Integrating wafer handlers to create a fully automated probe station can be challenging and having a basic understanding of the process is extremely helpful.
Before we get into the details of that, let’s review what fully automatic probe stations and wafer handlers are.
- Wafer Handler
A wafer handler (MHU) is the material handling portion of the probe system. It is integrated with the prober and typically is provided with cassette holders (1 or 2), a pre-aligner, a robot with an end-effector (paddle) and a safety/environmental enclosure. Wafer handlers can often handle a variety of different wafer sizes that vary from 75 mm to 300 mm.
Now that we know what wafer handlers and fully automated probe stations are, let’s discuss how a wafer handler integrates into a fully automated probe station.
Fully automatic systems are typically used for production or when there are some unique requirements: no human handling, thin wafers or as a multi-purpose system to test wafers, wafers mounted on frames, wafers sawn and stretched on frames, carriers or trays of die. Many manufacturers prefer fully automated probe systems in order to minimize wafer handling, damage and the associated costs - particularly when producing wafers 200 mm and larger.
Wafers can be stored in simple cassettes or in enclosed devices such as front opening universal pods (FOUPS). Wafer handlers incorporate a pre-aligner to ensure that the wafer is placed onto the chuck in approximately the correct orientation, minimizing the need for an angular adjustment by the stage.
If you are testing many wafers per day, and your production and test process is limited by test throughput at the probe station, a fully automated probe station can help eliminate the bottleneck by ensuring that your probe station runs close to 24 hours a day, with minimal operator attention required.
When considering a fully automated probe station, pay attention to the software integration. The wafer handler and the probe station must seamlessly pass data back and forth so that the test results for each die on each wafer are easily accessible and can be communicated to the rest of the factories information system.
If your test process does not require frequent operator intervention, and you are testing multiple wafers per shift, a fully automated probe station will save labor and increase test throughput. Adding a material handler to a probe station increases the probe station cost by $75,000 to $200,000 depending on the size, flexibility, and complexity of the system.
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