Abstract:
Provided is a probe station system which can measure thermal distribution and thermographic images. More particularly, a probe station is provided which can detect an electrical characteristics change according to the supply of heat to an element, for example a thermoelectric element to measure the characteristics of the element. The probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element includes: a chamber, a base, a platform, a probe unit, a heat source, and an infrared image detection unit and the thermographic image and the voltage signal of the element are synchronized in real time.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0094674, filed on Jul. 25, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
     Applicant hereby states under 37 CFR 1.77(b) (6) that Jinyoung Choi, Kyoungah Cho and Sangsig Kim, Length-dependent thermoelectric characteristics of silicon nanowires on plastics in a relatively low temperature regime in ambient air, Nanotechnology 24, published 18 Oct. 2013, is designated as a grace period inventor disclosure. The disclosure: (1) was made one year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; (2) names the inventor or a joint inventor as an author; and (3) does not name additional persons as authors on a printed publication. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relate to a probe station system which can measure thermal distribution and thermographic images, and more particularly, to such an probe station which can detect an electrical characteristics change according to the supply of heat to an element, for example a thermoelectric element to measure the characteristics of the element. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Semiconductor devices are used in a wide range of industrial fields, and their application field expands gradually along with the innovation of semiconductor manufacture technologies and devices. In addition, a variety of applications meeting the trend toward more compactness and thinness are researched and manufactured. 
     A thermoelectric element of the semiconductor device uses the Seebeck effect. The thermoelectric element is an element in which a p- and n-doped semiconductor that is heated at one side thereof and is cooled at the other side thereof transports electric charges through an external circuit and performs electricity generation through a load. A traditional thermoelectric element was used as a simple functional element such as a thermocouple for measuring a temperature difference using the Seebeck effect and a constant temperature facility using the Peltier effect. 
     However, in recent years, the manufactures and researches taking the advanced structure are in active progress in a semiconductor device manufacture and material field along with the innovation of the semiconductor device manufacture technologies and devices. For example, the use of a nanowire or the like enables the manufacture of a more compact and flexible application in the manufacture of the thermoelectric element. A compact, high-performance thermoelectric element can implement a power generator as a wearable device. 
     Therefore, there is the need for rapid detection of whether or not the application is manufactured normally through the detection of the characteristics of the thermoelectric element or the thermoelectric element is operated normally. However, the conventional detection of the characteristics of the thermoelectric element in accordance with the prior art was performed by an indirect measurement method in which an electrical contact is achieved and a change in the electrical resistance of a metal line is measured and is converted into a temperature of the metal line. In other words, a conventional detection and measurement device includes a heat source disposed within a chamber, and a metal line and line that are disposed adjacent to the heat source. In this case, an object which is to be detected is disposed on the metal line and the signal line. Then, a temperature difference is caused to occur at both ends of the to-be-detected object through the heat source, and the electrode resistances of the manufactured to-be-detected object are measured through the metal line in the chamber that maintains a constant temperature for the measurement of a temperature of the to-be-detected object. The electrode resistances of the to-be-detected object vary depending on temperature, and thus the resistances of the electrodes of the to-be-detected object are measured individually by incrementing the temperature by 1K. A process is repeatedly performed which measures the electrode resistances of the to-be-detected object with the temperature incremented to increase accuracy and again measures the electrode resistances of the to-be-detected object according to the temperature with a staring temperature decremented. Because the relationship between temperature and resistance of the element shows a linear characteristics, the temperature of the electrodes at both ends of the to-be-detected object, i.e., the element such as the nanowire can be checked using measured resistance values collected from data gathered through this process, and the characteristics of the to-be-detected object, i.e., a Seebeck coefficient can be calculated by acquiring the temperature data converted from the measured resistance values and a voltage signal difference from the signal line. This process varies depending on elements, and thus a measurement needs to be performed by each element. 
