Tektronix, Inc.

Daniel R Murphy

William R Pooley

James E Spinar

Scott R Jansen

Geoffrey C Herrick

Randy S Randall

R Scott Enochs

Joanne Roth

The invention is a method and apparatus for a probe tip contact for electrically coupling a substrate to a probe tip. The apparatus, in one embodiment, comprises a wrap-around contact that is precision formed utilizing a hydroform tool and brazed to a surface of a substrate. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a contact flange, a mounting flange extending from a first edge of the contact flange in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the contact flange, and a substantially circular indentation formed in the contact flange adapted for accommodating movement of said probe tip relative to said substrate.

Method and apparatus for probe tip contact

An optical connector in accordance with the invention includes a body to which an optical fiber supporting ferrule is mounted. A photo diode is rigidly mounted to the connector such that the photo active portion of the photo diode is optically coupled to the optical fiber. An interface is provided between the photo diode and an electronic circuit. In one form of the invention, the electronic circuit is mounted to the optical connector to facilitate this interface. Alternately, the circuit may be remote from the connector. In this case, the connector includes at least one electrically conductive wire lead for connecting the photo diode to the electronic circuit. An apertured substrate may be used to mount the photo diode to the ferrule with the photo diode optically coupled to the optical fiber through the aperture. The structure may be capped for protection against the environment, or alternatively, the circuit board itself may provide protection to the opto-electronic interface.

Optical connector with direct mounted photo diode

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Daniel R Murphy