Patent ID: 7119566

Claim:
A test probe alignment apparatus for aligning a set of test probes with contact areas on a substrate, the substrate being supported on a chuck adjacent the test probe alignment apparatus and driven for movement in a plane, comprising: a rotatable stage having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the chuck, the rotatable stage decoupled from the chuck so that the chuck can move in the plane without moving the rotatable stage therewith; a carriage supported on the rotatable stage for rotation therewith, the carriage adapted to support the set of test probes; and a translating stage operatively engaged with the carriage and driven for linear translation of the carriage relative to the rotatable stage along the axis of rotation of the rotatable stage, to thereby move the test probes into engagement with the contact areas, rotation of the rotatable stage causing the set of test probes to rotate around the axis of rotation for aligning the test probes with the contact areas before moving the test probes into engagement with the contact areas.