     However, this method entails a problem in that because it is impossible to measure a voltage difference between both ends of the nanomaterial using a voltmeter and simultaneously measure the resistances of the electrodes at both ends of the nanomaterial together, the voltage difference and the temperature of both ends of the to-be-detected object cannot be measured. For this reason, the voltage difference between both ends of the to-be-detected object is first measured and then the resistances of the electrodes at both ends of the to-be-detected object are measured. This method causes a time difference between the detected results, and thus ultimately induces an error in the calculation of the characteristics of the to-be-detected object element. In particular, the measurement of temperature and voltage of the to-be-detected object in accordance with the prior art must be performed in a vacuum atmosphere and the measurement of temperature of the element must be performed in a low temperature environment. As such, a measurement environment condition is complicated as well as the measurement of temperature of an um unit under this environment is considerably difficult. Furthermore, the grasping itself of heat distribution is difficult, thus making it difficult to secure reliability of the measured values. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems involved in the conventional block matching apparatus, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a thermoelectric module detection device in which the temperature of a direct element can be measured directly using thermographic information and the entire heat distribution of the element can be grasped so as to solve a degradation of reliability involved in a conventional indirect measurement method implementing a temperature inversion process through the measurement of resistance of a direct electrical contact and a metal line, thereby reducing the process time and enabling the reliable detection. 
     To accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, including: a chamber including an inward receiving unit having a window, the inward receiving unit being configured to be seated inwardly of the chamber through a chamber cover opening formed on one surface thereof; a base disposed within the chamber; a platform disposed on the base and configured to allow the element to be disposed thereon so that a voltage of the element is detected, the platform being configured to allow a platform terminal for detecting a voltage signal of the element to be disposed thereon; a probe unit disposed at one end thereof within the chamber and including a probe tip that can be connected to the platform terminal; a heat source disposed within the chamber and configured to provide heat to the element so that the voltage signal of the element can be detected; and an infrared image detection unit at least partially disposed in the inward receiving unit so that a thermographic image of the element, which is generated by reaction due to heat provided from the heat source, can be acquired through the window, and wherein the thermographic image and the voltage signal of the element are synchronized in real time. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the window may be a Ge window configured to allow an infrared ray to transmit therethrough. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the platform may be disposed on the base and may include a platform plate for allowing the platform terminal to be disposed thereon, and the platform terminal may include: a terminal line configured to form a pair so as to be disposed opposed to each other on one surface of the platform plate, and configured to allow the element to be disposed between the pair of terminal lines; and a terminal tip disposed at an end of the terminal line and configured to allow the probe tip to be brought into close contact therewith. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the heat source may be a joule heater disposed on the platform plate, and the heat source may include: a heater line disposed at the outside of the terminal line, which is disposed on one surface of the platform plate so that the element can be disposed on the terminal line; and a heater tip disposed at and end of the heater line and configured to allow an electrical signal to be applied thereto. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the heat source may form a pair so as to be disposed opposed to each other relative to the center of the terminal line so that heat can be outputted individually. 
     The probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element may further include: a storage unit for storing the thermographic image and the electrical characteristics of the element in response to a storage control signal, and pre-stored temperature reference data that enables a temperature state of the thermographic image to be grasped; a control unit for in real time, synchronizing the thermographic image and the voltage signal of the element, which are previously stored in the storage unit, and calculating a heat temperature difference occurring at both ends of the element based on the thermographic image and the pre-stored temperature reference data; and an arithmetic unit for calculating the characteristics of the element in response to an arithmetic control signal from the control unit based on the heat temperature difference and the voltage signal of both ends of the element. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the inward receiving unit may include: an inward receiving body fixedly mounted in the chamber cover opening; an inward receiving plate disposed spaced apart from the inward receiving body and configured to be movable toward the inside of the chamber, with the window formed in the inward receiving plate; and an inward receiving bellows connected at one end thereof to the inward receiving body and connected at the other end thereof to the inward receiving plate so that the inward receiving bellows can be folded depending on the position of the inward receiving plate. 
