Patent Publication Number: US-2015061719-A1

Title: Vertical probe card for micro-bump probing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0106794, filed on 5 Sep. 2013, and No. 10-2014-0009918, filed on 27 Jan. 2014, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates to a probe card, and more particularly a probe card that can provide fine pitch, can be manufactured at a low cost for a short time through a simple manufacturing process, and can have excellent electric properties because it can have the components and a thin film resistance therein. 
     Further, the present invention relates to a vertical probe card for micro-bump probing which is brought in electric contact with the micro-bump of a circuit element when performing electrical test on the circuit element. 
     2. Related Art 
     Semiconductor chips manufactured in wafer undergoe EDS (Electrical Die Storing) for testing electric properties by LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display), testers equipped with various measurers before assembled in a semiconductor package, or probe equipment with a probe card that can be brought in electric contact with a semiconductor chip that is the object. 
     The probe card includes a printed circuit board receiving electric signals from a tester with a plurality of probe tips that are brought in contact with a contact pad on an object to be tested (wafer) and a space transformer disposed between the probe tips and transmitting test signals by connecting the printed circuit board with the probe tips. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are vies showing a probe card of the related art. 
     First,  FIG. 1  shows a space transformer type of probe card using metal wires, in which micros-holes are formed in a space transformer substrate  20  between a printed circuit board  10  and probe tips  40  and then wires  30  connecting the printed circuit board  10  with the probe tips  40  are inserted and fixed in the micro-holes. 
     The space transformer type of probe card using wires has the advantage that it can be manufactured for a short time and the manufacturing cost is low, but there is a problem in that it is difficult to mount components in the space transformer, so the voltage drops accordingly, and a problem in that the lengths of the wires are different, so electric signals are differently received. 
       FIG. 2  shows an MLC (Multi-Layer Ceramic)/MLO (Multi-Layer Organic) space transformer type of probe card. For example, the multi-layer ceramic substrate  50  between a printed circuit board  10  and probe tips  40  has a multilayer therein, such that it can have uniformity in length and better circuit characteristics in comparison to the wire types. However, there is a defect that the manufacturing process is complicated, the manufacturing time is long, and the manufacturing cost is high. 
     Further, recently, circuit patterns are integrated with high density on wafers with an increase in demand of high integrated semiconductor chips, such that the gaps between adjacent contact pads, that is, the pitch is very small, and accordingly, the probe tips of the probe card for testing the contact pads are required to be formed with fine pitch, but it is difficult to implement micro scale manufacturing in the probe cards of the related art. 
     For example, “Probe card and method of manufacturing the probe card” has been proposed in Patent Document 1 (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0072396) in order to solve the problems, but there is no effect than expected in Patent Document 1. 
     Further, recently, as the bumps of circuit boards become minute with development in packaging such as the TSV (Through Silicon Via), it is required to achieve fine pitch and minimize damage to the micro-bumps in probing, in the electrical test on circuit elements. 
     However, it is not easy to manufacture a probe card by which it is possible to achieve fine pitch and minimize damage to bumps, and even if it is possible to manufacture the probe card, the manufacturing cost may remarkably increase. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a probe card, and more particularly a probe card that can provide fine pitch, can be manufactured at a low cost for a short time through a simple manufacturing process, and can have excellent electric properties because it can have the components and a thin film resistance therein. 
     A probe card according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a printed circuit board; a space transformer substrate that has a first side facing the printed circuit board and a second side opposite to the first side, has first circuit patterns on the second side, and has conductive signal transmitting portions that are filled in a plurality of through-holes formed through the first side and the second side and are connected with the first circuit pattern; a plurality of connectors that connect the printed circuit board with the signal transmitting portions of the space transformer substrate; and probe tips that has one end that can be brought in contact with an object to be tested and the other end that is connected to the first circuit patterns of the space transformer substrate. 
     The space transformer substrate may be made of ceramic. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, a probe card includes: a printed circuit board; a multilayer ceramic substrate that is disposed away from the printed circuit board and composed of several pattern layers; a pattern substrate that is coupled to the multilayer substrate and has first circuit patterns on the opposite side to the side coupled to the multilayer ceramic substrate; a plurality of connector that connect the printed circuit board with the multilayer ceramic substrate or the printed circuit board with the pattern substrate; and probe tips that have one end that can be brought in contact with an object to be tested and the other end connected to the multilayer ceramic substrate or the pattern substrate. 
     The multilayer ceramic substrate may have second circuit patterns formed on the side facing the printed circuit board, and the connectors may connect the second circuit patterns with the printed circuit board. 
     The connectors may be any one of metal rods or metal wires or combinations of both of metal rods and metal wires. 
     The first circuit patterns may be formed in a shape corresponding to the probe tips, depending on any one or both of the arrangement of the probe tips and gaps therebetween. 
     The first circuit patterns may be formed such that the distances from contact points that the probe tips are in contact with to signal transmitting portions. 
     The printed circuit board may be protected by a reinforcing panel. 
     The first circuit patterns may be formed by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System). 
     In the vertical probe card for probing a micro-bump according to embodiments of the present invention, the probe tip may have: a contact portion that is brought in electric contact with a micro-bump of a circuit device; a transmitting portion that is disposed at the opposite side to the contact portion to interface an electric signal generated by electric contact with the micro-bump to a substrate thereon; a connecting portion that has a vertical pole structure to connect the contact portion with the transmitting portion; and protrusions that are formed to protrude from the surface of the vertical pole structure toward the micro-bump, at the corners of the end of the contact portion. 
     When the protrusions separately protrude or have a cuboid pole structure, two corners of four corners of the end of the contact portion may be connected and the other two corners may be separated. 
     The contact portion may be made of a nickel ally or a copper alloy and the end of the contact portion may be made of rhodium or, carbon and rhodium on the end surface coating. 
     The probe card may further include a first guide having a through-hole through which the contact portion passes to expose the contact portion at a predetermined height. 
     The first guide may include mechanical machining ceramic and a silicon substrate and through-hole of the silicon substrate may be formed by Fabrication process 
     A coating layer may be formed on the side of the through-hole of the silicon substrate by coating the side with an insulator. 
     When the first guide is further included, the connector may have an S-shaped bending structure. 
     The probe card may further include a second guide having a through-hole through which the contact portion passes to expose the end of the transmitting portion. 
     The second guide may include mechanical machining ceramic and a silicon substrate and through-hole of the silicon substrate may be formed by Fabrication process. 
     The substrate on the transmitting portion is a single-layer silicon substrate, a multilayer silicon substrate, or a multilayer silicon substrate and a stacked ceramic substrate and may have an electric wire connected from one side to the other side. 
     At least any one of the contact portion, the transmitting portion, the connecting portion, and the protrusions may be made of a different from that of at least another one of the contact portion, the transmitting portion, the connecting portion, and the protrusions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are vies showing a probe card of the related art. 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing a probe card according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4 to 5   b  are views showing the first side and the second side of the space transformer substrate shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing a probe card according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing a probe card according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating a vertical probe card for micro-bump probing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a view showing an example of the vertical probes of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIGS. 10 to 12  are views showing examples of the protrusion of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a view showing another example of the vertical probes of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 14  is a view illustrating an example of the guide of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIGS. 15 to 17  are views showing other embodiments of the vertical probe of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Arrangements and embodiments may now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments may be shown. Embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to embodiments set forth herein; rather, embodiments may be provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept to those skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing a probe card according to a first embodiment of the present invention and  FIGS. 4 to 5   b  are views showing the first side and the second side of the space transformer substrate shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5   b , a probe card according to the first embodiment of the present invention, largely, includes a printed circuit board  100 , a space transformer substrate  200 , connectors  300 , and probe tips  400 . 
