TEST FIXTURE FOR PROBE APPLICATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a probe having a contact surface that extends below the bottom surface of the housing and operably attached to the housing;
a support bracket having freedom about at least two axes and connected to the probe;
whereinthe probe is operable to move freely about at the least two axes to adapt to a misalignment of the contact surface with another surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods to fixture and utilizing a probe which tests a capacitive array are described herein. A support bracket with freedom about a plurality of axes may aid in locating a probe and allowing the probe to contact multiple surfaces consistently. By utilizing the support bracket, the angle between a test probe and a contact surface may be minimized such that the surface of the test probe and the contact surface may rest flat against one another. The system may also limit the force translated through support bracket. This system and method may allow for a high degree of accuracy and a high degree of precision during contact of the test probe and the test surface.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A probe apparatus comprising:
-
a housing; a probe having a contact surface that extends below the bottom surface of the housing and operably attached to the housing; a support bracket having freedom about at least two axes and connected to the probe;
whereinthe probe is operable to move freely about at the least two axes to adapt to a misalignment of the contact surface with another surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A test fixture comprising:
-
an arm having an upper spring plate and a lower spring plate operable to maintain an un-fixed end of the arm in a substantially vertical orientation; a probe housing attached to the bottom surface of the arm; a probe located within the probe housing, the probe having a contact surface that extends from the housing and is operable to contact a flat surface; and a support bracket having freedom about at least two axes and connecting the probe to the housing;
whereinthe probe is operable to move freely about the at least two axes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for testing a capacitive array comprising:
-
lowering a first probe toward a test platform; contacting the test platform with a contact surface of the first probe; determining if the first probe is in angular alignment with the test platform; if not, repositioning the contact surface of the first probe relative to a surface of test platform; and taking a first measurement from the probe based on the first probe'"'"'s capacitive profile. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification