regions and positioned such that upon sufficient displacement of the first contact region toward the second resilient element, the second contact region will contact the third contact region. The interconnection, in one aspect, is of a size suitable for directly contacting a semiconductor device. A large substrate with a plurality of such interconnection elements can be used as a wafer-level contactor. The interconnection element, in another aspect, is of a size suitable for contacting a packaged semiconductor device, such as in an LGA package.
Abstract:
Microelectronic contact structures are fabricated by separately forming, then joining together, various components thereof. Each contact structure has three components: a nullpostnull component, a nullbeamnull component, and a nulltipnull component. The resulting contact structure, mounted to an electronic component, is useful for making an electrical connection with another electronic component. The post component can be fabricated on a sacrificial substrate, joined to the electronic component and its sacrificial substrate removed. Alternatively, the post component can be formed on the electronic component. The beam and tip components can each be fabricated on a sacrificial substrate. The beam component is joined to the post component and its sacrificial substrate is removed, and the tip component is joined to the beam component and its sacrificial substrate is removed.
Abstract:
Resilient contact structures are mounted directly to bond pads on semiconductor dies, prior to the dies being singulated (separated) from a semiconductor wafer. This enables the semiconductor dies to be exercised (e.g., tested and/or burned-in) by connecting to the semiconductor dies with a circuit board or the like having a plurality of terminals disposed on a surface thereof. Subsequently, the semiconductor dies may be singulated from the semiconductor wafer, whereupon the same resilient contact structures can be used to effect interconnections between the semiconductor dies and other electronic components (such as wiring substrates, semiconductor packages, etc.). Using the all-metallic composite interconnection elements of the present invention as the resilient contact structures, burn-in can be performed at temperatures of at least 150null C., and can be completed in less than 60 minutes.
Abstract:
An initial graph of nodes is created within a routing space, and the number and locations of the nodes in the graph are adjusted. Links are created between nodes of the graph, and traces between specified nodes are created through the linked graph.
Abstract:
A method and system for designing a probe card from data provided by prospective customers via the Internet is provided. Design specifications are entered into the system by prospective customers and compiled into a database. The collective feasibility of each set of design specifications is determined by an automated computer system and communicated to the prospective customer. If feasible, additional software enables prospective customers to create verification packages according to their respective design specifications. These verification packages further consist of drawing files visually describing the final design and verification files confirming wafer bonding pad data. Verification packages are reviewed and forwarded to an applications engineer after customer approval. An interactive simulation of probe card performance is also provided. Data on probe card performance is incorporated into an overall modeling exercise, which includes not only the probe card, but data on the device(s) under test and wafer, as well as data on automated test equipment.
Abstract:
A method of designing and manufacturing a probe card assembly includes prefabricating one or more elements of the probe card assembly to one or more predefined designs. Thereafter, design data regarding a newly designed semiconductor device is received along with data describing the tester and testing algorithms to be used to test the semiconductor device. Using the received data, one or more of the prefabricated elements is selected. Again using the received data, one or more of the selected prefabricated elements is customized. The probe card assembly is then built using the selected and customized elements.
Abstract:
A method of designing and manufacturing a probe card assembly includes prefabricating one or more elements of the probe card assembly to one or more predefined designs. Thereafter, design data regarding a newly designed semiconductor device is received along with data describing the tester and testing algorithms to be used to test the semiconductor device. Using the received data, one or more of the prefabricated elements is selected. Again using the received data, one or more of the selected prefabricated elements is customized. The probe card assembly is then built using the selected and customized elements.
Abstract:
A power supply provides power to a power terminal of an integrated circuit device under test (DUT). The DUT's demand for current at the power input terminal may temporarily increase due, for example, to state changes in the DUT. To limit variation (noise) in voltage at the power input terminal, a supplemental current is supplied to the power input terminal.