Patent ID: 7500378

Claim:
A micro-impact testing apparatus for measuring the impact characteristics of a microelectronics specimen exposed to an impact thereon, the apparatus comprising a specimen holder for receiving a specimen to be tested, and an impact device comprising an impact head, a support member at least one connecting element, a first flexural spring, wherein the support member is connected to the connecting element in that the first flexural spring is firmly attached with its one end to the support member and with its other end to the connecting element, and a second flexural spring being at least substantially identical to said first flexural spring, wherein the connecting element is connected to the impact head in that the second flexural spring is firmly attached with its one end to the connecting element and with its other end to the impact head so that the ends of the first and second flexural springs define, in an unloaded state of the flexural springs, a rectangle, whereby the impact head is moveable transversally with respect to the first and second flexural springs along a linear line between a spring-loaded position and an impact position thereof, and wherein the specimen holder is aligned with the impact device such that the specimen is arranged in said impact position of the impact head so that the impact head is capable of impacting on the specimen after traveling from its loaded position towards its impact position along said linear line upon release thereof from said loaded position.