     The probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element may further include a receiving unit guide connected at one end thereof to the inward receiving plate through the inward receiving body and disposed at the other end thereof at the outside of the chamber to allow the receiving unit guide to be adjusted in length through the other end of the receiving unit guide so that the inward receiving plate is adjusted in position. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the image detection unit may include: an image detection sensor for acquiring a thermographic image of the element through the window; and an image detection holding part for allowing the image detection sensor to be maintained at the outside of the chamber. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the mage detection holding part may include: a detection holder disposed so as to be connected to an end of the image detection sensor; a detection holder around formed extending radially outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the detection holder; and a detection holder housing disposed at the outside of the detection holder around to enable the longitudinal relative displacement between the detection holder housing and detection holder around. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the detection holder around may include a holder around guide  524  formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the detection holder housing may include a holder housing guide formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof so as to be engaged with the holder around guide to enable the relative movement between the holder housing guide and the holder around guide. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the detection holder around may include a through-hole formed therein, and wherein the detection holder housing may include a holder housing shaft disposed penetratingly in the through-hole of the detection holder around so that the image detection sensor can be moved longitudinally. 
     In the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element, the image detection unit may include an image detection driving unit configured to drive the image detection holding part to provide a driving force for displacing the image detection sensor to the detection holder, and the image detection drive unit may include: a detection driver for generating the driving force for displacing the image detection sensor; and a detection drive transfer unit connected at one end thereof to the detection driver and connected at the other end thereof to the detection holder to transfer the driving force generated from the detection driver to the detection holder. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element of the present invention, the thermal distribution and temperature can be directly detected by excluding the temperature conversion according to a resistance of a metal and using the image detection sensor that is implemented as an infrared camera, and simultaneously the voltage signal as the electrical characteristics of the element can be measured, thereby reducing the entire process time and thus decreasing the process cost. 
     According to the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element of the present invention, the arrangement structure of the inward receiving unit seated inwardly of the chamber and the arrangement of the image detection sensor of the image detection unit in the inward receiving unit enable thermographic information on the element be acquired at a position which is nearer to the element. 
     According to the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element of the present invention, the movement structure of the image detection sensor enables the change of the focusing position of the image detection sensor depending on the size of the element to allow for the accurate acquisition of the thermographic information of the element so that the characteristics of the element such as the Seebeck coefficient can be more accurately analyzed through synchronization with the measured voltage signal. 
     According to the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element of the present invention, the use of the thermographic information acquired by the image detection sensor of the image detection unit enables the thermal distribution of the element to be acquired so that a local deterioration phenomenon of a nanoelectronic device can be detected. 
     In addition, according to the probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element of the present invention, the temperature of a thermoelectric element detected is converted into a wavelength so that various characteristics of the element can be analyzed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial top plan view schematically showing a configuration of a platform of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial enlarged top plan view schematic showing a configuration of a platform of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing a thermographic image of a platform of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5 to 9  are views showing a configuration of a thermographic information image in a thermoelectric element characteristics detection process through a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic view showing the temperature and electrical characteristics in the process shown in  FIGS. 5 to 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic partial exploded perspective view showing an inward receiving unit of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of an inward receiving unit of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing an image detection drive unit of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a partial perspective view showing an image detection drive unit of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  is a partial perspective view showing an image detection drive unit of a probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     EXPLANATION ON SYMBOLS 
     
         
         
           
               10 : probe station for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric element 
               20 : control unit 
               30 : storage unit 
               40 : arithmetic unit 
               100 : chamber 
               200 : base 
               300 : platform 
               400 : probe unit 
               500 : image detection unit 
           
         
       
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same elements in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals although shown in different figures. In the following description, the detailed description on known function and constructions unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention will be avoided hereinafter. 
     A probe station  10  for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a chamber  100 , a base  200 , a platform  300 , a probe unit  400 , a heat source  600 , and an image detection unit  500 . The probe station  10  for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric module has a structure in which a thermographic image and a voltage signal as the electrical characteristics of the thermoelectric element which it is desired to detect are simultaneously measured in real time to enable synchronization. 
