Extended length, high frequency contactor block

A high frequency contactor block, comprising:

• a layer of rigid dielectric material having two outer surfaces;
• a plurality of signal conductors extending through said dielectric material, said conductors having flexible contact elements formed on ends thereof extending beyond said dielectric material;
• and
• a plurality of conductive strips positioned along said outer surfaces of said layer of dielectric material such that two of each of said plurality of conductive strips are aligned with one of said plurality of signal conductors so that there is one conductive strip on either side thereof and an impedance of each signal conductor is independent of its length.

A rigid device, comprising:

• a plurality of signal conductors having flexible contact elements formed on ends thereof, each signal conductor having an inductance associated therewith;
• a layer of dielectric material substantially surrounding said plurality of conductors;
• a plurality of conductive layers configured such that a capacitance is provided by said plurality of signal conductors, layer of dielectric material, and plurality of conductive layers whereby an impedance of each of said signal conductors is independent of its length;
• and
• an outer shell of non-conductive material applied to said plurality of conductive layers to form a first face and a second face.

A device, comprising:

• a pair of substantially parallel conductive plates;
• a layer of rigid dielectric material positioned between said plates;
• a plurality of signal conductors each having an inductance associated therewith, said signal conductors extending through said dielectric material and being substantially parallel to said plates such that a capacitance is formed which has a relationship to said inductance so that an impedance of each signal conductor is constant and independent of length;
• flexible contact elements formed on at least one end of said signal conductors;
• and
• an outer shell of non-conductive material applied to said pair of plates to form a first face and a second face.

An extended length, high frequency contactor block comprising:

• a rectangular block having a front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom face and two side faces, said front face and said rear face comprised of a rigid non-conductive support material;
• a first layer of dielectric material disposed beneath said front face;
• a second layer of dielectric material disposed beneath said rear face;
• an inner layer of non-conductive support material disposed between said first layer of dielectric material and said second layer of dielectric material;
• a first plurality of signal conductors disposed within said first layer of dielectric material, said signal conductors having an inductance associated therewith, said signal conductors running between said top face and said bottom face and having flexible contact elements formed on the ends thereof;
• a second plurality of signal conductors disposed within said second layer of dielectric material, said signal conductors having an inductance associated therewith, said signal conductors running between said top face and said bottom face and having flexible contact elements formed on the ends thereof;
• a first plurality of conductive strips disposed between said front face and said first layer of dielectric material and between said first layer of dielectric material and said inner layer of non-conductive support material and positioned so that two of said conductive strips are aligned with each one of said first plurality of flexible contact elements;
• and
• a second plurality of conductive strips disposed between said rear face and said second layer of dielectric material and between said second layer of dielectric material and said inner layer of non-conductive support material and positioned so that two of said conductive strips are aligned with one of each said second plurality of flexible contact elements;
• wherein said configuration of signal conductors, dielectric material and conductive strips provides a capacitance having a relationship to said inductance so that the impedance of the contactor is constant and independent of length.

A combination, comprising:

• test equipment;
• a temperature controlled test chamber;
• an interface board located adjacent to said test chamber and connected to said test equipment;
• a high frequency contactor block having a first end connected to said interface board and a second end extending substantially into said temperature controlled test chamber;
• a handler adapted to bring integrated circuit chips into and out of contact with said second end of said contactor block;
• wherein said contactor block comprises:
• a plurality of signal conductors having flexible contact elements formed on said second end of said contactor block, each signal conductor having an inductance associated therewith;
• a plurality of layers configured to form a capacitor with each signal conductor, wherein each signal conductor acts as one of the plates of the capacitor and wherein said plurality of layers is further configured to provide a capacitance having a relationship to said inductance such that the impedance of the contactor is constant and independent of length, and
• an outer shell of non-conductive material applied to said plurality of layers to form a first and a second face;
• said contactor block being of a substantial length such that said contactor block will not affect the temperature in said temperature controlled chamber.