Universal contactor for use with multiple handlers and method therefor

A universal contact element for use on multiple handlers comprising:

• a contactor body;
• a cavity formed in a central area of the contactor body for holding semiconductor devices of a predetermined size;
• a first plurality of channels formed in the cavity and extending through the contactor body, the first plurality of channels comprising:
• a first set of channels formed in a central area of the cavity and extending through the contactor body;
• and
• a second set of channels formed around an outer perimeter of the cavity and extending through the contactor body;
• a plurality of contact pins, wherein a contact pin is positioned inside each of the first plurality of channels;
• a plurality of alignment openings formed along an outer perimeter of contactor body outside of the cavity to conform to different alignment openings on multiple handlers;
• means positioned inside each of the plurality of alignment openings for aligning the universal contact element to different alignment openings on multiple handlers;
• and
• means coupled to a bottom surface of the contactor body for keeping the plurality of contact pins inside each of the plurality of first channels.

A universal contact element for use on multiple handlers comprising:

• a contactor body;
• a cavity formed in a central area of the contactor body for holding semiconductor devices of a predetermined size;
• a ridge extending around a perimeter of the cavity, the cavity and the ridge forming a footprint of the semiconductor devices;
• a first plurality of channels formed in the cavity and extending through the contactor body, the first plurality of channels comprising:
• a first set of channels formed in a central area of the cavity and extending through the contactor body;
• and
• a second set of channels formed around an outer perimeter of the cavity and extending through the contactor body;
• a plurality of contact pins, wherein a contact pin is positioned inside each of the first plurality of channels;
• a plurality of alignment openings formed along an outer perimeter of contactor body outside of the cavity to conform to different alignment openings on multiple handlers;
• a plurality of alignment pins, an alignment pin is positioned inside each of the plurality of alignment openings, the plurality of alignment pins positioned around the top surface of the contactor body to align the contact element on multiple handlers;
• a retainer plate coupled to a bottom surface of the contactor body for keeping the plurality of contact pins inside each of the plurality of first channels;
• a first plurality of notches located around a lower perimeter of the contactor body;
• and
• a second plurality of notches formed in the retainer plate, the second plurality of notches aligning with the first plurality of notches, the first plurality of notches and the second plurality of notches allowing the universal contact element to fit in and be coupled to multiple handlers.