Probes and methods for testing electrical circuits

Electrical connectors – Including handle or distinct manipulating means – Randomly manipulated implement

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C439S289000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06688906

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of circuit testing, and particularly to probe assemblies used in the testing of circuitry.
RELATED ART
Probe assemblies are used in the design and manufacture of electrical circuits to test the integrity of signals propagating through the connections of the electrical circuits. Typically, probe assemblies include a conductive contact pin, a probe circuit, and a conductive spring mechanism that connects the contact pin to the probe circuit. The contact pin is typically located at an end of the probe assembly and is pressed in contact with a connection of a circuit under test. A signal propagating along the connection of the circuit under test passes through the contact pin and the spring mechanism to the probe circuit, which tests or measures the signal in accordance with techniques known in the art.
Moreover, as technology has advanced, circuits have decreased in size. To facilitate testing of smaller circuits, the sizes of many probe assemblies have decreased as well. In particular, the contact pin and the spring mechanism for many newer model probe assemblies have significantly decreased in length as compared to older model probe assemblies.
The decreasing size of probe assemblies has precipitated disadvantages in their manufacturing due, in particular, to the small size of the contact pins and spring mechanisms of the probe assemblies. Indeed, ensuring a reliable connection between a small-scale contact pin and a small-scale spring mechanism during an assembly of a circuit probe can be difficult and problematic. When contact is not made between the contact pin and the spring, signals from the circuit under test are unable to pass to the probe circuit, thereby preventing the circuit probe from operating properly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the present invention provides probes for testing a circuit. A probe in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a conductive socket adapted to receive a contact pin and a conductive spring. In addition, the probe includes a housing shaped for guiding the spring to the socket to form an electrical connection between the spring and the socket.
The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for testing circuitry. One such method can be broadly conceptualized by the following steps: providing a conical housing that includes a conductive socket; providing a spring; and guiding the spring to the socket via the conical housing.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2849681 (1958-08-01), Belart
patent: 4636026 (1987-01-01), Cooney et al.
patent: 5367759 (1994-11-01), Loew et al.
patent: 5521519 (1996-05-01), Faure et al.
patent: 5731710 (1998-03-01), Mizuno et al.
patent: 5834929 (1998-11-01), Dietz
patent: 5898299 (1999-04-01), Fodali
patent: 5924879 (1999-07-01), Kameyama
patent: 5942701 (1999-08-01), Kamiya
patent: 5952843 (1999-09-01), Vinh
patent: 6222377 (2001-04-01), Kato
patent: 6323667 (2001-11-01), Kazama
patent: 6340320 (2002-01-01), Ogawa
patent: 6344751 (2002-02-01), Prokopp et al.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Probes and methods for testing electrical circuits does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Probes and methods for testing electrical circuits, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Probes and methods for testing electrical circuits will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3327944

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.