Patent ID: 7462800

Claim:
A method of processing probe elements configured for use in a probe card, the method comprising the steps of: lithographically producing a plurality of probe elements, each of the probe elements having a tip portion; mounting the plurality of probe elemrnts to a support plate; orienting the support plate at a particular angle with respect to a structure used to remove material to form a particular shape to the tip portion of the probe elements that is well adapted to penetrate a contaminant layer of a surface to be probed by the probe elements; operating the structure in a first pass over the probe elements to form the particular shape to the tip portion of the probe elements; orienting the support plate and the probe elements for a second pass with respect to the structure in order to form the particular shape to the tip portion of the probe elements; and operating the structure in a second pass over the probe elements to form the particular shape to the tip portion of the probe elements.