     The chamber  100  includes an inward receiving unit  130  having a window and configured to be seated inwardly through a chamber cover opening  121  formed on one surface thereof. More specifically, the chamber  100  includes a chamber body  110  and a chamber cover  120 . The chamber body  110  and the chamber cover  120  are engaged with each other to define an internal space therebetween. A constituent element may be disposed at a side of the chamber body  110  to form an atmosphere within the chamber  100 . A chamber atmosphere regulation unit  410  may be disposed through a chamber connection member formed at a side of the chamber body  110 . The chamber atmosphere regulation unit  140  can be implemented as a compressor or a pump. In other words, a vacuum atmosphere may be formed in the chamber through the operation of the chamber atmosphere regulation unit  140 . On the contrary, the probe station may be configured in various manners such as regulating the internal atmosphere of the chamber as a specific gas atmosphere in such a manner as to inject a predetermined atmosphere gas such as nitrogen into the chamber. 
     The chamber cover  120  is disposed on an upper end of the chamber body  110 . The chamber cover  120  is engaged with the chamber body  110  to have a given internal space defined therebetween. The inward receiving unit  130  is mounted on one surface of the chamber cover  120 . In other words, the inward receiving unit  130  is seated in the chamber cover opening  121  formed on one surface of the chamber cover  120 . A seating part  123  and a stepped part  125  are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the chamber cover opening  121 . The seating part  123  has a structure in which the inward receiving unit  130  is partially seated on the seating part  123 . The stepped part  125  is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral end of the inward receiving unit  130  so that the inward receiving unit can be prevented from escaping from the chamber cover  120 . 
     The base  200  is disposed in the internal space defined in the chamber  100 . In this embodiment, the base  200  is fixedly disposed within the chamber  100 , but may include a separate base drive unit (not shown) to have a structure in which a stage is moved on a predetermined coordinate axis. 
     The platform  300  is disposed on the base  200  and allows an element (not shown) which is to be detected to be disposed on one surface thereof. That is, disposed on the platform is a nanowire used as a thermoelectric element for detecting a voltage, a thermoelectric module used as a unit module, or an element for detecting the characteristics which is to be calculated through the Seebeck effect. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the platform  300  includes a platform plate  310  and a platform terminal  320 . The element can have a structure in which it is stably seated on one surface of the platform plate  310 . The platform terminal  320  for detecting a voltage signal of the element is disposed on one surface of the platform plate  310  so that the voltage signal as the electrical characteristics of the element seated on one surface of the platform plate  310  can be detected. In this embodiment, the platform terminal  320  includes a terminal line  321  and a terminal tip  323 , which are formed on surface of the platform plate  310 . The terminal line  321  has a structure in which it forms a pair so as to be disposed opposed to each other on one surface of the platform plate  310  and the element is disposed between the pair of the terminal lines  321 . In other words, the terminal line  321  has a structure in which a pair of terminal lines are disposed opposed to each other so as to be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals so that elements such as nanowires as thermoelectric elements or a thermoelectric module consisting of the thermoelectric elements can be disposed between the pair of terminal lines. In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is shown a thermoelectric module including a plurality of nanowires as thermoelectric elements, i.e., elements as to-be-detected objects disposed on the terminal line  321 . Herein, the plurality of nanowires is disposed on a substrate, for example, a flexible transparent substrate such that the nanowires are in close contact with the terminal line to enable the measurement of a voltage signal of the nanowires. In other words, a voltage applied to both ends of the element as a to-be-detected object is measured. The measured voltage can be calculated as a voltage difference occurring at both ends of the element through a subsequent detection process so as to be used to derive the characteristics of the element. 
     Although it has been illustrated in this embodiment that the terminal line  321  is formed in a linear shape in which a pair of terminal lines is disposed in parallel with each other, this is merely illustrative and the platform terminal line can be implemented in various manners within a range of enabling the measurement of a voltage of the disposed element, such as having a structure in which the terminal line has various intervals depending on a gap between the elements. 
     The terminal tip  323  is disposed at an end of the terminal line  321  on which the element is contactingly disposed, and can transfer a voltage output signal to an external device of the chamber such as a control unit through the contact between the terminal tip  323  and a probe tip  430  of a probe unit  400  which will be described later. The terminal tip  323  has a structure in which terminal tips are connectingly disposed at an end of each terminal line  321 . The terminal tip  323  may be modified in various manners such as having a structure in which a plurality of terminal tips is connectingly disposed on each terminal line  321 . 
