US6551126B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High bandwidth probe assembly
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 2001-03-13
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Granted: 2003-04-22
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Expires: 2021-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A spring probe block assembly includes an insulative housing. A probe connector having a signal probe, an insulative layer, and a conductive shell is positioned within the housing. At least one ground probe is also positioned within the housing. The ground probe and the conductive shell of the probe connector are electrically connected by a grounding element. The grounding element is configured to elastically deform the ground probe in such a manner as to create spring energy in the ground probe. The spring energy generates a normal force between the ground probe and the grounding element which maintains the ground probe in its position. Also, a method for retaining a spring probe in a housing by elastically deforming the spring probe to maintain a spring force between the spring probe and the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Feldman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/073; G01R1/07307; G01R1/07314; G01R1/06772; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A spring probe block assembly comprising: an insulative housing hating a cavity in a front face of the housing; a probe connector in the cavity, the probe connector having a signal probe surrounded by an insulative layer and a conductive shell; a conductive ground probe in the cavity; a conductive retainer positioned within the cavity adjacent the front face of the housing, the retainer having passages for receiving the probe connector and the ground probe, wherein the ground probe is in electrical contact with the conductive retainer and the conductive shell of the probe connector.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A spring probe block assembly comprising: an insulative housing hating a cavity in a front face of the housing; a probe connector in the cavity, the probe connector having a signal probe surrounded by an insulative layer and a conductive shell; a conductive ground probe in the cavity; a conductive retainer positioned within the cavity adjacent the front face of the housing, the retainer having passages for receiving the probe connector and the ground probe, wherein the ground probe is in electrical contact with the conductive retainer and the conductive shell of the probe connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the signal probe and ground probe are spring probes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing is a molded dielectric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric material has anti-static properties.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric material has static-dissipative properties.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of cavities containing a conductive retainer, a probe connector and a ground probe.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second conductive ground probe in the cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive retainer receives the probe connector by press-fit, and wherein the conductive retainer receives the ground probe by slip-fit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cavity includes a ramped side wall positioned such that the ground probe is deflected by the ramped side wall to create a normal force between the ground probe and the retainer, thereby retaining the ground probe within the assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 9 , wherein the ground probe is electrically connected to the conductive shell of the signal probe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ground probe is disposed at an angle relative to the probe connector of three degrees or less.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , further comprising access holes in the housing, the access holes extending from an outer surface of the housing into the cavity at a point adjacent a back end of the ground probe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainers are symmetrical about at least one plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cavity extends through the housing from the front face of the housing to a back face of the housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ground probe is in electrical contact with the conductive retainer at a point adjacent -the front face of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the probe connector is a coaxial probe connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is formed from metal by a method selected from one of the group of machining, extruding, casting, metal injection molding, or sintering.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is formed from stamped sheet metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is formed from a conductive polymer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is formed from a plated polymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein the probe connector is terminated to a coaxial cable adjacent the back face of the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 1 , wherein a resilient seal is positioned about the probe connector adjacent a back end of the probe connector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
A spring probe block assembly comprising: a housing; a first probe connector positioned within the housing, the first probe connector having a signal probe, an insulative layer, and a conductive shell; a first ground probe positioned within the housing; a first grounding portion electrically connecting the first ground probe and the conductive shell of the first probe connector; wherein a retention force is maintained between the first grounding portion and the first ground probe by spring energy stored in the first ground probe by elastic deformation of the first ground probe.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
A spring probe block assembly comprising: a housing; a first probe connector positioned within the housing, the first probe connector having a signal probe, an insulative layer, and a conductive shell; a first ground probe positioned within the housing; a first grounding portion electrically connecting the first ground probe and the conductive shell of the first probe connector; wherein a retention force is maintained between the first grounding portion and the first ground probe by spring energy stored in the first ground probe by elastic deformation of the first ground probe.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 23 , wherein the first grounding portion is electrically commoned with the housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spring probe block assembly of claim 23 , wherein the first grounding portion is electrically isolated from the housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-21 | 2006-10-21 | 2007-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-21 | 2010-10-21 | 2011-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-21 | 2014-10-21 | 2015-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |