Patent Publication Number: US-2023152350-A1

Title: Probe head and probe card comprising same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a probe head and a probe card having the same. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a probe head for testing, through a probe, a pattern formed on a wafer, and a probe card having the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, a semiconductor manufacturing process largely includes a fabrication process for forming a pattern on a wafer, an electrical die sorting (EDS) process for testing electrical characteristics of respective chips constituting the wafer, and an assembly process for assembling the wafer on which the pattern is formed to individual chips. 
     Here, the EDS process is performed to detect defective chips among the chips constituting the wafer. In the EDS process, a probe card which applies electrical signals to the chips constituting the wafer and determines whether the chips are defective on the basis of signals checked from the applied electrical signals is mainly used. 
     A probe card is a device that connects a semiconductor wafer (or a semiconductor device) and test equipment to test the operation of the semiconductor device, and serves to transmit electricity while connecting probes provided at the probe card to a wafer, and then sort defective semiconductor chips on the basis of feedback signals received thereby. 
     The probe card used for an electrical test of the semiconductor device may include a circuit board, an interposer, a space transformer, a probe head, and probes. In the probe card, an electrical path is provided through the circuit board, the interposer, the space transformer, and the probe head, and a pattern of a wafer is tested by the probes that directly contact the wafer. 
     The probe head supports the probes, and serves to prevent an electrical short due to contact between adjacent probes. Specifically, the probe head includes at least one guide plate, and the probes are provided and supported in guide holes formed in the guide plate. 
     An example of a patent that discloses a guide plate for a probe card is Korean Patent No. 10-1719912 (hereinafter, referred to as ‘Patent document 1’). 
     In Patent Document 1, a plurality of green sheets are stacked and pressed to form a green bar, and one surface of the green bar is irradiated with laser light to form through-holes into which probes are inserted. 
     In the case of a conventional ceramic guide plate made of a ceramic material, through-holes are mainly formed by a mechanical processing method using a drill or a laser. 
     However, there is a problem in that the through-holes formed using such mechanical processing are difficult to form with a fine size and pitch because mechanical errors have to be taken into account. With the recent trend toward miniaturization of semiconductor devices, the size and pitch of electrodes of the semiconductor device have become finer, and this has led to a demand for reducing the thickness of the probes of the probe card. Accordingly, there is a demand for making through-holes having the probes therein finer in size and pitch. However, it is difficult to meet such a demand with the ceramic guide plate due to the difficulty in realizing a fine size and pitch of the through-holes. 
     In addition, the ceramic guide plate has low transmittance, making it difficult to insert the probes. 
     This results in a problem in which the time and cost of manufacturing the probe card increase. 
     DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART 
     Patent Documents 
     
         
         (Patent Document 1) 1) Korean Patent No. 10-1719912 
       
    
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     Accordingly, the present disclosure has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a probe head in which a plurality of guide holes of a fine size and pitch are simultaneously formed and a plurality of probes are easily inserted therein, and to provide a probe card having the same. 
     Technical Solution 
     In order to accomplish the above objective, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a probe head for guiding a probe, the probe head including: a guide plate that has a guide hole into which the probe is inserted and is made of a photoresist capable of lithography. 
     Furthermore, the guide plate may have a light-transmitting property. 
     Furthermore, the guide plate may be configured such that the photoresist is subjected to heat treatment to have a hardness increased compared to before the heat treatment. 
     Furthermore, the photoresist of the guide plate may be an epoxy, polyimide, or acrylate-based photoresist. 
     Furthermore, the guide plate may be provided by stacking a plurality of photoresists capable of lithography. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a probe card including: a space transformer comprising a probe connection pad electrically connected to each of a plurality of probes; and a probe head provided below the space transformer, wherein the probe head may include a guide plate made of a photoresist capable of lithography. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to a probe head and a probe card having the same according to the present disclosure, it is possible to implement a fine size and pitch of holes into which a plurality of probes are inserted by providing a guide plate made of a photoresist, and to increase efficiency of the manufacturing process by forming the holes into which the probes are inserted simultaneously and rapidly. 
     In addition, it is possible to enable easy insertion of the probes due to the guide plate having a light-transmitting property, and to achieve high mechanical strength of a product itself due to excellent hardness of the guide plate. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view schematically illustrating a probe card having a probe head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a top view illustrating the probe head according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view when viewed from a surface cut along line A-A of  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    illustrates the probe head illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a view illustrating a modified example of a guide plate constituting the probe head according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR INVENTION 
     Contents of the description below merely exemplify the principle of the present disclosure. Therefore, those of ordinary skill in the art may implement the theory of the present disclosure and invent various apparatuses which are included within the concept and the scope of the disclosure even though it is not clearly explained or illustrated in the description. Furthermore, in principle, all the conditional terms and embodiments listed in this description are clearly intended for the purpose of understanding the concept of the present disclosure, and one should understand that this disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments and the conditions. 
     The above described objectives, features, and advantages will be more apparent through the following detailed description related to the accompanying drawings, and thus those of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the technical spirit of the present disclosure. 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to cross-sectional views and/or perspective views which schematically illustrate ideal embodiments of the present disclosure. For explicit and convenient description of the technical content, thicknesses and widths of members and regions in the figures may be exaggerated. Therefore, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. 
     In addition, a limited number of holes are illustrated in the drawings. Thus, the embodiments should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. 
     In describing various embodiments, the same reference numerals will be used throughout different embodiments and the description to refer to the same or like elements or parts. In addition, the configuration and operation already described in other embodiments will be omitted for convenience. 
     Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG.  1    is a view schematically illustrating a probe card  100  having a probe head  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In  FIG.  1   , for convenience of description, the number and size of a plurality of probes  80  are illustrated exaggeratedly. 
     Depending on the structure of installing the probes  80  on a space transformer ST and the structure of the probes  80 , the types of the probe card  100  may be classified into a vertical type probe card, a cantilever type probe card, and a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) probe card. In the present disclosure, as an example, a vertical type probe card  100  is illustrated to describe a coupling structure between the space transformer ST and other peripheral parts. The type of the probe card in which the coupling structure between the space transformer ST and other peripheral parts is implemented is not limited thereto, and the MEMS probe card and the cantilever type probe card may be used. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a state in which an electrode pad WP of a wafer W is in contact with each of the probes  80  of the probe card  100  having the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     A test for electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices is performed by approaching the wafer W to the probe card  100  having the plurality of probes  80  on a wiring substrate, and bringing the respective probes  80  into contact with corresponding electrode pads WP on the wafer W. Specifically, the probes  80  may reach a position in contact with the electrode pads WP. Then, the wafer W may be further lifted to a predetermined height toward the probe card  100 . This process is called overdrive. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the probe card  100  having the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: the space transformer ST including a vertical wiring part  2 , a horizontal wiring part  3  connected to the vertical wiring part  2 , and a probe connection pad  130  electrically connected to each of the plurality of probes  80 ; and a coupling member  150  having a first end  150   a  fixed to a surface of the space transformer ST and a second end  150   b  coupled to a circuit board  160  provided above the space transformer ST. In this case, the coupling member  150  may be configured as a bolt, but is not limited thereto. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the circuit board  160  may be provided above the space transformer ST, and the probe head  1  having the plurality of probes  80  may be provided below the space transformer ST. In other words, the space transformer ST may be located between the circuit board  160  and the probe head  1 . The space transformer ST may be coupled to peripheral parts by the coupling member  150 . However, the structure in which the space transformer ST is coupled to the peripheral parts by the coupling member  150  is illustrated as an example, and thus is not limited thereto. 
     The space transformer ST coupled to the circuit board  160  by the coupling member  150  may be electrically connected thereto by an interposer  170  interposed between the circuit board  160  and the space transformer ST. Specifically, a first interposer connection pad  110  may be provided on an upper surface of the space transformer ST, and a second interposer connection pad  120  may be provided on a lower surface of the circuit board  160 . Therefore, the interposer  170  interposed between the space transformer ST and the circuit board  160  may be joined to the first interposer connection pad  110  and the second interposer connection pad  120  to form an electrical connection between the space transformer ST and the circuit board  160 . 
     The space transformer ST may be made of, for example, an anodic aluminum oxide film. The anodic aluminum oxide film refers to a film formed by anodizing a metal that is a base material, and pores refer to holes formed in the anodic aluminum oxide film during the process of forming the anodic aluminum oxide film by anodizing the metal. For example, in a case where the metal as the base material is aluminum (Al) or an aluminum alloy, the anodization of the base material forms the anodic aluminum oxide film consisting of anodized aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) on a surface of the base material. The anodic aluminum oxide film thus formed includes a barrier layer in which no pores are formed and a porous layer in which pores are formed. The barrier layer is positioned on the base material, and the porous layer is positioned on the barrier layer. In a state in which the anodic aluminum oxide film having the barrier layer and the porous layer is formed on the surface of the base material, when the base material is removed, only the anodic aluminum oxide film consisting of anodized aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) remains. 