     The printed circuit board  100  is formed in the shape of a disc or a rectangular plate and has a top and a bottom opposite to the top. Probe circuit patterns (not shown) for a test are formed on the top and connected with a tester (not shown). In a test on a high integrated wafer, the gap between probe patterns on the top of the printed circuit board  100  may become very narrow and interference may be generated between the probe circuit patterns by the current flowing through the adjacent probe patterns. Accordingly, it is possible to form grooves (not shown) between adjacent probe patterns in order to prevent interference between the probe patterns. The printed circuit board  100  is protected against external shock by a reinforcing panel S. 
     The space transformer substrate  200  may be made of ceramic, glass, or silicon and a ceramic insulating substrate The space transformer substrate  200  has a first side facing the printed circuit board  100  and a second side opposite to the first side and a plurality of through-holes is formed through the first side and the second side by a tool such as a punch (not shown). Signal transmitting portions  220  are formed by filling a conductor such as Ni, Au, Ag, or Cu or forming thin films in the through-holes. A first circuit pattern  210  is formed to be connected with the signal transmitting portions  220  on the second side. The first circuit pattern  210  can be formed by MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) fabrication and it is formed in a shape corresponding to the probe tips  400  in accordance with any one or both of the arrangement and gaps of the probe tips  400  to be described below so that the differences between the gaps of the terminals of the printed circuit board  100  and the gaps of the probe tips  400  can be compensated. 
     The connectors  300 , which are components disposed between the printed circuit board  100  and the space transformer substrate  200 , electrically connect the probe tips  400 , which are connected with the first circuit pattern  210 , with the probe circuit pattern on the printed circuit board  100  by connecting the probe circuit pattern on the printed circuit board  100  with the signal transmitting portions of the space transformer substrate  200 . In the first embodiment of the present invention, metal rods are used as the connectors  300  and they may have predetermined elasticity. The connectors  300 , which are metal rods, may be bonded to be fixed between the printed circuit board  100  and the space transformer substrate  200 . 
     The probe tips  400  are a plurality of components that protrudes outside. Predetermined ends of the probe tips  400  can be elastically brought in contact with an object (wafer) and the other ends are connected to the first circuit pattern  210  of the space transformer substrate  200  in a test. The probe tips  400  can also be formed by MEMS fabrication. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5   a , circuit patterns  220  can be formed on the space transformer substrate  200 , as described above. The signal patterns  210  may be circuits. 
     The signal patterns  210  may be provided in consideration of the transmission paths of signals. For example, they may be formed in consideration of paths to another circuit across the space transformer substrate  200  from the probe tips  400 , and/or across the printed circuit board  100  from the probe tips  400 , and/or across the printed circuit board  100  from the probe tips  400 . 
     The paths can be formed such that the entire electric characteristic of each signal pattern  210  is uniform. For example, it means that the entire resistances between the first signal pattern  210   a  and the second signal pattern  210   b  are substantially the same. This will be understood clearly, when it is considered that when the resistance from the probe tips  400  to the printed circuit board  100  is different for each of the signal patterns  210 , the electric signals transmitted to the printed circuit board  100  may be different even if the electric signals measured at the probe tips  400  are the same. 
     The lengths, thicknesses, and/or materials of the signal patterns  210  may be different for a uniform characteristic of the signal patterns  210 . It means, for example, the length, thickness, and/or material of the first signal pattern  210   a  may be different from the length, thickness, and/or material of the second signal pattern  210   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5   b , electric devices  215  may be mounted on the signal patterns  210 . 
     Signal patterns  210  without a specific electric device  215  is shown in (a) of  FIG. 5   b.    
     Signal patterns  210  with an electric device  215  on their paths are shown in (b) of  FIG. 5   b . As shown in the figure, the electric devices  215  can be disposed on the signal patterns  210 . Accordingly, there may be no need of additional spaces for the electric devices  215 . Further, the electric devices  215  can be mounted at a lower cost than when the electric devices  215  are disposed in a multilayer structure. 
     Signal patterns  210  with an electric device  215  in empty spaces VS are shown in (c) of  FIG. 5   b . Since the electric devices  215  can be mounted on the empty spaces VS between the signal patterns  210 , an effect of increasing the spatial usability can be expected. 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing a probe card according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the probe card according to the second embodiment of the present invention is almost similar to the first embodiment, but it is discriminated in that the type of the connectors  300  is different. 
     That is, the connectors  300  used in the second embodiment of the present invention are metal wires, unlike the first embodiment using metal rods. Further, the connectors  300  may be implemented by both of metal rods and metal wires. 
     When the connectors  300  are metal wires, as described above, bonding for fixing the connectors  300  can be removed, such that they can be separately handled with ease, when there is a problem. 
     Further, when metal wires are used for the connectors  300 , the lengths are different, so electric signals may be differently received. Accordingly, it can be compensated by forming the first patterns  210  on the second side of the space transformer substrate  200  such that the distances from the contact points of the probe tips  400  to the signal transmitting portion are uniform, for example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , by forming one of them substantially straight such that the distances from the contact points to the signal transmitting portion  220  is short, forming another one in the shape of a circle such that the distances are longer, and forming another one in the shape of a rectangle such that the distances are further longer. It is possible to increase the electrical characteristics by mounting various circuit parts (for example, a capacitance, and a resistor) or a thin film resistance, using a MEMS process, in the other areas without the patterns on the second side of the space transformer substrate  200  with the first circuit patterns  210  formed by MEMS (for example, exposing and etching) fabrication. Obviously, the first circuit patterns  210  may be applied not only to the second embodiment, but the first embodiment and the following third embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing a probe card according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the probe card according to the third embodiment of the present invention is different from the first and second embodiments using the space transformer substrate  200  in that a multilayer ceramic substrate  500  and a pattern substrate  600  are used. 
     The multilayer ceramic substrate  500 , a component disposed away from the printed circuit board  100 , is composed of several pattern layers formed by disposing conductive layers and insulating layers alternately several times on an insulating substrate. The printed circuit board  100  and the probe tips  400  can be electrically connected even by the multilayer ceramic substrate  500 . The multilayer ceramic substrate  500  used in the present invention is a lower-layered ceramic substrate in comparison to multilayer ceramic substrates  500  of the related art, so the manufacturing time and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. 
     The pattern substrate  600 , which is a component combined with the multilayer ceramic substrate  500 , has first circuit patterns  210  on the side opposite to the side facing the multilayer ceramic substrate  500 , and it may be formed by stacking wafers or polyamides. The first circuit patterns  210  on the pattern substrate  600  are the same as those described in the first and second embodiments, so they are not described. 
     The connectors  300  used in the third embodiment electrically connect the printed circuit board  100  with the probe tips  400  connected to the first circuit patterns  210  of the pattern substrate  600  by connecting the printed circuit board  100  with the multilayer ceramic substrate  500 . The connectors  300  are preferably metal rods. 
     Although  FIG. 7  shows that the pattern substrate  600  is coupled to the bottom of the multilayer ceramic substrate  500 , it may be coupled to the top of the multilayer ceramic substrate  500  or a pattern substrate  600  may be coupled to both of the top and the bottom of the multilayer ceramic substrate  500 , if necessary. Accordingly, the connectors  300  connect the printed circuit board  100  with the multilayer ceramic substrate  500  or the printed circuit board  100  with the pattern substrate  600 , depending on the coupling type of the pattern substrate  600 . 
     Second circuit patterns (not shown) may be formed on the side of the multilayer ceramic substrate  500  which faces the printed circuit board  100 . The second circuit patterns  600  are the same as the first circuit board  210 , except for the positions. In this case, the connectors  300  between the printed circuit board  500  and the multilayer ceramic substrate  500  connect the second circuit patterns with the printed circuit board  100 . As described above, since the connectors  300  can be freely arranged, when the second circuit patterns are formed, various designs can be freely achieved. 
