Semiconductor test equipment with concentric pogo towers

A semiconductor test equipment with concentric pogo towers is disclosed, which comprises a base, a tester head, an outer pogo tower, and an inner pogo tower. The inner pogo tower is concentrically received in the outer pogo tower, and a connecting slot of the inner pogo tower is correspondingly engaged with a connecting pin of the outer pogo tower. The outer pogo tower is fixed to the load board together with the inner pogo tower, whereby a plurality of outer pogo pins of the outer pogo tower and a plurality of inner pogo pins of the inner pogo tower are electrically connected to the load board respectively. Therefore, the present invention is capable of expanding the test specifications, but also to change rapidly from different test specifications through replacing a different probe card but without to modify any other hardware.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor test equipment with concentric pogo towers, and more particularly, to a semiconductor test equipment with expandable pogo tower.

2. Description of Related Art

In terms of the current technology, the specifications of semiconductor test equipments almost cannot be changed. For instance, the conventional specifications of common semiconductor test equipment have 256 input/output channels and 16 groups DPS. However, due to the development of the functional integration are higher and higher in electronic products, the signal types are getting more complex related thereof.

However, improving the testing capacity in order to satisfy the current industrial requirements, the testing capabilities have been improved continuously. Hence, the specifications have been gradually upgraded from the 256 input/output channels and 16 groups DPS to the 512 input/output channels and 32 groups DPS. For this purpose, the outdated equipment with the 256 input/output channels and 16 groups DPS is difficult to further expand its test specifications due to limitations of original software or hardware, expect for re-purchasing new equipment with the 512 input/output channels and 32 groups DPS.

Although the re-equipped equipments are existed in order to expand the test specifications, it takes considerable costs of re-equipping and would not be compatible with the original test specifications after re-equipped. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an equipment that can be both compatible with the old and the new test specifications, which improves the problems as aforementioned for the equipment used in testing the shortcomings of a single specification, and may easy to expand the equipments according to the actual requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor test equipment with concentric pogo towers, comprising a base, a tester head, an outer pogo tower, and an inner pogo tower. The base includes a stage thereon, and a recessed card holder provided on the stage. The tester head is removeably provided on the stage of the base, the tester head includes a load board therebelow the tester head. In addition, the outer pogo tower includes an inner annular surface, a first connecting component and a plurality of outer pogo pins. Also, the inner pogo tower is concentrically received in the outer pogo tower and surrounding with the inner annular surface of the outer pogo tower. The inner pogo tower includes an outer peripheral surface, a second connecting component and a plurality of inner pogo pins.

According to the present invention, the inner pogo tower integrates with the outer pogo tower through the second connecting component correspondingly engaging with the first connecting component. Moreover, the outer pogo tower is fixed to the load board of the tester head together with the inner pogo tower corresponding to the recessed card holder of the base. In which, the plurality of inner pogo pins and the plurality of outer pogo pins are electrically connected to the load board respectively. Therefore, the present invention due to the integration of the inner pogo tower and the outer pogo tower, which through the second connecting component correspondingly engaging with the first connecting component, it is capable of expanding the test specifications.

Preferably, the first connecting component of the outer pogo tower is detachably engaged with the second connecting component of the inner pogo tower, so that the present invention can easily to disassemble, expand, or maintain based on the process requirements. Alternatively, the outer pogo tower may undetachably engage to the inner pogo tower. Furthermore, the second connecting component includes at least one connecting slot recessed on the outer peripheral surface. The at least one connecting slot may comprises an opened end and a closed end, wherein the opened end is configured faraway from the load board rather than the closed end.

In addition, the first connecting component of the outer pogo tower may include at least one connecting pin radially protruded from the inner annular surface of the outer pogo tower. The at least one connecting pin correspondingly sliding into the opened end of the at least one connecting slot and stopped at the closed end for engagement. Hence, the at least one connecting slot of the second connecting component of the inner pogo tower lodges in the at least one connecting pin of the first connecting component to be received in the outer pogo tower, in order to disassemble and assemble easily. Besides, as well as the aforementioned first and second connecting component can be exchanged, or utilize the way of embedding, lodging, fastening, locking, or other equivalents.

Further, the at least one connecting slot of the inner pogo tower may comprises two or more axially extended slots, L-shaped slot, spiral slot, or any other form of slot. In addition, the at least one connecting pin of the outer pogo tower may comprises two or more springy pins which be preferably set at unequal angle to prevent miss-assembling. Among which, the inner annular surface of the outer pogo tower provides at least one pin receiving hole, at least one of the springy pins comprises a spring and a short pin received in the at least one pin receiving hole, the short pin comprises one end pushed against the spring, and an opposite end exposed outside the inner annular surface. Thus, the short pin of the springy pin is capable of retractility and reposition, and to provide an effectiveness of radial retractable positioning.

Still further, the present invention may further comprises a fixed ring, the outer pogo tower may fixed to the load board of the tester head through the fixed ring, which is used to engage the outer pogo tower on the load board of the tester head. In addition, the outer pogo tower may further comprise a verification card fixed ring disposed on an opposite side of the outer pogo tower away from the load board. The verification card fixed ring is used to fix a verification card on the outer pogo tower, and the verification card is used to verify functions are normal or abnormal before proceeding test.

Furthermore, the present invention may further comprise a probe card optionally received in the recessed card holder of the base. The probe card may include a plurality of outer annular contacts and a plurality of inner annular contacts. Among which, the plurality of annular outer contacts are electrically contacted to the outer pogo pins of the outer pogo tower correspondingly. On the other hand, the plurality of inner annular contacts are electrically contacted to the inner pogo pins of the inner pogo tower correspondingly. Moreover, the present invention may further comprise a small size probe card optionally received in the recessed card holder of the base. The small size probe card may include a plurality of annular contacts, which are electrically contacted to the inner pogo pins of the inner pogo tower correspondingly.

