US6072326A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for testing semiconductor components
Assignee: Micron Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1997-08-22
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Granted: 2000-06-06
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Expires: 2017-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for testing semiconductor components are provided. The system includes: a test board, sockets mounted to the test board in electrical communication with test circuitry, and carriers mounted to the sockets for housing the components. The carriers include bases, and interconnects mounted thereon, having contact members configured to make temporary electrical connections with contacts on the components. In addition, the contact members on the interconnects can be shaped to perform an alignment function, and to prevent excessive deformation of the contacts on the components. The sockets include camming members and electrical connectors configured to electrically contact the carriers with a zero insertion force. During a test procedure, the bases and interconnects can remain mounted to the sockets on the test board, as the components are aligned and placed in electrical contact with the interconnects. However, different bases and interconnects can be mounted to the sockets for testing different types of components.
Inventors
- 👤 Salman Akram
- 👤 David R. Hembree
- 👤 Warren M. Farnworth
- 👤 Derek Gochnour
- 👤 Alan G. Wood
- 👤 John O. Jacobson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0433; G01R1/0441; G01R1/0466; G01R1/0483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for testing a semiconductor component comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a carrier configured to hold the component comprising a base comprising a plurality of first contacts, and an interconnect on the base comprising a plurality of contact members in electrical communication with the first contacts configured to establish temporary electrical connections with a plurality of second contacts on the component; and a socket on the test board comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry configured to electrically engage the first contacts, and a mating camming member configured to move the electrical connectors to permit insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the socket and the test board configured for use with a second base and a second interconnect for testing a second component different than the component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A system for testing a semiconductor component comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a carrier configured to hold the component comprising a base comprising a plurality of first contacts, and an interconnect on the base comprising a plurality of contact members in electrical communication with the first contacts configured to establish temporary electrical connections with a plurality of second contacts on the component; and a socket on the test board comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry configured to electrically engage the first contacts, and a mating camming member configured to move the electrical connectors to permit insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the socket and the test board configured for use with a second base and a second interconnect for testing a second component different than the component.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the contact members comprise sloped indentations configured to align the component to the interconnect.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
31 words
The system of claims 1 further comprising an alignment member on the base having an opening configured to engage a periphery of the component to align the component to the interconnect.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the contact members comprise projections at least partially covered with conductive layers configured to penetrate the second contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each contact member comprises at least two projections at least partially covered with a conductive layer and configured to retain a second contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a first polymer layer on the base having a first opening configured to contact an edge of the component to provide coarse alignment, and a second polymer layer on the interconnect having a plurality alignment openings configured to contact the second contacts to provide fine alignment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the contact members comprise indentations in a substrate of the interconnect with edges configured to penetrate the second contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the contact members comprise stepped indentations in a substrate of the interconnect with at least two edges configured to penetrate the second contacts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the component comprises an element selected from the group consisting of bare semiconductor dice and semiconductor chip scale packages.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical connectors are configured to exert a spring force for moving the camming member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
167 words
A system for testing semiconductor components comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a plurality of carriers configured to hold the components on the test board, each carrier comprising a base comprising a plurality of first contacts, an interconnect on the base comprising a plurality of contact members configured to electrically engage a plurality of second contacts on a component; and a plurality of sockets on the test board, each socket comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry and configured to electrically engage the first contacts, and a camming member configured to move the electrical connectors to allow insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the interconnect and the base customized for a particular type of component similar to the component while the test board and the socket can be used with different types of components different than the component.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
167 words
