Docking device, more particularly for a probe and a tester

A device for docking two means (100, 200), more particularly a probe (100) and a tester (200), including a first mounting board (110) arranged at the first means (100) and a second mounting board (210) arranged at the second means (200) which in the docked condition of the means (100, 200) are adjoined in a docking plane, the first mounting board (110) being provided with a recess (111) oriented inclined to the docking plane for engaging at least one peg (220) shiftingly mounted on the second mounting board (210), the second mounting board (210) comprising an actuator (300) by means of which the peg (220) guided in the recess (111) is shiftable between an open position and a docked position mutually clamping the first mounting board (110) and the second mounting board (210), wherein the actuator (300) has a slide (310, 311) mounting the peg (220) which is movable by means of a spindle (330, 331) between the open position and the docked position of the peg (220) in order to achieve a compact design and relatively high docking forces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for docking two means, more particularly a probe and a tester, including a first mounting board arranged at the first means and a second mounting board arranged at the second means which in the docked condition of the means are adjoined in a docking plane. The first mounting board is provided with a recess oriented inclined to the docking plane for engaging at least one peg shiftingly mounted on the second mounting board, and the second mounting board comprises an actuator by means of which the peg guided in the recess is shiftable between an open position and a docked position mutually clamping the first mounting board and the second mounting board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device of the aforementioned kind finds application, for example, for docking a probe and a tester so that the probe is precisely positioned as a rule by a manipulator on the tester. The tester involved may be, for example, a system for grading integrated circuits (ICs) or wafers for function testing by the probe. To obtain true results it is necessary to advance the relatively heavy probe very near to the tester and to maintain it precisely in position there.

Known devices of this kind include a first mounting board arranged at the first means and a second mounting board arranged at the second means which in the docked condition of the means adjoin each other in a docking plane. The first mounting board is provided with a recess oriented inclined to the docking plane for engaging at least one peg shiftingly mounted on the second mounting board. The peg is shiftable between an open position and a docked position in the substantially groove-like recess. When docking the probe to the tester the peg in its open position gains access to the recess. With the aid of an actuator the peg can then be shifted into the docked position. Due to the recess being oriented inclined to the docking plane the first and second mounting board are mutually clamped when the peg is shifted from the open position into the docked position. To reliably clamp the first mounting board and the second mounting board, it is then necessary to apply relatively high docking forces by the actuator.

Known devices of the aforementioned kind are provided with an actuator including a lever-actuated rod gearing comprising a plurality of articulatedly interconnected push rods. The peg engaging the recess in the first mounting board is connected to the push rods so that when the push rods are moved by the lever the peg is moved from its open position into the docked position and vice-versa. Also known, instead of this mechanical rod actuator, is to provide a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator for shifting the peg between the open position and docked position.

The disadvantage of these known devices is the relatively bulky design of the actuator which is particularly unfavorable in conjunction with IC and wafer probe/tester docking as described above which usually takes place in a clean room or ultraclean environment. In addition, refitting the known devices with various push rods is relatively complicated. Also unsatisfactory is that due to the lever being actuated manually as a rule, it is not always the case that the docking forces are sufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the objective of providing a device for docking two means with which relatively high docking forces are achievable for a compact design.

To achieve this objective it is provided for in the device having the aforementioned features in accordance with the invention that the actuator has a slide mounting the peg which is movable by means of a spindle between the open position and the docked position of the peg.

Such an actuator makes use of having discovered that by means of the spindle-powered slide mounting the pin, relatively high docking forces can now be achieved. The reason for this is that unlike conventional push rods transmitting tensioning and compressive forces, the spindle permits transmission of a torque with which far higher docking forces can be produced. Transmitting a torque instead of tensioning and compressive forces further permits achieving a relatively compact design of the actuator. In addition, providing the slide powered by the spindle facilitates orienting the peg relative to the recess configured in the first mounting board. This is condusive to adapting the device in accordance with the invention flexibly to a variety of first mounting boards and thus to various probes.

Advantageous aspects of the device in accordance with the invention read from the subject matter of the dependent claims.

