Multi-point test probe

A multi-point probe head assembly for providing electro-mechanical interface contact with miniature electronic devices and including a rigid support member, a plurality of probe tips each attached to a probe arm, and adjustment means for adjusting the relative position of each probe tip in three orthogonal planes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to test probe apparatus and more 
particularly, to adjustable multi-probe test probe head assemblies for 
electro-mechanical interface contact with terminals of miniature 
electronic devices. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The practice of testing electrical characteristics of miniature electronic 
devices, e.g., semiconductor components, integrated circuit components, 
micro and printed circuits, etc., is important to the electronic device 
manufacturer. Testing prior to and after final assembly of the devices is 
generally conducted to determine performance capabilities and defects. For 
example, it is desirable to test semiconductor devices while they are in 
wafer or slice form so as to eliminate unsatisfactory components early in 
the manufacturing process. For quality assurance, the manufacturer tests 
the devices after final assembly and prior to shipment. Manufacturers of 
equipment in which the devices become a part, commonly test the devices 
prior to installation of the devices in the equipment. In view of the 
number of tests conducted and the volume demand for miniature electronic 
devices, there is a continuous need to provide equipment capable of 
performing these tests accurately and rapidly. 
With heretofore adjustable probe heads, the positional adjustment of the 
probe points is difficult. They generally require use of a trial-and-error 
process of adjustment of the probe points for each set-up in each of three 
orthogonal planes. Changing the probe point position in any one of the 
three planes generally results in a change of the probe point position in 
one or both of the other planes. 
Examples of probe head assemblies of the prior art are disclosed in U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,832,632 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,924, issued to Frank J. 
Ardezzone, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,439 granted to McGahey et al; U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,405,361 granted to L. E. Kattner et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 
3,445,770 granted to R. C. Harman. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable 
multi-point probe head assembly having a simpler and more effective means 
of positional adjustment of tip contacts than heretofore available. 
Briefly, an exemplary embodiment of the multi-point probe head assembly in 
accordance with the present invention is disclosed. The disclosed assembly 
is adapted for mounting on a wafer probing machine and includes an 
electrical interconnect plug for facilitating electrical coupling with 
electronic test instruments.The plug is formed to a platform which in turn 
is coupled to a rigid support member. The support member defines a common 
area in the form of a central opening. Disposed along radial lines 
emanating from the axis of the central opening are a plurality of 
angularly spaced rows of openings extending through the support member. A 
plurality of elongated electrically conductive probe arms are fastened to 
the support member with each arm in longitudinal alignment with a row of 
openings. Each arm carries a probe tip contact which projects into the 
central opening. Fastening means retain each probe arm in position along 
the associated row of openings. A "joystick" adjustment means is provided 
for single step adjustment of the probe arms in the "X-Y" plane relative 
to the rigid support member. Separate adjustment means is provided to 
allow independent adjustment in the "Z" plane (or planarization) of the 
probe tip contact relative to the probe arm. Position locking means is 
provided to retain the position of each probe tip after adjustment. 
An advantage of the present invention is that it permits single step 
adjustment of each of the probe arms in the "X-Y" plane. 
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides positive 
and independent positioning and locking of each of the probe tips. 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the 
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is 
illustrated in the several figures of the drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawing, a multi-point electrical test probe head 
assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2 and designated by the general reference character 10. The assembly 10 
includes 24 individual probe tip contacts, shown collectively at 11, each 
of which are adapted to make interface contact with a contact terminal on 
the electronic device to be tested. The head assembly 10 further includes 
a rectangularly shaped fibreglass board 12 having a planar bottom side 
surface 13, and a planar top side surface 14. A portion of one side edge 
of board 2 is extended to form a plug 15 which carries a plurality of 
individual conductive fingers 16 arrayed in parallel on the bottom side 13 
and a plurality of individual conductive fingers 17 arrayed in parallel on 
the top side 14 to provide electrical interconnection with electronic test 
equipment. The assembly is adapted to be mounted on a wafer probing 
machine (not shown) to provide interface electrical coupling between 
semiconductor devices to be tested and the test equipment. 
A plurality of hole pairs 18 and 19 forming passages through board 12 are 
provided in a row extending across the plug-side edge of the board. Each 
finger 16 is extended to encircle one of the hole pairs 18 and each finger 
17 is extended to encircle one of the hole pairs 19. Since the fingers 16 
and 17 are usually formed by an etching and plating process accomplished 
after the hole pairs are drilled, the inside bores of the hole pairs may 
also be conductively plated. Thus, electrical connection to any one of the 
conductive fingers 16 and 17 may be made from either side. On the bottom 
side 13 of the board, each plated hole 19 is electrically connected to a 
terminal 20 by a conductor 21. The terminals 20 are likewise in the form 
of plated hole pairs to permit electrical connection thereto from either 
side of the board. The arrangement of conductors 21 permits the selective 
interruption of the electrical connection between any terminal 20 and its 
corresponding hole pair 19 by opening (providing a break in) the 
interconnecting conductor 21. 