A system for testing semiconductor components comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a plurality of carriers configured to hold the components on the test board, each carrier comprising a base comprising a plurality of first contacts, an interconnect on the base comprising a plurality of contact members configured to electrically engage a plurality of second contacts on a component; and a plurality of sockets on the test board, each socket comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry and configured to electrically engage the first contacts, and a camming member configured to move the electrical connectors to allow insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the interconnect and the base customized for a particular type of component similar to the component while the test board and the socket can be used with different types of components different than the component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the second contacts comprise bumped contacts and the contact members comprise indentations with edges configured to penetrate the bumped contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the second contacts comprise bumped contacts and the contact members comprise stepped indentations with multiple edges for engaging the bumped contacts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the alignment member comprises a first polymer layer having a first opening configured to contact an edge of the component to provide coarse alignment, and a second polymer layer having a plurality alignment openings configured to contact the second contacts to provide fine alignment.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for testing a semiconductor component comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a carrier for holding the component comprising a base comprising a plurality of external contacts, an interconnect on the base comprising a substrate, a plurality of contact members on the substrate in electrical communication with the external contacts for electrically engaging contacts on the component, and a force applying mechanism for biasing the component against the interconnect; and a socket on the test board comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry configured to electrically engage the external contacts on the base, and a camming member configured to manipulate the connectors to permit insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the electrical connectors configured to exert a spring force for moving the camming member, the socket and the test board configured for use with a second base and a second interconnect for testing a second component different than the component.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
180 words
A system for testing a semiconductor component comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a carrier for holding the component comprising a base comprising a plurality of external contacts, an interconnect on the base comprising a substrate, a plurality of contact members on the substrate in electrical communication with the external contacts for electrically engaging contacts on the component, and a force applying mechanism for biasing the component against the interconnect; and a socket on the test board comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry configured to electrically engage the external contacts on the base, and a camming member configured to manipulate the connectors to permit insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the electrical connectors configured to exert a spring force for moving the camming member, the socket and the test board configured for use with a second base and a second interconnect for testing a second component different than the component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the interconnect comprises a photomachineable ceramic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 15 wherein electrical connections between the base and the interconnect comprise an element selected from the group consisting of wire bonds, flex circuit bonds, and mechanical electrical connectors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the force applying mechanism comprises a bridge clamp attached to the base and a spring attached to the bridge clamp.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the component comprises an element selected from the group consisting of bare semiconductor dice and semiconductor chip scale packages.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 15 further comprising an alignment member on the interconnect or the base having an alignment opening configured to engage an edge of the component.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the alignment member comprises a first polymer layer deposited on the interconnect or the base having a first opening configured to contact an edge of the component to provide coarse alignment, and a second polymer layer deposited on the interconnect or the base having a plurality alignment openings configured to contact the contacts on the component to provide fine alignment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the interconnect comprises a Photosensitive ceramic.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
166 words
A system for testing a semiconductor component comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a carrier configured to hold the component on the test board, the carrier comprising an interconnect comprising a Photosensitive ceramic substrate and a plurality of contact members on the substrate configured to electrically engage a plurality of contacts on the component; and a socket on the test board configured to mount the carrier to the test board, the socket comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry configured to establish electrical communication between the contact members and the test circuitry, and a mating camming member configured to move the electrical connectors to permit insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the socket and the test board configured for use with a second base and a second interconnect for testing a second component different than the component.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
166 words
A system for testing a semiconductor component comprising: a test board in electrical communication with test circuitry; a carrier configured to hold the component on the test board, the carrier comprising an interconnect comprising a Photosensitive ceramic substrate and a plurality of contact members on the substrate configured to electrically engage a plurality of contacts on the component; and a socket on the test board configured to mount the carrier to the test board, the socket comprising a plurality of electrical connectors in electrical communication with the test circuitry configured to establish electrical communication between the contact members and the test circuitry, and a mating camming member configured to move the electrical connectors to permit insertion of the base into the socket with a zero insertion force, or removal of the base from the socket with a zero removal force, the socket and the test board configured for use with a second base and a second interconnect for testing a second component different than the component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 23 wherein the carrier comprises a base comprising a plurality of second contacts in electrical communication with the contact members and configured for electrical engagement by the electrical connectors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-06 | 2003-12-06 | 2004-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-06 | 2007-12-06 | 2008-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-06 | 2011-12-06 | 2012-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |