US Patent 7528618 Extended probe tips

Probe tips, methods for making probe tips, and method for using such probe trips are described. The probe tips can include a pedestal portion connected to a beam of a cantilever structure and a contact portion that can contact an electronic component that to be tested. The pedestal portion and contact portions can have a generally trapezoidal shape. The probe tips can also include a rectangular-shaped extension portion located between the base and contact portions. The probe tips can be made using a dual-etching process that creates the generally trapezoidal shape of the base and contact portions and the generally rectangular-shaped extension portion.