Patent Publication Number: US-2010118297-A1

Title: Microscope having multiple image-outputting devices and probing apparatus for integrated circuit devices using the same

Description:
The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/015,775, filed on Jan. 17, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (A) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a microscope having multiple image-outputting devices and a probing apparatus for an integrated circuit device using the same, and more particularly, to a microscope having multiple image-outputting devices for displaying object images of different magnifications with auto-focusing and remote-zooming and a probing apparatus for an integrated circuit device using the same. 
     (B) Description of the Related Art 
     Optical microscopes are adapted for viewing objects on planar surfaces of glass slides. Such microscopes generally include an optical system, which provides an image of the object in an associated focal plane. The optical components of an optical microscope are two imaging lenses (eyepiece and objective) and a condenser lens. The eyepiece and objective are utilized for magnifying the image of the specimen and projecting it onto the viewer&#39;s retina or onto the film plane in a camera. The condenser lens serves to focus a cone of incident light onto the specimen. To provide the incident light, there is an illumination system that may include the source of the incident light or may direct external natural or artificial light towards the condenser lens. The illumination system can also provide means for enhancing the contrast and detail seen in the image. Finally, there is a movable stage, which holds the specimen in the optical path and allows the specimen to be moved in and out of the focal plane, moved to the left or right, or rotated about the optic axis. 
     U.S. patent publication number 2005/0094021 A1 discloses an optical system incorporating an auto-focus camera with built-in close-up optics for easy coupling to any imaging optical system via a standard C-mount; however, such system has the drawback of having only one optical path and thus is only a single view system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a microscope having multiple image-outputting devices for displaying object images of different magnifications and fields of view and a probing apparatus for an integrated circuit device using the same. 
     A microscope according to this aspect of the present invention comprises an object splitter configured to split the reflected light from an object plane into a first optical path and a second optical path, a first imaging module positioned on the first path and a second imaging module positioned on the second path. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the object splitter includes a first beam splitter configured to direct an illumination light to the object plane, an objective lens configured to collect the reflected light from the object plane and couple the reflected light on the first beam splitter, and a second beam splitter configured to split the reflected light into the first optical path and the second optical path, wherein the distance between the object plane and the objective lens is constant. The first imaging module comprises a first close up lens positioned on the first optical path and configured to render a first object image to a first imaging device with auto-focusing and remote-zooming capabilities, and the second imaging module comprises a second close up lens and a negative lens positioned on the second optical path and configured to render a second object image to a second imaging device with auto-focusing and remote-zooming capabilities. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a probing apparatus for an integrated circuit device comprising at least one probe pin configured to contact a pad of the integrated circuit device and a microscope having multiple image-outputting devices for displaying the images of the probe pin contacting the pad at different magnifications with auto-focusing and remote-zooming. In one embodiment of the present invention, the microscope comprises an object splitter, a first imaging module and a second imaging module. The object splitter includes a first beam splitter configured to direct an illumination light to an object plane, an objective lens configured to collect a reflected light from the object plane and couple the reflected light on the first beam splitter, and a second beam splitter configured to split the reflected light into a first optical path and a second optical path, wherein the distance between the object plane and the objective lens is constant. The first imaging module comprises a first close up lens positioned on the first optical path and configured to render a first object image to a first imaging device with auto-focusing and remote-zooming capabilities, and the second imaging module comprises a second close up lens and a negative lens positioned on the second optical path and configured to render a second object image to a second imaging device with auto-focusing and remote-zooming capabilities. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or processes for carrying out the same purposes as those of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a microscope according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show the object images acquired by the microscope at different magnifications; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a probing apparatus for an integrated circuit device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a microscope  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show the object images acquired by the microscope  10 . The microscope  10  comprises an object splitter  30  configured to split a reflected light from an object plane  13  into a first optical path  42 A and a second optical path  42 B, a first imaging module  46 A positioned on the first path  42 A and a second imaging module  46 B positioned on the second path  42 B. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the object splitter  30  includes a first beam splitter  32  configured to direct an illumination light  16  to the object plane  13 , an objective lens  34  configured to collect the reflected light  18  from the object plane  13  and couple the reflected light  18  on the first beam splitter  30 , and a second beam splitter  36  configured to split the reflected light  18  into the first optical path  42 A and the second optical path  42 B. The first imaging module  46 A comprises a first close up lens  44 A positioned on the first optical path  42 A and configured to render a first object image  26 A ( FIG. 2 ) to a first imaging device  20 A with auto-focusing and remote-zooming capabilities, and the second imaging module  20 B comprises a second close up  44 B lens and a negative lens  38  positioned on the second optical path  42 B and configured to render a second object image  26 B ( FIG. 3 ) to a second imaging device  46 B with auto-focusing and remote-zooming capabilities. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the microscope  10  includes a positive lens  17  such as a condenser lens positioned between the first splitter  32  and a light surface  14  emitting the illumination light  16 , and a diffuser  19  disposed on a surface of the first splitter  32  receiving the illumination light  16 . Preferably, the first beam splitter  32 , the objective lens  34  and the second beam splitter  36  are positioned on an optical axis  40 , and the object splitter  30  is configured to direct the illumination light  16  to the object  12  through the optical axis  40 . In particular, the objective lens  34  is configured to allow the illumination light  16  to penetrate through to the object  12 , and allow the reflected light  18  to penetrate through to the first beam splitter  32 . The first beam splitter  32  is configured to allow the reflected light  18  to penetrate through to the second beam splitter  36 . Preferably, the first imaging device  20 A and the second imaging device  20 B have the same configuration, and each includes a plurality of auto-focusing and remote-zooming lenses  22  configured to magnify the object image and an image sensor  24  configured to capture the magnified image. Furthermore, the auto-focusing and remote-zooming lenses  22  also allow continuous zoom adjustments with auto-focus capability. Consequently, the first imaging device  20 A and the second imaging device  20 B can be used to acquire the object images at different zoom levels individually. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first close up lens  44 A is configured to render the first object image  26 A of a first magnification, and the second close up lens  44 B and the negative lens  38  are configured to render the second object image  26 B of a second magnification different from the first magnification, wherein the second magnification is typically greater than the first magnification. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first close up lens  44 A and the first imaging device  20 A are configured to have a first field of view (FOV), and the second close up lens  44 B, the negative lens  38  and the second imaging device  20 B are configured to have a second field of view different from the first field of view, wherein the second field of view is smaller than the first field of view. In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the second field of view can be designed to partially overlap the first field of view. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the negative lens  38  is positioned between the second splitter  36  and the second close up lens  44 B. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the first imaging device  20 A and the object splitter  36  is constant, the distance between the second imaging device  20 B and the object splitter  36  is constant, the distance between the object plane  13  and the objective lens  34  is constant; i.e., the distance between the object plane  13  and the objective splitter  30  is constant. In other words, the relative distance between the optical components of the microscope  10  is fixed, and the zooming and focusing of the microscope  10  are implemented in the first imaging device  20 A and the second imaging device  20 B, such that the microscope  10  can acquire the object images of different magnifications with auto-focusing and remote-zooming for the observes without moving the optical components of the microscope  10 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a probing apparatus  70  for an integrated circuit device  60  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The probing apparatus  70  can be a probing machine having a platform to receive a probing card  50  including at least one probe pin  52  configured to contact a pad  62  of the integrated circuit device  60  and the microscope  10  configured to show the images of a predetermined region  72  where the probe pin  52  contacts the pad  62  at different zoom levels. In particular, the microscope  10  can simultaneously provide multiple views of the predetermined region  72  and each view with different zoom settings such that the user of the probing apparatus  70  can observe the images of the predetermined region  72  at different zoom levels simultaneously. In addition, the microscope  10  also allows each view to have continuous but separate zoom adjustments with auto-focus capability. Hence, the microscope  10  totally eliminates the need to adjust individual focusing when the probe pin  52  is moved or when zoom settings are changed. 
     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, many of the processes discussed above can be implemented in different methodologies and replaced by other processes, or a combination thereof. 
     Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.