Patent ID: 12228608

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Drawings will be used below to disclose embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of clear illustration, many practical details will be explained together in the description below. However, it is appreciated that the practical details should not be used to limit the claimed scope. In other words, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the practical details are not essential. Moreover, for the sake of drawing simplification, some customary structures and elements in the drawings will be schematically shown in a simplified way. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Reference is made toFIGS.1-2.FIG.1is a schematic view of a probe station100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a top view of the probe station100ofFIG.1, in which the microscope170and the display device180are omitted for simplification. In this embodiment, as shown inFIGS.1-2, a probe station100includes a trolley110, a testing equipment120, a probe holder130and at least one probe140. The trolley110includes a platform111and a frame112. The platform111is located above the frame112and is connected with the frame112. The frame112defines an accommodation space AS. The platform111has an opening OP. The opening OP of the platform111is communicated with the accommodation space AS defined by the frame112. The testing equipment120is at least partially disposed in the accommodation space AS and is at least partially exposed through the opening OP of the platform111. The probe holder130is disposed on the platform111. The probe140is held by the probe holder130. The probe holder130is configured to control a tip of the probe140to contact with a device under test200. The device under test200is disposed on the testing equipment120through the opening OP of the platform111and is signally connected with the testing equipment120. In practical applications, the opening OP is square in shape. For example, the size of the opening OP is 500 mm by 500 mm.

As shown inFIG.3, the testing equipment120includes a transmitter123and a receiver124. The transmitter123and the receiver124are disposed on the main body121. The transmitter123is configured to transmit a high frequency signal to the device under test200. The receiver124is configured to receive a feedback signal from the device under test200. In practical applications, the testing equipment120is a high-speed memory tester while the device under test200is a memory card, such as a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). The high-speed memory tester120is configured to transmit a high frequency signal to the memory card200and receive a feedback signal from the memory card200.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS.1-2, the high-speed memory tester120includes a main body121and a load board122. The load board122is connected with the main body121. The load board122of the high-speed memory tester120is exposed through the opening OP of the platform111and is configured to support the memory card200.

Reference is made toFIGS.3-4.FIG.3is a cross-sectional view along the sectional line A-A ofFIG.1.FIG.4is a cross-sectional view along the sectional line B-B ofFIG.3. In this embodiment, as shown inFIGS.3-4, the probe station100further includes a plurality of first buffering pieces150. The first buffering pieces150are connected between the platform111and the main body121of the high-speed memory tester120. Moreover, the first buffering pieces150are separated from each other. For example, the quantity of the first buffering pieces150as shown inFIG.4is four. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure. According to the actual situations such as the shape and the weight of the high-speed memory tester120, the quantity and the pattern of distribution of the first buffering pieces150can be adjusted.

When the high-speed memory tester120operates, the first buffering pieces150can act as a buffer to absorb vibration. Therefore, vibration from the high-speed memory tester120during operation is not transmitted to the platform111, and thus the probe holder130disposed on the platform111is free from vibration during the operation of the high-speed memory tester120. In this way, the contact of the memory card200by the tip of the probe140can maintain stable and accurate during the operation of the high-speed memory tester120. In some embodiments, at least one of the first buffering pieces150is elastic in nature. In other embodiments, each of the first buffering pieces150is elastic in nature. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

Reference is made toFIG.5.FIG.5is a cross-sectional view along the sectional line C-C ofFIG.3. In this embodiment, as shown inFIGS.3and5, the probe station100further includes a plurality of second buffering pieces160. The second buffering pieces160are connected between the frame112and the main body121of the high-speed memory tester120. Moreover, the second buffering pieces160are separated from each other. For example, the quantity of the second buffering pieces160as shown inFIG.5is two. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure. According to the actual situations such as the shape and the weight of the high-speed memory tester120, the quantity and the pattern of distribution of the second buffering pieces160can be adjusted.

Similarly, when the high-speed memory tester120operates, the second buffering pieces160can act as a buffer to absorb vibration. Therefore, vibration from the high-speed memory tester120is not transmitted to the platform111through the frame112, and thus the probe holder130disposed on the platform111is free from vibration during the operation of the high-speed memory tester120. In this way, the contact of the memory card200by the tip of the probe140can maintain stable and accurate during the operation of the high-speed memory tester120. In some embodiments, at least one of the second buffering pieces160is elastic in nature. In other embodiments, each of the second buffering pieces160is elastic in nature. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

Furthermore, as shown inFIGS.1and3, the trolley110further includes a plurality of rollers113. The rollers113are connected to a side of the frame112away from the platform111. In other words, the frame112is connected between the platform111and the rollers113. Each of the rollers113of the trolley110is configured to roll over a floor. In this way, a user can move the probe station100between different working locations in an effective and easy manner.

In addition, as shown inFIGS.1and3, the probe station100further includes a microscope170and a display device180. In practice, the microscope170is located above the platform111and is slidably connected with the platform111. The microscope170is configured to obtain an image of the memory card200, for example, when the tip of the probe140is in contact with the memory card200. The display device180is connected with the frame112of the trolley110and is signally connected with the microscope170. In this way, the image obtained by the microscope170can be displayed on the display device180.

Reference is made toFIG.6.FIG.6is a partially enlarged view of a first buffering piece150according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, at least one of the first buffering pieces150is a spring. As shown inFIG.6, the first buffering piece150is a spring connected between the platform111of the trolley110and the main body121of the high-speed memory tester120. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

Reference is made toFIG.7.FIG.7is a partially enlarged view of a second buffering piece160according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, at least one of the second buffering pieces160is a spring. As shown inFIG.7, the second buffering piece160is a spring connected between the frame112of the trolley110and the main body121of the high-speed memory tester120. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.

In conclusion, the aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure have at least the following advantages:

(1) When the high-speed memory tester operates, both the first buffering pieces and the second buffering pieces can act as a buffer to absorb vibration. Therefore, vibration from the high-speed memory tester during operation is not transmitted to the platform, and thus the probe holder disposed on the platform is free from vibration during the operation of the high-speed memory tester. In this way, the contact of the memory card by the tip of the probe can maintain stable and accurate during the operation of the high-speed memory tester.

(2) Since the trolley further includes a plurality of rollers configured to roll over a floor, a user can move the probe station between different working locations in an effective and easy manner.

Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

It will be apparent to the person having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of the present disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.