A rigid planar probe support section 24 is established by board 12 which 
defines a common central area in the form of a circular opening 26 about a 
central axis 28. A plurality of rows of openings project through the board 
12 within the support section 24. Each row projects along a line in radial 
alignment with the axis 28 as illustrated by the probe radial line 30 
(FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) with the rows angularly spaced apart at 15.degree. 
increments. The openings of each row include an oblong smooth surface bore 
32 and a circular bore 34. The longitudinal axis of the bore 32 is 
coincident with the line 30 and the center of the bore 34 is in alignment 
with line 30. The diameter of bore 34 is designated "a" and the minor 
diameter of the bore 32 is designated "c". 
As best shown in FIG. 3, a threaded securing screw 36 with a Bellville 
washer 37 projects from the top surface 14 through the oblong bore 32. The 
diameter of the screw 36 is substantially equivalent to the minor diameter 
"c" of the bore 32 such that minimal lateral deviation is realized while 
permitting the screw to be urged along the long axis of the opening 32. An 
Allen-head type screw 38 with a Bellville washer 39 projects through the 
bore 34. The diameter of the body of the screw 38 is less than the 
diameter "a" of bore 34 to permit screw 38 to be repositioned within the 
X-Y plane of the bore 34. 
About each row of openings in the board 12 are thin film pads 40 of 
conductive material laminated to the bottom side surface 13. These pads 
are evenly, axially spaced on board 12 and form a plurality of triangular 
shaped conductive surfaces (See FIGS. 1 and 4). 
Superimposed on each pad 40 is an electrically conductive probe arm 42 
which is positioned in longitudinal alignment with a row of openings and 
includes a planar main support section 44. Each arm 42 carries a plurality 
of openings including an internally threaded bore 46, an internally 
threaded bore 48 and an internally threaded bore 50. Bores 46 and 50 are 
aligned with the bores 32 and 34, respectively, of the rigid support 
section 24. Threaded bore 48 is positioned near the terminal end of probe 
arm 42, within opening 26. Probe arms 42 are secured in abuttment with 
pads 40 by the screws 36 and 38 which screw into the threaded bores 46 and 
50, respectively. Finite radial and lateral positional adjustments of the 
probe 42 may be made by manipulation of an adjustment tool 52 (See FIG. 5) 
as hereinafter described in greater detail. 
An elevational adjustment screw 54 is threaded within threaded bore 48 and 
engages a contact arm 56. Each contact arm 56 is secured about one end of 
one of the probe arms 42 and carries a tip contact 58 at its terminal end 
which makes the direct interface contact with the contact points of the 
device to be tested. Contact arms 56 and tip contacts 59 are formed from a 
thin resilient wire to allow adjustment of arm 56 and precise contacting 
with tip 58. The elevation of tip contacts 58 relative to arms 42 is 
adjusted by turning elevational adjustment screws 54. Accordingly, 
adjustment of the elevation (planarization) of tip contacts 58 does not 
interfere with the adjustments of tip contacts 58 in the other two 
orthogonal planes. 
Electrical connection of probe arms 42 with terminals 20 is accomplished 
through a series of traces 60 running from pads 40 to terminals 20 (See 
FIGS. 1 and 2). Each trace 60 comprises an elongated film of conductive 
material laminated to the planar surface of board 12. In the illustrated 
embodiment, wherein 24 tip contacts 58 are accommodated, 14 of the traces 
60 are positioned on the bottom side surface 13 (See FIG. 1) and 10 of the 
traces are positioned on the top side surface 14 (See FIG. 2). The 14 
traces 60 on the bottom side surface 13 form an electrical path directly 
between the 14 pads 40 and the fourteen centermost terminals 20. The 10 
traces 60 on the top side surface 14 connect the outer 10 terminals 20 
with the remaining pads 49 by means of a plated film 62 inside the walls 
of the apertures 64. Apertures 64 are formed within the areas of the 10 
pads 40 located furthest from the terminals 20, and project from beneath 
pads 40 through board 12 to surface 14 (see FIGS. 2 and 6). 
Probe head assemblies of embodiment 10 utilize probe arms 42 comprised of a 
copper alloy, e.g., 9% nickel, 2% tin and 89% copper, with a gold plate, 
e.g., 100 microinch thickness. The pads 40, traces 60, fingers 16, fingers 
17 and conductors 21 are formed of a copper thin film. Hole pairs 18, 19, 
terminals 20, and film 62 are all copper plated. Pads 40 are also coated 
with a layer of gold plate, e.g., 100 microinch thickness, to provide a 
gold-to-gold interface connect with probe arms 42. Additionally, a 
conductive grease filled with gold and/or silver can be used to interface 
the probe arms 42 with pads 40. Contact arms 56 and tip contacts 58 are 
copper alloy in the present embodiment, but they could also be tungsten, 
platinum alloy or gold alloy, or any other conductive material with 
acceptable physical and electrical properties. 
