Abstract:
An embodiment of an electrical connecting apparatus enables reliable identification of a mark and enables accurate and easy determination of a coordinate position of the mark. The electrical connecting apparatus comprises a supporting body having a lower surface, a plurality of contacts arranged on the lower surface of the supporting body, a mark that is provided on a lower side of the supporting body and whose light passing feature differs from that of an area adjacent to the mark, and a light source provided to the supporting body to irradiate light to the mark from an upper side of the mark.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The instant application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-036435, filed Feb. 19, 2009, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    An embodiment of the subject matter relates to an electrical connecting apparatus for use in an electrical test of a flat-plate-shaped device under test such as an integrated circuit. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A flat-plate-shaped device under test such as an integrated circuit formed on a semiconductor wafer, an integrated circuit diced from a wafer, or the like, undergoes an electrical test with use of an electrical connecting apparatus such as a probe card to determine whether or not the integrated circuit functions in accordance with the specification. At the time of such an electrical test, the device under test is thrust at its electrodes by probe tips of contacts of the electrical connecting apparatus and is supplied with electrical signals in this state. This is shown generally in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2008-145238 and Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. H10-206463, which are incorporated by reference. 
         [0004]    In a testing apparatus using the electrical connecting apparatus of this kind, it is important that the probe tip of each contact is opposed to the corresponding electrode of the device under test and that a virtual plane formed by the probe tips of the plural contacts is parallel to a test stage in order to obtain accurate test results. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the testing apparatus has an alignment function of detecting coordinate positions of plural marks such as alignment marks provided on the electrical connecting apparatus by a detecting unit provided on the test stage receiving the device under test to determine the two-dimensional coordinate position or three-dimensional coordinate position of each mark and relatively displacing the electrical connecting apparatus and the test stage based on the determined result to align the probe tip of each contact with the corresponding electrode of the device under test. 
         [0006]    The electrical connecting apparatus used in the testing apparatus having the above alignment function is exemplified by one that uses the probe tip itself of the contact as a mark (Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2008-175762, which is incorporated by reference), one in which a mark is formed in proximity to the probe tip (Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2005-533263 (WO2004-15432), which is incorporated by reference), and one in which a mark is provided at a member other than the contact (Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2007-278859, which is incorporated by reference). 
         [0007]    In any of the above testing apparatuses, light is irradiated from the detecting unit toward the mark, and the reflected light from the mark is detected at the detecting unit to identify the mark and determine the coordinate position of the mark. 
         [0008]    However, in the above conventional apparatuses, since the output signal of the detecting unit is inevitably influenced to a great extent by the incident light to the detecting unit reflected from the surrounding area of the mark although the amount of the reflected light from the mark is small, the mark cannot be identified accurately, and thus it is difficult to determine an accurate coordinate position of the mark. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    An embodiment of an electrical connecting apparatus is provided which enables reliable identification of a mark and enable accurate and easy determination of a coordinate position of the mark. 
         [0010]    An electrical connecting apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a supporting body having a lower surface, a plurality of contacts arranged on the lower surface of the supporting body, a mark that is provided at a lower portion or a lower side of the supporting body and whose light passing feature differs from that of an area adjacent to the mark, and a light source provided to the supporting body to irradiate light to the mark from an upper side of the mark. 
         [0011]    The supporting body may have a recess opened toward the mark, and the light source may be arranged in the recess. 
         [0012]    The supporting body may include a ceramic board and a sheet-like board having a lower surface on which the contacts are arranged and arranged to be piled on a lower surface of the ceramic board. In this case, the mark may be provided on the lower surface of the sheet-like board, and the ceramic board may have the recess. 
         [0013]    The supporting body may include a wiring board, a block having a lower surface projecting downward from the wiring board and supported on the wiring board, and a sheet-like board having a lower surface on which the contacts are supported and arranged on a lower side of the wiring board and the block in a state where an upper surface of an area at which the contacts are arranged is opposed to the lower surface of the block. In this case, the mark may be provided on the lower surface of the sheet-like board, and the block may have the recess. 
         [0014]    The supporting body may include a wiring board having a lower surface on which the contacts are supported, a probe holder arranged on a lower surface of the wiring board, and an adhesive layer attaching the contacts to the probe holder so as to support the contacts on the lower surface of the wiring board. In this case, the mark may be provided on the lower surface of the wiring board, and the wiring board may have the recess. 
         [0015]    The supporting body may include a wiring board having a lower surface on which the contacts are supported, a probe holder arranged on a lower surface of the wiring board, and an adhesive layer attaching the contacts to the probe holder so as to support the contacts on the lower surface of the wiring board. In this case, the mark may be provided on the probe holder or the adhesive layer, and the probe holder or the adhesive layer provided with the mark may have the recess. 
