Patent ID: 7463042

Claim:
A probing system for making electrical connections to a variety of electrical connectors, the system comprising: a frame; a plurality of probes, each of the probes comprising a base portion for translating the respective probe between a plurality of positions, each of the probes having an elongate probe arm defining opposing first and second end portions, the first end portion being pivotally engaged with the respective base portion, the second end portion being engaged with a probe tip, the probe tip being engageable with a respective one of the variety of electrical connectors, at least one of the probes being engageable with the respective one of the variety of electrical connectors after the base portion of the at least one of the probes has translated from a first position to a second position; and a gripping mechanism connected to the frame, the gripping mechanism being translatable to receive and secure the respective one of the variety of electrical connectors in proximity to the plurality of probes, the gripping mechanism being translatable between open and closed positions relative to the frame, the gripping mechanism being engageable with the respective one of the variety of electrical connectors when the gripping mechanism is in the closed position, the gripping mechanism being disengageable from the respective one of the variety of electrical connectors when the gripping mechanism is in the open position, the gripping mechanism being translatable in response to the size and shape of the respective one of the variety of electrical connectors so as to accommodate connectors defining different sizes and shapes within the gripping mechanism independent of any modification of the gripping mechanism.