Other

Sym-Tek Systems, Inc.

Bernd Riechelmann

Raymond Twigg

Jason Hsang Wang

An apparatus for electrically coupling a plurality of DUT terminals to corresponding terminals of a circuit. The apparatus includes a corresponding plurality of contact devices aligned both with the DUT terminals and the circuit terminals. Each contact device includes a fulcrum on which a contact lever is rockable over a range by pressing a corresponding DUT terminal against it. Each lever includes a first arm of 'X' length on a DUT side of the fulcrum and a second arm of 'Y' length on an opposite side of the fulcrum. A biasing spring, having travel, reacts against and through the second arm to resist rocking of the lever. Included is a way for electrically coupling the contact lever and its corresponding circuit terminal. The contact device operates according to the principle that contact lever travel, during rocking caused by a pressing upon it of a corresponding DUT terminal, is greater than responsive travel of the bias means according to a ratio of X/Y. The invention also includes a housing to contain the lever and bias means of each device in relation to each other. Preferably the bias spring of each device is a metal spring which is U-shaped and includes a fulcrum at an end of one long arm of the spring, the second long arm being a leaf spring reacting against the second (Y) arm of the contact lever.

Contact apparatus for integrated circuits

A contact array includes a plurality of uniform columns each for providing electrical continuity between things respectively in contact with opposite ends of the columns, each column means having a memory urging it to be straight. In a first embodiment the columns are all affixed to plurality of polymeric carrier films for holding them parallel to each other, spaced apart, aligned along an axis normal to them, and preferably symmetrical with respect to the axis. Each column can include a plurality of aligned, elongated contact leaves, each leaf having a memory urging it to be straight. In a second embodiment the columns each comprise a set, preferably ten, of loosely aligned contact leaves held in place by being disposed in slots defined by a housing. The housing forces the columns to be uniformly arcuate along the axis. The opposite ends of the columns define respective opposite contact margins of the array. A housing defines a chamber for containing the array and opposite openings through which the contact margins protrude for external contact therewith. The chamber further includes space to allow further, unobstructed, resilient arcuation of all the columns whenever the contact force is applied to the margins. The array can be moveable back and forth, over a range, in the directions that the forces are applied to the contact margins to equalize the forces.

Contactor with multiple redundant connecting paths

A contact array includes: (1) a plurality of uniform columns each for providing electrical continuity between things respectively in contact with opposite ends of the columns, each column means having a memory urging it to be straight, and (2) an elastomeric carrier, reinforced with a polymer, to which all the columns are affixed, for holding them parallel to each other, spaced apart, aligned along an axis normal to them, and preferably symmetrical with respect to the axis. The carrier also forces the columns to be uniformly arcuate along the axis. The opposite ends of the columns define respective opposite contact margins of the array. A housing defines a chamber for containing the array. Two opposite walls of the chamber define respective openings through which the contact margins protrude for accepting compressive contact forces that are applied during operation. The chamber further includes space to allow further, unobstructed, resilient arcuation of all the columns whenever the contact force is applied to the margins. Each column can include a plurality of bundled, elongated leaves of conductive material, each leaf having a memory urging it to be straight. The array can be moveable back and forth, over a range, in the directions that the forces are applied to the contact margins to equalize the forces. Several novel methods for manufacturing the contactors are also described.

A contact leaf bank for an electrical contactor preferably etched from a single uniform sheet of resiliently flexible, electrically conductive material comprises a ground sheet defining a plurality of uniformly-spaced, elongated, parallel slots in which are singularly disposed a plurality of resiliently flexible, elongated leaves each having and end portion adapted to be a contact finger, the tip of each contact finger preferably being rhodium-plated for hardness. A pair of spaced and opposing contact leaf banks are two elements of a contact assembly which futher comprises a base member in which a base end of each contact leaf bank is anchored, a device rail which in one form is a single track upon which an electrical device rides is centrally interposed between the contact leaf banks, the device rail being adapted to seat a device such that side leads of the device are aligned with the contact fingers and the spacing of the contact banks being such that the banks can be bent inboardly to make wiping contact between the device leads and the contact fingers, a pair of rockers one affixed to each bank at an end opposite the bank's anchored end and adapted to be reciprocatingly rocked or rotated toward and away from the device rail by an over-travel compensated actuating mechanism, the portion of each contact leaf bank between its respective rocket and the base member acting as a resilient hinge, and connector adaptors housed in the base member for providing electrical communication between the contact fingers and connectors also housed in the base member.

Electrical device contactor

A contact leaf bank for an electrical contactor preferably etched from a single uniform sheet of resiliently flexible, electrically conductive material comprises a ground sheet defining a plurality of uniformly-spaced, elongated, parallel slots in which are singularly disposed a plurality of resiliently flexible, elongated leaves each having and end portion adapted to be a contact finger, the tip of each contact finger preferably being rhodium-plated for hardness. A pair of spaced and opposing contact leaf banks are two elements of a contact assembly which further comprises a base member in which a base end of each contact leaf bank is anchored, a device rail which in one form is a single track upon which an electrical device rides is centrally interposed between the contact leaf banks, the device rail being adapted to seat a device such that side leads of the device are aligned with the contact fingers and the spacing of the contact banks being such that the banks can be bent inboardly to make wiping contact between the device leads and the contact fingers, a pair of rockers one affixed to each bank at an end opposite the bank's anchored end and adapted to be reciprocatingly rocked or rotated toward and away from the device rail by an over-travel compensated actuating mechanism, the portion of each contact leaf bank between its respective rocker and the base member acting as a resilient hinge, and connector adaptors housed in the base member for providing electrical communication between the contact fingers and connectors also housed in the base member.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Bernd Riechelmann