Patent ID: 7119560
Filing Date: 2006-10-10
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A probe apparatus for positioning a wafer having semiconductor devices formed thereon and then bringing probing needles of a probe card into contact with electrode pads of said semiconductor devices to inspect their electric characteristics, said probe apparatus comprising: displacement detection means for detecting displacement of the position of said probe card, disposed on a surface of said probe card from which said probing needles of said probe card protrude, said displacement detection means having a plurality of displacement sensors which are disposed at mutually different distances in a radial direction from a center of said probe card; and control means for moving a stage supporting thereon said wafer in a Z axis direction in accordance with a signal from said displacement detection means; wherein said displacement detection means detects displacement of said probe card, put on said stage, from said wafer, corrects and moves said stage in the Z axis direction in accordance with displacement of the detected position so that a contact condition between said probing needles and said electrode pad can be always kept inside a constant or allowable range.