Patent ID: RE42655

Claim:
A fixing mechanism arranged within a probe unit for examining the electrical characteristics of a target object, the target object being maintained under a high-temperature environment within a probe chamber, comprising: a probe card provided with a plurality of probes which are to be brought into an electrical and mechanical contact with the target object, which is configured to examine the electrical characteristics of the target object, the probe card being exposed to a high-temperature atmosphere; a support frame configured to support the probe card in the central portion thereof; a plurality of first fastening members configured to fasten the probe card on the support frame to fix the probe card; a holding frame configured to hold the probe card and the support frame in the outer peripheral portions thereof so as to permit the probe card to be thermally expanded toward the periphery thereof, the holding frame being fixed to the probe unit; and a plurality of second fastening members configured to fasten the holding frame on the support frame to fix the holding frame.