     The anodic aluminum oxide film may have a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the wafer W. Therefore, the anodic aluminum oxide film may be less likely to undergo thermal deformation due to heat under a high-temperature atmosphere. Therefore, the space transformer ST made of the anodic aluminum oxide film may have an advantage of being less likely to undergo thermal deformation under a high-temperature environment. The material of the space transformer ST is not limited thereto. 
     The space transformer ST may include the respective probe connection pads  130  electrically connected to the plurality of probes  80 . The probes  80  provided at the probe head  2  provided below the space transformer ST may be brought into contact with the probe connection pads  130 . 
     Specifically, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is provided below the space transformer ST. The probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include a guide plate GP having a guide hole GH into which each of the plurality of probes  80  is inserted, and made of a photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     The probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure having such a configuration may guide the probes  80 . The probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be manufactured by means of bolt fastening as an example. However, since this is a coupling means described as an example, the coupling means is omitted in  FIG.  1   . 
     The probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a structure in which a second plate  20  is provided under a first plate  10  to support the probes  80 . 
     Specifically, a seating region SF in which the guide plate GP is provided may be formed in a plate P including the first plate  10  and the second plate  20 . 
     The guide plate GP may include an upper guide plate  40 , a lower guide plate  50 , and an intermediate guide plate  60 . The probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  that constitute the guide plate GP. As an example, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include the upper and lower guide plates  40  and  50  and the intermediate guide plate  60 . 
     The seating region SF in which the guide plate GP including these configurations is provided may be formed in each of the first and second plates  10  and  20 . Specifically, an upper seating region  15  in which the upper guide plate  40  is provided may be formed in the first plate  10 , and a lower seating region  25  in which the lower guide plate  50  is provided and an intermediate seating region  26  in which the intermediate guide plate  60  is provided may be formed in the second plate  20 . 
     The probes  80  may sequentially pass through the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  to be provided toward the wafer W. Hereinafter, the configuration of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  2  and  3   . 
       FIG.  2    is a top view illustrating the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG.  3    is a perspective view when viewed from a surface cut along line A-A of  FIG.  2   . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the first plate  10  and the second plate  20  may be provided in corresponding shapes, and the second plate  20  may be provided under the first plate  10 . 
     The first plate  10  may be provided with an upper coupling hole  12  and a first guide pin insertion hole  13 . In addition, the second plate  20  may be provided with a lower coupling hole (not illustrated) and a second guide pin insertion hole (not illustrated) respectively corresponding to the sizes of the upper coupling hole  12  and the first guide pin insertion hole  13  at positions respectively corresponding to the upper coupling hole  12  and the first guide pin insertion hole  13 . 
     A coupling means may be provided in each of the upper coupling hole  12  and the lower coupling hole. A guide pin may be provided in each of the first guide pin insertion hole  13  and the second guide pin insertion hole. In this case, the coupling means refers to a means for coupling the first plate  10  and the second plate  20 . Meanwhile, the guide pin refers to an auxiliary means for aligning the first plate  10  and the second plate  20 . The coupling means may be configured as a bolt as an example. 
     The process of coupling the first and second plates  10  and  20  using the guide pin and coupling means is as follows. Specifically, the guide pin may sequentially pass through the first guide pin insertion hole  13  and the second guide pin insertion hole to align the first plate  10  and the second plate  20 , and then the coupling means may sequentially pass through the upper coupling hole  12  and the lower coupling hole to couple the first plate  10  and the second plate  20 . In this case, the guide pin may be removed before the first and second plates  10  and  20  are coupled to each other by means of the bolt. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the positions, shapes, and numbers of the upper coupling hole  12  and the first guide pin insertion hole  13  of the first plate  10  are illustrated as an example, and thus are not limited thereto. 
     The upper seating region  15  is formed in the first plate  10 , and the lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  are formed in the second plate  20 . In this case, the upper seating region  15  may be formed at an upper side of the first plate  10 . The intermediate seating region  26  may be formed at an upper side of the second plate  20 , and the lower seating region  25  may be formed at a lower side of the second plate  20 . 
     In addition, the upper seating region  15 , the lower seating region  25 , and the intermediate seating region  26  may have the same size and shape. 
     After the first plate  10  and the second plate  20  are coupled to each other, the lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  may be located on the same vertical line, but the upper seating region  15  may be located on a vertical line that is not the same as the vertical line on which the lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  are located. 
     In addition, each of the first plate  10  and the second plate  20  may be provided with the guide plate  40 . Specifically, the guide plate GP may be provided in each of the upper seating region  15 , the lower seating region  25 , and the intermediate seating region  26 . Therefore, the guide plate GP may have a size smaller than that of the seating region SF. 
     The upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be formed in shapes corresponding to each other, and may include the same configuration (e.g., the guide hole GH into which each of the plurality of probes  80  is inserted). 
     With this structure, handling of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be facilitated. Specifically, when an end of a probe  80  first inserted through the guide hole GH is a front end of the probe  80 , the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may serve to guide front ends of the plurality of probes  80 . That is, the guide plate GP, the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may define a probing region of the probe card  100  having the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, on the entire area of the probe head  1  defined by the first plate  10  and the second plate  20 , an area occupied by the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be the probing region. 
     Since the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may have a smaller area than the first and second plates  10  and  20 , a problem in which the probing region is broken or damaged may be minimized. Therefore, handling of the probe card  100  having the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be facilitated. 
     Unlike the probe head  1 , when the guide plate GP defining the probing region defines the entire area of the probe head  1 , an unnecessary area other than the probing region in which the plurality of probes  80  are provided and performing a practical probing process may be included in the probing region thereby constituting the entire area of the probe head  1 . 
     In this structure, handling may be difficult because the probing region is damaged even if a portion of the probe head  1  is damaged. 
     However, in the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the guide plate GP defining the probing region has a smaller area than the first and second plates  10  and  20  defining the entire area of the probe head  1 , the risk of damage may be lowered and ease of handling may be achieved. 
     In addition, in the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the guide plate GP has a smaller area than the plate P defining the entire area of the probe head  1 , a relatively uniform flatness may be achieved compared to a structure in which the guide plate GP defines the entire area of the probe head  1 . 
     Specifically, when the guide plate GP defines the entire area of the probe head  1 , it is difficult to achieve uniform flatness due to a large area thereof. When the flatness of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  each having the guide hole GH in which the probe  80  is provided is not uniform, the position of the probe  80  may be changed, resulting in an error in wafer pattern testing. 
     However, in the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, since the area of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  each having the guide hole GH in which the probe  80  is provided is smaller than the entire area of the probe head  1 , it may be advantageous to achieve uniform flatness. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the first plate  10  may serve to support, on an upper surface thereof, the upper guide plate  40  that serves to guide the front ends of the probes  80 . The first plate  10  may have a larger area than the upper guide plate  40  and may support the upper guide plate  40  in at least a partial region of the upper surface thereof. 
