Abstract:
Described are methods of using probes, for making electrical contact to high-density chips or similar electronic devices. Two groups of probes are covered. The first group includes probes that are moved laterally, parallel to the surface of the contact pads of the device under test, after the initial contact has been made. This is to create the desired wipe or scrub. The second group includes probes that operate on the principle of suction cups. When the probe is pushed against the device under test, the probe working tips stretch outwardly and create the desirable wipe or scrub. Described also are the probes themselves that are used for the above methods.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a DIVISIONAL non-provisional utility patent application, of prior non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/391,964, filed on Mar. 19, 2003, entitled “Micro Probe”, and it is claiming the priority and benefits of the mother application and the related following Provisional and Non-Provisional Patent Applications, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference:
     1. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/391,964, filed on Mar. 19, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,015,707, entitled “Micro Probe”, which will be referred to as Ref0.   2. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/366,294, filed on Mar. 20, 2002, entitled “Lamp Sockets &amp; Micro-Probes”, which will be referred to as Ref1. This Provisional Patent Application had in turn referred to the following Provisional and Non-Provisional Patent Applications, all of which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference:   3. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 09/947,240, filed on Sep. 5, 2001, entitled “Interconnection Devices”, which in turn had claimed the priority and benefits of the following three provisional patent applications.   4. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/268,467, filed Feb. 12, 2001, entitled “Probes, Sockets, Packages &amp; Columns”,   5. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/257,673, filed Dec. 22, 2000, entitled “Probes and Sockets”, and   6. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/231,387, filed Sep. 8, 2000, entitled “Probers”,   

   This present application covers some inventions that could be considered as an extension to the inventions covered by Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 09/947,240, which was filed on Sep. 5, 2001. However, the patent examiner may consider that the inventions here are so much different that they need to be considered as a totally new invention. I respectfully would like to ask the examiner to decide on that. That application, Ser. No. 09/947,240, had referred to some prior provisional applications. The present application would like to refer to those prior provisional and non-provisional applications, and it is claiming the priority and benefits of those applications, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 

   NOTE 
   I will refer in this application to certain pages, drawings or sketches that are included in the above Reference. I would like to explain here the numbering system that was used in that reference, so that it will be clear, which page or drawing I would be referring to later on. I will use Ref1 to illustrate. 
   Ref1 covers 2 product groups. They are 1) Lamp Sockets or simply Sockets and 2) Micro-Probes or simply Probes. 
   The pages in Ref1 are identified as follows. The pages of the Lamp Sockets are identified by LS, and those of the Micro-Probes are identified by MP. 
   Each one of these two groups&#39; documents was divided into three sections. The Specifications, the Drawings and the Additional Documents. The pages were identified as follows as well. The pages in the Specifications sections by S, the Drawings by D, and the Additional Documents either by AD or by A. 
   So for example, page 7 in the Specifications of the Micro-Probes group would be marked thus: “MP-S-7”. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly relates to high-density electrical connectors used in test and burn-in done on miniaturized electrical components. 
   This invention is a technology platform that enables the interconnection between high-density electronic devices. It particularly covers “probes” and probe arrangements, and probe actuations, to achieve high-density interconnection between these probes and high-density devices, such as chips and wafers. 
   The invention also relates more specifically to membrane probes, which are used in conjunction with special actuation systems, and which promote and control wipe or scrub. 
   2. Background Information 
   It is standard procedure to test chips or integrated circuits at different production stages to cull out the defective ones. Such tests are often done on printed circuit boards, substrates and similar electronic devices as well. This is done to avoid putting extra time, money and effort into a defective component or device only to end up having to scrap the component, and whatever assemblies that may have incorporated that component or device, at the end of the production process. Such testing is done using probes and probe cards. Many times when devices are tested, they undergo what is known as test and burn-in. A probe is used to test the devices or packages, and heat and sometimes electricity are applied to accelerate the aging or testing process. What is needed is a system that will allow these probes to be easily interchanged and to also reduce the size of the pitch or the distance between the contact elements within the probes to allow contact with the contact pads of miniaturized electronic devices. 
   3. Prior Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,613, issued Jun. 22, 1999, to Gleason et al, titled “Membrane Probing System with Local Contact Scrub, comes pretty close to some of the features described in this present patent application. However, I feel that what I have described here and what I have claimed in this present patent application covers different novel ideas, especially since I am using combinations of features that are covered by Gleason. 
   I will abide by the decision of the Patent Examiner, as to whether my inventions here are outside the scope of Gleason or not, and whether my claims are allowable over Gleason. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   As the electronics industry has become more advanced, the chips and components, and electronic devices in general, have become smaller and smaller. A resulting problem is that many present probes are too large, or have their contact elements too large, to work with many of the products which are now available. This results in increased cost to the manufacturers, who must test the devices through more expensive means. 
   Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. 09/947,240, filed on Sep. 5, 2001, entitled “Interconnection Devices” covers probes which use discrete contact springs or needles. The needles need to be strong enough to withstand handling and to provide the required contact forces. Because of manufacturing constraints, the smallest needles that can be made are about 0.003″ or 0.004″ in diameter or thereabout. The pitch would then be approx. twice as large as the diameter of the needles or springs, i.e. approx. 0.005″ to 0.008″. 
   If we want to probe devices that have contact pads on smaller pitch, pitch in the range of 50 micron, i.e. 0.00125 inch or thereabout, discrete needles would not be able to do it. 
   The present invention addresses such needs. It addresses probing of devices with such High-Density or Small Pitch. It also creates probes with better Impedance Control and also provides the desirable Wipe or Scrub. 
   The basic goal is to provide contact points that can be located on small, effective center distances to correspond to the center distances of contact pads on chips, wafers, packages, substrates or boards and similar devices. This should also cover a small area or footprint of the devices. Another general goal is to provide a way to support and guide the contact means, and to locate them precisely, where they contact the device under test (DUT). This will reduce the chance of deforming the contact means and keeps them in close alignment. One more goal is to provide adequate wipe or scrub action at the contact points, thus requiring small forces to break through the undesirable layers on top of the contact pads of the DUT. Yet another goal is to electrically shield the contact points and/or make them with controlled impedance to perform like coaxial cables. This would be accomplished by providing an insulating cover, layered over the contact points, and then providing another layer of conductive material that can be grounded. 
   Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description wherein I have shown and described only the preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best modes contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
   Brief Description of the Drawings 
   Most of the drawings in these specifications,  FIGS. 1 through 22 , are copies of those figures with corresponding numbers, which were included with Ref1, i.e. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/366,294, filed on Mar. 20, 2002, entitled “Lamp Sockets &amp; Micro-Probes”. I just cleaned them up a little bit, and added the reference characters. However,  FIGS. 23 and 24  are new. 
   Here is a brief description of the drawings. 
     FIGS. 1 through 4  show the membrane probe stretched within a frame and pushed down against the DUT by the pusher, and moved sideways to create the desirable wipe or scrub. 
     FIG. 5  shows an example of a tool, which would carry the frame and would move the pusher up and down and move the membrane sideways. 
     FIG. 6  shows the membrane. One part of the membrane is captured by the frame and is geared to interact with the device under test, while the rest of the membrane is outside the frame and is supposed to conduct the signals from the DUT to the outside world and vice versa. 
     FIG. 7  shows the tool, which was shown in  FIG. 5 , together with the membrane, which was shown in  FIG. 6 . The figure tries to illustrate the motion of the membrane when it is pushed down and then released to move back up to its resting position. It was difficult to show, at the same time, the sideways motion, but the figure simply tries to illustrate the intricate motion of the membrane. 
     FIG. 8  shows the tip of the pusher with the membrane draped over it. 
     FIG. 9  shows the tip of a tapered pusher, together with the membrane attached to the tip of the pusher, and tries to illustrate the fact that the membrane can flare wider as it goes farther from the pusher tip. 
     FIG. 10  shows a membrane that can make contact with more than one device under test. 
     FIG. 11  shows a portion of the membrane shown in  FIG. 10 , while it is spread out flat. 
     FIGS. 12  A–B shows a conventional suction cup and how the rim/lip stretches out, when the top of the cup is compressed. 
     FIGS. 13  A–B shows how we could utilize the “suction cup” model, to create a probe that provides wipe or scrub when we compress the probe against the device under test. 
     FIGS. 14  A–B–C shows a probe that utilizes the suction cup model to create wipe or scrub when the probe is pushed against the device under test. 
     FIG. 15  shows a probe, whose pusher is segmented and the segments are articulated, so as to duplicate the effect of the suction cup model. 
     FIG. 16  shows the probe shown in  FIG. 15 , but it is shown with the membrane draped over the pusher. 
     FIG. 17  shows a probe similar to the one shown in  FIG. 16 , except that the membrane is provided in separate individual segments. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19  show a method which allows the contact points of a membrane or a flexible circuit, to flex independently from adjacent contact points, to accommodate for non-planarity in the device under test. 
     FIGS. 20 and 21  show a tool that can be used to carry and to drive the segments of the pusher shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  16  and  17 . The exploded views show the individual segments of the tool and their pivot axed. 
     FIG. 22  shows the tool shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , but here the tool segments are shown assembled on the tool core. 
     FIG. 23  shows a segment of a “straight” suction cup, and it demonstrate the creation of wipe or scrub from the vertical motion of the head or body of the device. 
     FIG. 24  shows a multi-contact point, on a “straight” suction cup. 

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
   While I am describing the drawing in more details, I will at the same time explain the technology basis of the invention. I will also include a number of examples in this section, which should be considered as part of the embodiments for the purpose of this application as well. 
   This description covers more than one invention. The inventions are based partly on the same technology platform, but then each of the inventions has some additional features of its own. Not being an expert in handling patents, I would like to leave it to the patent examiner to decide on the number of the inventions contained and how to split one invention from the other. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   There are several inventions here. I will describe each one of them as we go along. I will group them in two separate groups: I will refer to the first group as the “Side Actuation” embodiments, while the second group will be referred to as the “Spreading Actuation” group. 
   GROUP 1—SIDE ACTUATION 
   Preferred Embodiments 
   Embodiment #1—Membrane Probe, with Frame and Pusher 
     FIGS. 1 through 4  show what I would like to call the “Membrane Probe”. 
     FIG. 1  shows the “membrane”  11 , which can be like a flex-circuit, stretched between the sides of a “frame”  13 . The “pusher”  15  is located at the center of the membrane. The whole set up  17  is located on top of the device-under-test  21  (DUT), not shown, such that the contact points  19  (CPs), not visible here, of the membrane are positioned on top of the contact pads  29  of the DUT  21 . At this position, the membrane  11  is still high enough so that there is still no touching between it, i.e. its CPs  19  and the DUT  21 . The CPs  19  are located underneath the footprint of the pusher  15 . 
   The membrane  11  is stretched between the four sides  13 A,  13 B,  13 C and  13 D, of the frame  13  and the pusher  15  is located on top of it, roughly at the center of the membrane  11 . The membrane  11  contains the traces  31 , which connect the CPs  19  to the outside world. 
   The idea of using a flex-circuit is because we can get traces on flex-circuits that are on small center distances (pitch)  33  and can “image” the circuit to fine details and close definition. We can also create “bumps”  37  on the flex-circuit  11 . This can be done by a number of methods well known to the industry. We can also embed particles  45  in the bumps  37 . For example, we could have a copper ball  47 , not shown, in each bump. We could also have diamond particles  49 , not shown, in the bumps  37 . All this is done to match the flex-circuit  11  to the needs of the specific application and situation. Other materials or boards or substrates could be used as well, i.e. not just flex-circuits. For example, we could use a Flex-Rigid membrane, not shown, where the CPs  19  are on the Rigid part of the Flex-Rigid membrane, and the Flex part of the Flex-Rigid would act as the flexible component. In this case, we would need to cushion the CPs  19 , to accommodate non-planarities of the DUT, for example by having each contact element being articulated, so as to deflect slightly in the direction generally perpendicular to the surface of the DUT contact elements. 
     FIG. 2  shows that the pusher  15  has been actuated, i.e. moved from its rest position  41  to its lower operating position  43 , so that it has pushed the membrane  11  down, so that the CPs  19  now have touched the contact pads  29  of the DUT  21 . 
     FIGS. 3  A–B shows an end view, or side view, of the setup  17 . You can see that the frame  13  is above the DUT  21 , with a pre-defined space or distance  51  between the two. In  FIG. 3 , the pusher is shown in its lower position, where it has pushed the membrane down and where the membrane&#39;s CPs  19  have touched the DUT  21 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a top view of the setup, albeit to a smaller scale. 
   In certain cases, the down push may be enough to create satisfactory electrical contact between the CPs  19  of the membrane  11  and the contact pads  29  of the device  21 . 
   In other cases, the down push may not be enough. We would need a large contact force to penetrate through the expected layers of oxides and foreign matters on the contacting surfaces. If we apply too much of a force, we may damage the device or its contact pads. A preferred way is to have some “scrub” or “wipe”, to clear a path through these layers, to reach the clean base metal surfaces. This way we would need a much smaller contact force to create a good reliable electrical connection between the contact elements. 
   In order to create this scrub or wipe, we add a “side motion” to the setup  17 . Both the pusher  15  together with the frame  13 , would be actuated sideways, so that the CPs  19  of the membrane  11  would slide sideways with respect to the device  21 . The side motion  63  may be ever so small, but it would be controlled to accomplish the desired goal. The goal is to create the desirable “scrub” or “wipe”. As I said, this scrub or wipe pushed the oxides or films of dirt or the like out of the way, so that the two contacting surfaces would reach the base metal, i.e. the clean surfaces, so that a good electrical contact is achieved. 
   The side motion  63  and/or  67  is accomplished by applying a force to the system  17 . This can be a force “F”  61  applied to the pusher and/or a force  63  applied to the frame, while the DUT  21  is fixed in space, so that a relative motion occurs between the membrane CPs  19  and the DUT contact points  29 . It can also be reversed. In other words, the membrane setup  17  would be fixed in space, while the DUT  21  would be moved sideways. In any case, there would be a relative motion, to create the same kind of wipe or scrub. 
   Please note that the frame  13  is shown as if it is composed of four different segments  13 A,  13 B,  13 C and  13 D. This is optional. It could stay this way, or it could be made as one piece, depending on whether we want to actuate each segment by itself or all the segments together at the same time. 
     FIG. 5  shows one embodiment of a tool or fixture  61  for such a setup. The main body of the fixture would comprise four posts  63  to hold the frame  65  and a pusher actuator  67  to move the pusher  15  up and down. The fixture head  69  could be fixed in space in a machine collet or clamp. The tool  61  would have some internal mechanism to create the up and down movement of the pusher  15 , as well as the lateral movement of the pusher and membrane. Or the fixture would only have the up and down movement of the pusher, in which case the lateral movement would be provided by the other part of the machine, which is holding the DUT  21 . 
     FIG. 6  shows one embodiment of the membrane  11 . It really shows the “traces”  31  of the membrane  11 , which are embedded in, or are part of, the flex-circuit  71 . The flex-circuit  71  can be segmented, like in four segments  71 A,  71 B,  71 C and  71 D in the figure, for ease of handling and mounting or fixturing. 
     FIG. 7  shows a 3-D view of the fixture  61  with the flex-circuit  71  extending beyond the frame. Again, I am highlighting the traces  31  here, leaving out, i.e. not showing, the flex circuit  71  itself. 
   Another point to make here is the impedance control feature. The flex-circuit  71  can be made of multilayers, so that some layers would act as shield or ground and such that the combination of the total effect would create proper impedance control to the traces. 
   2)The fixture  61  shown here has also been used in my Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 09/947,240, filed on Sep. 5, 2001, entitled “Interconnection Devices”, which was mentioned as Reference #2 at the beginning of this present application. 
   Embodiment #2—Pusher, No Frame ( 81 ) 
     FIG. 8  shows a simplified version of above embodiment #1. I will call this the simplified pusher  81 . Please notice that the pusher here is shown upside down, i.e. in the reverse position compared to the previous figures. Here, the complete flex-circuit  71  can be wrapped around the pusher. Again, the flex-circuit can be scalloped  73  or slit at the comers  75  of the pusher, for ease of manufacturing. In this case, the pusher  15  will do the whole job, all by itself. It will push down to create the up and down motion  77  and also will do the side motion  79 . 
     FIG. 9  shows the flex-circuit widening up at the periphery  83 . This is optional and would be desirable if the pitch  33  at the CPs  19  is too small. It may be desirable to widen the pitch  85  at the other end  83  of the traces, so that those traces can be connected more easily to the outside world. This gets us back practically to the flex-circuit  11  shown in the earlier figures. In this  FIG. 9 , I am not showing how the wider ends of the flex-circuit are supported. This can be optional. It can be done as shown in the earlier figures, or it can be done in any other ways. For example, the pusher itself would have different dimensions. At the contact end  87 , where there will be contact with the DUT  21  the pusher can be narrow, while at points farther away from the contact end, the pusher would be wider, as at the shoulder  89 . In other words, the pusher could be tapered or stepped appropriately. 
   Embodiment #3—Multi-Chips, Row or Cluster ( 91 ) 
     FIG. 10  shows another embodiment, which I will call the multi-chip probe  91 . Here we can connect to more than one chip. We can have a row of chips or even a cluster, i.e. more that one row. It will mostly depend on the ability of connecting the CPs  19  to the outside world, e.g. how many traces can we have/use on the flexible circuit between the CPs  19 . 
     FIG. 11  shows the flex-circuit for the embodiment in  FIG. 10 . 
   GROUP 2—SPREADING ACTUATION 
   Embodiment #4—Suction Cup Type ( 101 ) 
     FIGS. 12  A–B shows a suction cup  101 . This is a regular suction cup  101 , similar to those used to hang gadgets from the wall or off the refrigerator&#39;s door or the window glass pane. Similar cups, though usually much smaller, are also used to pick up chips using vacuum. 
   If we place such a suction cup  101  on top of a table top or any flat smooth surface, but do not push down on it to compress it, it would look more or less like in  FIG. 12-A . If we do compress it down, it would look more or less like in  FIG. 12-B . 
   If we analyze what happens, we would notice that the rim  103  of the suction cup  101  does get slightly wider or larger in diameter when compressed from the situation in  FIG. 12-A  to that in  FIG. 12-B . The deformation would create something comparable to the desired “wipe”, as explained here below. 
   The rim, as represented by point  103 , would stretch outwards. In the cross-sectional views in  FIGS. 12  A–B, when the suction cup  101  is at rest, in the top figure, the rim  103  is at point  105 . By pushing down on the top  111  of the cup  101 , and compressing it from the original height  113  to the lower height  115 , as in the bottom figure, we force the lip  103  to move out from point  105  to point  107 . 
   If the rim  103  were a contact element and if the tabletop were an electrical surface, then the length of travel  117  would represent the scrub or wipe that we would get. This leads us to the next figure. 
   Embodiment #4b—Suction Cup Probe ( 121 ) 
     FIGS. 13  A–B shows a device, that could look like a suction cup, but with one big difference. Here, we have provided a flexible circuit  123 , something like the flex-circuit mentioned above, on the inside surface of the suction cup  125 . Now, if we place such a suction cup probe  121  on top of a chip or similar DUT  21 , and push down on the cup  125 , we would connect the CPs  19  of the flex-circuit  123  to the contact pads  29  on the DUT  21 . 
   We can see that CPs  19  have moved. In the top  FIG. 13A , CPs  19  were at the inside ends of contact pads  29  on the DUT  21 . Later, after compressing  125 , we notice that CPs  19  have moved outwards to the outside edges of contact pads  29  on the DUT  21 . This creates the desirable wipe or scrub  117 . 
   By controlling the amount of the down push and the deformation of the edges of the suction cup  125 , we can control the magnitude of the wipe  117  that would be created. 
   One small additional detail here. We better provide some “vent hole(s)”  127  in the body of the suction cup  125 , so that we do not “grab” the DUT  21  so tightly, that we won&#39;t be able to let go of it afterwards. 
   So, we could make probes as shown in  FIGS. 13  A–B. I would like to refer to these as the “Suction Cup Probes”  121 . 
   Some Variations on the Above Embodiment 
   The concept described in  FIGS. 13  A–B, called “suction cup probe”  121 , is assuming that the cup would look like most conventional suction cups, i.e. circular in shape. We can take this concept and do it on a straight line, as in  FIG. 23 . 
     FIG. 23  shows a portion of a suction cup, like the probe  131 , but with “straight” edges. Please excuse the non-continuous sequence in the numbers of the Figures. 
   The suction cup  121  has a circular rim. If we visualize that we take a section of the cup and open the circle to create a straight line, then we would get something like what is shown in  FIG. 23 . Let&#39;s call that the “straight suction cup”  271 . 
   Of course, this suction cup will not provide any “suction” per se. But, we are not looking for suction. We are more interested in the deformation of the device and its ability of transforming a vertical push  293  on it, say by a force  291 , on its top  273 , and to create out of that, a horizontal motion  295  at its tip  277 . In essence, this kind of transformation of the movements is what I refer to as the “suction cup effect”. 
   This device  271  would still function in a similar way. 
   The advantage here is that we can now use this to work with standard conventional packages or chips, which have their contact pads usually along some straight lines. Such a probe would work with such chips or packages. 
     FIG. 24  shows a multi-line straight suction cup  301 . Here we can see that a number of straight suction cups  303  have been stacked together, with some spacers  315 , as needed. Each member  303  has its “foot”  305 , provided with appropriate flex circuit members, or the like, which have the contact elements  307 , which in turn would make electrical contact with the contact elements  309  of the DUT  311 . All what we have mentioned above, relating to the “foot”  271  would apply here as well. 
   Embodiment #5—Modified Suction Cup Type (Suction Pusher) ( 151 ) 
     FIG. 14  A-B-C shows a sort of a combination of the embodiments #2 and 4b. Here, we have a pusher like in Embodiment #2, but the pusher  153  has a tip  155  that is made of a relatively soft/flexible material. The tip  155  is also shaped to have a taper or the like, to roughly simulate the shape of the tip of suction cup  101  tip or rather the 4A  131  or 4B  141 . The two cross-sections in  FIGS. 14A and 14B , at the top of  FIGS. 14  A-B-C, show what would happen when the pressure is applied. The lip  157  of the tip  155  would squeeze open and would create the displacement  159  that would create the desirable wipe. The lower 3-D figure,  FIG. 14C , shows how the flex-circuit could be applied to the pusher, e.g. draped over and glued. 
   Embodiment #6—Segmented Pusher, Stretchable Flex-Circuit ( 171 ) 
     FIG. 15  shows a probe  171 , based more or less on the idea shown in Embodiment #5,  151  in  FIGS. 14  A–B–C. Here, the pusher  173  is made of segments  175 , where each segment could be actuated to open up in the direction of the arrows  177 A,  177 B,  177 C and  177 D, shown in the figure. The actuation can be achieved by some cam mechanism, not shown. Or the side motion can be done with all the segments moving together in one lateral direction or the other. 
     FIG. 16  shows the pusher of  FIG. 15 , together with the flex-circuit  181  draped over it. Here, the flex-circuit  181  is made in such a way, that its central portion  183  is stretchable. So, when the individual segments  175  of the pusher  173  are opened up to create the wipe, this stretchable central area  183  of the flex-circuit  181  would allow this motion to occur without obstruction. 
   Another way to make this work is to use individual segments of flex-circuit, so that each segment of the pusher would have its own segment of flex-circuit. See next figure. 
   Embodiment #7—Segmented Pusher, Segmented Flex-Circuit ( 191 ) 
     FIG. 17  shows a setup similar to the one in  FIGS. 15 &amp; 16 , except that here each segment  193  of the pusher  191  has a segment of the flex-circuit  195  attached to it. This way, we eliminate the need to have the “stretchable” portion  183  of the flex-circuit  181  mentioned in  FIG. 16 . 
