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:
Jun. 25, 2002
Filed:
May. 15, 2000
Geng Ying Gao, Fremont, CA (US);
Kevin Weaver, San Jose, CA (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A testing system comprising an electron beam probe, a photon beam probe, and a device under test (DUT) card holder which is positioned between the electron beam probe and the photon beam probe. A first valve is positioned between the electron beam probe and the DUT. A second valve, located on an opposite side of the DUT from the first valve, is positioned between the photon beam probe and the DUT. The first and second valve operate in cooperation to control the pressure surrounding the DUT card. One embodiment of the invention includes a first test chamber and a second test chamber. The first test chamber includes the area between the first side of the DUT card and the first valve. The second test chamber includes the area between the second side of the DUT card and the second valve. The present invention includes a method for using the test system of the present invention to test both the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor device. The method for using the test system manipulates the first valve and the second valve to selectively contain a vacuum pressure throughout the first test chamber and the area surrounding the DUT. The present invention includes a method for preparing an integrated circuit (IC) for testing by the testing system of the present invention. The present invention also includes a DUT card which secures and positions the DUT for testing within the testing system.