Patent ID: 8736294
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A probe card assembly, comprising: a wiring substrate comprising a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a plurality of internal electrical traces; a tester interface disposed on said first surface of said wiring substrate and electrically connected to said plurality of internal electrical traces; a probe head disposed proximate to said second surface of said wiring substrate, said probe head comprising a plurality of probes disposed thereon and arranged to contact an electronic device to be tested, said probe head further comprising a plurality of electrical connections between said plurality of probes and said internal electrical traces; a stiffener disposed proximate to said first surface, said stiffener comprising a main body coupled to said probe head and said stiffener comprising a plurality of attachment mechanisms disposed distally from said main body; and a plurality of decoupling mechanisms disposed radially between said main body and said attachment mechanisms, each said decoupling mechanism being sufficiently compliant in a radial direction to move in said radial direction and sufficiently rigid in at least one other direction to resist moving in said at least one other direction, wherein said stiffener comprises a plurality of radial arms extending radially outward from said main body to a corresponding one of said attachment mechanisms and each said decoupling mechanism is disposed in a corresponding one of said radial arms, and wherein each said decoupling mechanism allows a first portion of said corresponding radial arm to move away from and toward a second portion of said radial arm.