High Frequency Inspection Pen Device

Abstract

To provide an inspection pen device that optimizes high frequency signal transmission by contacting an object to be inspected. The test pen device 5 comprises an outer casing 6 and a spring-loaded inner casing 10 which is partially movable within the casing in a direction opposite to the longitudinal direction 9 of the device. The inner casing comprises a spring-loaded first piston 20, a spring-loaded centering piston 33 at the tip of the test pen device 5 and a contact unit 11 on which contact elements 13, 14 for contacting the contact partner 1 are mounted and which is axially movably guided within the centering piston, said piston being centerable relative to the first piston when not in contact with the contact partner and movably mounted relative to the first piston in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a second position in contact with the contact partner and partially spring-deflected, said piston being movably guided within the first piston against the restoring force of a first spring device 15a.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a radio frequency inspection pen device which is in detachable contact with a contact partner of a radio frequency range. [Background technology]

[0002] Such high frequency inspection pen devices are widely known in the prior art and require suitable bushings. The high-frequency inspection pen device is used in inspection situations, such as in the inspection field, for inspecting the function of contact partners, e.g. electronic assemblies, which have a plurality of components. The high-frequency inspection pen device is arranged as a plug for the contact partner to be inspected, with its contact elements in contact with the mating contact elements of the contact partner. Via suitable contacts, inspection signals are then applied to the contact partner or transmitted from the contact partner to the high-frequency inspection pen device.

[0003] In normal testing operations, contact is generally achieved by bringing the test pen device and the contact partner of the test object relatively close to each other at regular intervals, but since poor electrical contact can lead not only to increased wear, i.e., reduced service life, but also to poor resistance matching, i.e., poor wave matching, which can lead to undesirable reflected waves and therefore to inaccurate contact and measurement results, it is necessary to ensure high quality contact during the testing process, especially in the field of high frequency technology. At the same time, the contact elements and their devices must be optimally designed with regard to the transmission characteristics of high frequency signals, especially in order to minimize the possibility of signal loss.

[0004] In particular, the contact partners can be so-called board-to-board connectors, which, besides high-frequency counter contact elements intended for the input or output of high-frequency signals, generally having frequencies of 1 GHz and above, often also have non-high-frequency counter contact elements intended for the input or output of non-high-frequency signals or for the supply of power.

[0005] For example, DE 10 2018 131 877 A1 (Patent Document 1) discloses a contact head of a high-frequency inspection pen device, comprising an outer casing and a plunger or piston mounted in the outer casing so as to be axially movable and located at its tip, the piston being provided with a number of straight layered contact elements which come into contact with contact partners, the piston being reversibly guided in the outer casing between a protection position and a release position against the return force of at least one spring element, a part of the outer casing being sleeve-shaped, so that in the protection position the contact elements are located in a protection space and in the release position the contact elements at least partially protrude from the inner casing and can come into contact with the contact partners.

[0006] WO 2021 / 151524 A1 (Patent Document 2) discloses a high-frequency inspection pen device with lamella-shaped contact elements having a serpentine portion and detachably contacting a contact partner. The inspection pen device comprises a fixed flange with a central hole and a cylindrical inner casing with a contact part formed as a spring-loaded piston at its tip, which is partially movably guided in the fixed flange, in a first non-contact relative position, the inner casing is fixedly attached to the fixed flange via a guide means provided in the hole of the fixed flange, and in a second relative position in contact with the contact partner, the inner casing can at least partially rotate and / or tilt with respect to the fixed flange. This allows for tolerance compensation and improved alignment when in contact with the contact partner.

[0007] WO 2021 / 215334 A1 (Patent Document 3) discloses a high-frequency inspection pen device having a plurality of coaxial contact pins mounted therein and tip-located contacts for detachable contact with a contact partner, the contact pins being arranged in a cylindrical housing movably mounted in a fixed flange and pre-biased into a fixed position by a spring element. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] DE 102018131877 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2021 / 151524 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2021 / 215334 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Based on the known prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved test pen device which allows a reliable contact with the contact partner of the test object, preferably optimizing the transmission of high frequency signals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] This object is achieved by a high frequency inspection pen device having the features of claim 1.

[0011] A high-frequency test pen device for detachable contact with a contact partner, in particular a board-to-board connector, comprises an outer casing and a spring-loaded inner casing which is at least partially movable in and relative to the outer casing at least in the longitudinal direction of the test pen device and in the opposite direction, the inner casing comprising a spring-loaded first piston, preferably axially centered in the outer casing, and a spring-loaded centering piston at the tip of the test pen device, the inner casing further comprising at least two contact elements, preferably a plurality of contact elements, which extend in the longitudinal direction towards a receiving part of the test pen device located at the tip and serve to contact the contact partner. The test pen device further comprises a contact unit having a contact element attached thereto, the contact element being a pin-shaped contact element, preferably resiliently biased on both sides, the contact unit being guided so as to be axially movable within the centering piston, the centering piston being movably guided within the first piston of the inner casing against the restoring force of a first spring device so as to be centered relative to the first piston when the test pen device is not in contact, and in a second position in which the spring is at least partially deflected in contact with a contact partner, the centering piston being movably mounted relative to the first piston, preferably together with the contact unit, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0012] According to the invention, the contact elements are pin-shaped, preferably elastically biased on both sides, which allows for an optimized signal transmission, especially for high-frequency signals during the test process. The pin-shaped contact elements allow for an efficient and structurally simple shielding of the individual contact elements, which allows for a structurally simple design of the test pen device and at the same time optimizes the signal transmission. Preferably, the contact elements are designed as coaxial contact spring pins or so-called fine pitch pins, which are elastically biased on both sides.

