Patent ID: 7619428

Claim:
A system comprising: (a) a temperature controlled zone configured to receive a plurality of individually removable wafer cartridges each containing a semiconductor wafer, each of the plurality of individually removable wafer cartridges including a probe power printed circuit board; (b) power electronics positioned in a cool zone adjacent to said temperature controlled zone; (c) a first interconnection system connecting power electronics to said probe power printed circuit board, the first interconnection system including a plurality of connections to separately receive the individually removable wafer cartridges; (d) power lines coupled to the wafer; and (e) circuitry external to the wafers that measures the power lines, the measuring comprising receiving voltage measurements or current measurements; the plurality of cartridges including a probe signal printed circuit board; wherein the system additionally comprises electronics positioned in said cool zone adjacent to said temperature controlled zone; and a second interconnection system connecting said electronics to said probe signal printed circuit board; in which the electronics comprise a main signal printed circuit board and an extender circuit board connected to said main signal printed circuit board, first and second printed circuit board connectors respectively mounted on said main signal and extender printed circuit boards, each of said main signal and extender printed circuit boards having a plurality of contact members, said main signal printed circuit board connector having a first plurality of interconnection lines connected to said main signal printed circuit board connector and a second plurality of interconnection lines connected to said plurality of contact members of said main signal printed circuit board, said extender printed circuit board having a third plurality of interconnection lines connected to said extender printed circuit board connector and a fourth plurality of interconnection lines connected to said plurality of contact members of said extender printed circuit board, said first printed circuit board connector engaging said plurality of contact members of said extender printed circuit board and said second printed circuit board connector engaging said plurality of contact members of said main signal printed circuit board.