Thus, it is of advantage as regards shifting the peg into the recess with low friction as mandatory with use in a clean room environment, to arrange the peg mounted rotatable about its longitudinal axis on the slide. This enables the peg to rotate about its longitudinal axis in being shifted from the open position into the docked position in thus practically avoiding any attrition formed by friction between the peg and the recess.

It is further of advantage to provide two pegs on the slide arranged preferably adjacently staggered inclined in accordance with the orientation of the recess. Providing two pegs permits achieving high docking forces for a relatively compact design.

Preferably the recess is configured in a sidewall of the first mounting board facing the peg in the docked condition of the means and extending in the open position of the peg down to an underside of the first mounting board facing the second mounting board. This configuration results in the peg engaging the recess parallel to the docking plane and thus perpendicular to the direction in which the first mounting board and the second mounting board are joined together. Reliably clamping the first mounting board and second mounting board in the docked position of the peg is thereby assured.

Advantageously, the second mounting board is provided with a guide for the slide to ensure precisely shifting of the peg. As regards a configuration which is simple and has a proven record of success the guide in this arrangement is configured flat or dovetailed.

It is further of advantage to arrange at least two bearings in which the spindle is rotatively mounted on the second mounting board in thus making sure that on rotation of the spindle the slide moves relative thereto.

In one advantageous aspect the spindle is provided with a self-locking thread to prevent the peg from automatically retracting into the open position from its docked position. The self-locking thread of the spindle also makes it possible to vary defining the docked position of the peg. For in this aspect it is not necessary to provide an end stop for the peg in the docked position. Instead, the docked position can then be defined, for instance, by a predefined docking force being attained.

To make for a configuration which is simple and has a proven record of success the spindle can be powered to advantage by a drive moment produced by a handwheel or an electric motor. When an electric motor is used, docking the first mounting board and second mounting board can be automated by simple ways and means. Preferably the drive moment is transmitted to the spindle by means of at least one connecting shaft, this aspect assuring an arrangement of the spindle on the second mounting board in keeping with individual requirements, i.e. irrespective of the source generating the drive moment, for example the handwheel. For this purpose it is also of advantage when two connecting shafts and/or a connecting shaft and the spindle are interconnected by an articulated coupling, preferably a universal joint.

In one advantageous further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention it is also proposed to provide several slides on the second mounting board. In this case the drive moment can be transmitted by means of an angular gearing preferably configured as a bevel gearing or spiral gearing simultaneously to several spindles driving each of the slides, the first mounting board then being provided with recesses at positions corresponding to the individual slides. Providing several slides and consequently several pegs engaging a recess in differing positions makes it possible to uniformly distribute the docking forces along the periphery of the first mounting board and second mounting board. In this arrangement good results have been obtained by arranging the slides in pairs opposingly on the second mounting board. To ensure safe docking of the first mounting board and second mounting board it is of advantage in this case to travel the opposing slides in opposite directions, the recesses in the first mounting board corresponding to the slide in each case being configured to travel opposingly. For it is in this way that a diametral arrangement of the docked and open positions of the pegs materializes.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the device in accordance with the invention the spindles assigned to the slides arranged opposingly are provided with threads differently oriented. Providing one spindle with a right-hand thread and another spindle with a left-hand thread permits an opposite motion of each slide for the same sense of rotation of the spindles.

In a further advantageous further embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention it is further proposed to provide the second mounting board with a centering pin for engaging a correspondingly configured opening in the first mounting board in the docked condition of the means. Centering the first mounting board and second mounting board in this way ensures that the peg is able to engage the recess of the first mounting board in its open position. In conclusion it is proposed to configure the opening as a sleeve receiving the centering pin to reliably attain centering in a low-profile configuration of the first mounting board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS. 1ato1cthere is illustrated a probe100which is freely positionable in space by means of a manipulator101. The probe100in the position as shown inFIGS. 1ato1cis still to be docked to a tester200. The probe100serves to function-test integrated circuits (ICs) or wafer furnished by the tester200. Arranged on the probe100or alternatively on the tester200is a first mounting board110. Provided on the tester200or alternatively on the probe100is a second mounting board210shown in more detail inFIGS. 2ato2c. This second mounting board210adjoins the first mounting board110when the probe100is docked on the tester200.