         [0016]    The sheet-like board may have a second recess opened toward the recess of the ceramic board. Also, the mark may be a sheet-like mark member arranged on the lower surface of the sheet-like board, and the mark may be formed in the mark member in a state of being opposed to the second recess. 
         [0017]    The mark may be formed in the sheet-like board in a state of being opposed to the recess of the ceramic board. 
         [0018]    The mark may include an area that permits passing of light from the light source, and the adjacent area may restrict or block passing of light from the light source. On the contrary, the mark may include an area that restricts or blocks passing of light from the light source, and the adjacent area may permit passing of light from the light source. 
         [0019]    The mark may be located at a position in proximity to the contacts at which the contacts are not located. Also, the mark may be formed in a sheet-like mark member arranged on the lower surface of the supporting body. 
         [0020]    Light from a light source may be irradiated to a mark provided on the lower side of a supporting body supporting contacts from the upper side of the mark. As for the amount of consequent incident light to a detecting unit provided on the side of a test stage, large difference exists between the amount of light from the mark and the amount of light from an area adjacent to the mark. As a result, since sufficient light-dark contrast can be obtained between the mark and the surrounding area, the mark can be identified reliably, and the coordinate position of the mark can be determined accurately and readily. 
         [0021]    When the mark and the adjacent area are formed in a sheet-like board itself or in a mark member arranged on the lower surface of the sheet-like board, the mark and the adjacent area may be manufactured together with the sheet-like board. Thus, the mark and the adjacent area may be manufactured readily. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front view showing an embodiment of a testing apparatus having an electrical connecting apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the electrical connecting apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  (A) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a mark and its surrounding, and  FIG. 3  (B) is a bottom view. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view showing a second embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view obtained along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view showing a third embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view obtained along the line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the mark and its surrounding. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view showing a fourth embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the mark and its surrounding. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the mark and its surrounding. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a fifth embodiment of the mark and its surrounding. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    In  FIG. 1 , a right-left direction is referred to as a right-left direction or an X direction, a direction perpendicular to the drawing sheet is referred to as a front-back direction or a Y direction, and an up-down direction is referred to as an up-down direction or a Z direction. However, these directions differ with the posture in which a device under test is arranged in a testing apparatus. 
         [0035]    Accordingly, as for the above directions, the X direction or the Y direction may be determined to be within any one plane of a horizontal plane, an inclined surface inclined to the horizontal plane, and a vertical plane vertical to the horizontal plane or may be determined to be a combination of these planes in accordance with an actual testing apparatus. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a testing apparatus  10  is used in an electrical test to determine whether or not a plurality of semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits formed on a disk-shaped semiconductor wafer  12  are manufactured in accordance with the specification, with the disk-shaped semiconductor wafer  12  as a device under test. These semiconductor devices are tested or inspected at a time or in several batches. Each semiconductor device has a plurality of electrodes  14  such as pad electrodes on the upper surface. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the testing apparatus  10  has a test stage  16  receiving the wafer  12  and an electrical connecting apparatus  18  connecting the integrated circuits of the wafer  12  received on the test stage  16  to a not shown electrical circuit of the testing apparatus  10 . 
         [0038]    The test stage  16  has a chuck top  20  receiving the wafer  12  on the upper surface and releasably vacuum-absorbs it and an actuating mechanism  22  three-dimensionally moving the chuck top  20  in the X, Y, and Z directions and angularly rotating it around a theta axis extending in the Z direction. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus  18  resulting from improvement of a connecting apparatus described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2008-145238, which is incorporated by reference so that the embodiment may be applied to the connecting apparatus. 
         [0040]    The electrical connecting apparatus  18  includes a reinforcing member  24  having a flat lower surface, a circular flat-plate-shaped wiring board  26  held on the lower surface of the reinforcing member  24 , a rectangular flat-plate-shaped electrical connector  28  arranged on the lower surface of the wiring board  26 , a rectangular flat-plate-shaped probe board  30  arranged on the lower surface of the electrical connector  28 , and a plurality of contacts  32  arranged on the lower surface of the probe board  30 , as described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2008-145238. 
         [0041]    The reinforcing member  24  is made of a metal material such as a stainless steel plate so as to be formed in a plate-like flat shape. 
         [0042]    As described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2008-145238, an annular thermal deformation restricting member (not shown) restricting thermal deformation of the reinforcing member  24  may be arranged on the upper side of the reinforcing member  24 , and a cover (not shown) may be arranged on the thermal deformation restricting member. 
