Patent US6133744A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6133744A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for testing semiconductor wafer
Assignee: NEC Corp
•
Filing: 1996-04-25
•
Granted: 2000-10-17
•
Expires: 2016-04-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a semiconductor wafer tester including a substrate, at least one chip mounted on an upper surface of the substrate, the chip having function as a tester, the chip being electrically connected to a contact formed on a lower surface of the substrate through an internal wiring formed in the substrate, and a contact film having at least one first bump formed on an upper surface thereof and at least one second bump formed on a lower surface thereof, the first bump being electrically connected to the second bump through an internal wiring formed throughout the contact film, the contact film being to be disposed to be sandwiched between the substrate and a semiconductor wafer to be tested so that the first bump is in electrical contact with the contact of the substrate and the second bump is in electrical contact with the semiconductor wafer. The tester makes it possible to carry out high frequency test concurrently for a plurality of semiconductor wafers in a shorter period of time with lower costs.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayuki Yojima
- 👤 Tohru Tsujide
- 👤 Kazuo Nakaizumi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/073; G01R1/07307; G01R1/07314; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2851; G01R31/2886
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer, comprising: a substrate; at least one chip mounted on an upper surface of said substrate, said chip functioning as a tester, said chip being electrically connected to a contact formed on a lower surface of said substrate through an internal wiring formed in said substrate; an elastic contact film having at least one first bump formed on an upper surface thereof and at least one second bump formed on a lower surface thereof, said first bump being electrically connected to said second bump through an internal wiring formed throughout said contact film, said contact film disposed between said substrate and a semiconductor wafer to be tested so that said first bump is in electrical contact with said contact of said substrate and said second bump is in electrical contact with said semiconductor wafer to be tested; wherein said at least one first bump formed on an upper surface of said elastic contact film and said at least one second bump formed on a lower surface of said resilient contact film are disposed in non-alignment with respect to one another.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
186 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer, comprising: a substrate; at least one chip mounted on an upper surface of said substrate, said chip functioning as a tester, said chip being electrically connected to a contact formed on a lower surface of said substrate through an internal wiring formed in said substrate; an elastic contact film having at least one first bump formed on an upper surface thereof and at least one second bump formed on a lower surface thereof, said first bump being electrically connected to said second bump through an internal wiring formed throughout said contact film, said contact film disposed between said substrate and a semiconductor wafer to be tested so that said first bump is in electrical contact with said contact of said substrate and said second bump is in electrical contact with said semiconductor wafer to be tested; wherein said at least one first bump formed on an upper surface of said elastic contact film and said at least one second bump formed on a lower surface of said resilient contact film are disposed in non-alignment with respect to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient contact film includes a plurality of first bumps formed on an upper surface thereof and a plurality of second bumps formed on a lower surface thereof, said plurality of first bumps are disposed in non-alignment with said plurality of second bumps, wherein said elastic contact film is divided into at least one chip area, and wherein one of said plurality of first bumps and said plurality of second bumps is disposed to occupy an interior portion of said at least one chip area relative to another of said plurality of first bumps and said plurality of second bumps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate is constituted of a multi-layered substrate having internal wirings formed therein, said internal wirings having a function of varying pitches between contacts formed on upper and lower surfaces of said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: an external tester; and a cable connected to a terminal formed on said substrate so that said cable electrically connects said chip to said external tester, said chip transmitting signals to and receiving signals from said external tester.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elastic material is silicone rubber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer, comprising: a substrate; at least one chip connected to a first surface of said substrate, said chip being electrically connected to a contact formed on another surface of said substrate; an elastic contact film having at least one first bump formed on a first surface thereof and at least one second bump formed a second surface thereof, wherein said first bump and said second bump are in electrical contact with each other and wherein one of said first bump or said second bump is in contact with said contact of said substrate; and wherein said first bump and said second bump are not aligned along a normal line to each of said first surface and said second surface of said elastic contact film.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer, comprising: a substrate; at least one chip connected to a first surface of said substrate, said chip being electrically connected to a contact formed on another surface of said substrate; an elastic contact film having at least one first bump formed on a first surface thereof and at least one second bump formed a second surface thereof, wherein said first bump and said second bump are in electrical contact with each other and wherein one of said first bump or said second bump is in contact with said contact of said substrate; and wherein said first bump and said second bump are not aligned along a normal line to each of said first surface and said second surface of said elastic contact film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said chip is electrically connected to said contact through an internal electrically conductive path formed in said substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first bump and said second bump are in electrical contact with each other through an internal electrically conductive path formed in said contact film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus for testing a semiconductor wafer as claimed in claim 8, wherein one of said first bump and said second bump not in electrical contact with said contact of said substrate is in electrical contact with a semiconductor wafer.
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) | 2003-10-17 | 2004-04-17 | 2004-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-17 | 2008-04-17 | 2008-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-17 | 2012-04-17 | 2012-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |