Patent ID: 7771210
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: G01R,H01L,H01R,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An interconnection device, such as a connector or socket or test probe, referred to generically as connector, adapted for mechanically and electrically engaging a first electrical or electronic device, such as a chip or IC Package or substrate, referred to generically as the first device, a) said first device having a generally flat surface and at least a first and a second active contact element, such as pads, bumps or balls, referred to as active pads of the first device, b) said pads of the first device being arranged in a certain pattern, referred to as the first device pad pattern, c) having a certain distance between the center of said first pad and the center of said second pad of the first device, said distance referred to as the first device pad pitch, d) said first device pad pattern being arranged in groups, like rows and columns of pads, on the generally flat surface of said first device, comprising at least a first group comprising a first group number of pads of the first device, and a second group comprising a second group number of pads of the first device; and e) said connector having at least a first and a second contact element, referred to as contact springs or simply springs, f) each of said springs having a generally elongated slender curvilinear body, comprising straight line portions, or arcs or vee-bend portions or the like, g) said spring body having a spring middle portion, and a spring first end portion ending with a spring first tip, which in turn is ending with a spring first contact point, h) said spring body having also a spring second end portion ending with a spring second tip, which in turn is ending with a spring second contact point, i) each of said first and second spring being fixedly mounted at about its spring middle portion, on or in a first carrier, at a fixation spot in said first carrier, said spring first end portion exiting from said fixation spot of said first carrier at a point facing towards the first spring tip, said point being referred to as the spring first anchor point, j) said first carrier being elongated and carrying a number of springs, similar to said first and second spring, the number of said springs matching said first group number of pads as in said first group of pads of said first device, k) said first carrier together with said number of springs mounted on or in it being referred to as a first carrying module, or simply first module or first slab; and l) said connector having a second module similar to said first module, disposed adjacent to said first module, said second module carrying a number of springs, similar to said first and second springs, the number of said springs matching said second group number of pads as in said second group of pads of said first device, m) said connector having a number of modules, similar to said first and second module, all being arranged adjacent to each other, forming a number of groups and carrying a number of springs, matching the total number of groups and the total number of pads of said first device n) said connector having also a first guide, referred to as the first comb, located generally adjacent and parallel to said first device, o) said first comb having at least a first and a second aperture, p) said apertures being arranged in a certain pattern, referred to as the first comb aperture pattern, q) having a certain distance between the center of said first aperture and the center of said second aperture of said first comb, said distance referred to as the first comb aperture pitch, r) said first comb aperture pattern corresponding to said first device pad pattern, s) said first comb aperture pitch corresponding to said first device pad pitch; t) each one of said spring first tip of said first and second spring passing through a corresponding aperture of said first comb, referred to as the spring first aperture, and said first contact points of said first and second springs protruding beyond the first comb and touching a corresponding pad of said first device, u) each one of said first and second springs being arranged so as to have an interaction between its spring body and said first device, so as to create a normal force between its first contact point and its corresponding pad of said first device, in a direction generally perpendicular to the general surface of said first device; v) wherein when such a normal force is exerted between said first contact point of said spring and its corresponding pad of said first device, said first contact point of said spring will also move laterally, in a direction generally parallel to the general flat surface of said first device and its pads, thus creating the so-called wipe or scrub on the surface of the corresponding pad of said first device.