         [0043]    The wiring board  26  is made of an electrical insulating resin such as a glass-containing epoxy resin in a disk shape, has a plurality of internal wires (not shown) for use in transmission/reception of signals to/from the corresponding contacts  32 , and has multiple connectors (or multiple tester lands)  34  to be connected to an electrical circuit (not shown) of the testing apparatus  10  at the annular circumferential portion on the upper surface of the board  26 . 
         [0044]    The reinforcing member  24  and the wiring board  26  are coaxially coupled by a plurality of screw members (not shown) in a state where the lower surface of the reinforcing member  24  and the upper surface of the wiring board  26  abut on each other. 
         [0045]    The electrical connector  28  has connecting members electrically connecting the aforementioned internal wires of the wiring board  26  to internal wires (not shown) of the probe board  30 . 
         [0046]    The electrical connector  28  is coupled with the center portion on the lower surface of the wiring board  26  together with the probe board  30  by an appropriate attachment (not shown) and a plurality of screw members (not shown) in a state where its upper surface abuts on the lower surface of the wiring board  26  and where the probe board  30  is piled on the lower side of the electrical connector  28 , in the example shown in the figures. 
         [0047]    The probe board  30  is a combined board in which a multilayered ceramic board  36  and a multilayered flexible board or sheet-like board  38  are layered one above the other and is coupled with the lower surface of the wiring board  26  together with the electrical connector  28  as described above in a state where the ceramic board  36  is on the upper side and where the sheet-like board  38  is on the lower side, in the example shown in the figures. 
         [0048]    The ceramic board  36  is formed in a rectangular flat shape to be approximately as large as the electrical connector  28  and has a plurality of internal wires (not shown) electrically connected to the internal wires of the wiring board by the aforementioned connecting members of the electrical connector  28 . 
         [0049]    The sheet-like board  38  is formed in a rectangular flat shape to be slightly smaller than the ceramic board  36  and is made of an electrical insulating resin such as a polyimide resin to be formed integrally with the ceramic board  36 . 
         [0050]    The sheet-like board  38  has inside a plurality of internal wires (not shown) electrically connected to the internal wires of the ceramic board  36  and has on its lower surface a plurality of probe lands (not shown) electrically connected to the internal wires of the sheet-like board  38 . 
         [0051]    Each contact  32  is connected to the probe land by means of connection by a conductive bonding material such as solder, welding by laser, or the like, and is attached to the probe land in a cantilevered manner in a state where the probe tip is directed downward. Accordingly, in the example shown in the figures, the probe board  30  acts as a supporting body supporting the contacts  32 . 
         [0052]    In the example shown in the figures, a plate-shaped probe formed in a crank shape is used as each contact  32 , and its lower end on the tip end side acts as a probe tip. Such a contact  32  is publicly known, and an example of it is described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2005-201844, which is incorporated by reference. 
         [0053]    However, each contact  32  may be one conventionally well known such as a probe made of a metal fine wire such as a tungsten wire, a plate-shaped probe manufactured with use of a photolithographic technique and a deposition technique, a probe in which plural wires are formed on one surface of an electrical insulating sheet such as polyimide to use a part of these wires as a contact, or the like. 
         [0054]    In either case, the probe tips of the contacts  32  are arrayed on a virtual plane parallel to the wafer  12  received on the chuck top  20 . 
         [0055]    The testing apparatus  10  also includes an alignment apparatus for use in alignment of the probe tip of each contact  32  with the corresponding electrode  14  of the wafer  12 . Such an alignment apparatus includes a plurality of mark units  40  provided on the side of the connecting apparatus  18  and a detecting unit  42  provided on the side of the test stage  16  to capture the mark units  40 . 
         [0056]    Each mark unit  40  includes a rectangular sheet-like mark member  44  arranged on the lower surface of the sheet-like board  38  and a light source  46  arranged above the mark member  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 3  (A) and  3  (B). 
         [0057]    The mark member  44  is made of a material that blocks passing of light from the light source  46 , in which a circular area at the center is an alignment mark  48  that blocks passing of light from the light source  46 , and in which an annular area around the mark  48  is an area  50  that permits passing of light from the light source  46 . In  FIG. 3  (B), areas that block passing of light from the light source  46  are shaded. 
         [0058]    For each light source  46  may be used an appropriate light source such as one that generates light with a specific wavelength such as a light emitting diode or a laser oscillator, one that generates white light such as a white lamp, or the like. 
