Patent ID: 7126360

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