Consequently, the semiconductor test equipment of the present invention is capable of using two or more different sizes of probe cards for testing but without to disassemble the load board or to modify any other hardware inside the equipment, and to reach an objective of changing specifications rapidly and also to reduce costs of converting process for enhancing the utilization ratio of the semiconductor test equipment.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed descriptions when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please referring toFIG. 1together withFIG. 2,FIG. 1is a schematic diagram showing a semiconductor test equipment as a whole according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 2is a perspective view showing a tester head, being located in position a, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figures, a base1includes a stage11thereon, and a recessed card holder111is provided on the stage11which is used to place a probe card5, a small size probe card50, a wafer to be tested, or other semiconductor chips or electronic components to be tested. In addition, the figures show a tester head2which may rotate closer to or away from the stage11of the base1through a rotating arm6. The tester head2is separably disposed on the stage11of the base1, a load board21that comprises circuits and contacts is provided below the tester head2.

Further referring toFIG. 3,FIG. 3is an exploded view diagram showing an inner pogo tower and an outer pogo tower, according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figures, an outer pogo tower32includes an inner annular surface320, a first connecting component321, a plurality of outer pogo pins342, a fixed ring4, and a verification card fixed ring323. In the present embodiment, the first connecting component321of the outer pogo tower32includes two connecting pins radially protruded from the inner annular surface320of the outer pogo tower. The fixed ring4is used to engage the outer pogo tower32on the load board21of the tester head2. The verification card fixed ring323disposed on an opposite side of the outer pogo tower32away from the load board21, the verification card is used to verify functions is normal or abnormal before proceed test.

Moreover, the figures also show an inner pogo tower31includes an outer peripheral surface310. The inner pogo tower31is concentrically received in the outer pogo tower32and surrounding with the inner annular surface320of the outer pogo tower31. The inner pogo tower31includes an outer peripheral surface310, a second connecting component311and a plurality of inner pogo pins341. In the present embodiment, the second connecting component311includes two connecting slot317recessed on the outer peripheral surface310. Each of connecting slots317comprises an opened end319and a closed end318; the opened end319is configured faraway from the load board21rather than the closed end318. Accordingly, the inner pogo tower31integrates with the outer pogo tower32through the second connecting component311correspondingly engaging with the first connecting component321. Moreover, the outer pogo tower32is fixed to the load board21of the tester head2together with the inner pogo tower31corresponding to the recessed card holder111of the base1. Hence, the plurality of inner pogo pins341and the plurality of outer pogo pins342are electrically connected to the load board21respectively.

Furthermore, the two connecting radial pins327of the outer pogo tower32correspondingly sliding into the opened end319of the two connecting slots317and stopped at the closed end318for engagement, which to reach the purposes of assembling, engaging, and fixing detachably. Besides, as well as the first connecting component321and the second connecting component311aforementioned can be exchanged, or utilize the way of embedding, lodging, fastening, locking, or other equivalents.

Please referring toFIG. 4simultaneously,FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view showing part of an inner pogo tower and an outer pogo tower in an enlarged scale according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figures, the connecting slots317of the second connecting components311of the present embodiment are axially extended slots, also it is able to be replaced for L-shaped slot, spiral slot, or any other form of slot. In addition, the connecting pins327of the first connecting components321are springy pins which be preferably set at unequal angle to prevent miss-assembling. Among which, the connecting pins327of the present embodiment are constructed of the following manner. The inner annular surface320of the outer pogo tower32provides two pin receiving holes325, the connecting pins327comprises a spring326and a short pin328which are received in the pin receiving holes325. The short pin328comprises one end pushed against the spring326; and an opposite end exposed outside the inner annular surface320. Thus, the short pins328of the connecting pins327are capable of retractility and reposition, and to provide an effectiveness of radial retractable positioning, and more convenient to assemble or disassemble.

Please referring toFIG. 2, the figure shows a probe card5, and a small size probe card50. The main intention is to change two or more different sizes of probe cards for testing in any time without disassembling the load board21or modifying any hardware inside of the equipment, so that may reach an objective for changing specifications rapidly and may also reduce the costs of converting process for enhancing the utilization ratio of the semiconductor test equipment. In detail, for the present embodiment, it may select small size probe card50when only need to test specifications for the 256 input/output channels and 16 groups DPS. On the other hand, it may select small size probe card5when need to test specifications for the 512 input/output channels and 32 groups DPS.

In other words, the probe card5is received optionally in the recessed card holder111of the base1. The probe card5may include a plurality of outer annular contacts51and a plurality of inner annular contacts52. Among which, the plurality of outer annular contacts51are electrically contacted to the outer pogo pins342of the outer pogo tower32of the tester head2correspondingly. Besides, the plurality of inner annular contacts52are electrically contacted to the inner pogo pins341of the inner pogo tower31of the tester head2correspondingly. On the other hand, because of the small size probe card50relatively includes fewer channels required for the test, it only includes a plurality of annular contacts, which are electrically contacted to the inner pogo pins of the inner pogo tower correspondingly.

Please referring toFIG. 5,FIG. 5is an exploded view diagram showing a pogo tower, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. The present embodiment is to illustrate the extensibility of the present invention. In detail, except for that the inner pogo tower31integrates with the outer pogo tower32through the second connecting component311correspondingly engaging with the first connecting component321aforementioned, it further attaches an expanding pogo tower33. The expanding pogo tower33is assembled in an inner annular surface312of the inner pogo tower31by the same way to expand the test specifications. Of course, ways of expanding are not limited to the way aforementioned, another approach could be attached to the outer peripheral surface322of the outer pogo tower32.

Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.