         [0059]    In either case, each light source  46  receives electricity from a not shown power source via the wiring board  26 , the electrical connector  28 , and the probe board  30  and emits light. Thus, the wiring board  26 , the electrical connector  28 , and the probe board  30  have conductive paths for electricity to the light source  46 . 
         [0060]    The mark  48  has the same light blocking feature as a light blocking feature showing a light passing feature of the material itself of the mark member  44  and is formed in a circular flat shape. In contrast, the area  50  is an annular through hole penetrating the mark member  44  in its thickness direction. 
         [0061]    However, in a case where the mark  48  is an area that completely blocks passing of light, the area  50  may be either a transparent area that permits complete passing of light or a semi-transparent area that permits partial passing of light. On the contrary, in a case where the mark  48  is a semi-transparent area that permits partial passing of light, the area  50  shall be a transparent area that permits complete passing of light. 
         [0062]    In other words, the mark  48  and the area  50  have only to have optical features that can be distinguished from each other clearly. Thus, the mark  48  and the area  50  may be areas that permit passing of optical elements with different wavelengths. For example, either the mark  48  or the area  50  may be an area that exclusively permits passing of red light while the other one may be an area that exclusively permits passing of purple light. 
         [0063]    The ceramic board  36  has a recess  52  opened downward to be opposed to the mark  48  and the area  50 . The light source  46  is arranged in the recess  52  so as to irradiate the mark  48  and the area  50  with light from above. As the light source  46 , a light source appropriate for light passing features of the mark  48  and the area  50  is selected such as one that generates monochromatic light, one that generates white light, or the like. 
         [0064]    The sheet-like board  38  has a recess  54  corresponding to the recess  52  and opened to the side of the recess  52 . This recess  54  makes a part  56  of the sheet-like board  38  opposed to the mark  48  and the area  50  smaller in thickness and makes the part  56  a transparent or semi-transparent light passing area in accordance with the light source  46 , the mark  48 , and the area  50 . 
         [0065]    The detecting unit  42  includes a camera, e.g., a CCD camera, such as an area sensor that captures the mark  48  and the surroundings. It is arranged on the actuating mechanism  22 , is three-dimensionally moved in the X, Y, and Z directions together with the chuck top  20 , and is angularly rotated around a theta axis extending in the Z direction. The detecting unit  42  may be arranged on the chuck top  20 . 
         [0066]    The output signal of the detecting unit  42  is supplied to the electrical circuit of the testing apparatus  10 , which identifies the mark  48 , and is used to determine a coordinate position of the mark  48  against the test stage  16  (that is, coordinate positions of the probe tips of the contacts  32  against the electrodes  14  of the wafer  12 ) and generate an instruction signal that displaces the chuck top  20  against the connecting apparatus  18  based on the determined coordinate position. 
         [0067]    Alignment by the testing apparatus  10  is performed in the following manner. 
         [0068]    First, the chuck top  20  and the detecting unit  42  are two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally moved relative to the connecting apparatus  18  to a position where the detecting unit  42  may capture a mark  48  and the area  50  and stopped at the position. 
         [0069]    Next, in the above state, the mark  48  and the area  50  around it are captured by a camera of the detecting unit  42 , and an output signal of the camera is supplied to the not shown electrical circuit as described above. At this moment, the light source  46  is illuminated, and the mark  48  and the surrounding area are irradiated with light from the light source  46  from their upper side. 
         [0070]    As for the amount of incident light on the detecting unit  42 , large difference exists between the amount of light from the mark  48  and the amount of light from the area  50  since the mark  48  restricts or blocks passing of light while the area  50  permits passing of light. 
         [0071]    The aforementioned movement of the detecting unit  42  relative to the connecting apparatus  18  and capture of the mark  48  and the area  50  by the detecting unit  42  are performed per mark  48  as a mark detecting step. 
         [0072]    The aforementioned electrical circuit identifies the mark  48  based on the input signal and performs a coordinate position determining step of determining a coordinate position of the mark  48  against the test stage  16  (that is, coordinate positions of the probe tips of the contacts  32  against the electrodes  14  of the wafer  12 ) per mark  48 . 
         [0073]    When the above coordinate position determining step for every mark  48  is finished, the aforementioned electrical circuit generates an instruction signal that displaces the chuck top  20  against the connecting apparatus  18  based on the determined coordinate positions and supplies the instruction signal to a not shown actuating circuit. This actuates the actuating mechanism  22  and moves the chuck top  20  against the connecting apparatus  18 , thereby locating the probe tip of each contact  32  above the corresponding electrode  14 . 
         [0074]    According to the testing apparatus  10 , sufficient light-dark contrast can be obtained between the mark  48  and the surrounding area  50 . As a result, the mark  48  may be identified reliably, and the coordinate position of the mark  48  can be determined accurately and readily. 
