The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 05, 2000
Filed:
May. 21, 1998
Scott R Williams, Mesa, AZ (US);
Martin A Kurtz, Mesa, AZ (US);
Cerprobe Corporation, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Abstract
A system for interfacing between a semiconductor wafer, an automatic wafer probe machine, and an automatic IC test system includes an insert ring adapted for attachment to a support of the wafer probe machines. A lock ring assembly includes a lock ring rotatably disposed in the insert ring. A cam element having a sloped camming surface is attached to the lock ring. A retaining element attached to the insert ring retains the lock ring in the insert ring. A lid hingeably attached to the insert ring supports a POGO tower assembly including an adapter ring for attachment to a POGO tower and a z-axis ring attached to the adapter ring, and a mounting assembly connecting the z-axis ring in spring-loaded relationship to the lid. A cam follower attached to the z-axis ring engages the sloped camming surface when the lid is lowered to position a bottom surface of the POGO tower slightly above the probe card. The cam follower follows the camming surface lower as the lock ring is rotated to force POGO pins at the bottom of the POGO tower against contact pads of the probe card.