Patent ID: 7517225

Claim:
An interconnection device, such as a connector or socket or probe, referred to generically as connector, adapted for mechanically and electrically engaging a first electrical or electronic device, such as a chip or IC Package or substrate, referred to generically as the first device, a) said first device having a generally flat surface and at least a first and a second contact elements, such as pads, bumps or balls, referred to as pads of the first device, b) said pads of the first device being arranged in a certain pattern, referred to as the first device pad pattern, c) having a certain distance between the center of said first pad and the center of said second pad of the first device, said distance referred to as the first device pad pitch; and d) said connector having at least a first and a second contact element, referred to as contact springs or simply springs, e) each of said springs having a generally elongated slender curvilinear body, f) said spring body having a first and second end portions referred to as the first and second spring tips, g) said first spring tip ending with a first contact point; and h) said connector having also a first guide, referred to as the first comb, located generally adjacent and parallel to said first device, j) said first comb having at least a first and a second apertures, k) said apertures being arranged in a certain pattern, referred to as the first comb aperture pattern, l) having a certain distance between the center of said first aperture and the center of said second aperture of said first comb, said distance referred to as the first comb aperture pitch, m) said first comb aperture pattern corresponding to said first device pad pattern, n) said first comb aperture pitch corresponding to said first device pad pitch; p) each one of said first spring tip of said first and second springs passing through a corresponding aperture of said first comb and said first contact points of said first and second springs protruding beyond the first comb and touching a corresponding pad of said first device, q) each one of said first and second springs being arranged so as to have an interaction between its spring body and said first device, so as to create a normal force between its first contact point and its corresponding pad of said first device, in a direction generally perpendicular to the general surface of said first device; r) when such a normal force is exerted between said first contact point of said spring and its corresponding pad of said first device, said first contact point of said spring will also move laterally, in a direction generally parallel to the general flat surface of said first device and its pads, thus creating the so-called wipe or scrub on the surface of the corresponding pad of said first device.