Sealed Contact Unit Holder Assembly for Low-Temperature Pin Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Semiconductor testing equipment faces issues with contact resistance and leakage failures due to temperature variations, leading to degraded yield performance and difficulty in replacing bent or twisted receptacle pins during low-temperature tests.

Innovation Solution

A contact unit holder (CUH) receptacle assembly with individually separated receptacle pins in through-holes, sealed with silicone rubber, prevents contact and guides movement, maintaining temperature segregation to prevent condensation and moisture buildup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If receptacle pins are placed in physical contact with metallized contact surfaces for electrical connection, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but contact resistance and leakage failures occur under temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidcontact resistance and leakage failure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle pins are individually separated and housed in separate through-holes within the receptacle housing, preventing contact between adjacent pins. This segmentation isolates each electrical connection path, eliminating leakage failures between pins while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity to the semiconductor device under test.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If receptacle pins are exposed in the receptacle base for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but pins are susceptible to bending and twisting during low-temperature tests

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepin accessibilityVSAvoidpin structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle pins are nested within the receptacle housing, with each pin positioned inside a dedicated through-hole that extends from the receptacle base to the receptacle cover. This nested structure provides mechanical support and constraint, preventing bending and twisting of the pins while maintaining their electrical connection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If the receptacle housing is open to allow pin insertion, then ease of manufacture is improved, but temperature segregation fails leading to condensation and moisture buildup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing fabricationVSAvoidtemperature segregation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle cover acts as a flexible sealing element that closes the receptacle housing, creating a sealed environment around the receptacle pins. This flexible shell structure prevents moisture and condensation from reaching the pins while maintaining temperature segregation between the cold handler chamber and ambient environment, thereby preventing leakage failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Device complexity

If multiple receptacle pins are placed close together for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but pins may contact each other causing shorted connections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceptacle structure simplicityVSAvoidconnection isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle housing is segmented into multiple through-holes, each housing a separate receptacle pin. This segmentation physically isolates each pin within its own dedicated pathway, preventing contact between adjacent pins even when they are positioned close together for compact design. The segmentation maintains connection isolation while achieving space efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution mitigates contact resistance and leakage failures, ensuring reliable electrical connections and easy replacement of receptacle pins under extreme temperature conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the through-holes for the receptacle pins may be sealed with individual sealing member (such as Silicon rubber) to provide separation between the cold air of a handler chamber and the ambient air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12422455B2Temperature resistant contact unit holder receptacle assembly and related methods

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC

AI summary

A contact unit holder (CUH) receptacle assembly and a method of manufacturing the CUH receptacle assembly are disclosed, where the receptacle assembly includes a receptacle cover removably attached to a receptacle base. The device may include a receptacle housing extending from an inner surface of the receptacle base to an inner surface of the receptacle cover, a through-hole defined by the receptacle housing, the through-hole extending from an outer surface of the receptacle base to the inner surface of the receptacle cover, and a receptacle pin disposed in the through-hole and protruding from the outer surface of the receptacle base, the receptacle pin being configured to contact a semiconductor device under test (DUT).