Contactor with a plurality of springs and contact point portions urged by the springs

• US 10,317,430 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yokowo Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagata, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Harshad C
• Application Number:
  US15/762,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20180275167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 439 66, 439 83, 439 67, 32475414, 32475003, 32475025, 32475505
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0466 concerning contact pieces or mechanical details, e.g. hinges or cams; Shielding
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/067 Measuring probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06722 Spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06772 High frequency probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/073 Multiple probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/07314 the body of the probe being perpendicular to test object, e.g. bed of nails or probe with bump contacts on a rigid support on an elastic support, e.g. a film, G01R1/0735
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/26 Testing of individual semiconductor devices testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment H01L22/00; testing of photovoltaic devices H02S50/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2886 Features relating to contacting the IC under test, e.g. probe heads; chucks G01R31/2865 takes precedence, test connections, e.g. test sockets, or probes per se, G01R1/04 or G01R1/06
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/87 acting automatically by insertion of rigid printed or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2421 using coil springs

Abstract

Provided is a contactor that can be manufactured easily and secure a long stroke. A contactor includes: a flexible board; a plurality of contact point portions that are provided in the flexible board; a plurality of springs that urge the contact point portions respectively toward an inspection target device; and a housing that receives the plurality of springs. Each of the springs has a flat winding portion that is provided at least at an end portion of the spring on the contact point portion side, and a diagonal tight winding portion that is provided at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the spring. A gap is present between the flat winding portion and the diagonal tight winding portion in an uncompressed state of the spring.

Claims

1. A contactor comprising:

a flexible board configured to bend;

a plurality of contact point portions provided on the flexible board;

a plurality of springs that respectively urge the contact point portions toward a target; and

a housing that accommodates the plurality of springs,

wherein the flexible board is supported by positioning pins within the housing so as to move in a direction perpendicular to a face of the flexible board.

2. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each of the springs includes a flat winding portion provided at least at an end portion of the spring on a side of the contact point portion.

3. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each of the springs includes a diagonal tight winding portion provided at an intermediate portion of the spring in a longitudinal direction of the spring.

4. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each of the springs includes:

a flat winding portion provided at least at an end portion of the spring on a side of the contact point portion; and

a diagonal tight winding portion provided at an intermediate portion of the spring in a longitudinal direction of the spring, and

wherein a gap is present between the flat winding portion and the diagonal tight winding portion when the spring is in an uncompressed state.

5. The contactor according to claim 4, wherein, when each of the springs is compressed to a predetermined length, the gap is eliminated to thereby bring the flat winding portion and the diagonal tight winding portion into contact with each other.

6. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each of the contact point portions includes a positioning protrusion that extends into an inside of a corresponding one of the springs.

7. The contactor according to claim 6, wherein, when the positioning protrusion and the spring are engaged with each other, a retaining force is generated to prevent the contact point portion from coming off the spring.

8. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a stopper protrusion that penetrates the flexible board to extend from one surface side of the flexible board to the other surface side of the flexible board.

9. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein the flexible board includes through holes surrounding each of the contact point portions in order to prevent the flexible board from bending due to a difference in height among contact ends of the contact point portions.

10. The contactor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of positioning pins provided in the housing and penetrating the flexible board so as to position the flexible board with respect to the housing,

wherein the flexible board is supported movably in a perpendicular direction to a face of the flexible board by the plurality of positioning pins.

11. The contactor according to claim 10, wherein the flexible board includes a plurality of elongated holes into which the positioning pins are respectively inserted, and

wherein each of the elongated holes includes a short dimension substantially the same as that of each of the positioning pins, and a lengthwise dimension larger than that of the positioning pin.

12. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact point portions provided on the flexible board by electroforming.

13. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of contact point portions includes collar portions between which the flexible board is held.

14. The contactor according to claim 1, wherein each contact point portion includes a positioning protrusion, and each spring includes a flat winding portion at an end portion of the each spring on a side of the each contact point portion;

when the positioning protrusion is press-fitted into the flat winding portion, the each contact point portion is prevented from coming off the each spring.

15. The contactor according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion that is fixed onto the housing, and the guide portion includes a guide hole that determines an inspection position of the target.

16. A contactor comprising:

a flexible board;

a plurality of contact point portions provided on the flexible board;

a plurality of springs that respectively urge the contact point portions toward a target; and

a housing that accommodates the plurality of springs,

wherein the housing includes a stopper protrusion that penetrates the flexible board to extend from one surface side of the flexible board to the other surface side of the flexible board.

17. The contactor according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of contact point portions provided on the flexible board by electroforming.

18. The contactor according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of contact point portions includes collar portions between which the flexible board is held.

19. The contactor according to claim 16, wherein each contact point portion includes a positioning protrusion, and each spring includes a flat winding portion at an end portion of the each spring on a side of the each contact point portion;

when the positioning protrusion is press-fitted into the flat winding portion, the each contact point portion is prevented from coming off the each spring.

20. A contactor comprising:

a flexible board;

a plurality of contact point portions provided on the flexible board;

a plurality of springs that respectively urge the contact point portions toward a target; and

a housing that accommodates the plurality of springs,

wherein the flexible board includes through holes surrounding each of the contact point portions in order to prevent the flexible board from bending due to a difference in height among contact ends of the contact point portions.