US3743904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Precision positioning mechanism, particularly for positioning test probes and the like with respect to micro-electronic units
Assignee: Teledyne Inc
•
Filing: 1972-05-01
•
Granted: 1973-07-03
•
Expires: 1992-05-01
Abstract
Abstract An X,Y movement for positioning test probes or the like with respect to micro-electronic units, comprises a support plate having at its under face (1), a pair of perpendicularly related guideways disposed along X and Y axes and (2), a pair of elongated slides, each being received by and slidable in one of the guideways but each being carried for movement only in a direction perpendicular to the guideway in which it slides. The arrangement is such that movement of the slide in the X guideway causes movement of the plate under the constraint of the slide in the Y guideway and movement of the slide in the Y guideway causes movement of the plate under the constraint of the slide in the X guideway.
Inventors
- 👤 M Wiesler
- 👤 D Hunt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2851; G01R31/2886; G01R31/2887; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/44; B23Q1/56; B23Q1/60; B23Q1/62; B23Q1/621; G02; G02B; G02B21/00; G02B21/24; G02B21/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An X,Y movement comprising a base, a support means having an upper side and a lower side, said upper side being adapted to carry an object to be positioned, said lower side presenting an X guideway disposed along and X axis and a Y guideway disposed along a Y axis, an elongated X slide received by said X guideway, an elongated Y slide received by said Y guideway, Y constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said X slide only along said Y axis, X constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said Y slide only along said X axis, a Y control for moving said X slide along said Y axis, and an X control for moving said Y slide along said X axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
An X,Y movement comprising a base, a support means having an upper side and a lower side, said upper side being adapted to carry an object to be positioned, said lower side presenting an X guideway disposed along and X axis and a Y guideway disposed along a Y axis, an elongated X slide received by said X guideway, an elongated Y slide received by said Y guideway, Y constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said X slide only along said Y axis, X constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said Y slide only along said X axis, a Y control for moving said X slide along said Y axis, and an X control for moving said Y slide along said X axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The X, Y movement of claim 1 wherein said Y constraining means includes a first helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said first helical screw and attached to said X slides, and said X constraining means includes a second helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded ridEr on said second helical screw and attached to said Y slide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The X,Y movement of claim 2 wherein said Y control is a servo motor that drives said first screw and said X control is a servo motor that drives said second screw.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The X,Y movement of claim 1 wherein said support means is a plate, said X guideway is a slot, said Y guideway is a slot, said X slide is a tongue, and said Y slide is a tongue.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
265 words
An X,Y movement comprising a base, a support plate having an upper face and a lower face, said upper face being adapted to carry an object for positioning in a horizontal plane, said lower face presenting a first guideway disposed along an X axis and a second guideway disposed along a Y axis, a first elongated slide received by said first guideway of said plate a second elongated slide received by said second guideway of said plate, a first helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said Y axis, a second helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said X axis, a first rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said first helical screw and meshing therewith, a first guideway on said base, a first slide affixed to said first rider and engaged by said first guideway of said base in order to prevent rotation of said first rider, a second rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said second helical screw and meshing therewith, a second guideway on said base, a second slide affixed to said second rider and engaged by said second guideway of said base in order to prevent rotation of said second rider, a first motor on said base coupled to said first helical screw, a second motor on said base coupled to said second helical screw, and control means for actuating said first motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation and for actuating said second motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
265 words
An X,Y movement comprising a base, a support plate having an upper face and a lower face, said upper face being adapted to carry an object for positioning in a horizontal plane, said lower face presenting a first guideway disposed along an X axis and a second guideway disposed along a Y axis, a first elongated slide received by said first guideway of said plate a second elongated slide received by said second guideway of said plate, a first helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said Y axis, a second helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said X axis, a first rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said first helical screw and meshing therewith, a first guideway on said base, a first slide affixed to said first rider and engaged by said first guideway of said base in order to prevent rotation of said first rider, a second rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said second helical screw and meshing therewith, a second guideway on said base, a second slide affixed to said second rider and engaged by said second guideway of said base in order to prevent rotation of said second rider, a first motor on said base coupled to said first helical screw, a second motor on said base coupled to said second helical screw, and control means for actuating said first motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation and for actuating said second motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
186 words
An X, Y movement comprising a base, a support means having an upper side and a lower side, said upper side being adapted to carry an object to be positioned, said lower side presenting an X guideway disposed along an X axis and a Y guideway disposed along a Y axis, an elongated X slide received by said X guideway, an elongated Y slide received by said Y guideway, Y constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said X slide only along said Y axis, X constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said Y slide only along said X axis, a Y actuator for moving said X slide along said Y axis, and an X actuator for moving said Y slide along said X axis, said Y constraining means including a first helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said first helical screw and attached to said X slides said X constraining means including a second helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said second helical screw and attached to said Y slide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
186 words
An X, Y movement comprising a base, a support means having an upper side and a lower side, said upper side being adapted to carry an object to be positioned, said lower side presenting an X guideway disposed along an X axis and a Y guideway disposed along a Y axis, an elongated X slide received by said X guideway, an elongated Y slide received by said Y guideway, Y constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said X slide only along said Y axis, X constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said Y slide only along said X axis, a Y actuator for moving said X slide along said Y axis, and an X actuator for moving said Y slide along said X axis, said Y constraining means including a first helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said first helical screw and attached to said X slides said X constraining means including a second helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said second helical screw and attached to said Y slide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The X,Y movement of claim 6 wherein said Y actuator is a motor that drives said first screw and said X actuator is a motor that drives said second screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The X,Y movement of claim 6 wherein said support means is a plate, said X guideway is a slot, said Y guideway is a slot, said X slide is a tongue, and said Y slide is a tongue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The X,Y movement of claim 6 wherein a first pair of switches indicate the limits of travel of said support means along said X axis and a second pair of switches indicate the limits of travel of said support means along said Y axis.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus for micro-electronic units in an array, said apparatus comprising a base, a vacuum chuck for retaining said array, an X,Y movement on said base, a Z movement on said X,Y movement, said vacuum chuck being carried by said Z movement, a probe holder mounted on said base, a plurality of stationary probes mounted on said base, said X,Y movement carrying said chuck for movement along X and Y axes with respeCt to said probes, said Z movement carrying said chuck along a Z axis with respect to said probes, said X,Y movement comprising a base, a support means having an upper side and a and a lower side, said upper side being adapted to carry an object to be positioned, said lower side presenting an X guideway disposed along an X axis and a Y guideway disposed along a Y axis, an elongated X slide received by said X guideway, an elongated Y slide received by said Y guideway, Y constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said X slide only along said Y axis, X constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said Y slide only along said X axis, a Y stepping actuator for moving said X slide along said Y axis, and an X stepping actuator for moving said Y slide along said X axis.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
224 words
An apparatus for micro-electronic units in an array, said apparatus comprising a base, a vacuum chuck for retaining said array, an X,Y movement on said base, a Z movement on said X,Y movement, said vacuum chuck being carried by said Z movement, a probe holder mounted on said base, a plurality of stationary probes mounted on said base, said X,Y movement carrying said chuck for movement along X and Y axes with respeCt to said probes, said Z movement carrying said chuck along a Z axis with respect to said probes, said X,Y movement comprising a base, a support means having an upper side and a and a lower side, said upper side being adapted to carry an object to be positioned, said lower side presenting an X guideway disposed along an X axis and a Y guideway disposed along a Y axis, an elongated X slide received by said X guideway, an elongated Y slide received by said Y guideway, Y constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said X slide only along said Y axis, X constraining means on said base for permitting movement of said Y slide only along said X axis, a Y stepping actuator for moving said X slide along said Y axis, and an X stepping actuator for moving said Y slide along said X axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said Y constraining means including a first helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said first helical screw and attached to said X slides, said X constraining means including a second helical screw rotatable on said base and a threaded rider on said second helical screw and attached to said Y slide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said Y actuator is a motor that drives said first screw and said X actuator is a motor that drives said second screw.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said support means is a plate, said X guideway is a slot, said Y guideway is a slot, said X slide is a tongue, and said Y slide is a tongue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a first pair of switches indicate the limits of travel of said support means along said X axis and a second pair of switches indicate the limits of travel of said support means along said Y axis.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
360 words
An apparatus for testing solid state micro-electronic units in an array, said apparatus comprising a base, a vacuum chuck for retaining said array, an X,Y movement on said base, a Z movement on said X,Y movement, said vacuum chuck being carried by said Z movement, said Z movement being carried by said X,Y movement, a probe holder mounted on said base, a plurality of stationary probes mounted on said base, said X,Y movement carrying said chuck for movement along X and Y axes with respect to said probes, said Z movement carrying said chuck along a Z axis with respect to said probes, said X,Y movement comprising a base, a horizontal plate having an upper face and a lower face, said upper face being adapted to carry an object for positioning in a horizontal plane, said lower face presenting a first groove disposed along an X axis and a second groove disposed along a Y axis, a first elongated tongue received by said first groove, a second elongated tongue received by said second groove, a first helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said Y axis, a second helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said X axis, a first rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said first helical screw and meshing therewith, a first guideway on said base, a first slide affixed to said first rider and engaged by said first guideway in order to prevent rotation of said first rider, a second rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said second helical screw and meshing therewith, a second guideway on said base, a second slide affixed to said second rider and engaged by said second guideway in order to prevent rotation of said second rider, a first stepping motor on said base coupled to said first helical screw, a second stepping motor on said base coupled to said second helical screw, and control means for actuating said first stepping motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation and for actuating said second stepping motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
360 words
An apparatus for testing solid state micro-electronic units in an array, said apparatus comprising a base, a vacuum chuck for retaining said array, an X,Y movement on said base, a Z movement on said X,Y movement, said vacuum chuck being carried by said Z movement, said Z movement being carried by said X,Y movement, a probe holder mounted on said base, a plurality of stationary probes mounted on said base, said X,Y movement carrying said chuck for movement along X and Y axes with respect to said probes, said Z movement carrying said chuck along a Z axis with respect to said probes, said X,Y movement comprising a base, a horizontal plate having an upper face and a lower face, said upper face being adapted to carry an object for positioning in a horizontal plane, said lower face presenting a first groove disposed along an X axis and a second groove disposed along a Y axis, a first elongated tongue received by said first groove, a second elongated tongue received by said second groove, a first helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said Y axis, a second helical screw journaled at opposite ends on said base and extending along said X axis, a first rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said first helical screw and meshing therewith, a first guideway on said base, a first slide affixed to said first rider and engaged by said first guideway in order to prevent rotation of said first rider, a second rider having an internally threaded bore receiving said second helical screw and meshing therewith, a second guideway on said base, a second slide affixed to said second rider and engaged by said second guideway in order to prevent rotation of said second rider, a first stepping motor on said base coupled to said first helical screw, a second stepping motor on said base coupled to said second helical screw, and control means for actuating said first stepping motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation and for actuating said second stepping motor in a selected one of its two directions of rotation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |