Patent ID: 7227369

Claim:
A method for electrically connecting to a device and for creating a wiping action, using a probe said device having: a top surface generally along a plane, referred to as the x-y plane, said top surface referred to as device surface; at least a first and a second contact pads, referred to as device pads, said pads being disposed on and along said device surface, in a pattern, referred to as the device pattern; and the top surface of said device pads, referred to as pads surface, being generally parallel to said device surface; and with a center distance between the center of said first device pad and the center of said second device pad, said center distance being referred to as the device pitch, said probe comprising: a first contact means, referred to as probe point, disposed on a carrier, wherein said carrier having means for electrically connecting said probe point to the outside world, and a second probe point, similarly disposed on said carrier, and similarly connected to the outside world, said first and second probe points being disposed in a pattern, referred to as the probe pattern, said probe pattern matching said device pattern, and with the center distance between the center of said first probe point and the center of said second probe point, referred to as probe pitch, said probe pitch being equal in size to said device pitch, and said carrier being mounted on a working tip of a pusher, said pusher being capable of moving said working tip and said probe points in a direction being generally perpendicular to said device surface and said pads surface, said perpendicular direction being referred to as the z-direction or the normal direction of said working tip, said working tip being flexible and capable of being deformed, wherein said method comprises the steps of moving the working tip in the normal direction, towards said device and said device pads, creating a normal force between said probe points and said device pads, said normal force being transferred from said pusher, then through said working tip of said pusher, and then through said carrier and said probe points, and the working tip deforming laterally, such that said probe points slide laterally along said device surface and pads surface and each probe point on said working tip creating a relative motion and a wiping action between said probe point and its corresponding said device pad.