[0013] The provision of contact elements on the contact unit, guided so as to be axially movable in the centering pin, and the construction of the centering piston, in the non-contact position, so as to be axially mounted and / or centered together with the contact unit and the contact elements on the contact unit relative to the outer casing, and in the contact position, so as to be at least partially movably mounted in a plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, allows for a precise alignment of the centering piston and the contact unit and the associated contact elements relative to the contact partners, by means of tolerance compensation, while at the same time optimizing the alignment of the inner casing (in particular the receiving part at the tip), which is aligned with the contact partners, relative to the outer casing (preferably arranged in a fixed position), allowing for a compact test pen device.

[0014] Movement in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is understood to mean movement in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and vice versa. Centering arrangement means that the relative positions of the components are in fixed axial positions in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the centering piston has a centering section on its outer periphery that is designed for position-dependent interaction with a complementary designed guide section of the first piston. Preferably, the centering section is conical or frustoconical and, in the non-contact position, is mounted on a guide section designed for counter-rotation and is located in a preferably centrally provided orifice of the first piston. In this position, the centering piston is preloaded against the first piston by the first spring device. In this position, the centering piston is centered and / or axially positioned relative to the first piston in the opening.

[0016] Advantageously, the inside diameter of the opening of the first piston, in which the guide is located, is greater than the outside diameter of the tip of the centering piston, so that the centering piston, in the contact position and / or in the partially spring-deflated position, is arranged to be movable within the opening, in particular in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0017] More advantageously, the first piston has an inner guide, in particular radially inner, designed for cooperating with the centering piston and for selectively interacting in particular with a rear flange of the centering piston, the lateral movement of the centering piston being limited within the piston by being located radially inside a step of the first piston and / or being movably attached thereto, in particular in a contact position or in a partially spring-biased position relative to the first piston. In particular, a third step of the first piston can be configured to limit the lateral movement of the centering piston within the piston in a stop-like manner. The first piston can be at least partially sleeve-shaped.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the test pen device comprises a spring-loaded contact plate which is axially movable relative to the centering piston and the contact unit and which is adapted to at least partially engage the receiving part and to contact the contact partner to center the contact partner relative to the contact plate and / or the contact unit. A contact plate according to the invention allows a further optimum alignment of the test pen device with the contact partner, in particular an optimum alignment of the individual contact elements with the contact partner immediately from the start of contact with the contact partner.

[0019] Preferably, the contact plate has convex and / or concave centering elements interacting with the contact partner. The convex centering elements can for example be one or more noses arranged to protrude into and selectively engage the contact partner. The concave centering elements can for example consist of one or more recesses in which a convex part or a convex element of the contact partner can engage. Furthermore advantageously, the contact plate has at least one, preferably a plurality of through openings for the contact elements.

[0020] Advantageously, the contact plate can be mounted in the inner casing and / or in the receiving space in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, i.e. in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and in the opposite direction. In particular, the contact plate can be mounted in the inner casing or in the receiving space in a lateral direction of the high-frequency inspection pen device perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and in the opposite direction and / or in a depth direction of the high-frequency inspection pen device perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and in the opposite direction.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the contact plate is mounted in a guided manner against the restoring force of a second spring device such that it is centered relative to the contact unit and / or the centering piston when it is not in contact with the contact partner and is movably mounted relative to the contact unit and / or the centering piston in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in a second position of partial spring deflection in contact with the contact partner. Furthermore, the second spring device and / or the contact plate are configured to be centered relative to the contact unit and / or the centering piston in the fully spring deflected position of the second spring device, so that firstly in the intermediate partially spring deflected position, tolerance compensation and optimal alignment of the contact partner with the contact plate can be achieved and in the fully spring deflected position, the alignment of the contact unit and the contact element in a fixed position can be achieved by guiding the spring deflection.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the second spring device comprises at least two, preferably at least four, guide elements extending in the longitudinal direction, each guide element consisting of a guide pin guided in a guide bush with radial play and having two conical stops on either side at each end, which are arranged to interact with complementary shaped, preferably part-conical, contact parts of the guide bush in the non-contact position and in the fully spring-deflated contact position of the contact plate, whereby the non-contact position and the fully spring-deflated contact position are centered or axially fixed positions. The guide pins in the sleeve and / or guide bush have lateral play at least in the partially spring-deflated state of the contact plate, allowing a movable arrangement or mounting in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0023] The contact plate may have a rectangular cross section, at the corners of which guide elements may be permanently provided. In the contact position, the contact plate facing the contact unit may at least partially abut against the contact unit and / or the base body of the contact unit, and the contact plate facing away from the contact unit may at least partially abut against the contact partner.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the first piston of the inner casing is biased by a third spring device in the outer casing and is axially movable in the longitudinal direction and the opposite direction, the piston being pre-biased against the outer casing in the non-contact position so as to be in abutment with a first stopper formed by the outer casing, the spring force of the third spring device being greater than the first and second spring devices. Preferably, the spring force of the third spring device is greater than the first or second spring device. More preferably, the spring force of the third spring device is greater than the sum of the spring forces of the first and second spring devices.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the test pen device is adapted such that, when the contact partners come into contact in the opposite longitudinal direction and the spring of the spring device of the test pen device gradually deflects, the centering piston first deflects against the preloaded force of the first spring device. Preferably, the contact plate is first biased by a spring, then the contact element is biased by contacting the contact partner, and then the first piston is preferably biased in the outer casing against the preloaded force of the third spring device.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the centering piston, which is movable in the longitudinal direction and the opposite direction, is biased against the contact unit by the first spring device, and the centering piston is pre-biased against the first piston while being in abutment with a second stopper formed by the first piston when in the non-contact position.

