SPRING CONTACT IN A TESTING APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS

Abstract

A vertical spring contact that is constructed of a single piece of electrical conductor, having a central spine that acts as a spring and does not bulge horizontally during compression. This contact is also provided with a pair of arms extending downwards from a top member, flanking both sides of the central spine without being in contact with the central spine. The lower tips of the arms are bent inwards. The central spine structurally connects the top member to a bottom member. The bottom member is provided with recesses that are adapted to loosely receive the lower tips of the arms. In this way, when the contact is compressed, the lower tips of the arms are pressed into the recesses, thus establishing more contact points for a current to pass through.

Claims

1. An electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus, comprising: a vertical central spine formed of a sequence of upwardly curved members, each said curved member connected to the others in a substantially zig-zag configuration; a rigid top member having a first arm and a second arm extending downwards from each side of the top member, thus substantially enveloping the central spine on opposing sides of it. An upper end of said central spine is connected to the top member in between where the first and second arms extend a top member having a first arm and second arm extending downwards from opposing sides of said top member, thus said first and second arm substantially enveloping the said central spine on opposing sides, and an upper end of said central spine connected to the top member in between where the said first and second arms extend; and a bottom member connected to a lower end of said central spine, said bottom member provided with a first recess and a second recess, each said recess adapted to loosely receive a first tip of said first arm and second tip of said second arm, respectively wherein the central spine is designed such that it compresses in a vertical direction without any bulging in a horizontal direction.

2. An electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said first and second arms are never in contact with said central spine in either a compressed or uncompressed state.

3. An electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said first tip and second tip are not in contact with the said first recess and second recess, respectively in an uncompressed state, and establish contact with the said first recess and second recess, respectively, in a compressed state.

4. An electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said first tip and second tip are bent inwards, and the corresponding first recess and second recess are also sloped inwards to accommodate for this bending.

5. An electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the entire electrical contact is constructed from a single piece of electrically conductive material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1a shows a view of a contact in an uncompressed state in embodiment of this invention

[0014] FIG. 1b shows an isometric view of a contact in an embodiment of this invention

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a view of a contact in a compressed state in an embodiment of this invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0016] It should be noted that the following detailed description is directed to a spring contact of an integrated circuit (IC) testing apparatus, and is not limited to any particular size or configuration but in fact a multitude of sizes and configurations within the general scope of the following description.

LIST OF NUMBERED ELEMENTS IN FIGURES

[0017] Central spine (10)

[0018] Upper end of central spine (100)

[0019] Curved horizontal members (110)

[0020] Lower end of central spine (120)

[0021] Top member (20)

[0022] First arm (22)

[0023] First tip (221)

[0024] Second arm (24)

[0025] Second tip (241)

[0026] Bottom member (30)

[0027] First recess (32)

[0028] Second recess (34)

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, there is shown views of an electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus. A vertical central spine (10) is formed of a sequence of upwardly curved members (110), with the curved members connected to each other in a substantially zig-zag configuration, and resembling bellows. This allows this central spine (10) to be compressed in the axial or vertical direction. The design of each curved member (110) and the way they join each other allow for it to be compressed in the vertical direction without having any bulging in the horizontal direction. The individual curved members (110) also have progressively larger sizes from top to bottom, making the overall shape of the central spine (10) conical or flaring downwards.

[0030] A rigid top member (20) having a first arm (22) and a second arm (24) extending downwards from opposing sides of the top member (20), thus substantially enveloping the central spine (10) on opposing sides. An upper end (100) of said central spine (10) is connected to the top member (20) in between where the first (22) and second arms (24) extend downwards. A bottom member (30) is connected to a lower end (120) of the central spine (10). This said bottom member (30) is provided with a first recess (32) and a second recess (34), each said recess adapted to loosely receive a first tip (221) of said first arm (22) and second tip (241) of said second arm (24), respectively. The said central spine (10) is designed such that it compresses in a vertical direction without any bulging in a horizontal direction.

[0031] Still referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the said first (22) and second (24) arms are never in contact with said central spine (10) in either a compressed or uncompressed state. The said first tip (221) and second tip (241) are not in contact with the said first recess (32) and second recess (34), respectively in an uncompressed state, and establish contact with the said first recess (32) and second recess (34), respectively, in a compressed state. The said first tip (221) and second tip (241) are bent inwards, and the corresponding first recess (32) and second recess (34) are also sloped inwards to accommodate for this bending. The entire electrical contact is constructed from a single piece of electrically conductive material.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the same contact in a pre-loaded state. There is shown a vertical central spine (10) formed of a sequence of upwardly curved members (110), with the curved members connected to each other in a substantially zig-zag configuration, and resembling bellows. A rigid top member (20) having a first arm (22) and a second arm (24) extending downwards from opposing sides of the top member (20), thus substantially enveloping the central spine (10) on opposing sides. An upper end (100) of said central spine (10) is connected to the top member (20) in between where the first (22) and second arms (24) extend downwards. A bottom member (30) is connected to a lower end (120) of the central spine (10). This said bottom member (30) is provided with a first recess (32) and a second recess (34), each said recess adapted to loosely receive a first tip (221) of said first arm (22) and second tip (241) of said second arm (24), respectively. The said first tip (221) and second tip (241) are bent inwards, and the corresponding first recess (32) and second recess (34) are also sloped inwards to accommodate for this bending. In this compressed state, it is clearly seen that as the contact is compressed, outer surfaces of each tip (221, 241) are pressed into wall surfaces of the recesses (32, 34). This tapered design reverses back to the initial position when the contact is uncompressed. This results in a very strong contact between the arms (22, 24) and the walls of the recesses (32, 34), which results in a better overall electrical contact.

[0033] While several particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to embrace such changes, modifications, and areas of application that are within the scope of this invention.