Patent ID: 7688085

Claim:
A probing apparatus comprising: a substrate; a spring structure comprising a platform moveably attached to the substrate; and a plurality of resilient probes attached to a surface of the platform, each said probe comprising a beam portion that extends away from the platform in a direction that is generally parallel to the surface the platform, the probe further comprising a contact portion disposed on the beam portion to contact a device, the beam portion being bendable with respect to the platform, wherein: the platform moves in a same, uniform movement in response to forces on the contact portions of the probes, the movement of the platform providing a uniform first source of compliance equally to each of the probes in response to the forces on the contact portions of the probes, and each beam portion of each of the probes bends individually with respect to the platform in response to one of the forces on the contact portion of the probe, the bending of each of the beam portions providing second sources of individual compliance to each of the probes.