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US 2012/0239339 A1Published application
Wireless probe card verification system and method
AssigneeFormFactor, Inc.
InventorSusumu Kaneko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A probe card assembly can include a wireless link to an external verifier (e.g., debugger). The wireless link can interface to a boundary scan interface of a controller on the probe card assembly. The wireless link can allow for verification of the probe card assembly while it is installed within a prober.
Claims29
A probe card assembly comprising:
- a first substrate;
- a plurality of resilient probes disposed on said substrate and arranged to contact corresponding pads of a device under test;
- a tester interface;
- a test circuit electrically coupled to said tester interface and electrically coupled to ones of said plurality of resilient probes;
- a controller coupled to said test circuit, said controller comprising an interface;
- a wireless transceiver coupled to said interface of said controller wherein said wireless transceiver can establish a wireless communications link with an external computer.
3 more elements
A wireless verification attachment for a probe card assembly comprising:
- a substrate sized to fit within a space between a test head and a probe card assembly when said probe card assembly is installed into a prober;
- an electrical connector disposed on said substrate and positioned to mechanically and electrically connect to an electrical interface disposed on said probe card assembly;
- and
- a wireless transceiver coupled to said electrical interface and capable of establishing a wireless communications link with an external computer.
1 more element
A method of probe card verification comprising:
- obtaining a probe card assembly, wherein said probe card assembly comprises a tester interface, a controller electrically coupled to said tester interface wherein said controller controls operation of said probe card assembly, a wireless transceiver electrically coupled to said controller via an electrical interface, and a plurality of resilient probes coupled to said controller;
- installing said probe card assembly in a prober, wherein said tester interface of said probe card assembly electrically interfaces to a test head;
- establishing a wireless communications link between said wireless transceiver and an external computer positioned outside of said prober;
- and
- using said wireless communications link to communicate commands from said external computer to said controller;
- and
- using said wireless communications link to communicate status from said controller to said external computer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.