     Through this configuration, fine pitch (about 80 um or less) can be achieved, that the multilayer ceramic substrate  500  can be used in common, that is, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing time and cost of the space transformer by manufacturing and storing in advance the part to be designed in a multilayer structure into a low layer that can be easily manufactured when manufacturing the multilayer ceramic substrate  500  and then by separately designing needed parts when manufacturing a probe card. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic view illustrating a vertical probe card for micro-bump probing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the probe card  100  of the present invention includes a first substrate  19 , a second substrate  21 , a guide unit  17  composed of first guides  13  and second guides  15 , and vertical probes  11 . Further, though not shown in the figure, the probe card  100  of the present invention may further include a flatness adjusting unit that adjusts flatness, a coupling portion that couples the first substrate  19  and the second substrate  21 , a reinforcing unit that structurally reinforces the first substrate  19  and the second substrate  21 , a connecting unit that electrically connects the first substrate  19  and the second substrate  21 , and a coupling unit that couples the first guides  13  and the second guides  15 . 
     The first substrate  19  may be referred as a space transformer) and a plurality of vertical probes  11  that can be electrically connected with circuit devices such as a semiconductor device can be brought in electric contact with one side of the first substrate  19 . The first substrate  19  may be a single-layer silicon substrate, a multilayer silicon substrate, or a multilayer silicon substrate and a stacked ceramic substrate. That is, the first substrate  19  may have a single layer of silicon substrate, several layers of silicon substrates, or several layers of silicon substrates and stacked ceramic substrates. Further, the first substrate  19  may have an electric wire connected from one side to the other side, and particularly, it may have an electric wire expanding from one side to the other side. 
     The second substrate  21 , which may have a printed circuit board (PCB), may have a structure in which it is electrically connected to the other side of the first substrate  19 . Further, the second substrate  21  may have a structure in which it is electrically connected with an external device such as a test controller. 
     Accordingly, in an electrical test on a circuit device using the probe card  100  of the present invention, electric signals interfaced to a test controller through the first substrate  19  and the second substrate  21  by electrically connecting the vertical probes  11  to the circuit device are used. 
     The vertical probes  11  included in the probe card  100  of the present invention are described hereafter. The vertical probes  11  have a vertical pole structure and are not limited to the shape. However, considering the structural stability, the vertical probes  11  of the present invention may have various structures, particularly, a cuboid pole structure. 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing an example of the vertical probes of  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the vertical probe  11  of the present invention, which has a cuboid pole structure, may have a contact portion  23 , a transmitting portion  25 , and a connecting portion  27 . A protrusion  29  may be formed at the end of the contact portion  23 . 
     The contact portion  23 , which is a part that is brought in electric contact with a circuit device when an electrical test is performed on the circuit device, maintains stable electric contact with a micro-bump of the electric circuit, using the protrusion  29  at the end of the contact portion  23 . 
     The transmitting portion  25  may be disposed at the opposite side to the contact portion  23  to interface an electric signal, which is generated by electric contact with the circuit device, to the substrate thereon. That is, the transmitting portion  25  may be disposed at the opposite end to the contact portion  23 , in the vertical probe  11 . The substrate that can be electrically interfaced to the transmitting portion  25  may be considered as the first substrate  19  in  FIG. 1 . The transmitting portion  25  and the first substrate  19  can be electrically interfaced by electric connection between the transmitting portion  25  and the pad on one side of the first substrate  19 . 
     The connecting portion  27  may connect the contact portion  23  and the transmitting portion  25 . Accordingly, since the contact portion  23  and the transmitting portion  25  are connected by the connecting portion  27 , the vertical probe  11  having the integrated structure of the contact portion  23 , the connecting portion  27 , and the transmitting portion  25  can be achieved. 
     The vertical probe  11  of the present invention can have a vertical cuboid pole structure, as described above, and particularly, the connecting portion  27  may have a curved structure to reduce damage to a micro-bump of a circuit device using the vertical probe  11  by attenuating a pressing force generated by the vertical probe  11  when it is brought in electric contact with the micro-bump of the circuit device. 