     The upper seating region  15  in which the upper guide plate  40  is seated may be provided in the first plate  10 . The upper seating region  15  may be configured as a concave recess in the upper surface of the first plate  10 . However, the concave recess shape of the upper seating region  15  is illustrated as an example, and thus the shape thereof is not limited thereto. Therefore, the upper seating region  15  may be formed in a suitable shape to allow the upper guide plate  40  to be provided on the upper surface of the first plate  10  more stably. 
     The first plate  10  may include a first through-hole  11 . Therefore, the first through-hole  11  may be formed at a position corresponding to a position where an upper guide hole  43  of the upper guide plate  40  is formed, to allow the plurality of probes  80  to be positioned therein, and in consideration of elastic deformation of the plurality of probes  80 , may have an inner diameter capable of receiving the elastic deformation. 
     The second plate  20  may be coupled to a lower portion of the first plate  10 . The second plate  20  may support, on a lower surface thereof, the lower guide plate  50  and the intermediate guide plate  60  that serve to guide the front ends of the probes  80 . Specifically, the second plate  20  may support the intermediate guide plate  60  on an upper surface thereof and support the lower guide plate  50  on the lower surface thereof. In this case, the second plate  20  may have an area corresponding to the first plate  10 . Therefore, the second plate  20  may support the intermediate guide plate  60  in at least a partial region of the upper surface thereof and may support the lower guide plate  50  in at least a partial region of the lower surface thereof. 
     The lower seating region  25  in which the lower guide plate  50  is seated may be provided in the lower surface of the second plate  20 . In addition, the intermediate seating region  26  in which the intermediate guide plate  60  is seated may be provided in the upper surface of the second plate  20 . 
     The lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  may be configured as concave recesses in the upper and lower surfaces of the second plate  20 , respectively. However, this is illustrated as an example, and thus the shapes of the lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  are not limited thereto. 
     The lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  may be provided at positions that are inverted from each other with respect to a center line of the second plate  20  horizontally disposed on a plane. Therefore, the lower guide plate  50  and the intermediate guide plate  60  may also be provided at positions that are inverted from each other with respect to the center line of the second plate  20  horizontally disposed on the plane. However, the inverted positions of the lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  are illustrated as an example. Thus, the positions of the lower seating region  25  and the intermediate seating region  26  are not limited thereto. 
     The second plate  20  may include a second through-hole  21  corresponding to the first through-hole  11  of the first plate  10 . Therefore, the probes  80  positioned in the first through-hole  11  may also be positioned in the second through-hole  21 . 
     The second through-hole  21  may have the same inner diameter as the first through-hole  11 . However, the sizes of the inner diameters of the first through-hole  11  and the second through-hole  21  is not limited. For example, the second through-hole  21  may be formed at a position corresponding to the first through-hole  11  and may have an inner diameter that is smaller than that of the first through-hole  11  and is capable of securing a free space that allows, when the plurality of probes  80  positioned in the first through-hole  11  are elastically deformed, the elastic deformation to be received therein. Alternatively, the second through-hole  21  may be formed at a position corresponding to the first through-hole  11  and may have an inner diameter larger than that of the first through-hole  11 . 
     Specifically, the probe  80  may be inserted into the upper guide hole  43  of the upper guide plate  40 , then inserted into an intermediate guide hole  63  of the intermediate guide plate  60 , and finally inserted into a lower guide hole  53  of the lower guide plate  50  to protrude outward. With this, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a structure in which the plurality of probes  80  are positioned in the first through-hole  11  and the second through-hole  21 . 
     At least one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  constituting the guide plate GP may be made of a photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     Specifically, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include the guide plate GP made of the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. In this case, the guide plate GP constituting the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60 . Therefore, in the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be made of the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. For example, the photoresist  101  capable of lithography may be an epoxy, polyimide (PI), or acrylate-based photoresist. As a more specific example, the photoresist  101  capable of lithography may be SU-8, which is an epoxy-based resist in which eight epoxy groups are included in a single molecule. 
     When at least one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  is provided at the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the guide plates  40 ,  50 , and  60  may be made of different materials including the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     In addition, when at least one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  is provided at the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one thereof may be made of the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     As an example, the upper and lower guide plates  40  and  50  may be made of the photoresist  101  capable of lithography, and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be made of a different material. For example, the different material may include an anodic aluminum oxide film. 
     Hereinafter, as an example, it will be described that the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  are made of the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     The photoresist  101  capable of lithography has an excellent light-transmitting property and enables easy formation of the guide hole GH. 
     Specifically, in the photoresist  101 , the guide hole GH may be formed by lithography. The process of forming the guide hole GH in the photoresist  101  by lithography is as follows. 
     As an example, the photoresist  101  may be provided in the form of a film or a roll. Then, a masking material layer in which a patterning region is formed may be provided on the photoresist  101 . Then, light may be irradiated onto the photoresist  101  through the patterning region of the masking material layer. In the photoresist  101 , a region having an area corresponding to that of the patterning region may be exposed by the light irradiation. Then, a remaining region not exposed to the light irradiation may be dissolved and removed by means of a developing solution, and the region exposed by the light irradiation may not be dissolved. As a result of dissolving and removing the remaining region, a through-hole H may be formed in the photoresist  101 . The through-hole H of the photoresist  101  may be the guide hole GH of the guide plate GP made of the photoresist  101 . 
     In the photoresist  101 , a plurality of through-holes H may be simultaneously formed through the above process. 
     In addition, in the photoresist  101 , the through-holes H may be formed in a fine size and pitch since the through-holes H are formed using the developing solution. When the through-holes H are formed by a dry etching process, inner walls thereof may be formed vertically. 
     After the formation of the through-holes H, the photoresist  101  may be subjected to a heat treatment process. In an experiment for comparing the hardness of the photoresist  101  before and after heat treatment, the results showed that the hardness was changed after heat treatment. 
     In the above experiment, a first photoresist film and a second photoresist film were used as specimens. 
     In the above experiment, the first photoresist film was provided with a thickness of 100 μm, the second photoresist film was provided with a thickness of 50 μm, and the heat treatment process was performed at a temperature of 150° C. for 150 minutes. 
     [Table 1] illustrates a change in hardness before and after heat treatment for the first photoresist film and the second photoresist film each subjected to the heat treatment process in the same temperature environment (specifically, 150° C.) and heat treatment time (specifically, 150 minutes). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 First photoresist film 
                 Second photoresist film 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Vickers 
                 Before heat 
                 After heat 
                 Before heat 
                 After heat 
               
