Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6478596?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-03-16 17:01:53
Document Index: 796408217

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 74', 'art 78', 'art 86', 'art 74', 'art 78', 'art. 11', 'application No. 09', 'application No. 09', 'arts 78', 'arts 78', 'art 75', 'art 77', 'arts 78', 'art 74', 'art 78', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 74', 'art 56', 'art 58', 'art 56', 'art 60', 'art 58', 'art 66', 'art 66', 'arts 62', 'arts 62']

Patent US6478596 - Semiconductor component mounting apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA semiconductor component mounting apparatus for mounting a semiconductor component to test the electric characteristics of the semiconductor component, comprising: a contactor 20 with which the semiconductor component contacts; a substrate 30 which supplies an electric signal to the contractor 20; a...http://www.google.com/patents/US6478596?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6478596 - Semiconductor component mounting apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6478596 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/051,825Publication dateNov 12, 2002Filing dateJan 16, 2002Priority dateJul 9, 1998Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS20020061664Publication number051825, 10051825, US 6478596 B2, US 6478596B2, US-B2-6478596, US6478596 B2, US6478596B2InventorsKenji Yoshida, Takashi Naito, Shigeru Murayama, Katsuhiko Sakamoto, Takashi MasakiOriginal AssigneeAdvantest Corporation, Amp (Japan) Ltd. IExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (6), Referenced by (5), Classifications (9), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSemiconductor component mounting apparatusUS 6478596 B2Abstract A semiconductor component mounting apparatus for mounting a semiconductor component to test the electric characteristics of the semiconductor component, comprising: a contactor 20 with which the semiconductor component contacts; a substrate 30 which supplies an electric signal to the contractor 20; a plurality of connection components 40, each of which has an electric terminal 48 for supplying the electric signal to the substrate 30 and which is fixed to the substrate 30; a plurality of connectors 50 which has a contact pin 70 including a contact part 74 for contacting with the electric terminal 48 of the connection component 40, a housing 68 for holding the contact pin 70, a pushing apart 78 for pushing the contact pin 70 to the electric terminal 48, and which is freely-detachably connected to one of the plurality of the connection components 40; a holder 80 which holds the plurality of the connectors 50; and a fixing part 86 which fixes the holder 80 to the substrate 30, wherein the contact part 74 slides along the electric terminal 48, while contacting with the electric terminal 40, when the pushing part 78 pushes the contact pin 70. Images(7) Claims(14)
What is claimed is: 1. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus for mounting a semiconductor component to test electrical characteristics of said semiconductor component, comprising:
a contactor with which said semiconductor component contacts; a substrate that supplies an electrical signal to said contactor; a plurality of connection components, each of which has an electric terminal that is fixed to said substrate, for supplying said electric signal to said substrate and which is fixed to said substrate; a plurality of connectors, each of which has a contact pin including a contact part for contacting with a respective electric terminal of said connection component, a housing for holding said contact pin, a pushing part for pushing said contact pin to said electric terminal, and which is freely-detachably connected to one of said plurality of said connection components; and a connector base for holding said plurality of connectors, wherein said contact pin further including a pushed part extending from said contact part and pushed by said pushing part, and a lower part further extending away from said pushed part; when said pushing part does not push said pushed part to said electric terminal, a distance from said electric terminal to said pushed part is longer than a distance from said lower part to said electric terminal and a distance from said contact part to said electric terminal; and when said pushed part is pushed by said pushing part, said contact part slides along said electric terminal contacting with said electric terminal. 2. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector has a plurality of said pushing part provided symmetrically with respect to said contact pin.
3. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a direction in which said contact part slides along said electric terminal is a removing direction in which said connection component is removed from said connector.
4. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a direction in which said contact part slides along said electric terminal is an inserting direction in which said connection component is inserted to said connector.
5. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said plurality of connection components are arranged spokewise on said substrate, and wherein a plurality of handles are attached to outer rims of said plurality of connectors arranged spokewise on said connector base. 6. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said pushing part has a rotational cam,
said semiconductor component further comprising a handle to rotate said rotational cam for each of said rotational cam, wherein said handles are attached to an outer rim of said plurality of said connectors arranged spokewise. 7. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a handle driving part which is attached to an outside of said plurality of said handles and drives said plurality of said handles.
8. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a handle which rotates said pushing parts; and a handle operation part which is attached to an end of said handle and at least a part of whose surface is spheric. 9. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said pushing part has a rotational cam and said handle rotates said rotational cam.
10. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said handle operation part has a lever part that is connected to said rotational cam and extends in a radial direction of said rotational cam, and an extension part which is attached to an end of said lever part and extends in an axial direction of said rotational cam, and
wherein said handle operation part is attached to an end of said extension part. 11. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said handle is provided for each of said rotational cam.
12. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pushing part has a rotational cam,
said semiconductor component mounting apparatus further comprising: a rotational cam holder which is attached to an outside of said housing and holds said rotational cam; a taper part whose thickness lessens along an axial direction of said rotational cam. 13. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a setting part at an end of an thin part whereabouts a thickness of said taper part becomes thinnest, which sets said connector to a connector base.
14. A semiconductor component mounting apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a setting part at an end of an thick part whereabouts a thickness of said taper part becomes thickest, which sets said connector to a connector base.
This patent application claims priority based on a Japanese patent application, H10 194730, filed on Jul. 9, 1998, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application No. 09/709,533 filed Nov. 13, 2000, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application No. 09/347,867 filed July 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,698.
In order for a connection component to be electrically connected to a connector reliably, the electric terminal of the connection component need to be pushed against the pins of the connector. Large pushing force increases the electric conductivity, but makes friction force larger, resulting in the difficulty of inserting the connection component to the connector or removing the connection component from the connector. In particular, in the case of connector with a number of pins, or the connection components to be inserted into a number of connectors simultaneously, large force must be used to insert the connection components.
In order to overcome the above problem, a so-called Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) connector is proposed, which does not need any force when the connection component is inserted, and pushes the pins against the connection component after the connection component is inserted. However, when the pins are pushed against the connection component, the relative position may change slightly. When high accuracy of the relative position between the connector and the connection component is required slight shift of the connection component when the pins are pushed is fatal.
For instance, in a semiconductor testing apparatus, an extreme high reliability for electrical connectivity and position accuracy are required. In order to test the semiconductor fast and reliably, the connector used in the testing apparatus must be reliably connected to the connection component. Furthermore, in order to test various types of semiconductor components, various types of substrates containing contactors which get contact with the semiconductor must be provided. Therefore, it is desirable that the connector used in the semiconductor testing apparatus can easily install and remove these various types of substrates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks in the prior art, and to provide a semiconductor component mounting apparatus and a connector. This object is achieved by combinations described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous and exemplary combinations of the present invention.
In order to achieve the object, a semiconductor component mounting apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor component mounting apparatus for mounting a semiconductor component to test electric characteristics of the semiconductor component, comprising: a contactor with which the semiconductor component contacts; a substrate which supplies an electric signal to the contacts; a plurality of connection components, each of which has an electric terminal for supplying the electric signal to the substrate and which is fixed to the substrate; a plurality of connectors, each of which has a contact pin including a contact part for contacting with a respective electric terminal of the connection component; a housing for holding the contact pin, a pushing part for pushing the contact pin to the electric terminal, and which is freely-detachably connected to one of the plurality of the connection components; a holder which holds the plurality of the connectors; and a fixing part which fixes the holder to the substrate; wherein the contact part slides along the electric terminal, while containing with the electric terminal, when the pushing part pushes the contact pin.
Each of the two pushing part may have a rotational cam, and the semiconductor component mounting apparatus may further comprise a handle to rotate the rotational cam for each of the rotational cam; and the handles may be attached to the outer rim of the plurality of the connectors arranged spokewise.
The semiconductor component mounting apparatus may further comprise a handle driving part which is attached to the outside of the plurality of the handles and drives the plurality of the handles.
The connector may further comprise a settlement part at an end of an thin part whereabouts the thickness of two of the taper part becomes thinnest, which sets the connector to a connector base.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view illustrating how the connection component 40 is inserted into the connector 50 shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is the detailed view of the connector 50 shown in FIG. 1; and
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention will now be described based on the preferred embodiments, which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but exemplity the invention. All of the features and the combinations thereof described in the embodiment are not necessarily essential to the invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the connection component 40 is inserted into the connector 50 shown in FIG. 1. The connection component 40 has a rivet 42 to be fitted to the substrate 30, a reinforcement board 46 to reinforce the part of the rivet 42 which is fixed, an electrical terminal 48 which supplies an electrical signal to the substrate 30, and an electric terminal holder 44 which holds the electric terminal 48.
On the other hand the connector 50 has a contact pin 70 which contacts with the electric terminal 48 of the connection component 40, a housing 68 which holds the contact pin 70, at least two pushing parts 78 which push the contact pin 70 toward the electric terminal 48 and are symmetrically located at the right and left sides. Each of the two pushing parts 78 has a rotational cam 73 and a rotational cam holder 76 which holds the rotational cam 72. As the rotational cam 72 rotates, the contact part between the rotational cam 72 and the contact pin 70 moves toward the connection component 40 by the almost same distance, and the contact pin 70 is pushed against the electric terminal 48. Since the rotational cam holder 78 receives reaction from the contact pin 70 being pushed, the rotational cam holder 76 must be rigid enough to prevent its deflection. Therefore, it is preferable that the thickness of the rotational cam holder 76 may be large enough to stick out to the outside of the housing 68.
The rotational cam 72, for instance, includes a circumferential part 75 which has the almost same distance from the center of the rotational cam, and a flatter part 77 whose distance from the center is shorter than the distance from the center to the circumferential part. The contact pins 70 are arranged symmetrically at the right and left sides in two lines. As the two dimensional cams 72 rotate, each of the two pushing parts 78 pushes the plurality of the contact pins 70 at the left side and the plurality of the contact pins 70 at the right side respectively. Herein, in order to prevent the contact pins 70 in each line from short circuiting each other, the rotational cam 72 must be insulated. Therefore, it is preferable that the surface of the rotational cam 72 is, for instance, Teflon-coated.
The contact pin 70 includes a contact part 74 which contacts with the electric terminal 48 of the connection component 40. When the pushing part 78 pushes the contact pin 70, the contact part 74 slides along the electric terminal 48, while contacting with the electric terminal 48. Hereby, the surface of the electric terminal 48 is scrabbled and the oxidized coat and dust are removed, so that the contact pin 70 can be reliably connected to the electric terminal 48. When the contact part 74 slides, if the connection component 40 and the connector 50 slip along the direction in which the contact pins 20 are arranged, the connectivity could be lost. To prevent this, it is desirable that the direction in which the contact part 74 slides is vertical to the direction in which contact pins 70 are arranged. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the contact part 74 slides in the removing direction in which the connection component 40 is removed from the connector 50. In another example, the contact part 74 may slide along the inserting direction in which the connection component 40 is inserted to the connector 50.
FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a connector 50 shown in FIG. 1. At the outer rim of the plurality of the connectors 50 arranged spokewise on the connector base 90, a handle 52 to rotate the rotational cam 72 is attached for each rotational cam 72. The handle 52 has a lever part 56 which is connected to the rotational cam 72 and extends in the radial direction of the rotational cam 72, and an extension part 58 which is attached to the end of the lever part 56 and extends in the axial direction of the rotational cam 72. A handle operation part 60 at least a part of whose surface is spheric is further attached to the end of the extension part 58. Hereby, the handle 52 can be smoothly turned around when the guide 102 (FIG. 2) does not always push the handle 52 from the right side.
The connector 50 has a taper part 66 whose thickness lessens along the axial direction of the rotational cam 72. Hereby, when the connector 50 are arranged spokewise, the gap between the adjacent connectors 50 becomes small and prevents dust from falling between the connectors 50. At the both ends of the long hand of the connector 50, whereabouts the thickness of two of the tape part 66 becomes thinnest and thickest, the setting parts 62 and 62 are attached to set the connector 50 to the connector base 90. Since the setting parts 62 and 64 are arranged only at the both ends, it can narrow the gap between the adjacent connectors 50. As a result, a number of connectors 50 can be arranged on the connectors base 90.
FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the connection component 40 shown in FIG. 1. The connection component 40 has a number of electric terminals 48 which conveys the signals received from the connectors 50 to the substrate 30, an electric terminal holder 44 which holds the electric terminal 48, rivets 42 which fix the connection component to the substrate 30, and a reinforcement board 46 which reinforces the contact part of the rivet 42 and the connection component 40. The rivets 42 are pierced through the connection component 40 as a whole, and further pierced through the substrate 30 and the reinforcement board 46, and then the end of the rivets 42 are crimped and the connection component 40 is fixed to the substrate 30. Hereby, compared to the case in that the connection component 40 is soldered at the substrate 30, the connection component can be more firmly fixed to the substrate, and it can prevent the connection component from separating.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3982807 *Mar 27, 1975Sep 28, 1976International Telephone And Telegraph CorporationZero force printed circuit board connectorUS4176900 *Dec 23, 1977Dec 4, 1979Everett/Charles, Inc.Low insertion force connectorUS4266839 *Jul 6, 1979May 12, 1981E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And CompanyZero insertion force toggle link connectorUS4591217 *Dec 10, 1984May 27, 1986Gte Communication Systems CorporationLow insertion force connection arrangementUS4684194 *Feb 25, 1986Aug 4, 1987Trw Inc.Zero insertion force connectorUS6184698 *Jul 9, 1999Feb 6, 2001Advantest CoprporationSemiconductor component mounting apparatus* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7527513Jul 2, 2008May 5, 2009Fujitsu Component LimitedContact member deformation slot connectorUS7629803Aug 28, 2008Dec 8, 2009King Yuan Electronics Co., LtdProbe card assembly and test probes thereinUS7639028 *Aug 13, 2007Dec 29, 2009King Yuan Electronics Co., Ltd.Probe card assembly with ZIF connectorsUS7710134Aug 28, 2008May 4, 2010King Yuan Electronics Co., LtdProbe card assemblyUS7786744Dec 18, 2008Aug 31, 2010King Yuan Electronics Co., Ltd.Probe card assembly and test probes therein* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification439/259, 439/260, 324/762.01, 324/756.01, 324/762.02International ClassificationH01R13/115, H05K7/10Cooperative ClassificationH05K7/1007European ClassificationH05K7/10DLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 6, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Apr 23, 2010ASAssignmentOwner name: TYCO ELECTRONICS JAPAN G.K.,JAPANFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:AMP (JAPAN) LTD.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100426;REEL/FRAME:24278/649Effective date: 20000201Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:AMP (JAPAN) LTD.;REEL/FRAME:024278/0649May 12, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4May 13, 2003CCCertificate of correctionRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google