The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2000
Bryan J. Dinteman, Canby, OR (US);
Credence Systems Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A low-profile, short signal path relay assembly implementing several relays for use in an integrated circuit tester, a digitizer or other equipment requiring multiple relays, includes a chassis and a signal board mounted within the chassis. Each relay includes a control rod slideably mounted within the chassis above the signal board, a resilient contact arm mounted on the signal board below the control arm, and a coil assembly mounted adjacent to a magnetic end of the control rod. A spring is positioned between the control rod and the chassis so that it normally forces the control rod to slide in a direction away from the coil assembly. However when a current is applied to the coil assembly it produces a magnetic flux attracting the magnetic end of the control rod toward the coil assembly. As it moves toward the coil assembly, the control rod presses down on the relay's contact arm causing it to contact a pad on the surface of the signal board, thereby creating a signal path through the relay arm between two points on the signal board. When the coil current is turned off, the spring pushes the control rod away from the coil assembly so that it no longer presses on the relay arm. The relay arm thereupon breaks its contact with the pad.