               
                 hardness (HV) 
                 treatment 
                 treatment 
                 treatment 
                 treatment 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 HV 
                 0.75 
                 44.417 
                 19.381 
                 25.261 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As illustrated in [Table 1], the hardness (HV) of the first photoresist film before heat treatment is 0.75, and the hardness of the first photoresist film after heat treatment is 44.417. The first photoresist film exhibited an increase in the hardness after heat treatment by 43.667 compared to the hardness before heat treatment. 
     As illustrated in [Table 1], the hardness of the second photoresist film before heat treatment is 19.381, and the hardness of the second photoresist film after heat treatment is 25.261. The second photoresist film exhibited an increase in the hardness after heat treatment by 5.88 compared to the hardness before heat treatment. 
     Referring to [Table 1], in the case of the first photoresist film with a thicker thickness than the second photoresist film, the increase in the hardness after heat treatment compared to the hardness before heat treatment was larger than that of the second photoresist film. 
     However, from the results of the change in the hardness before and after heat treatment of the second photoresist film, it is revealed that even if the photoresist  101  is provided in the form of a thin film having a relatively thinner thickness, the hardness may be improved if the heat treatment process is performed. 
     According to the experimental results referring to [Table 1], the photoresist  101  may be subjected to the heat treatment process regardless of the thickness of the photoresist  101 , so that the hardness after heat treatment may be increased compared to before heat treatment, resulting in excellent hardness. 
     Therefore, in the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the photoresist  101  forming the guide plate GP may be heat-treated to have a higher hardness than before being heat-treated. 
     Since the guide plate GP is made of the photoresist  101  having excellent hardness, it is possible to prevent particle generation that may occur in an opening of the guide hole GH when the probe  80  is inserted. Specifically, the probe  80  may be provided in the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure by inserting the sharp front end of the probe  80  through the opening of the guide hole GH of the guide plate GP. In the process of inserting the probe  80 , particles may be generated due to friction between the sharp front end of the probe  80  and an inner wall of the opening of the guide hole GH. When the particles generated from the inner wall of the opening of the guide hole GH are introduced into the guide plate GP, the overall performance of the probe head may be deteriorated. 
     However, since the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes the guide plate GP made of the photoresist  101  having improved hardness, excellent hardness may be achieved. With this, the inner wall of the opening of the guide hole GH may have abrasion resistance. As a result, it is possible to prevent the problem in which the particles are generated due to friction between the inner wall of the opening of the guide hole GH and the front end of the probe  80  during the insertion of the probe  80  into the guide hole GH. 
     The guide plate GP of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a light-transmitting property. The guide plate GP may retain the light-transmitting property possessed by the photoresist  101  forming the guide plate GP. 
     In the case of the photoresist  101 , as a result of conducting an experiment for measuring light transmittance before and after heat treatment, it was confirmed that the light-transmitting property was maintained even if the heat treatment process was performed. In the above experiment, one first photoresist film was provided with a thickness of 100 μm and one second photoresist film was provided with a thickness of 50 μm. [Table 2] below is a table illustrating a comparison in visible light transmittance before and after heat treatment between the first photoresist film and the second photoresist film. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Transmittance (%) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 First 
                 Second 
               
