Flexible Extension Wafer Translator for Signal Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor test equipment faces challenges in maintaining probe tip accuracy, signal integrity, and dimensional accuracy due to complex and costly apparatus required for routing electrical conductors to and from integrated circuits, which strains even advanced fabrication methods.
Innovation Solution
A flexible extension wafer translator with draped or pleated flexible connectors and connector tabs is used to provide a lower-cost, less-complex solution for efficiently routing electrical signals beyond the edges of semiconductor substrates, enabling accurate and efficient testing of integrated circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex apparatus and fabrication methods are used to route electrical conductors, then probe tip accuracy and signal integrity are maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) as thin film structures to route electrical conductors from the wafer translator to external testing equipment. These flexible circuits provide reliable electrical connections while occupying minimal space and adding minimal complexity to the overall system, directly resolving the contradiction between maintaining signal integrity and reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wafer translator acts as an intermediary device between the semiconductor wafer and the testing equipment. It provides a standardized interface with flexible circuit extensions that simplify the connection process and maintain signal integrity without requiring complex custom routing for each testing scenario, thus reducing overall apparatus complexity
2Measurement precision
If complex apparatus and fabrication methods are used to route electrical conductors, then probe tip accuracy is maintained, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible printed circuit boards provide precise, reproducible electrical routing with controlled impedance and signal integrity. The FPCB technology is well-established and cost-effective compared to custom rigid circuit solutions, allowing accurate probe tip positioning and signal measurement while maintaining economical manufacturing through standard fabrication processes
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system is segmented into modular components: the wafer translator module, the flexible circuit extensions, and the testing equipment. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and calibrated independently using cost-effective methods, while maintaining overall probe tip accuracy through standardized interfaces and alignment features
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional rigid connector methods are used, then structural stability is maintained, but flexibility and adaptability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible printed circuit boards provide inherent flexibility allowing the conductor routing to adapt to different wafer positions, sizes, and testing configurations. Despite this flexibility, the FPCBs maintain structural stability through controlled stiffness, proper substrate material selection, and rigid connection points at the wafer translator interface, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The connector system transitions from rigid, fixed routing to dynamically flexible routing using FPCBs. The flexible circuits can be bent, folded, and positioned as needed while maintaining electrical connections, allowing the system to adapt to various testing scenarios while preserving structural integrity through proper mechanical design and connection mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible extension wafer translator includes a wafer translator portion, one or more flexible connectors extending outwardly therefrom, and a connector tab coupled to the distal end of each outwardly extending flexible connector. The flexible connectors may take any suitable form, including but not limited to, draped and pleated.