   Embodiment #8—Flexible Contact Points ( 201 ) 
     FIG. 18  shows an additional approach to the problem. It shows a cross-section in the flex-circuit  201 . It could be the flex-circuit used in  FIGS. 8  or  10 . The flex-circuit  201  is sitting here on a “spacer”  203 , which is provided between the flex-circuit  201  and the end surface of the pusher  211  (equivalent to the end of the pushers  15 ,  87 ,  173 / 175  or  191 / 193  in the previous figures) or a solid backing surface of some sort, like the “Rigid” portion of the Flex-Rigid flexible circuit mentioned earlier. The spacer  203  has a “cavity” or “hole”  205  at the spot beneath the contact point  207  of the flex-circuit  201 . 
     FIG. 19  shows an enlarged view of one of the contact points. 
   When the flex-circuit  201  is at rest and not under any pressure, the contact point is at the position ABCD  212 , as shown by the solid lines of the contact point  207 . When a force “FORCE”  209  is applied, then the contact point is pushed against the end of the pusher  211 , moving down into the “hole”  205  of the “spacer”  203 . It finally rests in a position like the one shown as AEFD  213 , which is shown in “dotted or dashed lines”. 
   It is obvious from the geometry in the drawing of  FIG. 19  that point B  215  has moved to point E  217 . This is the result of the applied force  209  pushing the contact point  215  down through the distance “V”  219 . While this is happening, the point B  215  moves also sideways, i.e. laterally through the distance “H”  221 . This lateral movement is what creates the desirable “wipe”. 
   By selecting the material and the thickness of the flex-circuit  201  and of the spacer  203  properly, and by selecting the dimensions of the contact point  207 , as presented here by “ABCD”  212 , we can design the magnitude of the wipe  221  to whatever we need or want. It is basically a matter of geometry. 
   The material of the flex-circuit  201  needs to be considered as well. For example, the springiness or stiffness of the material would tell us whether the contact point would go back to its original position  212 , when the pressure or force  209  is removed. This is necessary so that when we apply the force  209  again a second time, we would get the same amount of wipe  221 . Because, if the contact point stays down, then we would not get any wipe at subsequent cycles. So, to ensure that the contact point would revert back to its original position  212 , then we may opt to put a “cushion”  223  underneath it, in the “cavity” or “hole”  205  of the spacer  203 . We could use some kind of elastomeric material or foam or the like. The spacer  203  itself should preferably be rather stiff or non-elastic, so as to retain its thickness (height) so as to create the “rotation” of the contact point  207 , which in turn would create the “V”  219  and “H”  221  dimensions consistently. 
   General Notes: 
   1. The CPs  19  on the flex-circuit  11  should have some raised surfaces above the general surface of the flex-circuit  11  itself. This would promote good electrical contact with the contact pads  29  of the DUT  21 . The raised surface CPs  231 , not shown, could be made chemically or by deposition, like “growing” them on the flex-circuit, or mechanically, like with a “gold dot”, or by using diamond grit, or by any other method know in the industry. Of course, they have to be located in such a way so as to match the corresponding location of the respective contact pads  29  of the DUT  21 . 
   2. We could also add a “cushion”  155  to any or all of the above pushers. This is shown in  FIGS. 14  A–B–C through  17 . The cushion would have to have a special amount of hardness. The whole purpose of such a cushion is so that the contact pads  29  on the DUT  21  would not get scratched too badly and get damaged. On the other hand, if the cushion is too soft, then the raised CPs  19  on the flex-circuit  11  would get depressed into the cushion and would not make good contact on the contact pads  29  of the DUT  21 . 
   3. In the referenced Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 09/947,240, filed on Sep. 5, 2001, entitled “Interconnection Devices”, I have shown some devices that could be helpful for this invention. FIGS. 88 through 90 of that Application showed a vertical probe with segments that can be clamped on to a core.  FIGS. 20 through 22  of this present application show the same vertical probe  251 , with some slight modifications.  FIG. 20  shows a “pivot axis”  253  which could be used to mount the segments  255  to the core  257 . We could use the segments to drive the frame  259 , so that we can move the frame laterally  261 , as shown in  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 22  shows the core  257  with all the four segments  255  mounted onto it. Please note that the fixture  61  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7  are similar to the ones just described here.