               
                   
                 photoresist film 
                 photoresist film 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Wave- 
                 Before 
                 After 
                 Before 
                 After 
               
               
                   
                   
                 length 
                 heat 
                 heat 
                 heat 
                 heat 
               
               
                   
                   
                 range 
                 treat- 
                 treat- 
                 treat- 
                 treat- 
               
               
                   
                 Color 
                 (nm) 
                 ment 
                 ment 
                 ment 
                 ment 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Visible 
                 Red 
                 620~780 
                 90.1 
                 87.2 
                 90.5 
                 90.4 
               
               
                 light 
                 Orange 
                 590~620 
                 89.9 
                 82.8 
                 90.3 
                 90.1 
               
               
                 (VIS) 
                 Yellow 
                 570~590 
                 89.9 
                 80.8 
                 90.3 
                 89.9 
               
               
                   
                 Green 
                 495~570 
                 89.6 
                 70.5 
                 90.1 
                 89.5 
               
               
                   
                 Blue 
                 450~495 
                 89.1 
                 17.0 
                 89.9 
                 88.6 
               
               
                   
                 Purple 
                 380~450 
                 85.8 
                 23.3 
                 89.1 
                 84.9 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The first photoresist film and the second photoresist film exhibited transmittance as illustrated in [Table 2] when visible light in the same wavelength range was irradiated before and after heat treatment. In the experiment, the first photoresist film and the second photoresist film were irradiated with visible light of six colors according to the wavelength range. 
     As illustrated in [Table 2], when the first photoresist film was irradiated with red visible light in the wavelength range of 620 to 780 nm, the transmittance before heat treatment was 90.1%, and the transmittance after heat treatment was 87.2%. In the case of the first photoresist film, the transmittance was slightly decreased after heat treatment compared to before heat treatment, but the transmittance after heat treatment was maintained almost at the same level as that before heat treatment. 
     On the other hand, when the first photoresist film was irradiated with orange visible light in the wavelength range of 590 to 620 nm, the transmittance before heat treatment was 89.9%, and the transmittance after heat treatment was 82.8%. 
     As illustrated in [Table 2], in the case of the second photoresist film, the transmittance was maintained constant before and after heat treatment for all the six types of visible light. 
     On the other hand, as illustrated in [Table 2], in the case of the first photoresist film, there was a large difference in the transmittances before and after heat treatment depending on the color of visible light, but the transmittance was maintained constant before and after heat treatment for most of the six types of visible light. As confirmed from the experimental results using the first photoresist film, the transmittance of the photoresist  101  may be adjusted according to the type of the photoresist  101  and heat treatment conditions. Therefore, the photoresist  101  may provide a degree of opacity in a specific light region. 
     According to the above experimental results, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a light-transmitting property even if the guide plate GP is formed using the heat-treated photoresist  101 . 
     Since the guide plate GP provided at the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a light-transmitting property, it is possible to advantageously insert the probe  80 . 
     Specifically, the probe  80  may be inserted into the upper guide hole  43  of the upper guide plate  40 , then inserted into the intermediate guide hole  63  of the intermediate guide plate  60 , and finally inserted into the lower guide hole  53  of the lower guide plate  50  to protrude outward. As such, the probe  80  may be provided in the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure by sequentially passing through the upper guide hole  43 , the intermediate guide hole  63 , and the lower guide hole  53 . In this case, due to the light-transmitting property of the upper guide hole  43 , the intermediate guide hole  63 , and the lower guide hole  53 , the positions of the upper guide hole  43 , the intermediate guide hole  63 , and the lower guide hole  53  may be accurately identified with the naked eye. This may facilitate the sequential insertion of the probe  80  from the upper guide hole  43  into which the front end of the probe  80  is inserted to the intermediate guide hole  63  and the lower guide hole  53  positioned corresponding thereto. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , a reinforcing plate RP coupled to the guide plate GP may be further provided in the seating region SF. The reinforcing plate RP may be optionally provided and coupled to at least a surface of the guide plate GP. Hereinafter, it will be described that the reinforcing plate RP is provided on the at least a surface of the guide plate GP of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The reinforcing plate RP may be coupled to the at least a surface of the guide plate GP. In this case, the reinforcing plate RP may include an upper reinforcing plate  710  coupled to a surface of the upper guide plate  40 , a lower reinforcing plate  720  coupled to a surface of the lower guide plate  50 , and an intermediate reinforcing plate  730  coupled to a surface of the intermediate guide plate  60 . 
     Therefore, the upper guide plate  40  may include an upper guide pin insertion hole  41  into which a guide pin is inserted to align the upper guide plate  40  with the upper reinforcing plate  710  provided on the surface of the upper guide plate  40 . In addition, the upper guide plate  4  may include an upper main bolt fastening hole  42  into which a coupling means for coupling the upper reinforcing plate  710  and the first plate  10  is inserted. 
     The reinforcing plate RP may include a recess hole RH in which the probe  80  inserted through the guide hole GH is positioned. In this case, the upper reinforcing plate  710  provided on the surface of the upper guide plate  40  may include an upper recess hole  711 , the lower reinforcing plate  720  provided on the surface of the lower guide plate  50  may include a lower recess hole  721 , and the intermediate reinforcing plate  730  provided on the surface of the intermediate guide plate  60  may include an intermediate recess hole  731 . 
     The recess hole RH may be formed in a shape having a quadrangular cross-section as an example, but the shape thereof is not limited thereto. Therefore, a shape having a circular cross-section may be possible. 
