Patent ID: 8130007
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: B82Y,G01R,H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A probe card assembly comprising: an electrical interface to a plurality of communications channels to a tester configured to control testing of electronic devices; and a plurality of electrically conductive spring probes electrically connected to the electrical interface and comprising contact ends disposed in a pattern that corresponds to a pattern of terminals of the electronic devices, each of the probes comprising a column of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, the column comprising a spring mechanism that comprises distinct reversibly deformable regions, wherein the deformable regions each compress elastically and in a direction that is substantially parallel to a length of the column in response to a force applied in a direction that is substantially parallel to the length of the column to the contact end of the probe by contact with one of the electronic devices, wherein each of the probes is mechanically tuned such that the spring mechanism of the probe has a predetermined spring property, and wherein the predetermined spring property comprises a series sum of a spring property of each of the reversibly deformable regions.