     The protrusion  29 , which is formed at the end of the contact portion  23 , as described above, can be brought in electric contact with a micro-bump of a circuit device in an electrical test on the circuit device. In the cuboid pole structure that is the surface of the end of the contact portion  23 , four corners may protrude toward the micro-bump of the circuit device. 
     Hereafter, the protrusion  29  is described in more detail. 
       FIGS. 10 to 12  are views showing examples of the protrusion of  FIG. 9 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , first, the protrusion  31  may have a structure with four corners protruding from the surface of the end of the contact portion  23  having a cuboid pole structure, in which the portions protruding from two of the four corners may be connected with each other and the other portions protruding from the other two corners may be separated. That is, the protrusions  31  may be separated at one side and the other side with the center of the end surface of the contact portion  23  therebetween and they are connected at the one side and the other side, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , protrusions  33  may have a structure in which the portions protruding at four corners are separated. That is, the protrusions  33  may separately protrude at four corners. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , protrusions  35  may protrude separately from four corners, opening outward from the end surface of the contact portion  23 . 
     As described above, the protrusions  31 ,  33 , and  35  may protrude from the end of the contact portion  23  in various structures, in the vertical probes  11  of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  again, the contact portion  23  may be made of a nickel alloy or a copper alloy that has relatively high electric conductivity and elasticity may be used in consideration of manufacturability and a rhodium alloy or a carbon-plated material and a rhodium-plated material may be used for the protrusions  29  in consideration of high durability when the protrusions come in contact with the micro-bump of a circuit device. When different materials are used, the contact portion  23  and the protrusions  29  each may be manufactured by making them using different materials and then hybrid-combing them, or the protrusions  23  may be coated with a carbon alloy and a rhodium alloy. 
     In particular, in the vertical probes  11  of the present invention, the protrusions  29 , the contact portion  23  connected with the protrusions  29 , the connecting portion  27 , and the transmitting portion  25 , at one side and the other side from the center of the end surface of the contact portion  23  where the protrusions  29  are formed may be made of a nickel alloy that is useful for MEMS, and the contact portion  23 , the connecting portion  27 , and the transmitting portion  25  at other portions without the protrusions  29  may be manufactured by making them using a copper alloy having high electric conductivity and elasticity and then hybrid-combining them. That is, in the present invention, the vertical probes  11  can be manufactured in a 2D structure by MEMS and then hybrid-combined into a 3D structure. 
     As described above, since the vertical probes  11  of the present invention can be manufactured into a 2D structure or a 3D structure by MEMS process, a micro-structure can be achieved. Accordingly, the probe card  100  including the vertical probes  11  of the present invention can be more actively applied to an electrical test on recent circuit devices with fine pitch. 
     Further, in the vertical probes  11  of the present invention, the protrusion  23  that comes in electric contact with the connection terminal of a circuit device can be selectively made of a material having has high durability and high strength and the other portions can be selectively made of a material having high electric conductivity and elasticity, such that it is possible to ensure durability of the vertical probes  11  and minimize damage to the micro-bump of a circuit device that comes in contact with the vertical probes  11 . 
     Further, since the protrusion  29  of the present invention can have a structure surrounding the micro-bump of a circuit device, they can be protected to be naturally aligned in the probing direction when coming in contact with a circuit device. In addition, since the protrusions  29  can be made of a carbon and rhodium-plated material having high hardness, as described above, electric contact and durability can be improved in probing of a micro-bump. 
       FIG. 13  is a view showing another example of the vertical probes of  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the connecting portion  27  of the vertical probe  11  of the present invention is shown, in which the connecting portion  27  may have a curved structure, as described above. In particular, the connecting portion  27  may have a double curve at the portion ‘A’. In other words, the connecting portion  27  may have an S-shaped structure. 
     As described above, forming the connecting portion  27  in an S-shaped structure with a double curve is because when the protrusions  29  are brought in contact with a micro-bump and vertical stress is applied to the contact portion  23 , the connecting portion  27  of the contact portion  23  moves horizontally and may be damaged accordingly due to contact with the first guide  13 . 