     The probe station  10  for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric module in accordance with the present invention includes a heat source  600  that provides heat to a thermoelectric element. The heat source  600  is disposed within the chamber and provides heat to one side of the element so that a voltage signal generated from the element through the Seebeck effect can be measured. The heat source  600  may use a laser source having various wavelengths or a heater for providing a mechanical heat. In this embodiment, the heat source  600  uses a joule heater based on a metal line. The heat source  600  used as the joule heater is disposed on the platform plate  310 . The heat source  600  includes a heater line  610  and a heater tip  620 . The heater line  610  is disposed at the outside of the terminal line  321  of the platform terminal  320 , which is disposed on one surface of the platform plate  310  so that the element can be disposed on the terminal line. The heater tip  620  is disposed at an end of the heater line  610  and allows an electrical signal to be applied thereto. In other words, the external terminal (e.g., a tip  440  shown in  FIG. 2 ) is brought into close contact with the heater tip  620  to apply an electrical signal to the heater tip  620 , and heat is generated from the heater line  610  connected to the heater tip  620  due to resistance so that heat is provided to the element disposed on the terminal line  321  of the platform terminal  320 . 
     The disposition of the heater line  610  can be implemented in various manners depending on a design specification but the heater line  610  has a structure of forming a pair. In other words, the heater line  610  of the heat source  600  has a structure in which it forms a pair so as to be disposed opposed to each other relative to the center of the terminal line  321  so that heat can be outputted individually. The disposition of the heater is preferable in that a test of the element characteristics can be performed under various environments. 
     The image detection unit  500 , more specifically, an image detection sensor  510  of the image detection unit  500  is at least partially disposed in the inward receiving unit  130  so that a thermographic image of the thermoelectric element or the thermoelectric module, which is generated by reaction due to heat provided from the heat source, can be acquired through a window  137 . The image detection sensor  510  that acquires the thermographic image is implemented as an infrared camera. 
       FIG. 4  shows thermographic information acquired through the image detection sensor  510  of the image detection unit  500 , which will be described later, with respect to the platform  400  and the heat source  600 . The heat source  600  causes a temperature difference to occur at both ends of the element, i.e., the thermoelectric element or the thermoelectric module, and at the same time, the element characteristics such as a Seebeck coefficient S of the thermoelectric element or the thermoelectric module can be calculated using the thermographic information of a corresponding element and a voltage difference occurring at both ends of the element from a voltage signal calculated through the platform terminal  320 . 
       FIGS. 5 to 9  show a process of acquiring a thermographic image of an element and a voltage signal outputted as an electrical signal, which can be acquired simultaneously according to the present invention. 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a sample which is to be detected is disposed on the platform  300 . The element may be an individual thermoelectric element such as a nanowire or a thermoelectric module as a unit body. Like this, the element can be selected and applied in various manners. 
     Thereafter, a signal is applied to the heat source  600  to cause a heat transfer phenomenon to occur in a certain heat source  600 . In this case, the heat source  600  which is implemented as a joule heater continuously rises up to a predetermined heat temperature and performs a heat transfer function as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 . In this embodiment, the heat transfer function was performed in such a manner as to increase the temperature of the heat source  600  by a constant time period. There are shown a heat temperature (or a temperature difference) at both ends of the element at the heat source  600  side and a voltage signal (or a voltage difference) detected at the terminal tip  323  connected to the terminal line  321  at each time period. It can be seen that a relatively linear relationship is formed between the temperature difference and the voltage difference at each time period, and a predetermined Seebeck coefficient for the element can be calculated using the temperature difference and the voltage difference. Herein, although the heat source  600  has a structure in which the heater line form a symmetrical arrangement to perform a heat transfer function at one end only, measurement or verification can be carried out in various manners, such as performing the heat transfer function at both ends. 
