Tips & Techniques for Successful Thermal Probing

The Micromanipulator Company strives to not only design and manufacture the finest analytical tools on the market, but also strives to provide our customers with the information they need to use our products successfully. This is why our entire team is available to answer any questions you may have encountered using our products as well as any questions or problems you may be experiencing with your application.  Furthermore our website is loaded with detailed information on each of our wafer probes, manipulators, probe holders and tip. In addition we provide helpful Application Notes and a Probe Tips and Probe Holder Reference Manual.

Within our Application Notes, you will find discussions offering solutions to common application problems, and techniques to help you be more successful using Micromanipulator’s products.  They include:

Micromanipulator Application Note – CV Probing

Micromanipulator Application Note – Identifying Low Current Probing Problems

Micromanipulator Application Note – LCR Measurements with 4284A

Micromanipulator Application Note – Low Current Probing Basics

Micromanipulator Application Note – LTE and Vibration Isolation Table Integration

Micromanipulator Application Note – Proven Techniques for Thermal Probing

If you have ran into problems with thermal probing, we recommend taking a look at the “Proven Techniques for Thermal Probing.”  We provide expert advice on how to successfully use a hot stage for elevated temperature probing or CV Measurement.  Micromanipulator’s engineers discuss frequent problems such as uncontrolled movement that can cause the probe to slide or jump off its contact.  This can impact your data as it may cause movement of up to one mil at any location on a six or eight-inch wafer. By analyzing the cause and effect of these problems, we provide smart equipment solutions.  

One important take-away from the Application Note it that “a little technique can go a long way” when probing all forms of small geometries; and “a little experimenting” will help you discover the best probing angle and/ or technique.  Please visit our website to read more solutions to hot stage probing techniques. And remember, our engineers are happy to give you a hand with any problems. 

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on.  Part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customer satisfaction. Along with offering one of the best selections of wafer probe stations on the market today, we also offer all of the consumables, accessories and on-site support you need.      

Wafer Chucks with Choice of Heating Power Supply & Cooling Options

When you are looking for the world’s best analytical probing tools, put your trust in The Micromanipulator Company.  With over 60 years in the industry, we have earned a reputation throughout the world for innovative, high-quality products and for providing the state-of-the-art tools our customers need to develop the products of tomorrow.  Moreover our many decades in the industry mean you can feel confident buying from us as well as the fact that we intend to be around for at least another 60 years or more.

Right from the start, we have incorporated a philosophy of listening and learning from our customers.  This information is used to inspire designs for the industry’s top-of-the-line wafer probes, accessories and consumables.  One example of Micromanipulator’s leading-edge technology is our wafer chucks that are designed for comprehensive system integration.  Our thermal chucks offer features such as rapid heating up and cooling down, as well as minimize expansion into the probes and heat radiation into the stage to help prolong the life of the prober.  Our Frictionless Kinematic Mount also maintains incredible planarity over temperature changes. 

In addition Micromanipulator’s premium wafer chucks support wafer testing from -65 to 400 degrees and support 150 to 300 mm wafers in choices of coaxial or triaxial configurations.  You also have the option of AC or DC heating power supplies. For those requiring fast heating but do not need chuck noise in the femtoamp level, you can go with an AC heating supply.  If your application needs to achieve the lowest level measurements, then choose a DC power supplied wafer chuck.  

It your application would benefit from the best planarity, lowest noise and lowest cost of ownership, we recommend taking a look at our exclusive H1000 series thermal chucks that provide several configurations designed to meet your application and budget needs. The C1000 is our most economical simple heat exchange (HE) option for above ambient testing.  Our HC1000 offers users the highest performance and can handle testing for temperatures as low as -65 degrees C. Moreover all control options work with our specialized thermal chucks.

The Micromanipulator Company welcomes questions and inquiries into our products as well as offers a worldwide network of service support engineers to provide full “system level” support.  For help with your application, please contact our engineers.

At Micromanipulator, we not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but are still the top name in the field.  As such we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on. A key part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  Please contact us to learn more about our excellent range of wafer probes and accessories.  

For Test Results You Can Depend On, You Need Precise, Reliable Tools

There are three things that continue to set The Micromanipulator Company apart from the competition – our advanced technologies, state-of-the-art products and an unwavering commitment to customer service and support.  Starting with the invention of analytical probing in 1956, we have pioneered the integration of thermal chucks with probe stations and lead the industry with the broadest available temperature ranges.

In addition we are proud to provide system users with the most advanced, non-operator dependent performance on the market today.  In other words, our job is to make sure you can focus on the data and not the prober. We also specialize in vibration isolation, thermal management, materials selections and flexible, open architectures. 

With Micromanipulator’s broad range of manual, motorized, or semi-automatic wafer probes, you will be able to find the model best suited for your needs.  Once you make a decision, now choose from the industry’s finest selection of accessories including our exclusive H1000 series thermal wafer chucks, which offer the best planarity, lowest noise and lowest cost of ownership.  Other popular options include microscopes, vibration isolation, light and noise shields, manipulators, and DC and RF measurement hardware.

Also we want you to know that the Micromanipulator team is fully committed to bringing you products that utilize our innovative technologies and superior designs.  Another strategy we have employed from the beginning is to listen and learn from our customers, and it is important as we base our success on that of our customers.  Please visit our website to learn more about wafer probes and accessories designed to meet the needs of virtually any application and/or budget. As an industry leader, our history positions us to be an asset to our customers today; and to continue to address the semiconductor testing needs of the future.

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we remain the leading name in the field.  As such we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on. As part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  We invite you to contact us to find out more about our wide range of wafer probes, accessories and consumables.

Shop the World’s Most Reliable Analytical Tools Wherever You Live

The Micromanipulator Company is a preeminent U.S. company headquartered in Carson City, NV.  Since 1956, we have proudly been the go-to-place for the semiconductor industry to turn to, and today are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of pre and post tape out wafer, package, and system level analytical probing tools.  Our reliable, stable tools are used by test labs around the world for design verification, device modeling and characterization, design and market FA, process verification, and quality control. 

We also are committed to making sure are products are available to system users wherever they live and have sales offices and representatives located on every major continent.  Our products come with extensive warranties; and we offer preventive maintenance programs and full support services to protect your investment.

For our customers that require newer more versatile probing tools, we also offer upgrade paths even on obsolete tools.  A great example of one of our newer products is the exclusive 2210-LS Application Board Probe Station (application, system, development, etc.).  This compatible probe station is specifically designed to migrate wafer level probe capability to the test board level to assist with post tape-out product testing.  The 2210-LS model is designed to probe decapsulated IC’s mounted onto test boards at above and below ambient temperature without limiting your board’s ability to exercise your chip and without limiting the probing capability employed at the wafer level.  The versatility of the prober makes it easier and faster to analyze issues that manifest only in the actual end application environment.

Our website also offers some great values on factory refurbished probe stations, such as our powerful, economical 350PM Micromanipulator Wafer Probe Station or our Model 6200 Wafer Probe Station.  We encourage you to visit our website and check out all of our various models of wafer probes and accessories. 

At Micromanipulator, we not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but are still the top name in the field.  As such we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on. A key part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  Please contact us to learn more about our excellent range of accessories and wafer probe stations.