Patent ID: 11867721
Assignee: MICROFABRICA INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 0:
1. A probe for making electrical connections, comprising:
(a) a first tip having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is for making an electrical connection to a first circuit element, wherein the electrical connection is selected from the group consisting of: (1) a spring-loaded temporary contact connection, (2) an adhered connection, (3) a bonded connection, and (4) an attached connection;
(b) a first spring having a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end connected to the distal end of the first tip;
(c) a first movable stop connected at the distal end of the first spring;
(d) a second spring having a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end connected to the first movable stop; and
(e) a second tip having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is for making an electrical connection to a second circuit element, wherein the electrical connection is selected from the group consisting of: (1) a spring-loaded temporary contact connection, (2) an adhered connection, (3) a bonded connection, and (4) an attached connection, and wherein the proximal end of the second tip is connected to the distal end of the second spring,
wherein the first movable stop is capable of movement or inhibition of movement based on an interaction selected from the group consisting of: (A1) loading applied directly by the first spring to the first movable stop, (A2) loading applied indirectly by the first spring to the first movable stop, (A3) loading applied directly by the second spring to the first movable stop, (A4) loading applied indirectly by the second spring to the first movable stop, (A5) engagement of the first movable stop with a first fixed stop that is part of the probe, (A6) engagement of the first movable stop with a first fixed stop where the first fixed stop is not part of the probe but is part of an assembly into which the probe is mounted, (A7) at least two of interactions (A1)-(A6), (A8) at least three of interactions (A1)-(A6), (A8) at least four of interactions (A1)-(A6), and (A9) at least five of interactions (A1)-(A6),
wherein the probe has at least one compression spring segment comprising a flat spring comprising a plurality of undulations extending serially along at least a portion of its longitudinal axis and undulating back and forth along a single lateral axis where the undulations take a form selected from the group consisting of: (1) a rectangular wave, (2) a rectangular wave with curved corners, (3) a triangular wave, (4) a sine wave, (5) a plurality of S-shaped curves, (6) a plurality of C-shaped curves, (7) an angled repetitive form, (8) a curved repetitive form, (9) a form that has at least one decrease or increase in lateral amplitude, and (10) one of the above forms with the form offset from a central line of the probe,
wherein the probe further includes a stabilizing structure or structures selected from the group consisting of: (i) a plurality of tabs on the spring segment extending in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of undulation that engage at least an edge of a guide, (ii) a guide inhibiting excessive movement of the spring segment in a direction parallel to a normal of a plane of undulation, (iii) a guide inhibiting excessive movement of the spring segment in a direction perpendicular to both a normal of a plane of undulation and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the probe, and (iv) at least one slot, in which the spring segment compresses, that bounds sides and at least upper and lower edges of the undulations; and
wherein ratios of spring force to change in length are Fx/Δx≠Fy/Δy, wherein Fx is a force of the first spring, Fy is a force of the second spring, Δx is a displacement of the first spring, and Δy is a displacement of the second spring.