     Meanwhile, the probe station  10  for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric module in accordance with the present invention may include a storage unit  30 , a control unit  20 , and an arithmetic unit  40 . The storage unit  30  can store the thermographic image and the electrical characteristics of the element and can be operated in response to a storage control signal from the control unit  20 . The control unit  20  can, in real time, synchronize the thermographic image and the voltage signal of the element, which are previously stored in the storage unit  30 , and can calculate a heat temperature difference occurring at both ends of the element based on the thermographic image and the pre-stored temperature reference data. The arithmetic unit  40  can calculate the characteristics of the element in response to an arithmetic control signal from the control unit  20  based on the heat temperature difference and the voltage signal of both ends of the element. In other words, the control unit  20  controls a detection signal detected by and outputted from the image detection unit  500 , i.e., thermographic information on the element to be stored in the storage unit  300 , and calculates a heat temperature difference (ΔT=Th−Tc) for a corresponding element based on the temperature reference data which is previously stored in the storage unit  30  and the detection signal as the thermographic information on the element. The characteristics of the element as a to-be-detected object, i.e., a parameter S indicating the Seebeck effect can be calculated as follows by the arithmetic unit  40  based on a voltage signal detected from the terminal line  321  and the terminal tip  323 , i.e., a voltage difference Voc and the heat temperature difference (ΔT=Th−Tc) for the corresponding element: 
     
       
         
           
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     That is, the characteristics of the element, i.e., the Seebeck coefficient S is calculated in real time using the thermographic information on the element and the voltage signal, which are measured simultaneously so that the characteristics of the thermoelectric element for a corresponding material can be analyzed. 
     In the meantime, the receiving space is defined in the chamber cover  120  of the chamber  100  by the chamber cover opening  121 , and the inward receiving unit  130  is mounted in the chamber cover opening  121 . The inward receiving unit  130  includes an inward receiving body  131 ; 133 , an inward receiving plate  135 , and an inward receiving bellows  139 . The inward receiving body  131 ; 133  is fixedly mounted in the chamber cover opening  121 , and includes a radial extending part  131  and a vertical extending part  133 . The radial extending part  131  and the vertical extending part  133  are integrally connected with each other. The radial extending part  131  has a structure in which it is formed extending radially outwardly from the center of the inward receiving unit  130  in parallel with the ground surface in the drawing and a through-hole is formed in the center thereof. The vertical extending part  133  has a structure in which it extends downwardly from the through-hole formed in the center of the radial extending part  131  so as to be oriented toward the inside of the chamber  100 . The radial extending part  131  is at least partially seated on the seating part  123  formed on the outer peripheral portion of the chamber cover opening  121 , and the outer peripheral end of the radial extending part  131  is engaged with the stepped part  125  of the chamber cover  120 . The radial extending part  131  can be fixedly mounted to the chamber cover  120  by means of a separate fastening member, and a separate sealing member may further be provided between the radial extending part  131  and the seating part  123  or the stepped part  125  in order to ensure air-tightness therebetween. 
     The inward receiving plate  135  is disposed below the vertical extending part  133  and includes the window  137  disposed therein so as to allow a thermographic image of the element to be detected by the image detection unit  500  therethrough. In the present invention, the window  137  uses a germanium (Ge) window to allow light of an infrared wavelength ranging from 7-14 μm to transmit therethrough so that a thermographic image of an infrared wavelength can be detected. In other words, the Ge window  137  allows a predetermined infrared ray to transmit therethrough. A cutoff filter may be further provided at the inward receiving plate  135  so as to cut off light having an unwanted wavelength band of an ultraviolet (UV) ray or a visible ray, if necessary. In this embodiment, although the Ge window was used as the window, this is merely illustrative and is not limited thereto but the window can be modified in various manners such as being provided with a window allowing an infrared ray to transmit therethrough and formed of a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, calcium fluoride, and a compound thereof. 
     In addition, the inward receiving plate  135  is formed separately from the inward receiving body  131 ;  133 . The reason for this is that there is a possibility that the position variation of the inward receiving plate  135  will be required to perform a focusing of the image detection unit  500  depending on the size of an element which is to be detected, if necessary. Thus, the inward receiving plate  135  may have a structure in which it can be displaced relative to the inward receiving body. In this case, the inward receiving bellows  139  can be connected to both ends of the inward receiving plate  135  and the inward receiving body  131 ;  133 , which are formed separately from each other so that the inside of the chamber  100  can be maintained in a tightly sealed state. In other words, the inward receiving bellows  139  is connected at one end thereof to the inward receiving body  131 ;  133  and is connected at the other end thereof to the inward receiving plate  135  so that the inward receiving bellows can be folded depending on the position of the inward receiving plate  135 . 
     In the meantime, a constituent element may be provided to ensure a stable relative position between the inward receiving plate  135  and the inward receiving body  131 ;  133 . That is, the probe station  10  for the simultaneous measurement of thermal and electrical characteristics of a thermoelectric module in accordance with the present invention may further include a receiving unit guide  140 . The receiving unit guide  140  includes a guide shaft  141 , a body through-hole  143 , and a plate through-hole  145 . The guide shaft  141  is a fastening means such as a rectangular bolt. The body through-hole  143  denotes a through-hole longitudinally formed in the vertical extending part  133 , and the plate through-hole  145  denotes a through-hole formed in the inward receiving plate  135  to correspond to the body through-hole  143 . The receiving unit guide  140  is provided in plural numbers so as to be symmetrical with each other so that the inward receiving plate can be maintained in a more stable and horizontal state. The guide shaft  141  is at least passed at one end thereof through the body through-hole  143  and the plate through-hole  145  which has a corresponding fastening element, for example, a screw thread formed therein, to allow the guide shaft  141  to be adjusted in length through the other end of the guide shaft  141 , which is disposed at the outside of the chamber, so that the inward receiving plate can be adjusted in position within the chamber  100 . 
     Also, meanwhile, the present invention may be configured such that the image detection sensor of the image detection unit is adjusted in position unlike a configuration in which the inward receiving plate of the inward receiving unit is adjusted in position. In other words, the image detection unit  500  includes an image detection sensor  510  and an image detection holding part  520 . The image detection sensor  510  is implemented as an infrared camera and acquires a thermographic image of the element through the window  137 . The image detection holding part  520  allows the image detection sensor  510  to be maintained at the outside of the chamber  100 . The image detection holding part  520  includes a detection holder  521 , and a detection holder around  523 , and a detection holder housing  529 . The detection holder  521  is disposed so as to be connected to an end of the image detection sensor  510 . The detection holder  521  is connected to the end of the image detection sensor  510  so that the image detection sensor  510  can secure a stable position at an upper portion of the chamber cover  120  and an upper portion of the inward receiving unit  130 . The detection holder around  523  is formed extending radially outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the detection holder  521 . The detection holder housing  529  is disposed at the outside of the detection holder around  523  to enable the longitudinal relative displacement between the detection holder housing  529  and detection holder around  523 . In other words, the detection holder  521  is connected to the image detection sensor  510  and the detection holder around  523 . The detection holder around  523  is connected to the detection holder housing  529  so as to enable the relative movement therebetween. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the detection holder housing  529  is formed in a structure in which it is opened at a bottom surface thereof and is fixedly seated on the radial extending part  131  of the inward receiving body  130 . The detection holder  521  and the detection holder around  523  are disposed within the detection holder housing  529 . The detection holder  521  is fixed to the end of the image detection sensor  510  which is implemented as an infrared camera, and the detection holder around  523  disposed at the outside of the detection holder  521  is disposed so as to be connected to the detection holder housing  529  so as to enable the relative movement therebetween. In  FIG. 13 , the image detection sensor  510  and the inward receiving plate  135  are disposed so as to be spaced part from each other. Preferably, the image detection sensor  510  and the inward receiving plate  135  are disposed so as to be in close contact with each other to enable the relative displacement therebetween, if necessary. 
