Patent ID: 7696745
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. An operation method of a test handler, the method comprising the steps of: (a) loading semiconductor devices from a customer tray located on a loading plate onto a test tray located at a loading position by a loading pick-and-place apparatus having pickers arrayed in an M×N matrix (M is an integer equal to or greater than 4 and N is an integer equal to or greater than 1), in which, in terms of adjacent four rows, a pitch between the 1st and 2nd rows of the pickers and a pitch between the 3rd and 4th rows of the pickers are fixed to be identical to a spacing between rows of loading compartments of the customer tray; (b) assisting a tester to test the semiconductor devices, loaded onto the test tray, at a test position, after moving the test tray to the test position; and (c) unloading the tested semiconductor devices from the test tray located at an unloading position onto another customer tray located on an unloading plate, after moving the test tray to the unloading position, wherein the step (a) includes the steps of: (a1) picking up the semiconductor devices from the customer tray by the pickers; (a2) regulating a pitch between the 2nd and 3rd rows of the pickers so that a pitch between the 1st and 3rd rows of the pickers and a pitch between the 2nd and 4th rows of the pickers are identical to a spacing between rows of placing compartments of the test tray; and (a3) placing the semiconductor devices, picked up by the 1st and 3rd rows of the pickers or the 2nd and 4th rows of the pickers, moving a certain distance, and placing the remaining semiconductor devices, picked up by the 2nd and 4th rows of the pickers or the 1st and 3rd rows of the pickers.