     Accordingly, in the present invention, when the probe card  100  has the first guide  13 , contact between the connecting portion  27  and the first guide  13  is prevented by forming the connecting portion  27  in an S-shape. 
       FIG. 14  is a view illustrating an example of the guide of  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the probe card  100  of the present invention may have the guide  17 , as described above, to align the vertical probes  11  that are moved when coming in contact with a circuit device. The guide  17  includes the first guides  13  and the second guides  15  and the materials and the structures are substantially similar, such that it is described below with reference to a first guide  13 . 
     The first guide  13  may have a through-hole through which the contact portion  23  passes to expose the protrusions  29  and the second guide  15  may have a through-hole through which the transmitting portion  25  passes to expose the end of the transmitting portion  25 . 
     The first guide  13  and the second guide  15  may be manufactured, using a silicon substrate, and the through-hole  31  of the first guide  13  and the through-hole of the second guide  15  may be formed by etching. Accordingly, the guide  17  of the present invention can be manufactured in large quantities. 
     The sides of the through-hole  31  of the first guide  13  and the through-hole of the second guide  15  need to be coated with an insulator. Accordingly, in the present invention, a coating layer  33  to be coated with an insulator may be formed on the sides of the through-hole  31  of the first guide  13  and the through-hole of the second guide  15 . The insulator may be, for example, an oxide. 
     Forming the coating layer  33  is because the first guide  13  and the second guide  15  are made of a silicon substrate. That is, when the contact portion  23  and the transmitting portion  25  are brought in contact with the side of the through-hole of the first guide  13  and the side of the through-hole of the second guide, respectively, electricity is transmitted, such that the reliability of an electrical test using the probe card  100  may be influenced. 
     As described above, since the probe card of the present invention can be manufactured in a 2D structure or a 3D structure by MEMS, it can be more actively used for probing the micro-bump of recent circuit devices having fine pitch, such that it is possible to more actively meet the demand in the marker. 
     Further, since the probe card of the present invention has elastic protrusions made of an elastic material, damage to a bump is minimized. Accordingly, the probe card may not have a specific influence when coming in contact with the micro-bump of recent circuit devices having smaller shapes due to micro-bumps, such that it is possible to ensure competitiveness of a product by improving the reliability of an electrical test. 
     Further, since the probe card of the present invention can be made of a silicon substrate, it can be manufactured in large quantities, such that it is possible to ensure price competitiveness with reduction of manufacturing cost and time. 
       FIGS. 15 to 17  are views showing other embodiments of the vertical probe of  FIG. 8 . 
     As shown in the figures, the contact portion  23  of a vertical protrusion according to another embodiment of the present invention may have a complex structure. With the complex structure, it is possible to optimize the electric properties and/or the mechanical properties of the contact portion  23 . 
     As shown in (a) of  FIG. 15 , the contact portion  23  may be composed of a first part  61  and a second part  63 . That is, it means that one contact portion  23  may be at least partially different in structure and/or material. The first part  61  and the second part  63  may be combined by bonding and welding etc. 
     As shown in (b) of  FIG. 15 , the first part  61  may be made of a material considering the electric properties and the second part  63  may be made of a material considering the mechanical properties. That is, it means that the first part  61  may be made of a material that can transmit an electric signal SL from the end of the contact portion  23  without a loss and the second part  63  may be made of a material that can reinforce the entire strength of the contact portion  23 . By using different materials for the contact portion  23 , it is possible to achieve characteristics that cannot be achieved from one material. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the contact portion  23  may be formed in various shapes. 
     As shown in (b) of  FIG. 16 , the contact portion  23  may be composed of first to third part  61 ,  63 , and  65 . The first to third parts  61 ,  63 , and  65  may be made of at least two materials. 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the contact portion  63  may be made of different materials, depending on the positions. For example, the third part  65  may be the end of the contact portion  63  and may be made of a material different from that of the first part  61 . The end of the contact portion  63  may be repetitively brought in contact with an object to be tested. Accordingly, the end of the contact portion  63  may be made of a material having excellent mechanical properties to resist wear and/or deformation. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.