Referring now toFIG. 2athere is illustrated how the substantially square second mounting board210features a center opening215in the middle. Mounted on this frame formed in this way is an actuator300. The actuator300consists of a handwheel350which is non-rotatably connected by a connecting shaft360to an angular gearing380configured as a spiral gearing.

Arranged on both sides of the center opening215are two slides310,311arranged opposite each other. The slides310,311are guided linearly and parallel to each other by a guide320,321configured dovetailed. As particularly evident fromFIGS. 2band2cthe slides310,311are each moved by a spindle330,331. The spindle331is directly connected to the angular gearing380whereas the spindle330arranged more remote from the angular gearing380is connected to the angular gearing380via an articulated coupling370configured as a universal joint and a connecting shaft360. Each spindle330,331is mounted in a plain bearing340and features a differing orientation of its thread configured self-locking. This results in each slide310,311being moved in the opposite direction to the other for the same sense of rotation of the spindle330,331powered by the handwheel350.

Each slide310,311is provided with a peg220. The pegs220are arranged rotatively mounted on the slides310,311and protrude each partly into the portion of the center opening215in opposite directions.

Also arranged on the second mounting board210are two centering pins230. The centering pins230are secured to bases231arranged on both sides of the center opening215and protrude upright from the plane of the second mounting board210.

In the docked condition of probe100and tester200the centering pins230serve to center the first mounting board110and second mounting board210relative to each other. For this purpose, the first mounting board110likewise configured substantially square and provided with a center opening115in the middle is provided with two sleeves120arranged on both sides of the center opening115in which the centering pins230engage with the first mounting board110adjoining the second mounting board210. As evident fromFIGS. 1band3ato3dthe first mounting board110is provided on both sides of the center opening115with a sidewall112protruding downwards and extending along the slides310,311. The face113of the sidewalls112facing the slides310,311is provided with a recess111open in the direction of the slides310,311in which each peg220engages.

Referring now toFIGS. 4ato4cin addition toFIG. 1athere is illustrated how the recess111is configured oriented inclined to the plane of the first mounting board110and second mounting board210in porting into the open at the underside114of the sidewall112. This makes it possible to adjoin the first mounting board110and second mounting board210so closely in docking the probe100to the tester200that the pegs220are guided into each recess111from the underside114of the sidewall112.

As evident fromFIG. 3athe recesses111are configured opposing in accordance with the opposing directions of travelling the slides310,311in thus resulting in open or docked positions of the pegs220which are diametrally opposed. The open position of the pegs220is located where the recesses111port into the open at the underside114of the sidewalls112, whereas the docked position is located at the end of the recess111facing away from the open position. This is clearly evident fromFIG. 4b. Likewise evident from the last-mentioned Figure is how slide310and analog slide311is provided in a section315comprising spindle330and331respectively with a female thread316. It is due to the female thread316that rotation of the spindles330,331produces a relative movement between these and the slides310,311.FIGS. 4aand4bshow in addition how spindle330and analog spindle311is provided with grooves335at their ends in each case by means of which, for instance, a connecting shaft360or articulated coupling370can be non-rotatably connected.

With the device as described above for docking the probe100at the tester200it is now possible to achieve relatively high docking forces for a compact design. The reason for this is that the slides310,311powered to travel by the spindles330,331and linearly guided by means of the guides320,321and thus the pegs220are moved from the open position into the docked position. In moving the peg220from the open position into the docked position the first mounting board110and the second mounting board210are mutually clamped by the angled orientation of the recesses111. The torque transmitted from the handwheel350to the spindles330,331is converted into a linear movement of the slides310,311, resulting in high docking forces in clamping the first mounting board110to the second mounting board210. Shifting the pegs220by means of the slides310,311powered by the spindles330,331also contributes towards making the device as described above universal in application, it thus being possible, for example, to dimension the length of the spindles330,331so that an adequate travel of the slides310,311is available for various probes100and thus for first mounting board110having recesses111differing in length. In addition, simply connecting the spindles330,331by connecting shafts360and/or articulated couplings370and/or angular gearings380makes for a flexible configuration of the device which is simple to adapt to each application. Last but not least, providing the spindles330,331with a self-locking thread reliably ensures precise shifting of the pegs220into the docked position.