[0027] Advantageously, the inner casing may include a spring plate supporting the third spring device and firmly connected to the first piston, the contact unit being arranged adjacent to the spring plate in the longitudinal direction and surrounded by the first piston and the centering piston.

[0028] Preferably, the receiving part, which is arranged for contacting the contact partner, is provided at the tip of the centering piston, and advantageously, the receiving part has an inner centering bevel which is located on the inner circumference of the centering piston and serves to interact with the outer contour of the contact partner.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the contact elements comprise at least one radio frequency contact element in a first longitudinally extending passage of a contact element carrier of the contact unit and a non-radio frequency contact element in a second longitudinally extending passage of the contact element carrier, the first passage being completely spatially separated from the second passage.

[0030] The high-frequency contact elements are intended for inputting or outputting high-frequency signals in contact with a corresponding high-frequency counter contact element of the contact partner, which are interpreted as signals with a frequency equal to or greater than 1 GHz. The non-high-frequency contact elements are intended for inputting or outputting non-high-frequency signals, in particular direct current (DC) signals, in contact with a corresponding non-high-frequency counter contact element of the contact partner. In particular, non-high-frequency signals are interpreted as signals with a frequency less than 1 GHz. In particular, the non-high-frequency signals can be low-frequency signals or direct current (DC) signals.

[0031] In principle, the RF contact elements can be structurally identical to the non-RF contact elements, but the RF and non-RF contact elements can also be structurally different in order to optimally accommodate the RF and non-RF signals used with them, respectively.

[0032] The radio frequency contact element or the non-radio frequency contact element may have a first portion located in the first passage and / or the second passage of the contact element carrier of the contact unit, and a second portion located so as to protrude from the contact element carrier. Preferably, the first portion may be rigidly, i.e. immovably, connected to the contact element carrier. By forming the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element in the shape of a straight pin, it is possible to easily form the first passage and / or the second passage in the form of, for example, a hole extending substantially straight in the longitudinal direction. Then, it is relatively easy to arrange the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element in the first passage and / or the second passage, and thus it is possible to electromagnetically shield the radio frequency contact element and the non-radio frequency contact element by a simple means. Preferably, the radio frequency contact element or the non-radio frequency contact element is elastically biased, and the second portion can be elastically biased against the first portion. Very preferably, the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element are elastically biased on both sides. In this case, the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element may have a third section extending in the opposite longitudinal direction in contact with the first section and capable of being elastically biased against the first section. Advantageously, the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element are pin-shaped and elastically biased on both sides. A suspension on both sides supports a reliable contact of the radio frequency inspection pen device with the contact partner and ensures tolerance compensation in the longitudinal direction and / or in the opposite direction. The radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element may comprise one or two spring elements realizing the suspension.

[0033] The first and / or second passages of the contact element carrier may be cylindrical and designed in the form of holes, however other shapes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped shape, are also conceivable.

[0034] The radio frequency contact element and the non-radio frequency contact element are arranged in separate passages completely separated from each other in space, so that the radio frequency contact element and the non-radio frequency contact element are electromagnetically shielded from each other. In particular, the walls of the contact element carrier that define the first passage may form a sleeve around the radio frequency contact element that closes the radio frequency contact element on all radial sides and may act as a kind of insulating bush. Advantageously, the radio frequency contact element and the first passage are arranged coaxially with each other. Similarly, the walls of the contact element carrier that define the second passage may form a sleeve around the non-radio frequency contact element that closes the non-radio frequency contact element on all radial sides and may act as a kind of insulating bush and may electromagnetically shield the non-radio frequency contact element from the radio frequency contact element. As a result, such electromagnetic shielding or insulation allows crosstalk between the radio frequency signals flowing through the radio frequency contact element and the non-radio frequency signals flowing through the non-radio frequency contact element to be minimized or largely avoided. This allows the high-frequency inspection pen device according to the invention to be used for optimal and / or accurate inspection of contact partners, in particular board-to-board connectors, which have at least one non-high-frequency counter contact element and at least one high-frequency counter contact element electromagnetically shielded from the non-high-frequency counter contact element.

[0035] A reliable contact of the high-frequency inspection pen device with the contact partner is supported by a spring system, preferably consisting of a first, second and third spring arrangement of the inspection pen device as described above, by which the inner casing in the non-contact position is pre-biased against the outer casing in such a way that the second part of the high-frequency contact element and / or the non-high-frequency contact element, which protrudes from the contact element and is often very delicate and therefore likely to be easily bent or broken under mechanical load, is preferably completely protected from external influences within the inner casing, and the high-frequency contact element and / or the non-high-frequency contact element then protrudes further from the inner casing, preferably extending at least partially into the receiving part formed by the inner casing, when the high-frequency inspection pen device is moved from the non-contact position to the contact position, thereby allowing contact of the contact partner.

[0036] Advantageously, the outer casing may be made of several parts, in particular of two parts. If the outer casing is of two-part construction, it may consist of an at least partly sleeve-like base part which houses the inner casing and a lid part which extends in the opposite longitudinal direction and abuts on the base part. However, the outer casing may also be made of a single part. The inner casing may also be made of a single part or of several parts.

[0037] Basically, the geometrical configuration and / or alignment of the radio frequency contact elements and / or the non-radio frequency contact elements can be dependent on the contact partner to be contacted.

[0038] In one embodiment, the contact unit may comprise two radio frequency contact elements, each of which may have an individual first passage formed in the contact element carrier, and the contact unit may comprise at least two, preferably six, non-radio frequency contact elements, each of which may have a shared second passage formed in the contact element carrier, the non-radio frequency contact elements being arranged between the radio frequency contact elements, preferably arranged in both rows. The fact that each radio frequency contact element may have an individual first passage makes it possible, in particular, to electromagnetically shield the radio frequency contact elements from each other. Since there is little or no crosstalk between non-radio frequency signals, the non-radio frequency contact elements may be arranged in a shared second passage, making the manufacture of the contact element carrier simpler. At the same time, it is also possible to form an individual second passage for each non-radio frequency contact element, thereby providing additional electromagnetic shielding between the non-radio frequency contact elements. In principle, more than two radio frequency contact elements may be provided. In principle, the non-radio frequency contact elements do not have to be arranged between the radio frequency contact elements.

[0039] Advantageously, the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element can be fixed and centered in the first and / or second passage by a fixing element of the contact unit, passing in the longitudinal direction through a fixing means, each fixing element being preferably inserted approximately at the tip of the first and / or second passage and made of a plastic material, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The fact that the fixing element can only be provided approximately at the tip of the first and / or second passage, i.e. can only extend to the tip of the first or second passage, further optimizes the signal quality or the radio frequency characteristics. Also, if several non-radio frequency contact elements are arranged in a shared second passage, a shared fixing element can be provided inserted approximately at the tip of the shared second passage. However, the fixing element may extend the entire length of the first and / or second passages and connect the tips together, thereby enabling the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element to be uniformly fixed and centered over the entire length of the first and / or second passages.

[0040] In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the contact element carrier may include a base body having the first passage and the second passage and holding the high frequency contact elements and / or the non-high frequency contact elements, a fixed body, preferably in the form of a plate, connected to the base body, preferably by screws, and a conductive substrate arranged between the base body and the fixed body and capable of conductively connecting the high frequency contact elements and / or the non-high frequency contact elements to high frequency conductors and / or non-high frequency conductors of the high frequency inspection pen device.

[0041] The high-frequency conductor and / or the non-high-frequency conductor may be a cable and / or a line, which may be used for inputting or outputting high-frequency or non-high-frequency signals, and may extend from the conductor plate in the opposite longitudinal direction. The high-frequency conductor and / or the non-high-frequency conductor and the high-frequency contact element and / or the non-high-frequency contact element, in particular the third portion protruding from the base body in the opposite longitudinal direction, may be soldered to the conductor plate. Given that the high-frequency conductor and / or the non-high-frequency conductor are not directly conductively connected to the high-frequency contact element and / or the non-high-frequency contact element but only indirectly via the conductor plate, this results in an advantageous extension of the wiring, since the fixing points of the high-frequency conductor to the conductor plate can be relatively far away from the fixing points of the non-high-frequency conductor to the conductor plate. This also advantageously improves the electromagnetic shielding of the transition areas between the high-frequency conductor and / or the non-high-frequency conductor and the high-frequency contact element and the non-high-frequency contact element. The conductor plate may extend in a radial direction of the high frequency inspection pen device and / or in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The fixed body may have recesses in which the high frequency conductors and / or the non-high frequency conductors can be guided to the conductor plate. Preferably, the base body and / or the fixed body consist of a metal, for example aluminium. The metal may be provided with a coating.

[0042] Preferably, the contact plate provided according to the invention and contacting the contact partner in the receiving part has a first through-opening aligned with the first passage of the contact element carrier of the contact unit through which the radio frequency contact element can pass at least partially in the non-contact position and completely in the contact position, and a second through-opening aligned with the second passage through which the non-radio frequency contact element can pass at least partially and / or completely in the non-contact position, the first and second through-openings being able to be formed completely separated in space. The walls of the contact plate surround on all sides the second part of the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element which emerges from the contact element carrier and passes at least partially through the first or second through-opening, so that this second part, which is generally very sensitive, is additionally protected against mechanical influences and allows additional electromagnetic shielding in the area of ​​the receiving part. In the case of a plurality of radio frequency contact elements and / or non-radio frequency contact elements, an individual first through opening may be formed for each radio frequency contact element and a shared second through opening may be formed for the non-radio frequency contact elements. The contact plate and / or the contact part may be formed as one piece with the contact unit, in particular the base body may form the contact part or the contact plate. The contact part and / or the contact plate may advantageously be formed as a separate part separate from the contact unit.

[0043] Preferably, the contact plate and / or the contact portions may consist of a metal, e.g. stainless steel, or a non-conductive material with a conductive coating, e.g. metallized plastic, and may be formed by a 3D printing process, milling or sintering.

[0044] In addition, the contact plate may abut against a contact partner on the side of the contact plate opposite the contact unit in the contact position, and the contact portion and / or the contact plate, in particular the side of the contact plate opposite the contact unit, may correspond to the contact partner in order to ensure contact.

[0045] Advantageously, the contact plate may have at least one centering element, for example in the form of a nose, on the side of the contact plate facing away from the contact unit, which projects in the longitudinal direction and at least partially surrounds the first through-opening. The centering element is preferably formed as one piece with the contact plate and penetrates into a recess of the contact partner when engaged. The nose may provide additional electromagnetic shielding of the radio frequency contact element from the non-radio frequency contact element in the contact position where the latter has completely passed through the first and / or second through-opening. The nose may be designed as a locking means which is engageable with a counter locking means of the contact partner in the contact position. The second through-opening may also be at least partially surrounded by at least one nose on the side of the contact plate facing away from the contact unit. Also, instead of a convex centering element, e.g. in the form of a nose, each centering element may be designed as a concave centering element, e.g. a recess, a dimple, etc., configured to engage with a convex contour of the contact partner. The first, second and third spring devices may, for example, comprise four spring elements each. Highly preferably, the first spring device comprises two spring elements and the second and third spring devices each comprise four spring elements.

