Patent US3930809A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3930809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Assembly fixture for fixed point probe card
Assignee: Wentworth Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1974-07-15
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Granted: 1976-01-06
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Expires: 1994-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A fixture for assembling a probe card adapted to test integrated circuit patterns having contacts deployed thereon. The card includes an opening providing access to a pattern and a ring of spaced conductive pads surrounding the opening. Anchored on selected pads are blade-like needle-holders having needles extending therefrom to engage the contacts in the pattern being tested. The fixture is designed to facilitate attachment of each needle-holder blade to its pad on the card and to orient the blade before such attachment so that the needle point is precisely aligned with the related contact.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/073; G01R1/07307; G01R1/07342; G01R1/07314; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2851; G01R31/2886; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53087; Y10T29/5313; Y10T29/53261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A fixture for assembling a probe card adapted to test an integrated circuit pattern formed on a substrate, said card including a board having an opening providing access to said pattern and surrounded by an array of conductive pads and probes cantilevered from the pads, each probe being constituted by a needle-holding blade disposed in the vertical plane at a position slightly raised above its associated pad and having a needle extending therefrom to engage a contact on the pattern; said fixture comprising: A. a chuck for holding said integrated circuit substrate to present the pattern thereof; B. a platform for supporting said probe card board at a position in which the opening of the board is aligned with the chuck, C. means for shifting said platform in the X and Y directions to orient said array of pads surrounding the board opening relative to the presented pattern, D. an arm for gripping the blade of a probe to be assembled to hold the blade in the vertical plane, and E. means to shift said arm in the X, Y and Z directions to align said blade at a raised position with respect to a selected pad and to align the point of the needle extending from the blade with a contact on said pattern, whereby when the blade is properly oriented it may be soldered to said pad.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A fixture for assembling a probe card adapted to test an integrated circuit pattern formed on a substrate, said card including a board having an opening providing access to said pattern and surrounded by an array of conductive pads and probes cantilevered from the pads, each probe being constituted by a needle-holding blade disposed in the vertical plane at a position slightly raised above its associated pad and having a needle extending therefrom to engage a contact on the pattern; said fixture comprising: A. a chuck for holding said integrated circuit substrate to present the pattern thereof; B. a platform for supporting said probe card board at a position in which the opening of the board is aligned with the chuck, C. means for shifting said platform in the X and Y directions to orient said array of pads surrounding the board opening relative to the presented pattern, D. an arm for gripping the blade of a probe to be assembled to hold the blade in the vertical plane, and E. means to shift said arm in the X, Y and Z directions to align said blade at a raised position with respect to a selected pad and to align the point of the needle extending from the blade with a contact on said pattern, whereby when the blade is properly oriented it may be soldered to said pad.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fixture as set forth in claim 1, further including means to adjust the position of said chuck in the theta and Z directions to present said substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A fixture as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gripping arm is constituted by a pair of jaws which are relieved to define two pairs of opposing teeth which grip the holder at spaced positions to prevent bending thereof without a heat sink effect that inhibits a soldering operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fixture as set forth in claim 1, further including a microscope trained on said chuck to facilitate the alignment operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A fixture as set forth in claim 4, further including a continuity tester to determine where the needle makes electrical and physical connection with a selected contact on said pattern, said tester including a power source connected in series with a light indicator to said arm for gripping the needle-holder, said arm being electrically insulated from said fixture whereby a circuit to said indicator is completed only when said needle makes said connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fixture as set forth in claim 5, wherein said indicator is mounted below said microscope whereby one looking through the microscope sees said light when the circuit is completed.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3445770A
Cited
US3738560A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-01-05 | 1979-07-07 | 1980-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-01-05 | 1983-07-07 | 1984-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-01-05 | 1987-07-07 | 1988-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |