Membrane probing system with local contact scrub
First Claim
1. A structure suitable for use with a probe for probing an electrical device, said structure comprising:
- (a) a plurality of rigid asymmetrical contacts each of which defines a length and a contacting portion wherein said contacting portions are spatially arranged for engagement with a device under test;
(b) said rigid asymmetrical contacts being resiliently supported along a majority of said length by a surface of a resilient layer;
(c) deformation of said resilient layer urging each contact, when placed into pressing engagement with said electrical device, into tilting motion relative to said surface of said resilient layer so as to drive said respective contacting portion into lateral scrubbing movement across said electrical device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A membrane probing assembly includes a support element having an incompressible forward support tiltably coupled to a rearward base and a membrane assembly, formed of polyimide layers, with its central region interconnected to the support by an elastomeric layer. Flexible traces form data/signal lines to contacts on the central region. Each contact comprises a rigid beam and a bump located in off-centered location on the beam, which bump includes a contacting portion. After initial touchdown of these contacting portions, further over-travel of the pads causes each beam to independently tilt locally so that different portions of each beam move different distances relative to the support thus driving each contact into lateral scrubbing movement across the pad thereby clearing away oxide buildup. The elastomeric member backed by the incompressible support ensures sufficient scrub pressure and reliable tilt recovery of each contact without mechanical straining of the beam. In an alternative embodiment, the contacts comprise conductive beams each supported on a loose U-shaped flap formed in the membrane assembly where each flap and beam is tiltably supported in inclined position by an elastomeric hub interposed between the flap and support.
937 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A structure suitable for use with a probe for probing an electrical device, said structure comprising:
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(a) a plurality of rigid asymmetrical contacts each of which defines a length and a contacting portion wherein said contacting portions are spatially arranged for engagement with a device under test; (b) said rigid asymmetrical contacts being resiliently supported along a majority of said length by a surface of a resilient layer; (c) deformation of said resilient layer urging each contact, when placed into pressing engagement with said electrical device, into tilting motion relative to said surface of said resilient layer so as to drive said respective contacting portion into lateral scrubbing movement across said electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A structure suitable for use with a probe for probing an electrical device, said structure comprising:
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(a) a plurality of rigid contacts each of which defines a length and a contacting portion wherein said contacting portions are spaced apart from an axis of moment of said contact such that a forcer at said contacting motion exerts a moment about said axis of moment and spatially arranged for engagement with a device under test; (b) said rigid contacts being resiliently supported along a majority of said length by a resilient layer; (c) deformation of said resilient layer urging each contact, when placed into pressing engagement with said electrical device, into tilting motion about said axis of moment so as to drive said respective contacting portion into lateral scrubbing movement across said electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification