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US5015946A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

High density probe

Assignee: Tektronix Inc
•
Filing: 1990-02-26
•
Granted: 1991-05-14
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Expires: 2010-02-26
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Abstract

Abstract A high density probe for probing an integrated circuit package in situ on a circuit board has a probe body with a skirt that has alignment surfaces for mating with the package to provide an initial alignment. An alignment plate is elastically mounted within the probe housing internal of the skirt. The alignment plate has serrations between pin holes, the pin holes corresponding to probe pins elastically mounted on the probe housing in a pattern matching the leads of the integrated circuit package. When the probe is pressed down over the integrated circuit package the alignment surfaces within the skirt align the probe to the package, and the serrations mesh with the leads to align the probe pins with the leads, the probe pins extending through the pin holes and maintaining positive contact due to the elastic mounting of the pins. A base plate having a central aperture with comblike teeth extending into the aperture may first be placed over the integrated circuit package with the teeth meshing with the leads to provide a surface to mate with the alignment surfaces within the skirt.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bozidar Janko

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0425; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/912

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A probe for an integrated circuit package having high density leads comprising: a probe housing having a skirt that extends down over the integrated circuit package with alignment surfaces that align the probe housing with the integrated circuit package, the probe housing including elastically mounted probe pins aligned to make contact with the high density leads; and an alignment plate elastically mounted within the probe housing internal of the skirt and having a plurality of serrations on either side of pin holes, the serrations meshing with the high density leads and the probe pins extending through the pin holes to contact the leads when the probe is pressed down on the integrated circuit package.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 114 words
A probe for an integrated circuit package having high density leads comprising: a probe housing having a skirt that extends down over the integrated circuit package with alignment surfaces that align the probe housing with the integrated circuit package, the probe housing including elastically mounted probe pins aligned to make contact with the high density leads; and an alignment plate elastically mounted within the probe housing internal of the skirt and having a plurality of serrations on either side of pin holes, the serrations meshing with the high density leads and the probe pins extending through the pin holes to contact the leads when the probe is pressed down on the integrated circuit package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 67 words
A probe as recited in claim 1 further comprising a base plate having a central aperture and a plurality of teeth extending into the central aperture, the central aperture and teeth being dimensioned to fit over the integrated circuit package with the teeth meshing with the leads, the outer edge of the base plate forming a surface that mates with the alignment surfaces of the probe housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 117 words
A probe for an integrated circuit package having high density leads comprising: a probe housing having a skirt that extends down over the integrated circuit package, the skirt having alignment surfaces that align the probe housing with the integrated circuit package, the probe housing including elastically mounted probe pins aligned to make contact with the high density leads; and a base plate having a central aperture and a plurality of teeth extending into the central aperture, the central aperture and teeth being dimensioned to fit over the integrated circuit package with the teeth meshing with the leads, the outer edge of the base plate forming a surface that mates with the alignment surfaces of the probe housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 117 words
A probe for an integrated circuit package having high density leads comprising: a probe housing having a skirt that extends down over the integrated circuit package, the skirt having alignment surfaces that align the probe housing with the integrated circuit package, the probe housing including elastically mounted probe pins aligned to make contact with the high density leads; and a base plate having a central aperture and a plurality of teeth extending into the central aperture, the central aperture and teeth being dimensioned to fit over the integrated circuit package with the teeth meshing with the leads, the outer edge of the base plate forming a surface that mates with the alignment surfaces of the probe housing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3335327A Cited
NL6800341A Cited
US4349238A Cited
SU1325383A1 Cited
JPS633281A Cited
JPS63300977A Cited
JPS6412480A Cited
US4833404A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-05-13 1994-11-12 1995-05-14 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-05-13 1998-11-12 1999-05-14 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-05-13 2002-11-12 2003-05-14 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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