[0046] The first piston of the inner casing may have a stepped structure with three steps, and the radially outer side of a first step of the three steps as viewed in the longitudinal direction may form a corresponding stopper that can abut against the first stopper of the outer casing in the non-contact position. The radially inner side of the first step and the radially inner side of a second step of the three steps as viewed in the longitudinal direction may form a stopper for the piston in the longitudinal direction and / or in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, i.e. in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and in the reverse direction, of the contact unit that may be provided so as to be at least partially movable within the piston. In other words, the radially inner sides of the first and second steps may limit the movement of the contact unit within the piston in a stopper-like manner. The piston may be at least partially sleeve-shaped.

[0047] The radially inner side of a third step of the three steps as viewed in the longitudinal direction may form the second stop against which the centering piston abuts in the non-contact position. Preferably, the first piston has an opening in which a central part of the centering piston can at least partially engage. The central part may be sleeve-shaped so as to at least partially guide and receive the contact element carrier, in particular the base body, and may have an opening located at its longitudinal end in which the receiving part is provided and / or formed.

[0048] Advantageously, the first piston, the centering piston and the contact unit may be arranged coaxially with respect to one another and / or to the longitudinal axis, and the centering piston and / or the central part may have an abutment against which the contact partner may abut, the contact partner being at least partially engaged with the opening of the central part in the contact position.

[0049] The base body and the contacts may be maintained at earth potential (ground).

[0050] The radio frequency inspection pen device may transition from the non-contact position to the contact position as follows.

[0051] When the high frequency inspection pen device is applied to a contact partner, the contact partner may first come into contact with the centering piston and / or the central portion and / or the abutment portion, which may bias and / or bias the spring element of the first spring device beyond an already applied pre-bias, allowing the centering piston to lift off and move away from the second stop of the first piston.

[0052] Then, when the contact partner comes into contact with the contact part and / or the contact plate, the spring element of the second spring device of the contact part can also be biased or can be biased further beyond the already applied pre-bias.

[0053] Subsequently, when the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element contacts a radio frequency counter contact element and / or a non-radio frequency counter contact element of the contact partner, the spring elements of these radio frequency contact elements and / or non-radio frequency contact elements may also be biased.

[0054] Subsequently, when the contact portion and / or the contact plate contacts the contact unit and / or the base body, the spring element of the third spring device may also be biased or may be biased beyond an already applied pre-bias, so that the corresponding stop of the first piston can lift off and move away from the first stop of the base part and / or the inner casing, and the contact portion and / or the contact plate may be pressed against the contact unit and / or the base body, so that the contact unit and / or the fixed body can be pressed against the spring plate.

[0055] The spring elements of the first, second and third spring devices and the spring elements of the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element may then be further biased together until the radio frequency inspection pen device is moved to the contact position, at which the radio frequency contact element and / or the non-radio frequency contact element may be threaded through the contact partner.

[0056] In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0057] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a contact partner. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a contact position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial front view of a high frequency inspection pen device in a contact position. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a non-contact position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a non-contact position. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a contact position. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a non-contact position. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a contact unit. [Figure 10] FIG. [Figure 10a] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a contact portion. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a non-contact position. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a contact position. [Figure 14] 1 is a force-displacement graph. [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a non-contact position. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a partial front cross-sectional view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a first intermediate position. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a partial front cross-sectional view of the radio frequency inspection pen device in a second intermediate position. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a radio frequency inspection pen device in a contact position. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 shows one possible embodiment of a contact partner for providing rocking clearance when contacting a test pen device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0058] In the following, the same reference numbers may be used for functionally identical and / or structurally identical parts and / or elements.

[0059] 1 is a perspective view of the contact partner 1. The contact partner 1 is designed as a board-to-board connector and has two high-frequency counter contact elements 2 and six non-high-frequency counter contact elements 3 arranged in two rows on both sides between the high-frequency counter contact elements 2. The high-frequency counter contact elements 2 can be partially surrounded by two curved or approximately L-shaped shielding elements 4 for electromagnetic shielding from the non-high-frequency counter contact elements 3. The non-high-frequency counter contact elements 3 are intended for input or output of direct current (DC) signals. The plug connector 1 has an outer contour 1a that is approximately rectangular in plan view.

[0060] Figures 2, 3 and 6 as well as 4, 5 and 7 collectively depict a high frequency inspection pen device 5 in contact and / or non-contact positions with a contact partner 1. The contact partner 1 depicted in Figures 2 and 3 is only a schematic representation.

[0061] The radio frequency inspection pen device 5 comprises a two-piece outer casing 6 consisting of a partly sleeve-like base part 7 and a lid part 8 abutting the base part 7 .

[0062] The radio frequency inspection pen device 5 further comprises a spring-loaded inner casing 10 which is partially movable within and relative to the outer casing 6 in the longitudinal direction 9 of the radio frequency inspection pen device 5 and vice versa. Preferably, the inner casing 10 can be designed as a multi-part casing module.

[0063] The radio frequency inspection pen device 5 further comprises a contact unit 11 mounted in the inner casing 10. The contact unit 11 comprises a contact element carrier 12 and two or six pin-shaped radio frequency contact elements 13 and / or non-radio frequency contact elements 14 passing through the contact element carrier 12 in the longitudinal direction 9 and protruding partially from the contact element carrier 12 in the longitudinal direction 9 and resiliently biased on both sides. The radio frequency contact elements 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact elements 14 are resiliently biased on both sides by spring elements (not shown) of the radio frequency contact elements 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact elements.

[0064] Each radio frequency contact element 13 is arranged in a respective first passage 17 extending in the longitudinal direction 9 of the contact element carrier 12, and the non-radio frequency contact elements 14 are arranged in a shared second passage 18 extending in the longitudinal direction 9 of the contact element carrier 12, the first passages 17 being completely spatially separated from the second passages 18. As a result, the contact element carrier 12 has two first passages 17.

[0065] The inner casing 10 includes a first piston 20 partially mounted in the outer casing 6, movable in the longitudinal direction 9 and in the opposite direction and biased against the outer casing 6 by a third spring device 15c. In the non-contact position, the piston 20 is pre-biased against the outer casing 6 so as to come into abutment with a first stopper 21 formed by the outer casing 6. The third spring device 15c includes four spring elements 22, only two of which are shown in the present example. The piston 20 has a stepped structure and has three stepped portions 23. The radially outer side 24 of a first stepped portion 25 of the three stepped portions 23 as viewed in the longitudinal direction 9 forms a corresponding stopper 26 which comes into abutment with the first stopper 21 of the outer casing 6 or the base portion 7 in the non-contact position. The radial inner side 27 of the first step 25 and the radial inner side 28 of the second step 29 of the three steps 23 as viewed in the longitudinal direction 9 form stops 30, 31 for the piston 20 in the longitudinal direction 9 and in the opposite direction and in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 9, i.e. in the directions marked by the double arrows P1, P2 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 9 and perpendicular to each other, of the contact unit 11 arranged so as to be partially movable within the piston 20. In other words, the radial inner sides 27, 28 of the first and second steps 25, 29 limit the movement of the contact unit 11 within the piston 20 in a stop-like manner. The piston 20 is partially sleeve-shaped.

[0066] The inner casing 10 further comprises a centering piston 33 which is partially mounted in the piston 20, movable in the longitudinal direction 9 and in the opposite direction and biased against the contact unit 11 by a first spring device 15a. In the non-contact position, the centering piston 33 is pre-biased against a second stop 34 formed by the piston 20 so as to come into abutment with the piston 20 and / or the contact unit 11. The first spring device 15a comprises two spring elements 35, only one of which is shown in the present example. The radially inner side 36 of a third step 37 of the three steps 23 as viewed in the longitudinal direction 9 forms the second stop 34. The piston 20 has an opening 38 in which a central portion 39 of the centering piston 33 partially engages. The central part 39 is sleeve-shaped to partially accommodate the contact element carrier 12 and has an opening 40 at its extremity in the longitudinal direction 9. In the contact position, the high-frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-high-frequency contact element 14 can protrude from the opening 40. The piston 20, the centering piston 33 and the contact unit 11 are arranged coaxially with respect to one another.

[0067] The centering piston 33 is mounted in the piston 20 so as to be partially movable in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 9. The radially inner side 36 of the third step 37 limits the lateral movement of the centering piston 33 in the piston 20 in a stop-like manner.

[0068] For centering the centering piston 33 in the non-contact position, the centering piston 33 has a centering portion 33a on its outer circumferential surface, which is configured for position-dependent interaction with a complementary shaped guide portion 38a of the first piston 20. The centering portion 33a is preferably configured in a conical or frusto-conical shape and, in the non-contact position, is attached to a correspondingly shaped guide portion 38a located in a centrally provided tip opening 38 of the first piston 20. In this position, the centering piston is pre-biased by the first spring device into contact with the first piston. The centering portion 33a is located between a sleeve-shaped tip and / or central portion 39 of the centering piston 33 and a rear flange section 33b. In the non-contact position, the rear flange section 33b abuts against a second stop 34 of the first piston. The piston 33 further has a central hole 33c. Advantageously, said contact unit is axially in a fixed position and axially movable relative to the centering piston 33 within the central bore 33c.

[0069] The inner casing 10 further includes a spring plate 41 supporting the third spring device 15c and firmly connected to the piston 20, and the contact unit 11 is located adjacent to the spring plate 41 in the longitudinal direction 9 and is surrounded by the piston 20 and the centering piston 33.

[0070] The center portion 39 of the centering piston 33 forms a receiving portion 16 at its tip.

[0071] 8 and 9 taken together illustrate the contact unit 11. FIG.

[0072] The contact element carrier 12 includes a base body 42 having a first passage 17 and a second passage 18 for holding the high frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-high frequency contact element 14, a plate-shaped fixed body 44 connected to the base body 42 by screws 43 (only two are shown), and a conductor plate 45 arranged between the base body 42 and the fixed body 44 for conductively connecting the high frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-high frequency contact element 14 to high frequency conductors 46 and / or non-high frequency conductors (not shown) of the test pen device 5 shown in Figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[0073] The contact unit 11 further has a sleeve-shaped portion 11 a located at the tip thereof for axially guiding the contact unit 11 and / or the contact element carrier 12 in the central bore 33 c of the centering piston 33 .

[0074] The high frequency conductors 46 and / or the non-high frequency conductors are used for input and / or output of high frequency and / or non-high frequency signals and extend in the opposite direction in the longitudinal direction 9 from the conductor plate 45 .

[0075] The high-frequency conductor 46 and / or the non-high-frequency conductor, as well as the high-frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-high-frequency contact element 14, have third portions protruding from the base body 42 in the opposite direction to the longitudinal direction 9 that are soldered to the conductor plate 45. The fixed body 44 has a recess 48 that allows the high-frequency conductor 46 and / or the non-high-frequency conductor to pass through to the conductor plate 45. In addition, the high-frequency conductor 46 and / or the non-high-frequency conductor are configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction and the opposite direction and in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 9 so that they can participate in the movement of the contact unit 11.

