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:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 18, 1998
Eric V. Kline, Stillwater, MN (US);
JohnsTech International Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A high performance electromechanical device which improves electrical continuity between a device under test (DUT) and a socket (or contactor), ideally suited for, but not limited to, automated semiconductor test. An ultrasonic transducer is incorporated into the test set-up such that its ultrasonic energy is coupled either into the DUT and thereby into the contacts of the socket or is coupled into the contacts of the socket and thereby into the leads (or equivalent I/O) of the DUT. This coupled ultrasonic energy generates a high frequency mechanical wipe action of microscopic amplitude between the contacting surfaces, thereby displacing oxides and other debris from the contact site. This enhances electrical continuity by reducing apparent contact resistance and by reducing the apparent contact resistance force rate. This high frequency/low amplitude mechanical wipe action can be varied and controlled to yield an effective wipe which is from 10 times to 100,000 times greater than the current state of the art.