Wafer Probe Cards - Testing the Silicon Wafer - Test Harness

About this Artwork  These are wafer probe cards, sometimes referred to as test harnesses. The probe card is used in a machine that’s more like a robot, called a wafer prober. The wafer prober uses the microprobe tips on the probe card to activate each chip on the wafer to test its functions. The tips are arranged to contact the silicon wafer in the configuration of the chip’s pads (a unique probe card must be made for every unique chip). If the chip failed the test, the prober would use an ink marker to place a dot on the chip to mark it as “bad.” The prober would move the card, or wafer, to test each chip. The probe card is made of heavy-duty fiberglass. Many of the wires and contacts were plated with gold to avoid corrosion and improve connectivity. About These Probe CardsProbe cards are broadly classified into needle type, vertical type, and MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) type depending on the shape and forms of contact elements. MEMS type is the most advanced technology cur