Patent ID: 7145354

Claim:
An apparatus for electrical testing, comprising: a segmented probe comprising a plurality of metal elements of about equal size bonded together in substantially linear sequence; an insulating holder having first and second surfaces and a plurality of metal-filled vias traversing said holder from said first to said second surface, said vias forming contact pads on said first and second surfaces; said contact pads of said first holder surface having a probe attached so that said probe is positioned about normal to said surface; a sheet of resilient insulating material having first and second surfaces and a thickness, traversed by a plurality of conducting traces, said first sheet surface attached to said second holder surface so that at least one of said traces contacts one of said contact pads, respectively, to provide an electrical path to said second sheet surface; and a printed circuit board suitable for insertion into an electrical test apparatus, said board attached to said second sheet surface so that a continuous electrical path is established from said apparatus to each of said probes.