Patent ID: 6317647
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
The aligner for forming and disassembling a test shell, comprising:a contactor including a plurality of contact terminals electrically in contact with a plurality of electrodes of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed on a semiconductor wafer;a wafer holder provided with a vacuum suction mechanism including a valve mechanism and capable of holding said contactor and said semiconductor wafer by means of a vacuum sucking force formed by said vacuum suction mechanism, thereby forming a united test shell;a stage for supporting said wafer holder for movement in X, Y, Z and .theta. directions;a first control device for effecting control for moving said stage in the X, Y and .theta. directions so that said plurality of contact terminals and said plurality of predetermined electrodes are aligned with one another and controls for moving said stage in the Z direction so that said contact terminals and said electrodes are in contact with one another;a valve control mechanism mounted on the stage and used to connect and disconnect said valve mechanism of said wafer holder to and from an exhaust device, said valve control mechanism serving to connect the vacuum suction mechanism of said wafer holder to the exhaust device, cause said vacuum suction mechanism to form said vacuum sucking force, and cancel said vacuum sucking force of the vacuum suction mechanism of said wafer holder, thereby disassembling said test shell to said wafer holder, said semiconductor wafer, and the contactor;a storage unit for storing position information on the position in which said stage is moved in the X, Y and .theta. directions to align said plurality of contact terminals and said plurality of electrodes with one another; anda second control device adapted to move said stage to said position in accordance with said position information stored in said storage unit and place said test shell on said stage in said position, thereby canceling said vacuum sucking force, as said vacuum sucking force is canceled by means of said valve mechanism to disassemble said test shell.