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US6033233A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical connecting device, and semiconductor device testing method

Assignee: Socionext Inc
•
Filing: 1998-06-25
•
Granted: 2000-03-07
•
Expires: 2018-06-25
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical connecting device and related method of testing a semiconductor device which provides for testing of a semiconductor device under excellent and stable current transfer characteristics. Moreover, the electrical connecting device is easily produced under mass production conditions and can be made with a structure for testing of a semiconductor device where there are many pins arranged in a fine pitch on the semiconductor device. The electrical connector device includes a contactor which has a coil-shaped spring and a transformable conductive member extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shaped spring. When one end of the conductive member is in contact with a first electrode and the other end of the conductive members in contact with the second electrode, the contactor electrically connects between the first electrode and the second electrode via the conductive member and generates contact pressure against the electrodes when the coil-shaped spring is pressed. A guide plate is provided in the electrical connector device having a through hole for inserting and positioning the contactor therein. In a preferred embodiment, the semiconductor device to be tested has the first electrode for contact against one end of the conductive member of the contactor. The second electrode is a land pattern in a substrate of the electrical connecting device contacting the other end of the transformable conductive member, with the land pattern in turn being connected to testing equipment for testing of the semiconductor device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Makoto Haseyama
  • 👤 Masaru Tateishi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 16:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R13/2421; G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/06711; G01R1/06716; G01R1/06722; H01R11/00; H01R11/11; H01R11/18; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0433; G01R1/0441; G01R1/0466; G01R1/0483

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 110 words
An electrical connecting device comprising: a contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes and having a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed and the conductive member is formed as a single piece structure from the one end to the other end thereof; and a guide plate having a through hole in which the contactor is positioned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 110 words
An electrical connecting device comprising: a contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes and having a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed and the conductive member is formed as a single piece structure from the one end to the other end thereof; and a guide plate having a through hole in which the contactor is positioned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conductive member has a middle portion extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shape spring within the coil-shape spring and end portions larger than the internal diameter of the coil-shape spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conductive member has a middle portion extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shape spring within the coil-shape spring and has end portions connected to corresponding end portions of the coil-shape spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conductive member has a middle portion extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shape spring on the outside of the coil-shape spring and has end portions connected to corresponding end portions of the coil-shape spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising metal members, provided at both ends of the conductive member, to contact the first and second electrodes and to provide electrical connection thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one metal member has a recess to position a corresponding electrode therein for contact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least one metal member has a sharp end point to press toward and contact the corresponding electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 19 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the through hole has a tapered internal wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a plurality of contactors are arranged in series within a plurality of corresponding through holes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 60 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 9, comprising at least two guide plates positioned together and having a plurality of through holes with stepped portions at sides of the guide plates positioned together and at least two contactors arranged in corresponding through holes of the two guide plates are connected at corresponding ends in the stepped portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 64 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 9, comprising at least two guide plates positionable together and having a plurality of through holes with the stepped portions at sides of the guide plates positioned together, relaying members, and at least two contactors arranged in corresponding through holes of the two guide plates and connected by the relaying members in the stepped portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a substrate having a land pattern forming the second electrode and contacting one end of the conductive member of the contactor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 47 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the land pattern is electrically connectable to test equipment and a semiconductor device to be tested is formed with the first electrode that is positionable for pressure contact with the other end of the conductive member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 90 words
A contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes comprising: a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed and the conductive member is formed as a single piece structure from the one end to the other end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 90 words
A contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes comprising: a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed and the conductive member is formed as a single piece structure from the one end to the other end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 41 words
A contactor as set forth in claim 14, wherein the conductive member has a middle portion extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shape spring within the coil-shape spring and end portions larger than the internal diameter of the coil-shape spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 44 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the conductive member has a middle portion extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shape spring within the coil-shape spring and has end portions connected to corresponding end portions of the coil-shape spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 47 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 14, wherein the conductive member has a middle portion extending in the compressing direction of the coil-shape spring on the outside of the coil-shape spring and has end portions connected to corresponding end portions of the coil-shape spring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 35 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 14, further comprising metal members, provided at both ends of the conductive member, to contact the first and second electrodes and to provide electrical connection thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 18, wherein at least one metal member has a recess to position a corresponding electrode therein for contact.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electrical connecting device as set forth in claim 18, wherein at least one metal member has a sharp end point to press toward and contact the corresponding electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 156 words
An electrical connecting device comprising: a contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes and having a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed; and a guide plate having a through hole in which the contactor is positioned, wherein a plurality of contactors are arranged in series within a plurality of corresponding through holes, at least two guide plates are positioned together and have a plurality of through holes with stepped portions at sides of the guide plates positioned together and at least two contactors arranged in corresponding through holes of the two guide plates are connected at corresponding ends in the stepped portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 156 words
An electrical connecting device comprising: a contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes and having a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed; and a guide plate having a through hole in which the contactor is positioned, wherein a plurality of contactors are arranged in series within a plurality of corresponding through holes, at least two guide plates are positioned together and have a plurality of through holes with stepped portions at sides of the guide plates positioned together and at least two contactors arranged in corresponding through holes of the two guide plates are connected at corresponding ends in the stepped portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 161 words
An electrical connecting device comprising: a contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes and having a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed; and a guide plate having a through hole in which the contactor is positioned, wherein a plurality of contactors are arranged in series within a plurality of corresponding through holes, at least two guide plates are positionable together and have a plurality of through holes with the stepped portions at sides of the guide plates positioned together, relaying members, and at least two contactors are arranged in corresponding through holes of the two guide plates and connected by the relaying members in the stepped portions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 161 words
An electrical connecting device comprising: a contactor to electrically connect first and second electrodes and having a coil-shape spring, and a transformable conductive member extending in a compressing direction of the coil-shape spring, wherein one end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the first electrode and the other end of the conductive member is pressure contactable with the second electrode to electrically connect the first and second electrodes when the coil-shape spring is compressed; and a guide plate having a through hole in which the contactor is positioned, wherein a plurality of contactors are arranged in series within a plurality of corresponding through holes, at least two guide plates are positionable together and have a plurality of through holes with the stepped portions at sides of the guide plates positioned together, relaying members, and at least two contactors are arranged in corresponding through holes of the two guide plates and connected by the relaying members in the stepped portions.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4029375A Cited
US4199209A Cited
US5174763A Cited
US5791914A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-03-07 2003-09-06 2004-03-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-03-07 2007-09-06 2008-03-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-03-07 2011-09-06 2012-03-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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