[0076] The conductors 46 are arranged in a cable guide element 77 which is provided in the outer casing 8 and which is preferably made of plastic. For this purpose, the cable guide element 77 has a channel 77a running in the longitudinal direction 9. Advantageously, by means of the correspondingly wide channel 77a and / or the fasteners provided in the outer casing 78, lateral forces on the conductors 46, and thus on the contact units 11 connected to the conductors 46, are avoided to the greatest extent possible.

[0077] The radio frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact element 14 have a first portion 49 located in the first passage 17 and / or the second passage 18 and a second portion 50 located so as to protrude from the contact element carrier 11 and / or the base body 42. The first portion 49 is rigidly, i.e. immovably, connected to the contact element carrier 11 and / or the base body 42.

[0078] Preferably, the radio frequency contact elements 13 are structurally identical to the non-radio frequency contact elements 14 .

[0079] In addition, the high-frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-high-frequency contact element 14 are fixed and centered in the first passage 17 and / or the second passage 18 by the fixing element 51 of the contact unit 11 so as to pass through the fixing means in the longitudinal direction 9, and each fixing element 51 is inserted into approximately the tip of the first passage 17 and / or the second passage 18 and is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0080] 10, 10a, 11, 12 and 13, the test pen device 5 has a contact portion 52 at its tip, which is mounted in the receiving portion 16 formed by the inner casing 10 next to the contact unit 11 in the longitudinal direction 9 and includes a contact plate 53. The contact plate 53 has two first through openings 54 aligned flush with the first passage 17 and through which the high-frequency contact element 13 can partially pass and / or partially pass in the non-contact position and can completely pass and / or completely pass in the contact position, and a second through opening 56 aligned flush with the second passage 18 and through which the non-high-frequency contact element 14 can partially pass and / or partially pass in the non-contact position and can completely pass and / or completely pass in the contact position, and the first through opening 54 and the second through opening 55 are formed completely spaced apart from each other.

[0081] In another possible embodiment shown in Figure 10a, the contact plate 53 has, instead of a shared second through opening 55, a number of individual through openings 55a which are aligned flush with the contact elements 14 passing through the second passage 18. These may be formed in a separate component from the contact plate 53 or may be formed integrally therewith.

[0082] On its side 56 facing away from the contact unit 11, the contact plate 53 has a nose 57 which is integral with it, projects in the longitudinal direction 9 and partially surrounds the first through opening 54. In particular, the nose 57 is capable of engaging in a recess 58 of the contact partner 1. The side 56 abuts against said contact partner in the contact position.

[0083] The contact plate 53 is movable in the longitudinal direction 9 and in the opposite direction in the centering piston 33 and / or in the receiving part 16 and is biased against the contact unit 11 by a second spring device 15b. Preferably, the second spring device 15b comprises four guide elements extending in the longitudinal direction 9, each consisting of a guide pin 60 guided with radial play in a guide bush 64, the guide pin 60 having two conical stops 65a, 65b on either side at each end, which are arranged to interact with contact surfaces 64a, 64b and / or complementary contact parts, preferably part-conical, of the guide bush 64 in the non-contact position and in the fully compressed contact position. The spring device 15b comprises a spring element 79 (see FIG. 12) which bears against the guide pins 60 and biases the contact plate 53 to the position shown in FIG. 12.

[0084] The contact plate 53 is mounted in the centering piston 33 so as to be movable in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 9. This is made possible by the fact that the guide pin 60 is mounted in the sleeve 61 so as to be movable in the same plane with some lateral play, at least when the spring of the contact plate 53 is partially flexed.

[0085] The contact plate 53 is configured to be biased in advance against the contact unit 11 so as to be spaced from the contact unit 11 in the longitudinal direction 9 at the non-contact position as shown in Figures 4, 5, 7 and 12, and to be disposed in partial contact with the contact unit 11 at the contact position as shown in Figures 6 and 13. The contact plate 53 has a substantially rectangular cross section 62, and a guide pin 60 is provided at each of four corners 63 of the cross section 62. The corners 63 may be rounded.

[0086] The spring element 35 of the first spring device 15a, the spring element 79 of the second spring device 15b of the contact portion 52 and said spring elements of the high frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-high frequency contact element 14 are preferably connected in parallel with each other, while these spring elements as a whole are connected in series with the spring element 22 of the third spring device 15c.

[0087] 14 is a path-time graph showing force and / or return force curves 65 of the spring elements 35 of the first spring arrangement 15a, the spring elements of the second spring arrangement 15b of the contact portion 52, the spring elements of the RF contact element 13 and / or the non-RF contact element 14, and the spring elements 22 of the third spring arrangement 15c as the RF inspection pen device 5 moves from the non-contact position to the contact position. The path along which the spring elements are tensioned during the transition from the non-contact position to the contact position is plotted on the horizontal axis 67 and the forces on the vertical axis 66. It should be understood that the numerical values ​​of these forces and paths are purely exemplary.

[0088] In addition to FIG. 14, FIGS. 15, 16, 17 and 18 collectively show the high frequency inspection pen device 5 moving from a non-contact position through a first intermediate position and a second intermediate position to a contact position.

[0089] When the high frequency inspection pen device 5 is applied to the contact partner 1, the latter first comes into contact with the abutment 76 of the central portion 39 as shown in FIG. 15. Preferably, the abutment 76 has an inner chamfer or centering surface 6a, 6b for interacting with the outer contour 1a of the contact partner. In this example, the spring element 35 of the first spring device 15a is biased or biased further beyond the already applied pretension so that the centering piston 33 lifts off the second stop 34 of the piston 20 and moves away from said second stop 34. As a result, in the first region 68 of the curve 65, the force increases rapidly, i.e. approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis 66. In the second region 69 of the curve 65, the spring element 35 of the first spring device 15a is biased further.

