Probing device setting a probe card parallel

Claim 2

A probe apparatus comprising: a test head for electrically testing a test object; a probe card having a plurality of probe needles electrically connected to said test head; means for supporting the test object such that the test object faces the probe card and the probe needles extend toward the test object; means for detecting an inclined state of the probe card with respect to a plane and outputting a signal corresponding to the inclined state; said detecting means including: imaging means for detecting the relative heights at two mutually distant points of the probe card on the basis of auto-focus adjustment amount at this time and outputting height signals corresponding to these heights, distance signal outputting means for outputting distance signals corresponding to the distance between the two points of said probe card, and calculation means for calculating the inclined state of the probe card with respect to a plane and outputting the calculation result; and means for driving said support means on the basis of the output signal from said detection means, such that the test object supported by said support means is parallel to the probe card.

Claim 3

The probe apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: said imaging means detects the relative heights at two mutually distant points in a first direction of the probe card from one plane and the heights at two mutually distant points in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and outputting height signals corresponding to these heights; and said distance signal outputting means outputs said distance signals corresponding to the distance between the two points in each of said first and second directions.

Claim 4

The probe apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said imaging means comprises two pairs of target marks formed on one surface of the probe card to indicate two pairs of mutually distant points in said first and second directions, said imaging means is provided on said supporting means and images said target marks for detecting the heights at the target marks on the basis of auto-focus adjustment amount at this time, and outputting corresponding electric signals as said height signals, and said distance signal outputting means includes means for moving said support means in said first and second directions, and outputting electric signals, which correspond to the distance between each pair of target marks, as said distance signals on the basis of the amount of movement of said support means.

Claim 5

The probe apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said imaging means includes a CCD camera.

Claim 6

The probe according to claim 1, wherein said driving means comprises three support leg members for supporting said supporting means at three points with variable support lengths, and means for selectively varying the lengths of said three support leg members in accordance with the output signal from said detecting means, thereby driving the supporting means.

Claim 7

The probe apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said driving means includes a movable table which is movable in X-, Y-, Z- and θ-directions, and said support leg members have first end portions supported by said table and second end portions connected to said supporting means.

Claim 8

The probe apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said support leg members has ball screw means for varying its own length.

Claim 9

The probe apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of said support leg members has piezoelectric means for varying its own length.

Claim 10

The probe apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting the inclined state of the probe card with respect to a plane, on the basis of the position of the probe needles relative to the test object.

Claim 11

The probe apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said detecting means includes an imaging device for imaging a contact state distribution of contact traces impressed on the test object by the probe needles and outputting a signal corresponding to the imaged contact state distribution, means for calculating the inclined state of the probe card with respect to the plane on the basis of the output signal from said imaging device and outputting a corresponding calculation result signal, and means for effecting the driving of the support means on the basis of the calculation result signal.

Claim 12

The probe apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said means for effecting the driving comprises three support leg members for supporting said supporting means at three points with variable support lengths, and means for selectively varying the lengths of said three support leg members on the basis of the calculation result signal form said calculating means.

Claim 13

The probe apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of said support leg members includes a screw rod which is rotated to vary its own length, and said length-varying means have motors each connected to the screw rod to rotate the screw rod.

Claim 14

The probe apparatus according to claim 1, said probe card is fixed to the test head.

Claim 15

A probe apparatus comprising: a test head for electrically testing a test object; a probe card attached to the lower surface of said test head and having a plurality of probe needles electrically connected to said test head, the probe needles being arranged in at least one row and extending downwards; means for horizontally supporting said test object such that the test object faces the probe card upward; an XY table provided below said support means; inclining means, provided between the supporting means and the XY table, for inclining the supporting means to vary the angle of inclination of the supporting means with respect to a horizontal plane, said inclining means having an upper part for supporting the supporting means and a lower part connected to the XY table; and means for detecting an inclined state of the probe card with respect to horizontal plane, said detecting means including: imaging means for detecting a relative height at two mutually distant points in an X-direction and the heights at two mutually distant points in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction, on the basis of auto-focus adjustment amount at their time, and outputting height signals corresponding to these heights, distance signal outputting means for outputting distance signals corresponding to the distance between the two points in each of said directions, and calculation means for calculating the inclined state of the probe card with respect to a plane and outputting a calculation result; and means for driving the XY table on the basis of the output signal from said detecting means, such that the test object supported by the XY table is parallel to the probe card.

Claim 16

A probe apparatus comprising: a test head for electrically testing a test object; a probe card attached to the lower surface of said test head and having a plurality of probe needles electrically connected to said test head, the probe needles being arranged in at least one row and extending downwards; means for horizontally supporting said test object such that the test object faces the probe card upward; an XY table provided below said support means; inclining means, provided between the supporting means and the XY table, for inclining the supporting means to vary the angle of inclination of the supporting means with respect to a horizontal plane, said inclining means having an upper part for supporting the supporting means and a lower part connected to the XY table; and means for detecting an inclined state of the probe card with respect to horizontal plane, said detecting means including: imaging means for detecting a relative height at two mutually distant points in an X-direction and the heights at two mutually distant points in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction, on the basis of auto-focus adjustment amount at their time, and outputting height signals corresponding to these heights, distance signal outputting means for outputting distance signals corresponding to the distance between the two points in each of said directions, and calculation means for calculating the inclined state of the probe card with respect to a plane and outputting a calculation result; and means for driving the XY table on the basis of the output signal from said detecting means, such that the test object supported by the XY table is parallel to the probe card.

Claim 17

The probe apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said inclining means includes three support leg members for supporting said supporting means at three points with variable support lengths, each support leg member extending vertically.

Claim 18

The probe apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said three points are the apices of an equilateral triangle.