International Business Machines Corporation

George C Correla

Voya Rista Markovich

Mark Vincent Pierson

Anthony P Ingraham

Kibby B Horsford

Gary Ray Hill

Gordon C Osborne, Jr

Michael D Lowell

Richard Gordon Charlton

Mark Andrew Couture

A method and apparatus for testing semi-conductor chips is disclosed. The individual semiconductor chips have I/O contacts. The apparatus is provided with an interposer that has contacts corresponding to the contacts on the semiconductor chip. Both the chip and the interposer contacts can be any known type including metal ball, bumps, or tabs or may be provided with dendritic surfaces. The chip contacts are first brought into relative loose temporary contact with the contacts on the interposer and then a compressive force greater that 5 grams per chip contact is applied to the chip to force the chip contacts into good electrical contact with the interposer contacts. Testing of the chip is then performed. The tests may include heating of the chip as well as the application of signals to the chip contacts. After testing the chip is removed from the substrate.

Method and apparatus for testing integrated circuit chips

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Essex Junction, VT, United States of America

George C Correla