Patent ID: 7253648

Claim:
A measurement probe comprising: a coaxial probe assembly having a probing tip; a housing receiving the coaxial probe assembly with the probing tip extending from one end of the housing; a first compressible element disposed within the housing with of the first compressible element applying a first pre-loaded compressive force to the coaxial probe assembly and a first increasing compressive force by axial movement of the housing relative to the coaxial probe assembly; a second compressible element disposed within the housing with the second compressible element applying a second pre-loaded compressive force to the coaxial probe assembly subsequent to the application of the first increasing compressive force on the coaxial probe assembly and a second increasing compressive force by further axial movement of the housing relative to the coaxial probe assembly; and a pressure sensor disposed in the housing for passing an activation signal in response to the axial movement of the housing relative to the coaxial probe assembly with the pressure sensor having a first contact associated with the coaxial probe assembly and a second contact associated with the housing.