Referring to FIG. 5, adjustment tool 52 is shown in an oversized view and 
includes a cylindrical body portion 66 having a knurled surface 68 which 
is intended to be grasped in the hand of an individual. Projecting from 
one end and coaxial with body 66 is a hollow cylindrical protrusion 70 
containing a flat blade 72 which bisects the inside diameter thereof. 
Protruding from the opposite end of body 66 is a spherical, hexagonal 
shaped boss 74 which is attached by a neck 76 to a spherical alignment 
ball 78. Ball 78 is in turn attached by a neck 80 to body 66. 
Referring now to FIG. 6, in making elevational adjustments of an individual 
probe contact tip 58, cylindrical protrusion 70 of tool 52 is placed over 
elevational adjustment screw 54 so that blade 72 engages the slot in the 
head of screw 54. As tool 52 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise 
about its axis, adjustment screw 54 moves upward or downward, 
respectively, in threaded bore 48. Since screw 54 contacts probe tip 58, 
the movement of screw 54 either upward or downward causes tip 58 to move 
upward or downward, respectively. 
Mounted on the top surface 14 of the probe head assembly 10 is an 
adjustment guide 82. Guide 82 is circular and concentric with the opening 
26 and forms a disc portion 83 and a hollow inverted V-shaped raised 
portion 84. Disc portion 83 extends from the edge of opening 26 to a point 
intermediate screws 36 and 38. V-shaped portion 84 is integral with disc 
portion 83 and forms a cover over the ring of screws 38 with the apex 
situated directly above screws 38 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 6). Extending 
through the raised portion 84 directly above each adjustment screw 38 is 
an adjustment access aperture 86 of a diameter slightly larger than the 
maximum diameter of the alignment ball 78 of tool 52. Thus, when boss 74 
is inserted through aperture 86 to adjust screw 38, ball 78 is proximate 
the side walls of aperture 86. While boss 74 is in engagement with the 
head of the aligned screw 38 a fulcrum effect is realized from the pivot 
of ball 78 against the sides of aperture 86. 
To realize radial and lateral adjustments of the individual probe 
positions, tool 52 is inserted through aperture 86 so that the hexagonal 
head shaped boss 74 mates with the hexagonal head shaped slot of 
adjustment screw 38. Rotating the tool 52 in a counterclockwise direction 
loosens adjustment screw 38 so that the position of the probe tip in the 
X-Y plane may be altered. Tool 52 functions similar to that of the 
"joystick" with the ball 78 capable of forming a fulcrum point at any 
point about the circumference of aperture 86. 
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, translation of the upper portion of tool 52 
along the radial line 30 of probe arm 42 (as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 
3) causes probe arm 42, the attached contact arm 56 and probe tip 58 to 
move a proportionate length in the direction opposite to the movement of 
the upper portion of tool 52, and also causes securing screw 36 to move 
along the long axis of bore 32. Similarly, translation of the upper 
portion of the tool 52 perpendicular to radial line 30 causes probe arm 42 
to pivot around securing screw 36 resulting in translation of contact tip 
58 an amount proportional to the translation of the upper portion of tool 
52. This translation is in the same direction as the translation of the 
upper portion of tool 52. Thus, radial and lateral adjustment of probe tip 
58 is achieved by a single adjustment means. Once the desired position of 
tip 58 is realized, adjustment screw 38 is tightened by rotating tool 52 
clockwise about its axis to secure that position. 
To incorporate probe head assembly 10 for testing integrated circuit 
devices, assembly 10 is mounted on a probing machine (not shown) and the 
device under test is placed on the machine chuck. The chuck and assembly 
10 are moved relative to one another to position the individual tip 
contacts 58 in alignment with the contact points of the device under test. 
Through a microscope, the elevational, radial and lateral positions of the 
individual tip contacts 58 relative to the device are observed. Positional 
adjustments of the individual probe arms 42 are made so that the pattern 
of the tip contacts 58 coincides with the pattern of the contact points of 
the device. If there are more tip contacts 58 than contact points on the 
device to be tested, the unnecessary tip contacts are elevationally 
adjusted by screws 54 so as not to contact the device under test. 
The test probe head assembly 10 is further adapted such that additional 
components may be interconnected with the assembly if desired. Hole pairs 
19 and terminals 20 may be readily joined in series or parallel with other 
components or interconnected to other hole pairs 19. Further, the 
conductors 21 connecting hole pairs 19 and terminals 20 may be opened if 
desired. 
Although a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been 
disclosed, it is contemplated that various modifications and alterations 
of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after 
having read the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that 
the description not be considered limiting, and that the appended claims 
be interpreted to cover all alterations and modifications which fall 
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.