     In  FIG. 14 , there is shown an example of a structure in which the detection holder around  523  and the detection holder housing  529  are connected to each other to enable the relative movement therebetween. The detection holder around  523  includes a through-hole  525  formed therein. The detection holder housing  529  includes a holder housing shaft  527 . The holder housing shaft  527  is fixedly mounted at one end thereof to the upper inner surface of the detection holder housing  529  and is fixedly mounted at the other end thereof to one surface of the radial extending part  131  of the inward receiving body  130 . The holder housing shaft  527  is disposed penetratingly in the through-hole  525  of the detection holder around  523 . Each of the holder housing shaft  527  and the through-hole  525  may be provided in plural numbers, and preferably has a structure in which they are arranged at equal angles from the center of the detection sensor  510 . A separate bearing may be provided between the holder housing shaft  527  and the through-hole  525  so as to ensure the stable and smooth relative movement therebetween, if necessary. 
     As such, the detection holder  521  and the detection holder around  523  have a structure in which they can be movably guided linearly by the holder housing shaft  527  and the through-hole  525  in the detection holder housing  529  to form a vertically movable and stable structure so that the focusing position of the image detection sensor  510  can be adjusted stably. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the detection holder around  523  includes a holder around guide  524  formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof and the detection holder housing  529  includes a holder housing guide  528  formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof to correspond to the holder around guide  524 , if necessary. 
     The holder around guide  524  is formed as a protruding rib structure in this embodiment, and the holder housing guide  528  is formed as a grooved structure, and vice versa. The holder around guide  524  and the holder housing guide  528  are engaged with each other so that they have a stable holding structure through the guide during the relative movement between the detection holder  521  and the detection holder around  523  in the detection holder housing  529 . 
     In the meantime, the displacement of the detection holder  521  can be performed through the image detection drive unit connected to the detection holder  521 . The image detection drive unit may have a structure in which it is disposed at an end thereof on one surface of the detection holder  521  and is passed at the other end thereof through the detection holder housing  529  so as to be exposed to the outside, but the image detection drive unit  530  of the present invention may have an automatic position adjustment structure. In other words, the image detection drive unit  530  includes a detection driver  531 , a detection drive transfer unit  533 ;  535 ;  537 . 
     The detection driver  531  is implemented as an electric motor and is driven in response to a drive control signal applied thereto from the control unit  20  to generate a driving force for displacing the image detection sensor  510 . 
     The detection drive transfer unit  533 ;  535 ;  537  is connected at one end thereof to the detection driver  531  and is connected at the other end thereof to the detection holder  521  to transfer the driving force generated from the detection driver  531  to the detection holder  521 . The detection drive transfer unit  533 ;  535 ;  537  includes a transfer driving part  533 , a transfer driven part  535 , and a transfer shaft  537 . The transfer driving part  533  is connected to a driving shaft of the detection driver  531 , and the transfer shaft  537  is rotatably disposed so as to penetrate through the detection holder housing  529 . The transfer shaft  537  is rotatably connected at one end thereof to the detection holder  521  and is disposed at the other end thereof at the outside of the chamber. The transfer shaft  537  includes a transfer shaft holder  538  at one end thereof. The transfer shaft holder  538  is received in the detection holder  521  so as to be freely rotatably moved, and the transfer driven part  535  is disposed on the outer periphery of the transfer shaft  537 . In other words, the transfer shaft holder  538  has a hinge connection structure in which it is freely rotatably movable relative to the detection holder  521  in the receiving space of the detection holder  521  so that the transfer shaft holder  538  can be received in one surface of the detection holder  521  and can smoothly transfer a force for allowing for the linear movement thereof to the detection holder  521 . 
     The transfer driven part  535  is connected to the transfer driving part  533  and receives the driving force generated from the detection driver  531  through the transfer driving part  533  to rotate the transfer shaft  537 . The transfer shaft  537  has a screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof so as to be engaged with a screw thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of a through-hole formed in the detection holder housing  529  so that the transfer shaft  537  is linearly moved. A relative rotation between the transfer shaft holder  538  and the detection holder  521  occurs at the end of the transfer shaft  537  and the image detection sensor  510  connected to the detection holder  521  is also linearly moved along with the linear movement of the transfer shaft  537  so that the focusing position of the thermographic image of the element can be adjusted depending on the movement of the image detection sensor  510 . 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, they are merely illustrative and the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be appreciated by a person having an ordinary skill in the art that various equivalent modifications and variations of the embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the true technical scope of the present invention should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.