Sept. 29, 2006 — Cascade Microtech, a Beaverton, Ore., maker of wafer-level measurement products, announced it has made significant technological advancements to its line of Infinity probes, offering finer pitches (down to 50 um), smaller contact area and higher frequency operation (up to 220 GHz).

The company says its Infinity probes with finer pitches and smaller contact area allow manufacturers to accurately probe smaller pads. Cascade says they are ideal for probing mixed signal devices for wireless communication applications.

Cascade also says the probes ensure accurate and repeatable measurements to 220 GHz with pitches ranging from 50 to 150 micrometers. Bias tee options are also available. These probes are frequently used for semiconductor process characterization and test of ultra-high frequency interconnects and devices such as amplifiers, mixers, oscillators, multipliers and switches used in automotive collision avoidance systems, satellite telecommunications, radio astronomy, spectroscopy, surveillance, and medical imaging.

The Infinity probe is available in 40, 50, 67, 110, 140, 170 and 220 GHz versions, and comes in 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200 or 250 um pitches. Pricing starts at $895.