     The recess hole RH may have an area larger than that of a guide hole presence region defined by a plurality of guide holes GH formed in each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60 , so as to allow the plurality of probes  80  to be positioned therein. 
     Since each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  is provided with the reinforcing plate RP having the recess hole RH, opposite ends of the surface of each of the guide plates  40 ,  50 , and  60  may be supported by the reinforcing plate RP. 
     Since the lower guide plate  50  and the intermediate guide plate  60  have a shape corresponding to the upper guide plate  40 , each of the lower guide plate  50  and the intermediate guide plate  60  may include a guide pin insertion hole and a main bolt fastening hole that are the same in function, shape, and position as those of the upper guide plate  40 . 
     The reinforcing plate RP may serve to support the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60 , and thus may be made of a material having high mechanical strength. Specifically, for example, the reinforcing plate RP may be made of a Si3N4 material. In another example, the reinforcing plate RP may be made of a ceramic material, but is not limited thereto. 
     The reinforcing plate RP, the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be coupled to each other by bonding or molding. 
     With such a structure, the guide plate GP may have an advantage in terms of mechanical strength while implementing a fine size and pitch of a plurality of upper guide holes  43 , a plurality of lower guide holes  53 , and a plurality of intermediate guide holes  63 . 
     The guide plate GP made of the photoresist  101  as described above may be more efficient in forming the upper guide holes  43 , the lower guide holes  53 , and the intermediate guide holes  63  vertically. In addition, the photoresist  101  may be suitable for implementing the fine size and pitch of the through-holes H. In the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, by forming a structure in which at least one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  made of the photoresist  101  is provided, and the reinforcing plate RP is coupled to the surface of the at least one of the guide plates  40 ,  50 , and  60 , it is possible to arrange the probes  80  of a fine size with a fine pitch. At the same time, the probe head  1  according to the present disclosure may have excellent durability in which warpage deformation is prevented. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in  FIG.  1   . Specifically,  FIG.  4 ( a )  is a view illustrating the probes  80  before undergoing elastic deformation, and  FIG.  4 ( b )  is a view illustrating the probes  80  after undergoing elastic deformation. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4 ( a ) , the probes  80  may vertically pass through the upper guide plate  40 , the intermediate guide plate  60 , and the lower guide plate  50 . In this case, the probes  80  may be in a vertical state in which elastic deformation. 
     Specifically, each of the probes  80  may be inserted into each of the upper guide holes  43  of the upper guide plate  40 , then inserted into each of the intermediate guide holes  63  of the intermediate guide plate  60 , and finally inserted into each of the lower guide holes  53  of the lower guide plate  50  to protrude outward. Therefore, the front end of the probe  80  may protrude from the second plate  20 . 
     Each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may have visibility due to the light transmittance of the photoresist  101 . Therefore, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have an advantage of facilitating the insertion of the probe  80 . 
     Specifically, the probe  80  may sequentially pass through the upper guide plate  40 , the intermediate guide plate  60 , and the lower guide plate  50 . In this case, due to the light-transmitting property of the guide plate GP, the positions of the intermediate guide hole  63  and the lower guide hole  53  positioned corresponding to the upper guide hole  43  may be accurately identified with the naked eye. In addition, a lighting device may be provided to further secure visibility. Therefore, in the case of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the insertion of the probe  80  may be rapidly performed. 
     After the probe  80  sequentially passes through the upper guide plate  40 , the intermediate guide plate  60 , and the lower guide plate  50 , the first plate  10  may be horizontally relatively moved. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4 ( a ) , when the first and second plates  10  are aligned, the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be located on the same vertical line. Therefore, the upper guide hole  43 , the lower guide hole  53 , and the intermediate guide hole  63  may be located on the same vertical line, and the probe  80  may vertically pass through the upper guide hole  43 , the intermediate guide hole  63 , and the lower guide hole  53 . 
     When the insertion of the probe  80  is completed, as illustrated in  FIG.  4 ( b ) , the first plate  10  may be moved horizontally (in the direction of the arrow). In this case, the first plate  10  may be moved after the guide pin is removed. 
     When the first plate  10  is moved to one side, the position of the upper guide hole  43  may be changed, and the probe  80  may be elastically deformed according to the positional movement of the upper guide hole  43 . Specifically, an upper portion of the probe  80  may be deformed in the moving direction of the first plate  10 , and an intermediate portion of the probe  80  and a lower portion of the probe  80  including the first end, which pass through the intermediate guide hole  63  and the lower guide hole  53 , may be maintained in a vertical state. Therefore, when the first plate  10  is moved, as illustrated in  FIG.  4 ( b ) , an elastically deformed structure of the probe  80  may be implemented. 
     In the case of the probe head  1  according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, although it has been described that the first plate  10  is moved in one direction, an elastically deformed structure of the probe  80  in which the second plate  20  is moved in one direction may be implemented. 
       FIG.  5    is a view schematically illustrating a modified example of the guide plate GP constituting the probe head according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In the modified example, a guide plate GP′ is different from the guide plate GP of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure in that it is provided by stacking a photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , at least one of an upper guide plate  40 , a lower guide plate  50 , and an intermediate guide plate  60  constituting the guide plate GP′ may be provided by stacking the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. In the modified example of the guide plate GP of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be formed by stacking the photoresist  101  capable of lithography. 
     The photoresist  101  may have a thickness in the range of tens of μm to hundreds of μm, and preferably, a plurality of photoresists  101  each having a thickness in the range of 20 μm to 500 μm may be stacked. 
