A handheld differential contact probe includes a housing configured to be held in a hand of a user, a pair of probe arms carried by the housing, and a pair of opposing probe tip assemblies each carried by one of the respective probe arms and each having a probe tip circuit coupled to a probe tip at a distal end thereof. A probe tip span adjustment mechanism is carried by the housing and coupled to the pair of probe arms, and configured to adjust a span between the probe tips. A ground path mechanism is coupled between the probe tip circuits of the respective probe tip assemblies, and includes a pair of curved conductive ribbon springs each coupled at an outer end thereof to a respective probe tip circuit, and each curved conductive ribbon spring slidably engaging each other at a respective inner end thereof.

A probe card of a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises a testing head, which houses a plurality of contact elements extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end portion and a second end portion, a support plate, onto which the first end portion is adapted to abut, and a flexible membrane. Suitably, the testing head is arranged between the support plate and a first portion of the flexible membrane, which is connected to the support plate through a second portion thereof, the probe card further comprising a plurality of contact tips arranged on a first face of the flexible membrane at the first portion thereof, the second end portion of each contact element being apt to abut onto a second face of the flexible membrane, opposite to the first face, the number and distribution of the contact elements being different to the number and distribution of the contact tips.

A probe card of a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises a testing head, which houses a plurality of contact elements extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end portion and a second end portion, a support plate, onto which the first end portion is adapted to abut, and a flexible membrane. Suitably, the testing head is arranged between the support plate and a first portion of the flexible membrane, which is connected to the support plate through a second portion thereof, the probe card further comprising a plurality of contact tips arranged on a first face of the flexible membrane at the first portion thereof, the second end portion of each contact element being apt to abut onto a second face of the flexible membrane, opposite to the first face, the number and distribution of the contact elements being different to the number and distribution of the contact tips.

A probe card for a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises a testing head, which houses a plurality of contact elements extending along a longitudinal axis (H-H) between a first end portion and a second end portion, a support plate, onto which the first end portion is adapted to abut, and a flexible membrane which comprises a first face and a second and opposite face. Conveniently, the first portion of the flexible membrane is arranged on at least one support and comprises a plurality of strips extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the probe card further including a plurality of micro contact probes comprising a body extending along the longitudinal axis (H-H) between a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of each contact element abutting onto the first face of the flexible membrane at the distal end of a respective strip, and the first end portion of each micro contact probe abutting onto the second face of the flexible membrane at a respective contact element, the flexible membrane being electrically connected to the support plate through a second portion thereof, the second end portion of the micro contact probes being apt to contact the contact pads of a device to be tested, wherein the at least one support is provided with a plurality of guide holes for the housing of the plurality of micro contact probes.

A probe card for a testing apparatus of electronic devices comprises a testing head, which houses a plurality of contact elements extending along a longitudinal axis (H-H) between a first end portion and a second end portion, a support plate, onto which the first end portion is adapted to abut, and a flexible membrane which comprises a first face and a second and opposite face. Conveniently, the first portion of the flexible membrane is arranged on at least one support and comprises a plurality of strips extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the probe card further including a plurality of micro contact probes comprising a body extending along the longitudinal axis (H-H) between a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion of each contact element abutting onto the first face of the flexible membrane at the distal end of a respective strip, and the first end portion of each micro contact probe abutting onto the second face of the flexible membrane at a respective contact element, the flexible membrane being electrically connected to the support plate through a second portion thereof, the second end portion of the micro contact probes being apt to contact the contact pads of a device to be tested, wherein the at least one support is provided with a plurality of guide holes for the housing of the plurality of micro contact probes.

An electrical contact that employs a common compressible layer for all contacts, wherein the compressible layer is fashioned with ducts that contain bridges within them. The bridges are formed of the compressible layer. This bridge serves as a compressible member for a first and second member in electrical contact with each other, and that interact with each other such that a compression force acted on the first and second members will cause them to maintain electrical contact whilst compressing the bridge. When the compressive force is released, the bridge, acting like a spring, expands thus pushing the first and second members apart, but still in electrical contact with each other.

An electrical contact that employs a common compressible layer for all contacts, wherein the compressible layer is fashioned with ducts that contain bridges within them. The bridges are formed of the compressible layer. This bridge serves as a compressible member for a first and second member in electrical contact with each other, and that interact with each other such that a compression force acted on the first and second members will cause them to maintain electrical contact whilst compressing the bridge. When the compressive force is released, the bridge, acting like a spring, expands thus pushing the first and second members apart, but still in electrical contact with each other.

Provided are a probe that enables control of a bending direction and can be simply manufactured, an inspection jig using the probe, an inspection device, and a method of manufacturing the probe. A probe has a substantially bar-like shape extending linearly and includes: a tip end portion, a body portion continuous with the tip end portion Pa; and a base end portion continuous with the body portion. The body portion includes a first connection region having a thickness in a thickness direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the bar-like shape that gradually decreases away from the tip end portion, and a second connection region having a thickness that gradually decreases away from the base end portion. A dimension of the body portion in a width direction perpendicular to the thickness direction is larger than dimensions of the tip end portion and the base end portion.

The disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a test socket that supports a probe stretchable in a longitudinal direction. The method of fabricating a test socket includes forming a coupling block by joining an insulating member of an insulating material to one surface of a base member of a conductive material, forming a probe accommodating hole for accommodating the probe in the coupling block and a first support hole for supporting one end portion of the probe, forming a second support hole in a cover member of an insulating material for supporting the other end portion of the probe, inserting the probe into the probe accommodating hole so that the one end portion of the probe is supported by the first support hole, and joining the cover member to the other surface of the base member so that the other end portion of the probe is supported by the second support hole.

The disclosure relates to a method of fabricating a test socket that supports a probe stretchable in a longitudinal direction. The method of fabricating a test socket includes forming a coupling block by joining an insulating member of an insulating material to one surface of a base member of a conductive material, forming a probe accommodating hole for accommodating the probe in the coupling block and a first support hole for supporting one end portion of the probe, forming a second support hole in a cover member of an insulating material for supporting the other end portion of the probe, inserting the probe into the probe accommodating hole so that the one end portion of the probe is supported by the first support hole, and joining the cover member to the other surface of the base member so that the other end portion of the probe is supported by the second support hole.