         [0075]    Also, the mark member  44  can be manufactured readily since it can be manufactured together with the sheet-like board  38  with use of a photolithographic technique, a plating technique, an electroforming technique, or the like, in a similar manner to that of the sheet-like board  38 . 
         [0076]    In a case of the connecting apparatus having the sheet-like board  38  as a part of a supporting body, the pattern corresponding to the mark  48  and the area  50  of the mark member  44  may be formed at the part  56  of the sheet-like board  38  in  FIG. 3 . By doing so, the mark member  44  may be manufactured more readily. 
         [0077]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show an embodiment of an electrical connecting apparatus  60  resulting from improvement of a connecting apparatus described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2007-278859, which is incorporated by reference so that the embodiment may be applied to the connecting apparatus. The connecting apparatus  60  is used in an electrical test of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed on the semiconductor wafer  12 , with the wafer  12  as a device under test, in a similar manner to that of the aforementioned connecting apparatus  10 . 
         [0078]    Each semiconductor device arranges on its upper surface two rows of the plurality of electrodes  14  spaced in the right-left direction in the example shown in the figures. A testing apparatus using the connecting apparatus  60  tests these semiconductor devices at a time or in several batches. As for a test stage to be used in the testing apparatus together with the connecting apparatus  60 , the test stage  16  shown in  FIG. 1  may be used. 
         [0079]    The connecting apparatus  60  includes a disk-shaped wiring board  62 , a plate-shaped member  64  attached to the upper surface of the wiring board  62 , a plate-shaped ring-like member  66  arranged on the lower side of the plate-shaped member  64 , a leaf spring  68  arranged on the lower side of the ring-like member  66 , a block  70  mounted on the lower surface of the leaf spring  68 , a circuit board or a sheet-like board  72  arranged on the lower side of the block  70 , and a plurality of adjusting screws  76  penetrating the plate-shaped member  64  in its thickness direction to abut on the ring-like member  66 , as described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. 2007-278859. 
         [0080]    The wiring board  62  has a through hole  78  passing through its center portion in the thickness direction (up-down direction), not shown multiple connectors (or multiple tester lands) to be connected to a not shown electrical circuit of the testing apparatus at the circumferential portion on the upper surface, and a plurality of connection lands (not shown) on the lower surface at an area between the through hole  78  and the outer circumferential edge to be spaced in the circumferential direction. The through hole  78  is formed in a circular flat shape. 
         [0081]    The wiring board  62  also has a plurality of internal wires (not shown) each connecting the terminal of the connector (not shown) to the connection land (not shown) in one-to-one relationship. Such a wiring board  62  can be made of a glass-containing epoxy resin or a ceramic material as in a similar manner to that of the aforementioned wiring board  26 . 
         [0082]    The plate-shaped member  64  is formed in a circular plate shape to be larger than the through hole  87  and is attached to the upper surface of the wiring board  62  in a state of closing the through hole  78 , that is, to be parallel to the wiring board  62 , by a plurality of screw members  80  penetrating the plate-shaped member  64  and screwed in the wiring board  62 . 
         [0083]    Also, the plate-shaped member  64  is made of a metal material such as stainless steel so as to function as a reinforcing plate of the wiring board  62 . Accordingly, the plate-shaped member  64  does not need to be a complete plate. 
         [0084]    The ring-like member  66  is made of a metal material such as stainless steel, especially a metal material with a small thermal expansion coefficient, to be formed in a plate-like ring shape having a slightly smaller outer diameter than the diameter of the through hole  78  and is located within the through hole of the wiring board  62 . 
         [0085]    Also, the ring-like member  66  is attached to the lower surface of the plate-shaped member  64  to be parallel to the wiring board  62  and the plate-shaped member  64  by a plurality of attachment screws  82  penetrating the plate-shaped member  64  in its thickness direction and screwed in the ring-like member  66 . 
         [0086]    The leaf spring  68  has a flat central area, a plurality of plate-like extending areas spaced in the circumferential direction of a virtual circle and extending from the central area in the radial direction of the virtual circle, and a ring-like circumferential area integrally continuing around the extending areas. 
         [0087]    The central area and the plate-like extending areas of the leaf spring  68  are formed like an asterisk (*) shape. The number of the extending areas may be an arbitrary value such as four, six, eight, or the like. The leaf spring  68  may be made of a material selected from a group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, an alloy of these, and a ceramic material having a smaller thermal expansion coefficient than that of stainless steel. 
         [0088]    The leaf spring  68  is attached to the lower surface of the ring-like member  66  at the circumferential area to be parallel to the wiring board  62  by a ring-like spring holder  84  and a plurality of screw members  86  passing through the spring holder  84  from the lower side and screwed in the ring-like member  66 . 
         [0089]    In the example shown in the figures, the spring holder  84  is formed by a ring-like single member. However, the spring holder  84  may be formed by a plurality of holder members combined so as to form a similar ring at the circumferential area of the leaf spring  68 . 
         [0090]    The block  70  comprises a lower block portion  70   a  having a truncated polygonal pyramidal downward surface and a prismatic upper block portion  70   b  that is formed integrally with the lower block portion  70   a  and whose upper end surface is an attached surface to the leaf spring  68 . 
         [0091]    In the example shown in the figures, the aforementioned downward surface of the lower block portion  70   a  is formed by a downward attachment surface to which the sheet-like board  72  is to be attached, a downward intermediate surface continuing into the perimeter of the attachment surface, and a plurality of obliquely downward slopes continuing into the perimeter of the intermediate surface. Also, the attachment surface, the intermediate surface, and the attached surface are parallel surfaces. 
         [0092]    The block  70  is attached to the lower surface of the central area of the leaf spring  68  at the upper block portion  70   b  by a plurality of screw members  90  in a state where the aforementioned central area of the leaf spring  68  is sandwiched between an attachment plate  88  and the upper block portion  70   b  and in a state where the lower block portion  70   a  is protruded in the downward direction of the wiring board  62 . 
         [0093]    The sheet-like board  72  has a plurality of strip-shaped internal wires (not shown) inside an electrical insulating sheet such as polyimide. Thus, the sheet-like board  72  has flexibility. 
         [0094]    The sheet-like board  72  has a rectangular contact area  92  at which the contacts  32  are arranged and an outside area  94  around the contact area  92 . The outside area  94  comprises an intermediate area  94   a  integrally continuing into the perimeter of the contact area  92  and a plurality of extending portions  94   c  extending from the intermediate area  94   a  in the radial direction of a virtual circle centering around the contact area  92  to be spaced around the intermediate area  94   a.    
         [0095]    The sheet-like board  72  is attached at the outside edge portions of its extending portions  94   c  to the lower surface of the wiring board  62  by an elastic plate-shaped rubber ring  95  such as a silicon rubber, a plate-shaped thrusting ring  96  having certain hardness such as stainless steel, and a plurality of screw members  97 . Each screw member  97  penetrates the thrusting ring  96 , the rubber ring  96 , and the extending portion  94   c  and is screwed in the wiring board  62 . 
         [0096]    Positioning of the sheet-like board  72  against the wiring board  62  is performed by a plurality of positioning pins  98  extending downward from the wiring board  62  and penetrating the extending portions  94   c  of the sheet-like board  72 , the rubber ring  95 , and the thrusting ring  96  from the upper side to the lower side. Each positioning pin  98  is held in the wiring board  62  in a stable manner. 
         [0097]    Each internal wire of the sheet-like board  72  extends outward in the radial direction of the aforementioned virtual circle in the outside area  94  from the inside of the contact area  92  at which the contacts  32  are arranged. 
         [0098]    The outside edge portion of each internal wire of the sheet-like board  72  is exposed on the upper surface of the sheet-like board  72  and is electrically connected to the aforementioned connection land provided at the circumferential portion on the lower surface of the wiring board  62 . On the other hand, the edge portion of each internal wire of the sheet-like board  72  on the side of the contact area  92  is exposed on the lower surface of the sheet-like board  72  and acts as a probe land. 
         [0099]    Each contact  32  is mounted on the aforementioned probe land in a cantilevered manner. Thus, in the second embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus, the block  70  and the sheet-like board  72  function as supporting bodies supporting the contacts  32 . 
         [0100]    In the second embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus as well, the probe tips of the contacts  32  are arrayed on a virtual plane parallel to the wafer  12  received on the chuck top  20 . 
         [0101]    The connecting apparatus  60  also includes an alignment apparatus for alignment of the probe tip of each contact  32  with the corresponding electrode  14  of the wafer  12 . Such an alignment apparatus includes a plurality of mark units  40  shown in  FIG. 3  provided on the side of the connecting apparatus  60  and a detecting unit  42  provided on the side of the test stage  16  shown in  FIG. 1  to capture the mark units  40 , as in a similar manner to that of the connecting apparatus  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0102]    Each mark unit  40  may be the same unit as the mark unit  40  shown in  FIGS. 3  (A) and  3  (B). Accordingly, the detailed explanation is omitted. Each light source  46  receives electricity from a not shown power source via the wiring board  62 , the sheet-like board  72 , and the block  70  and emits light. Thus, the wiring board  62  and the sheet-like board  72  have conductive paths for electricity to the light source  46 . 
