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:
Jul. 03, 2007
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2005
Gary W. Grube, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Thomas N. Watson, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Gary W. Grube, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Thomas N. Watson, Pleasanton, CA (US);
FormFactor, Inc., Livermore, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for determining a planarity of a first structure configured to hold a probing device to the planarity of a second structure configured to hold a device to be probed is disclosed. In one example of the apparatus, a plurality of moveable push rods are disposed in a substrate, which is attached to the first structure. In initial non-displaced positions, the push rods correspond to a planarity of the first structure. The second structure is then brought into contact with the push rods, displacing the push rods into second positions that correspond to a planarity of the second structure. In another example of the apparatus, beams of light are reflected off of reflectors disposed on the first structure and onto sensors disposed on the second structure. The locations of the reflected beams on the sensors are noted and used to determine the planarity of the first structure with respect to the second structure.