Patents

US 9194885 B2: Modular prober and method for operating same

Granted
2015-11-24
Filed
2011-09-02 application 13820098
Type
Utility · 11 claims
Elsewhere
Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗

Abstract

The invention relates to a prober for checking and testing electronic semiconductor components and methods of using the same. The prober comprises at least two checking units, each of which is equipped with a chuck, probes, and a positioning unit, and each of which is assigned to a machine control system and a process control system. The prober further comprises a loading unit for automatically loading both testing units and an additional loader for manually loading at least one of the testing units, a user interface, and a module control system for controlling the process control systems and/or the machine control systems and the loading unit. The user interface can optionally be connected to at least one of the process control systems or the module control system by means of a switching device of the prober.

Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg151124.xml).

Assignees

AssigneeTypePlaceAlso on furp.orgSource
Cascade Microtech, Inc. 96 patentsUS company or organizationBeaverton, ORCASCADE MICROTECH INC SEC filer EXACT medium confidence: identical full name, one of each nationallyPVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

Inventors

InventorPlacePatentsPerson pageSource
Stojan KanevOrtrand, DE36PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
Botho HirschfeldDresden, DE6PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
Axel BeckerDresden, DE21PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10
Ulf HackiusDresden, DE3PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

CPC categories

SubclassCategoryFirst groupSource
G01RMeasuring electric variables; measuring magnetic variablesG01R1/0408PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10

Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).

Assignments and security interests

RecordedWhatFromToReel/frameSource
2025-08-07Release of security interest
Release of security interest
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION signed 2025-08-06FORMFACTOR, INC. LIVERMORE, CA72853/1PASDL, file of 2026-10-15
2025-07-29Security interest Security interest
Security interest
FORMFACTOR, INC. signed 2025-07-29WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SAN ANTONIO, TX72263/272PASDL, file of 2026-10-25
2021-09-01Assignment
Assignment of assignor's interest
FORMFACTOR BEAVERTON, INC. signed 2021-08-26FORMFACTOR, INC. LIVERMORE, CA57393/609PASDL, file of 2026-10-15
2018-07-18Name change
Change of name
CASCADE MICROTECH, INC. signed 2018-05-14FORMFACTOR BEAVERTON, INC. BEAVERTON, OR46573/664PASDL, file of 2026-10-15
2016-07-12Security interest Security interest
Security interest in united states patents and trademarks
FORMFACTOR, INC. signed 2016-06-24
ASTRIA SEMICONDUCTOR HOLDINGS, INC. signed 2016-06-24
CASCADE MICROTECH, INC. signed 2016-06-24
MICRO-PROBE INCORPORATED signed 2016-06-24
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA39184/280PASDL, file of 2026-10-15

Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.

USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.