         [0103]    Alignment with use of the mark units  40  and the detecting unit  42  shown in  FIG. 1  is performed in a similar manner to that of alignment by the testing apparatus  10 . Accordingly, the detailed explanation is omitted. 
         [0104]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show an embodiment of an electrical connecting apparatus  100  resulting from improvement of a connecting apparatus described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. H10-206463, which is incorporated by reference so that the embodiment may be applied to the connecting apparatus. The connecting apparatus  100  is used in an electrical test of a plurality of semiconductor devices formed on the semiconductor wafer  12 , with the wafer  12  as a device under test, as in a similar manner to those of the aforementioned connecting apparatuses  10  and  60 . 
         [0105]    Each semiconductor device arranges on the upper surface of each part corresponding to a side of a virtual rectangle a row of the plurality of electrodes  14  in the example shown in the figures. A testing apparatus using the connecting apparatus  100  tests these semiconductor devices at a time or in several batches. As for a test stage to be used in the testing apparatus together with the connecting apparatus  100 , the test stage  16  shown in  FIG. 1  may be used. 
         [0106]    The connecting apparatus  100  includes a wiring board  102  made of an electrical insulating material, a probe holder  104  formed in an approximately rectangular flat shape arranged on the lower side of the central area of the wiring board  102 , plural kinds (four kinds in the example shown in the figures) of L-shaped contacts  106  arranged in plural layers on the lower surface of the probe holder  104 , and an adhesive layer  108  bonding the contacts  106  on the lower surface of the probe holder  104 , as described in Japanese National Patent Appln. Public Disclosure No. H10-206463. 
         [0107]    As for each contact  106 , a probe tip portion on the tip end side of a metal fine wire such as tungsten is bent downward from the remaining probe main body portion, and a tip end of the probe tip portion is regarded as a probe tip to be thrust to the electrode  14  of the device under test. Four kinds of these contacts  106  are formed in the same shapes and structures except that the length dimensions of the probe tip portions are different from one another. 
         [0108]    In the example shown in the figures, four kinds of these contacts  106  are arranged in four layers, and the contacts whose probe tip portions have the same length dimensions are arranged in the same layer. The length dimension of the probe tip portion is smaller in order of contacts  106  located in the first layer (lowermost layer), second layer, third layer, and fourth layer (uppermost layer). 
         [0109]    The wiring board  102  is a board formed in a disk-like shape made of an electrical insulating material such as a glass-containing epoxy resin or a polyimide resin and has at the center portion an opening  110  penetrating the wiring board  102  in its thickness direction. 
         [0110]    The opening  110  is formed in an approximately rectangular flat shape that is approximately as large as the inner surface of the probe holder  104 . The wiring board  102  also has multiple tester lands (or multiple connectors)  111  to be electrically connected to a tester at the outer circumferential portion on the upper surface. 
         [0111]    The probe holder  104  is formed in a cylindrical shape having an approximately rectangular flat shape and is attached at its upper end to the lower surface of the wiring board  102  by a plurality of screw members or by adhesive in a state of projecting downward from its lower surface so as to be located around the opening  110 . 
         [0112]    In the third embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus as well, the probe tips of the contacts  106  are arrayed on a virtual plane parallel to the wafer  12  received on the chuck top  20 . 
         [0113]    The connecting apparatus  100  also includes an alignment apparatus for alignment of the probe tip of each contact  106  with the corresponding electrode  14  of the wafer  12 . Such an alignment apparatus includes a plurality of mark units  112  provided on the side of the connecting apparatus  100  and a detecting unit  42  provided on the side of the test stage  16  shown in  FIG. 1  to capture the mark units  112 . 
         [0114]    Each mark unit  112  includes a rectangular transparent sheet  114  arranged on the lower surface of the wiring board  102 , a rectangular sheet-like mark member  44  arranged on the lower surface of the transparent sheet  114 , and the aforementioned light source  46  arranged above the mark member  44 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0115]    The mark member  44  is the same as the mark member  44  shown in  FIGS. 3  (A) and  3  (B). Accordingly, the mark member  44  is made of a material that restricts or blocks passing of light from the light source  46 , in which the center is an alignment mark  48  that restricts or blocks passing of light from the light source  46 , and in which an area around the mark  48  is an area  50  that permits passing of light from the light source  46 . 
