US4780836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of testing semiconductor devices using a probe card
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1986-08-06
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Granted: 1988-10-25
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Expires: 2006-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of testing semiconductor devices using a probe card having a plurality of needles thereon comprising intermittently raising a stage on which a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area is deposited, calculating the difference in distance between the position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among the plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film and the position of the stage when all the needles are brought into contact with the metal film, measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film when all the needles are brought into contact with the metal film, and performing a probe test when the difference in distance and the contact resistance both satisfy respective predetermined conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsutomu Miyazaki
- 👤 Shin Tozawa
- 👤 Hisahiko Etoh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/06794; G01R1/073; G01R1/07307; G01R1/07342
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices using a probe card having a plurality of needles thereon comprising: intermittently raising a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; measuring the difference in distance between the position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film and the position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; and performing a probe test when the difference in distance and the contact resistance both satisfy respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices using a probe card having a plurality of needles thereon comprising: intermittently raising a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; measuring the difference in distance between the position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film and the position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; and performing a probe test when the difference in distance and the contact resistance both satisfy respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the stage is intermittently raised by substantially 5 μm.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices comprising: intermittently raising a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; detecting a level position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film; detecting a level position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; calculating the level difference between the two level positions; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and said metal film when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; and performing a probe test when the level difference and the contact resistance both meet respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices comprising: intermittently raising a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; detecting a level position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film; detecting a level position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; calculating the level difference between the two level positions; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and said metal film when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; and performing a probe test when the level difference and the contact resistance both meet respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 3, wherein the stage is intermittently raised by substantially 5 μm.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices comprising: intermittently raising the vertical height level of a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; calculating a level difference between a level position when at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film and a level position at which all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; raising the stage by a predetermined amount of over-drive extension from the level position at which all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film when the stage is raised by the predeteremined amount of over-drive extension; and performing a probe test when the level difference and the contact resistance both meet respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices comprising: intermittently raising the vertical height level of a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; calculating a level difference between a level position when at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film and a level position at which all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; raising the stage by a predetermined amount of over-drive extension from the level position at which all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film when the stage is raised by the predeteremined amount of over-drive extension; and performing a probe test when the level difference and the contact resistance both meet respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the stage is raised by substantially 5 μm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined amount of over-drive extension the stage is substantially 70 μm.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices comprising: intermittently raising a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; detecting a level position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film; detecting a level position of the stage at which all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; calculating the difference in distance between the level positions; raising the stage by a predetermined amount of over-drive extension from the level position at which all of the needles are in contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film after the stage is raised by the predetermined amount of over-drive extension; and performing a probe test when the difference in distance and the contact resistance both meet respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of testing semiconductor devices comprising: intermittently raising a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area; detecting a level position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among a plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film; detecting a level position of the stage at which all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; calculating the difference in distance between the level positions; raising the stage by a predetermined amount of over-drive extension from the level position at which all of the needles are in contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each of the needles and the metal film after the stage is raised by the predetermined amount of over-drive extension; and performing a probe test when the difference in distance and the contact resistance both meet respective predetermined conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the stage is intermittently raised by substantially 5 μm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined amount of over-drive extension of the stage is substantially 70.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of testing semiconductor device comprising: intermittently advancing a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area toward a probe card having a plurality of needles thereon, the distance of each intermittent advancing of the stage being a predetermined distance; detecting a position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among said plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each needle and the metal film after each intermittent advancing of the stage; calculating the difference in distance between the position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle is first brought into contact with the metal film and the position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; detecting the position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film, and ceasing further advancing of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; and performing a probe test when: (1) the difference in distance does not exceed a first predetermined value and (2) the contact resistance between each needle and the metal film does not exceed a second predetermined value.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
225 words
A method of testing semiconductor device comprising: intermittently advancing a stage supporting a semiconductor wafer with a metal film formed on a chip area toward a probe card having a plurality of needles thereon, the distance of each intermittent advancing of the stage being a predetermined distance; detecting a position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle among said plurality of needles provided on a probe card disposed above the stage is first brought into contact with the metal film; measuring the contact resistance between each needle and the metal film after each intermittent advancing of the stage; calculating the difference in distance between the position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle is first brought into contact with the metal film and the position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; detecting the position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film, and ceasing further advancing of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film; and performing a probe test when: (1) the difference in distance does not exceed a first predetermined value and (2) the contact resistance between each needle and the metal film does not exceed a second predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein whenever the contact resistance exceeds the second predetermined value, no further procedures are conducted and the testing of the semiconductor device is terminated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein whenever the difference in distance between the position of the stage when the tip of at least one needle is first brought into contact with the metal film and the position of the stage after each intermittent advancing of the stage exceeds the first predetermined value, no further procedures are conducted and the testing of the semiconductor device is terminated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein the stage is intermittently advanced by substantially 5 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 11, wherein after detecting a position of the stage when all of the needles are brought into contact with the metal film, the stage is further advanced by a predetermined amount of over-drive extension before performing a probe test.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined amount of over-drive extension is substantially 70 μm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-25 | 1992-04-25 | 1992-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-25 | 1996-04-25 | 1996-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-25 | 2000-04-25 | 2000-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |