Carrier for cleaning sockets for semiconductor components having contact balls

Abstract

A test carrier for testing bumped semiconductor components such dice, chip scale packages, BGA devices, and wafers is provided. The test carrier includes a base for retaining one or more components and contact members for making temporary electrical connections with contact balls on the components (e.g., solder balls). The test carrier also includes terminal contacts formed as hard metal balls, as hard metal balls coated with a non-oxidizing metal layer, or as glass, ceramic or plastic members coated with a conductive material. The contact members on the base protect the contact balls on the components from deformation during testing and handling. The terminal contacts on the test carrier are configured for multiple uses in a production environment without deformation. Also provided is a calibration carrier for calibrating semiconductor test systems for bumped components, and a cleaning carrier for cleaning test sockets for bumped components. The calibration carrier can include on board evaluation circuitry for evaluating electrical characteristics of a test system, such as contact resistances between electrical connectors of a test socket and terminal contacts on the calibration carrier. The cleaning carrier includes terminal contacts formed of a solder wettable material configured to attract solder contaminants in test sockets.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to the manufacture and testing of semiconductor components. More particularly, this invention relates to systems and carriers for testing bumped semiconductor components such as bare semiconductor dice, chip scale packages, BGA devices, and semiconductor wafers, having contact balls. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Semiconductor components, such as bare dice, chip scale packages, BGA devices and wafers can include terminal contacts in the form of contact balls. This type of component is sometimes referred to as a “bumped” component (e.g., bumped die, bumped wafer). [0003] The contact balls provide a high input / output capability for a component, and permit the component to be surface mounted, or alternately flip chip mounted, to a mating substrate, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). Typically, the contact balls comprise solder, which permits bonding to the mating substrate using a solder reflow process. For some co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improved test carrier for testing bumped semiconductor components with contact balls. The test carrier includes a base, an alignment member, and a force applying mechanism for biasing the components against the base. The base has contact members for electrical communication with the contact balls on the components, and terminal contacts for low resistance electrical connections with the test system. The test carrier can be used for testing bare dice, chip scale packages, BGA devices, or wafers. The invention also provides a calibration carrier for simulating a conventional semiconductor component with solder contact balls for calibrating the test system and locating defective electrical connectors. The invention also provides a cleaning carrier for removing solder contaminants from the test system."

Problems solved by technology

One problem with solder contact balls is that solder is a relatively soft material, and the balls deform easily during handling and testing of the components.

This problem is compounded during testing at elevated temperatures, such as burn-in testing, as heating further softens the solder.

For performing subsequent test procedures, it may be difficult to make low resistance electrical connections with deformed contact balls.

In particular, the electrical connectors on the test apparatus may not adequately engage the surfaces of the contact balls.

Also, for subsequent bonding procedures, deformed balls can make alignment and bonding of the component with a mating substrate more difficult to perform.

In addition, deformed contact balls are a cosmetic problem that can affect a users perception of a semiconductor component.

In addition to making electrical connections for test procedures more difficult, deformed contact balls can alter test results by affecting electrical characteristics, such as contact resistance, inductance, and signal speed during the test procedure.

Further, solder readily oxidizes, which adds resistance to the electrical connections with the contact balls.

Another problem with solder contact balls is the adverse affect that solder can have on a semiconductor test system.

For example, solder flakes can break loose from the balls, contaminating test sockets, and other electrical components associated with the test system.

This can change the calibration of the test system and affect test results on all of the components being tested.

In addition, solder is a contaminant to other semiconductor fabrication processes, and its presence requires special handling and segregation of the components.

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