         [0116]    Each light source  46  is the same as the light source  46  shown in  FIGS. 3  (A) and  3  (B). The wiring board  102  has a recess  118  opened downward to be opposed to the mark  48  and the area  50 . The light source  46  is arranged in the recess  118  so as to irradiate the mark  48  and the area  50  with light from above. 
         [0117]    In the third embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus, each light source  46  receives electricity from a not shown power source via the wiring board  102  and emits light. Thus, the wiring board  102  has a conductive path for electricity to the light source  46  and functions as a supporting body supporting the contacts  106  together with the probe holder  104  and the adhesive layer  108 . 
         [0118]    Alignment with use of the mark units  112  and the detecting unit  42  shown in  FIG. 1  is performed in a similar manner to that of alignment by the testing apparatus  10 . Accordingly, the detailed explanation is omitted. 
         [0119]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of an electrical connecting apparatus  120  in which the mark units  112  are formed on the adhesive layer  108  in the aforementioned third embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus, in which the same members as those in the connecting apparatus  100  are represented by the same reference signs. 
         [0120]    In a fourth embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus, the mark unit  112  is the same as one in the third embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus except that it is provided on the adhesive layer  108  instead of the wiring board  102  in  FIG. 8 . The probe holder  104  and the adhesive layer  108  function as supporting bodies supporting the contacts  106  together with the wiring board  102 . 
         [0121]    As in the above case, the mark unit may be provided on any of the members other than the plate-shaped members such as the probe board, the probe block, the sheet-like board, the wiring board, or the like as long as it is located at a different position from a position at which the contacts are located so that light directed to the detecting unit  42  from the light source  46  may not be influenced by other members such as the contacts. 
         [0122]    For example, in the fourth embodiment of the electrical connecting apparatus, the mark unit  112  may be provided on the lower surface of the probe holder  104 . In this case, in  FIG. 8 , the member  102  functions as the probe holder  104 , and a part of the adhesive layer  108  corresponding at least to the mark unit  112  is removed to become a coaxial through hole with the recess  118  or a transparent or semi-transparent area. 
         [0123]    With regard to the mark  48  and the area  50 , contrary to the above embodiments, the mark  48  may be an area that permits passing of light from the light source  46  while the area  50  adjacent to it may be an area that restricts or blocks passing of light from the light source  46 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0124]    In a case of the connecting apparatus using the sheet-like board such as the sheet-like board  38  or  72 , instead of providing the sheet-like board with the mark member  44  having the mark  48  and the area  50  as in the above cases, the aforementioned mark  48  and area  50  may be formed in the sheet-like board  38  or  72  itself as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0125]    Also, the mark  48  may be formed in another shape such as a rectangle, an asterisk-like shape, a cross shape, or the like, not only a circular flat shape. An area adjacent to the mark  48  may be an area other than the ring-like area  50  surrounding the mark  48 . 
         [0126]    Instead of forming the recess in which the light source  46  is arranged in the supporting body such as the ceramic board, the block, the wiring board, the probe holder, the adhesive layer, or the like, a short cylindrical member  130  may be arranged on the lower surface of a supporting body  134  in a state where its hollow portion  132  is in the up-down direction, and the hollow portion  132  may be a recess, as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0127]    In the example shown in  FIG. 12 , although the transparent sheet  114  and the mark member  44  shown in  FIG. 8  are provided at the lower end of the cylindrical member  130 , the mark member  44  shown in  FIG. 11  may be provided at the lower end of the cylindrical member  130 . 
         [0128]    In the embodiment of the mark unit  112  shown in  FIG. 8 , a pattern corresponding to the mark  48  and the area  50  of the mark member  44  may be formed in the member  114  in  FIG. 8 . In this case, the member  114  may be transparent or non-transparent in accordance with whether the mark  48  is transparent or non-transparent. This facilitates manufacturing of the mark member  44 . 
         [0129]    In the above embodiments, the mark units  40  are provided at two locations spaced in the right-left direction with the arrangement area  58  or  92  of the contacts  32  in between. However, three or more mark units  40  may be provided. 
         [0130]    The embodiments described here may be applied not only to the electrical connecting apparatuses in the above embodiments but also to connecting apparatuses having other shapes and structures such as a connecting apparatus in which contacts using fine metal wires are arranged in a state of extending in the up-down direction such as an electrical connecting apparatus described in WO2004-72661 (which is incorporated by reference), a connecting apparatus using pogo pins as contacts, and so on. 
         [0131]    The described subject matter is not limited to the above embodiments but may be altered in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope presented here. Furthermore, where an alternative is disclosed for a particular embodiment, this alternative may also apply to other embodiments even if not specifically stated.