Patent ID: 12216139

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. It should be noted that unless stated otherwise, relative arrangement of assemblies and steps, numerical expressions and values described in those embodiments may not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Following description of at least one exemplary embodiment may be merely illustrative and may not be configured to limit the present disclosure and its application or use.

The technologies, methods and apparatuses known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the technologies, methods and apparatuses should be considered as a part of the present disclosure.

In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific value should be interpreted as merely exemplary, rather than as a limitation. Therefore, other examples in exemplary embodiment may have different values.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to cover modifications and variations of the present disclosure falling within the scope of corresponding claims (technical solutions to be protected) and their equivalents. It should be noted that, implementation manners provided in embodiment of the present disclosure may be combined with each other if there is no contradiction.

It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters are configured to indicate similar items in following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

The present disclosure can be further clearly understood through the specific examples given below, which may not limited the present disclosure.

A known good die (KGD) is defined as a package type fully supported by suppliers to meet or exceed quality, reliability, and functional data sheet specifications, with non-standardized (die specific) but completely and electronically transferable mechanical specifications. A KGD (known good die) testing apparatus (e.g., KGD testing machine, KGD tester, KGD testing equipment, or KGD test cell) is configured for the die testing before packaging and after splitting. The testing apparatus confirms that dies with desirable performance are used for packaging before high-density packaging, which improves the cumulative packaging yield. The testing apparatus may realize a fully automatic testing system and automatically realize picking, transporting, testing and unloading of dies. The testing apparatus may support multi-station parallel testing. Different stations may support different temperatures and test projects. Different stations may support static, dynamic, and avalanche function tests; and the test sequence may be adjustable. The testing apparatus may support high temperature testing with a temperature range from room temperature to 200° C. The power-on pin card may be a sealed design, support nitrogen filling protection against high-pressure sparking and nitrogen pressure monitoring and support high-temperature preheating and die surface anti-oxidation protection. It should be noted that “die” and “chip” may be interchangeable in the present disclosure.

Exemplary embodiments are described in the present disclosure with reference toFIGS.1-11, which are schematics used for describing various, different embodiments. Referring toFIGS.1-11,FIG.1illustrates an overall structural schematic of an adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG.2illustrates a partial structural schematic of an adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG.3illustrates an enlarged schematic of a location A inFIG.2;FIG.4illustrates a cross-sectional view along a B-B direction inFIG.2;FIG.5illustrates an enlarged schematic of a location C inFIG.4;FIG.6illustrates a structural schematic of a lower test socket of an adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG.7illustrates a structural schematic of an upper test socket of an adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG.8illustrates another partial structural schematic of an adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG.9illustrates a cross-sectional view along a D-D direction inFIG.8;FIG.10illustrates a structural schematic of a mold-closed state of an adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; andFIG.11illustrates an enlarged schematic of a location E inFIG.10.

Exemplary Embodiment One

The present disclosure provides a die test socket. The die test socket may include an upper test socket3and a lower test socket4disposed directly below the upper test socket3, where the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4may move relatively to each other along the vertical direction. The upper test socket and the lower test socket may form a mold. The mold may include two states, that is, a mold-closed state and a mold-opening state. The mold-closed state refers to that the die has been placed in the accommodating chamber, and the upper test socket and the lower test socket are pressed together. At this point, the accommodating chamber may be unsealed, and a protective atmosphere, such as nitrogen, may be filled into the accommodating chamber for subsequent testing. The mold-opening state refers to that the upper test socket and the lower test socket are open to be not pressed together. A groove16may be formed at the lower surface of the upper test socket3and the upper surface of the lower test socket4, such that an accommodating chamber12for placing the die100to-be-tested may be formed between the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4at the mold-closed state.

The upper test socket3may be connected to a support frame1through an installation plate5disposed above the upper test socket3, where the support frame1is capable of moving along a vertical direction. A strip-shaped through hole6may be formed on the upper surface of the support frame1. A first protruding strip71may be at each of the lower portions of two opposite inner walls of the strip-shaped through hole6. A corresponding second protruding strip72extending directly above the first protruding strip71may be at each of the upper portions of two opposite side surfaces of the installation plate5. A strip-shaped block8may be disposed above each second protruding strip72. A side of the strip-shaped block8may be fixedly connected to the upper surface of the support frame1, and another side may extend to directly above the second protruding strip72and be connected to the second protruding strip72through at least two springs9.

When the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4are at the mold-opening state, the lower surface of the second protruding strip72may be adjoined to be in a contact with the upper surface of a corresponding first protruding strip71.

When the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4are at the mold-closed (test) state, the lower surface of the upper test socket3may be tightly attached to the upper surface of the lower test socket4, and a gap10may be formed between the lower surface of the second protruding strip72and the upper surface of the first protruding strip71.

The upper test socket installed on the installation plate may continue to move downward with the support frame and receive an upward reaction force from the lower test socket. Under the action of the reaction force, two second protruding strips on the installation plate may be upwardly separated from the first protruding strips on the support frame, such that a gap may be formed between the second protruding strips and the first protruding strips. Moreover, the springs may continuously exert a downward pressing force on two second protruding strips on the installation plate, and the downward pressing force is the mold closing force. At this point, the upper test socket installed on the installation plate may be at a floating state.

In one embodiment, each of above-mentioned second protruding strips72may be connected to the strip-shaped block8through a plurality of springs9(e.g., five springs) arranged at an equal interval along a length direction of the strip-shaped block8.

In one embodiment, an installation groove11for the end portion of the spring9may be formed at both the upper surface of the second protruding strip72and the lower surface of the strip-shaped block8.

In one embodiment, the strip-shaped through hole6may be formed at the horizontal portion102of the support frame1. A vertical portion101of the support frame1may be installed on a surface of a side of an installation base plate13, which is vertically configured, through at least two sets of vertical guiding rails14and vertical sliding blocks15matched with each other.

In one embodiment, a horizontal base18may be installed on a surface of another side of the installation base plate13and below the horizontal portion102of the support frame1. Two horizontal guiding rails35disposed to be in parallel with and spaced apart from each other may be installed on the upper surface of the horizontal base18. The lower surface of a movable plate2may be connected to each horizontal guiding rail35through at least two horizontal sliding blocks36, and the lower test socket4may be installed on the movable plate2.

The movable plate may be moved to a loading and unloading station at the end of the horizontal base away from the installation base plate to facilitate picking and placing of the dies.

Through a loading apparatus, a die to-be-tested (e.g., die before package) may be placed in a designated region on the lower test socket above the movable plate, that is, above multiple test pins; and multiple test pins and pad regions on the die to-be-tested may be in a one-to-one correspondence.

Subsequently, the movable plate may be pushed to move along the horizontal guiding rail toward the installation base plate through a horizontal drive component (such as a motor, a screw, or a cylinder) until the lower test socket is moved to a testing station directly below the upper test socket.

In one embodiment, a two-way sliding platform21may be installed on the upper surface of above-mentioned movable plate2, and the lower test socket4may be installed on a movable portion of the two-way sliding platform21at a side opposite to the movable plate2.

Exemplary Embodiment Two

The present disclosure provides an adaptive die test socket. The adaptive die test socket may include the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4disposed directly below the upper test socket3, where the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4may move relatively to each other along the vertical direction. The groove16may be formed at the upper surface of the lower test socket4, such that the accommodating chamber12for placing the die100to-be-tested may be formed between the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4at the mold-closed state. The upper test socket3may be connected to the support frame1through the installation plate5disposed above the upper test socket3, where the support frame1is capable of moving along the vertical direction. The strip-shaped through hole6may be formed on the upper surface of the support frame1. The first protruding strip71may be at each of the lower portions of two opposite inner walls of the strip-shaped through hole6. A corresponding second protruding strip72extending directly above the first protruding strip71may be at each of the upper portions of two opposite side surfaces of the installation plate5. The strip-shaped block8may be disposed above each second protruding strip72. A side of the strip-shaped block8may be fixedly connected to the upper surface of the support frame1, and another side may extend to directly above the second protruding strip72and be connected to the second protruding strip72through at least two springs9.

As the support frame moves downward, the lower surface of the upper test socket may first be in a contact with the upper surface of the lower test socket, but there is still a slight deviation that prevents entire surfaces of the upper test socket and the lower test socket from being in a full contact with each other, which may realize the conversion of the plane reference of the upper test socket from the support frame to the lower test socket. Moreover, the spring may absorb and balance out small deviations along the horizontal plane, thereby achieving a tight and flat contact or attachment between the upper test socket and the lower test socket.

When the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4are at the mold-opening state, the lower surface of the second protruding strip72may be adjoined to be in a contact with the upper surface of a corresponding first protruding strip71.

When the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4are at the mold-closed (test) state, the lower surface of the upper test socket3may be tightly attached to the upper surface of the lower test socket4, and the gap10may be formed between the lower surface of the second protruding strip72and the upper surface of the first protruding strip71.

In one embodiment, each of above-mentioned second protruding strips72may be connected to the strip-shaped block8through a plurality of springs9(e.g., six springs) arranged at an equal interval along a length direction of the strip-shaped block8.

In one embodiment, the installation groove11for the end portion of the spring9may be formed at the upper surface of the second protruding strip72.

In one embodiment, the strip-shaped through hole6may be formed at the horizontal portion102of the support frame1. The vertical portion101of the support frame1may be installed on a surface of a side of the installation base plate13, which is vertically configured, through at least two sets of vertical guiding rails14and vertical sliding blocks15matched with each other.

In one embodiment, the horizontal portion102of the support frame1may be at the upper end of the vertical portion101and extend to another side of the installation base plate13.

In one embodiment, the groove16may be formed at the lower surface of above-mentioned upper test socket3.

In one embodiment, a limiting protruding block171may be disposed at the upper surface of above-mentioned lower test socket4and directly below each of four corners of the groove16. An avoiding groove172for the limiting protruding block171to be inserted may be formed at the lower surface of the upper test socket3.

In one embodiment, the limiting protruding block171may be an L-shaped protruding block.

In one embodiment, each of four corners of the groove16may be connected to one avoiding groove172.

The working principle of the present disclosure is described in detail hereinafter.

The movable plate may be moved to the loading and unloading station at the end of the horizontal base away from the installation base plate to facilitate picking and placing of the dies.

Through the loading apparatus, the die to-be-tested may be placed in a designated region on the lower test socket above the movable plate, that is, above multiple test pins; and multiple test pins and pad regions on the die to-be-tested may be in a one-to-one correspondence.

The movable plate may be pushed to move along the horizontal guiding rail toward the installation base plate through a horizontal drive component (such as a motor, a screw, or a cylinder) until the lower test socket is moved to a testing station directly below the upper test socket.

The support frame may be driven downward through a vertical drive component (such as a motor, a screw, or a cylinder).

In such process, as the support frame moves downward, firstly, the lower surface of the upper test socket may be in a contact with the upper surface of the lower test socket, but there is still a slight deviation that prevents entire surfaces of the upper test socket and the lower test socket from being in a full contact with each other.

Subsequently, the upper test socket installed on the installation plate may continue to move downward with the support frame and receive an upward reaction force from the lower test socket. Under the action of the reaction force, two second protruding strips on the installation plate may be upwardly separated from the first protruding strips on the support frame, thereby forming a gap between the second protruding strips and the first protruding strips. Moreover, the springs may continuously exert a downward pressing force on two second protruding strips on the installation plate; and the downward pressing force is the mold closing pressing force. At this point, the upper test socket installed on the installation plate may be in a floating state, and it realizes that the plane reference of the upper test socket may be converted from the support frame to the lower test socket; and the springs may absorb and balance out slight deviation on the horizontal plane, thereby achieving a tight and flat contact or attachment between the upper test socket and the lower test socket. In such way, it may ensure the consistency of the contact resistance between each test pin and corresponding pad region on the die, thereby improving test data consistency and avoiding sparking and pin ablation caused by poor contact in high-pressure environment.

After the test is completed, the mold may be opened, and the movable plate may drive the lower test socket to move back to the loading and unloading station; and then the unloading apparatus may pick the tested die, and the loading apparatus may re-insert a next die to-be-tested.

When using above-mentioned adaptive die test socket, after the upper test socket and the lower test socket are molded together, the plane reference of the upper test socket may be converted from the support frame to the lower test socket; and the springs may absorb and balance out slight deviation on the horizontal plane, thereby achieving a tight and flat contact or attachment between the upper test socket and the lower test socket. In such way, it may ensure the consistency of the contact resistance between each test pin and corresponding pad region on the die, thereby improving test data consistency.

The main structure of the die testing apparatus (e.g., machine) may include four regions, that is, a die automatic loading region, a die transporting region, a die testing region and a die unloading region, as shown inFIGS.12A-12B. The adaptive die test socket may be configured in the die testing region ofFIGS.12A-12B and13. Referring toFIGS.12A-12B and13,FIG.12Aillustrates a structural schematic of an exemplary die testing apparatus;FIG.12Billustrates a structural block diagram of the exemplary die testing apparatus inFIG.12A; andFIG.13illustrates a structural schematic of the die testing region of the exemplary die testing apparatus.

The automatic die loading region may be configured for wafer loading, die positioning, die stripping and die picking; or automatically pick up the dies from a tape reel, and adapt to wafers of different sizes. The die transporting region may be configured for picking up dies by suction and transporting dies between different test stations. The die testing region may be configured for die position correction, temperature control and testing of different projects. The die testing region may be set up with multiple stations to support multi-station parallel testing or serial testing, and different test projects. The die unloading region may be configured for appearance inspection and unloading to different bins after the die testing is completed, so that dies may be tested and classified into different die bins. In the die automatic loading region, a conventional die loading apparatus may be utilized.

In the die transporting region, an imported high-speed linear motor may be utilized to ensure die transporting speed and stability. The main improvement lies in the suction nozzle transporting apparatus of the die. The suction nozzle transporting apparatus may include six sets of sub-suction-nozzle transporting apparatuses, which may operate in parallel without interfering with each other. Each set of sub-suction-nozzle transporting apparatus may include two suction nozzles which may suck two dies simultaneously. Each set of suction nozzles may be positioned independently to facilitate quick switching between different products. The suction nozzle may support temperature control and be preheated at high temperatures. The specially designed nozzle may avoid contact with the critical regions of the dies and reduce the risk of crushing injuries. The pressure of the suction nozzle to suck the dies may be adjustable to avoid improper suction or crushing of die surfaces. The suction nozzle may be disposed with a vacuum pressure sensor. By adjusting a vacuum pressure value, the adsorption strength of the suction nozzle may be ensured to prevent dies from falling during suction and transporting processes.

Referring toFIG.13, in the die testing region, two dies on the suction nozzle may place materials (dies) to the calibration platform simultaneously. Two dies may perform position calibration simultaneously to reduce calibration time. Two sets of upper test sockets may be installed on a connection board, and each set of sockets may be switched and powered through a signal switch. A high-temperature nitrogen interface may be reserved on the socket of each set. Two sets of lower test sockets may be installed on a test carrier, each reserving two sets of temperature control interfaces. The upper and lower test sockets may be independent of each other, making position correction and maintenance more convenient. The lower test socket may be mounted on a high-speed linear motor and may quickly switch between a loading position and a testing position. A CCD (charge coupled device) may be disposed above a testing site to visually identify whether the die is correctly placed on the testing site. The testing site may be equipped with a vacuum pressure detection system. By determining a pressure value of a sucked die, whether the die is correctly placed on the site and whether there are any abnormalities such as warping may be determined, thereby ensuring that the die is correctly placed on the testing site and preventing warping or flipping.

In the die unloading region, a conventional material (die and/or wafer) unloading apparatus may be applied. An unloading station may be equipped with material (wafer/die) box in-situ detection to prevent unloading failure or abnormality due to that the material box is not empty in the unloading station or the material box is not in a safe position. A large-view CCD may be installed at the unloading station, which may monitor in real time whether an angle and a spacing of the die after being placed in the blue film are abnormal.

Exemplary Embodiment Three

The present disclosure provides a formation method of the adaptive die test socket.FIG.14illustrates a flowchart of the formation method of the adaptive die test socket according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.14, the formation method may include following exemplary steps.

At S100, the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4directly below the upper test socket3are provided, where the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4are capable of moving relative to each other along the vertical direction.

At S102, the groove16is formed at a lower surface of the upper test socket3and/or at an upper surface of the lower test socket4, such that the accommodating chamber12for placing the die to-be-tested100is formed between the upper test socket3and the lower test socket4at the mold-closed state.

It should be noted that other descriptions of similar or same parts and/portions related to the die test sockets may refer to above-mentioned exemplary embodiment one and two, which may not be described in detail herein.

It may be seen from above-mentioned embodiments that the following beneficial effects may be at least achieved.

For the adaptive die test socket, the upper test socket is connected to the support frame through the installation plate disposed above the upper test socket, where the support frame is capable of moving along the vertical direction; the strip-shaped through hole is formed on the upper surface of the support frame; the first protruding strip is at each of lower portions of two opposite inner walls of the strip-shaped through hole; a corresponding second protruding strip extending directly above the first protruding strip is at each of upper portions of two opposite side surfaces of the installation plate; the strip-shaped block is disposed above each second protruding strip; and a side of the strip-shaped block is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the support frame, and another side of the strip-shaped block extends to directly above the second protruding strip and is connected to the second protruding strip through at least two springs. When the upper test socket and the lower test socket are at the mold-opening state, the lower surface of the second protruding is adjoined to be in a contact with the upper surface of a corresponding first protruding strip. When the upper test socket and the lower test socket are at the mold-closed state, the lower surface of the upper test socket is tightly attached to the upper surface of the lower test socket, and the gap is formed between the lower surface of the second protruding strip and the upper surface of the first protruding strip. After the upper test socket and the lower test socket are molded together, the plane reference of the upper test socket may be converted from the support frame to the lower test socket; and the springs may absorb and balance out slight deviation on the horizontal plane, thereby achieving a tight and flat contact or attachment between the upper test socket and the lower test socket. In such way, it may ensure the consistency of the contact resistance between each test pin and corresponding pad region on the die, thereby improving test data consistency.

Above-mentioned embodiments may be only for illustrating technical concepts and features of the present disclosure. The purpose may be to make those skilled in the art understand the content of the present disclosure and implement the present disclosure accordingly and may not limit the protection scope of the present disclosure. All equivalent changes or modifications made based on the spirit and essence of the present disclosure shall be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.