     Alternatively, the photoresist  101  may have a thickness in the range of several μm to several tens of μm, and preferably, a plurality of photoresists  101  each having a thickness in the range of 5 μm to 75 μm may be stacked. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the upper guide plate  40  formed by stacking the plurality of photoresists  101  may be provided in an upper seating region  15  of a first plate  10 . A second plate  20  may be coupled to a lower portion of the first plate  10 . An intermediate guide plate  60  formed by stacking the plurality of photoresists  101  may be provided in an intermediate seating region  26  of the second plate  20 , and a lower guide plate  50  formed by stacking the plurality of photoresists  101  may be provided in a lower seating region  25 . 
     In the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  each of which is formed by stacking the plurality of photoresists  101 , a plurality of upper guide holes  43 , a plurality of lower guide holes  53 , and a plurality of intermediate guide holes  63  into which a plurality of probes  80  are inserted may be simultaneously formed, respectively. The guide holes  43 ,  53 , and  63  may be formed by removing regions not exposed to light irradiation by means of a developing solution in a lithography process. With this, more efficient manufacturing is possible in terms of manufacturing the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60 . 
     Since each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  is formed by stacking the plurality of photoresists  101  having excellent hardness due to heat treatment, high mechanical strength may be achieved. Therefore, the guide plate GP having a structure in which the plurality of photoresists  101  are stacked has an advantage of having excellent mechanical strength and enabling efficient formation of a plurality of guide holes GH. 
     The process of inserting the probes  80  into the guide plate GP′ of the modified example may be same as that of inserting the probes  80  into the guide plate GP of the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Specifically, each of the probes  80  may be inserted into each of the upper guide holes  43  located at vertically corresponding positions, then inserted into each of the intermediate guide holes  63  located at vertically corresponding positions, and finally inserted into each of the lower guide holes  53  located at located vertically corresponding positions to protrude outward. 
     When the plurality of photoresists  101  are stacked, light transmittance may be reduced compared to the case where one photoresist  101  is used, but the light-transmitting property of the photoresists  101  may be maintained and thus a certain level of light transmittance may be achieved. Therefore, the process of inserting the probe  80  may be performed without difficulty. 
     Then, at least one of the first plate  10  and the second plate  20  may be moved so that the probe  80  is elastically deformed. 
     In the case of the guide plate GP′ of the modified example formed by stacking the plurality of photoresists  101 , a reinforcing plate RP may be provided on at least a surface of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60 . 
     In this case, the reinforcing plate RP may be positioned between the plurality of photoresists  101  or provided on at least a surface of a stacked structure formed by the plurality of photoresists  101 . The reinforcing plate RP may be provided in a structure in which a recess hole RH is formed. 
     When the reinforcing plate RP is provided between the plurality of photoresists  101 , the reinforcing plate RP may increase mechanical strength by supporting the plurality of photoresists  101  on upper and lower surfaces thereof. 
     On the other hand, when the reinforcing plate RP is provided on at least a surface of the stacked structure formed by the plurality of photoresists  101 , the reinforcing plate RP may increase mechanical strength by supporting the plurality of photoresists  101  on the upper surface or the lower surface thereof. 
     The plurality of photoresists  101  may be bonded together by thermocompression bonding to form the guide plate GP having a stacked structure. 
     In other words, the photoresists  101  may have a photosensitivity property capable of lithography and a bonding property. With this, the photoresists  101  may be bonded together through thermocompression bonding without requiring provision of a separate bonding layer between the photoresists  101 . 
     In  FIG.  5   , as an example, four photoresists  101  are illustrated as being stacked to form the guide plate GP, but the number of the stacked photoresists  101  is not limited thereto. 
     Specifically, the number of the photoresists  101  constituting each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be different or the same. 
     In  FIG.  5   , each of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  is illustrated as being formed by stacking the four photoresists  101 . 
     Alternatively, any one of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be formed by one photoresist  101  and the reinforcing plate RP provided on a surface of the photoresist  101 , and the remaining two may be formed by the plurality of photoresists  101  or by the reinforcing plate RP provided between or on a surface of the plurality of photoresists  101 . 
     Alternatively, two of the upper guide plate  40 , the lower guide plate  50 , and the intermediate guide plate  60  may be formed by the plurality of photoresists  101  or by the reinforcing plate RP provided between or on a surface of the plurality of photoresists  101 , and the remaining one may be formed by one photoresist  101  and the reinforcing plate RP provided on a surface of the photoresist  101 . 
     According to the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to implement a fine size and pitch of holes into which the probes  80  are inserted by forming the guide plate GP, which serves to guide the front ends of the probes  80 , with the photoresist  101  capable of lithography, and to increase efficiency of the manufacturing process by forming the holes into which the probes  80  are inserted simultaneously and rapidly. 
     In addition, according to the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of the probes  80  by forming the guide plate GP with the photoresist  101  having a light-transmitting property. In this case, the photoresist  101  may have excellent hardness due to the heat treatment process. Therefore, the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may achieve high mechanical strength and enable easy insertion of the probes  80 . 
     In addition, according to the probe head  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to implement a structure that is easy to handle by forming the guide plate GP to have an area smaller than that of each of the first and second plates  10  and  20  supporting the guide plate GP. 
     As described above, the present disclosure has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiment. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     
         
           100 : probe card 
           101 : photoresist 
           1 : probe head 
         GP: guide plate 
           40 : upper guide plate  50 : lower guide plate 
           60 : intermediate guide plate