[0090] When the contact partner 1 comes into contact with the contact plate 53 in the first intermediate position shown in Fig. 16, the contact part 52 and / or the spring element 79 of the second spring device 15b of the contact plate 53, which is inserted in the sleeve 61, are also energized or are further energized beyond the already applied pretension. As a result, in a third region 70 of the curve 65, the force increases rapidly. In a fourth region 71 of the curve 65, the spring element 35 of the first spring device 15a and said spring element of the second spring device 15b of the contact plate 52 are further energized.

[0091] When the radio frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact element 14 contact the radio frequency counter contact element 2 and / or the non-radio frequency counter contact element 3 in the second intermediate position at further spring deflection of the spring system as shown in Fig. 17, the spring elements of these radio frequency contact elements 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact elements 14 are also biased or biased further beyond any pre-bias that may already exist. As a result, in the fifth region 72 of the curve 65, the force increases rapidly. In the sixth region 73 of the curve 65, the spring elements 35 of the first spring device 15a, the spring elements of the second spring device 15b of the contact plate 53 and the spring elements of the radio frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact element 14 are further biased.

[0092] When the contact plate 53 comes into contact with the contact unit 11 and / or the base body 42 during further spring deflection of the spring system, the spring element 22 of the third spring arrangement 15c is also biased or biased further beyond the already applied pre-bias, so that the corresponding stop 26 of the piston 20 lifts off the first stop 21 of the base part 7 and moves away from said first stop 21. As a result, in the seventh region 74 of the curve 65, the force increases rapidly. In the eighth region 75 of the curve 65, the spring element 35 of the first spring arrangement 15a of the contact plate 53, the spring element 79 of the second spring arrangement 15b, the spring elements of the radio frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact element 14 and the spring element 22 of the third spring arrangement 15c are further biased until the radio frequency inspection pen device moves into the contact position shown in FIG. Preferably, the radio frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact element 14 at least partially passes through the contact partner 1 at the contact position. Alternatively, the radio frequency contact element 13 and / or the non-radio frequency contact element 14 may abut against corresponding counter contacts (see reference 3' in FIG. 1) on the top side of the contact partner 1 and / or on the side facing the test pen device 5.

[0093] Also, as shown in FIG. 19, the contact partner 1 may be configured to allow the contact elements 13, 14, in particular the non-high frequency contact element 14, a certain amount of play within the contact partner 1, in particular so-called rocking play, when interacting with the test pen device 5.

[0094] In this case, it is preferable that the non-high frequency counter contact element 3 is geometrically configured, for example by providing a tab-shaped inner contact surface 80, so as to allow a certain range of movement within predetermined limits, in particular a predetermined tilting or swinging movement at a predetermined angle A, while maintaining electrical contact with the contact element 14 when engaged with the counter contact element 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 1. Contact Partners 2 High frequency opposing contact elements 3. Non-high frequency opposing contact elements 3' Variations of the opposing contact elements 4 Shield Elements 5 High Frequency Inspection Pen Device 6 Outer casing 6a, 6b Center ring slope 7 Base 8 Lid 9 Longitudinal 10 Inner casing 11 Contact Unit 11a Sleeve-shaped tip 12 Contact element carrier 13 High Frequency Contact Elements 14 Non-radio frequency contact elements 15a First spring device 15b Second spring device 15c Third spring device 16 Receiving part 17 First Passage 18 Second Passage 19 First spring device 20 Piston 21 First stopper 22 Spring element (third spring device) 23 Step 24 Radial outer 25 First step 26 Opponent Stopper 27 Radial Inner 28 Radial Inner 29 Second step 30 Stopper 31 Stopper 33 Centering piston 33a Center Ring Section 33b Flange section 33c center hole 34 Second Stopper 35 spring element (first spring device) 36 Radial Inner 37 Third step 38 Opening 38a Information section 39 Central part 40 Opening 41 Spring plate 42 Base Body 43 Screw 44 Fixed Body 45 Conductor Plate 46 High Frequency Conductor 47 Third Part 48 Recess 49 First Part 50 Second Part 51 Fixed elements 52 Contact part 53 Contact Plate 54 First through opening 55 Second through hole 55a Individual through openings 56 Side 57 Nose 58 Depression 59 Side 60 Guide pin 61 Sleeve 62 Section 63 Corner 64 Guide bush 64a, 64b Partial conical contact surface 65a, 65b Cone-shaped stopper 65 Shape 66 Vertical Axis 67 Horizontal axis 68 First Area 69 Second Area 70 The Third Region 71 The Fourth Region 72 The Fifth Region 73 The Sixth Region 74 The Seventh Region 75 The Eighth Region 76 Contact part 77 Cable guide 77a Cable guide groove 78 Outer casing fasteners 79 Contact Plate Spring Element 80 Tab-shaped inner contact surface 80 P1 Double Arrow P2 Double Arrow A Tilt

Claims

1. A high-frequency inspection pen device (5) that detachably contacts a contact partner (1), particularly a board-to-board connector, Outer casing (6) and, The device comprises a spring-loaded inner casing (10) that is at least partially movable relative to the outer casing in the longitudinal direction (9) and the opposite direction of the inspection pen device, The inner casing (10) preferably includes a spring-loaded first piston (20) that is axially centered within the outer casing (6), and a spring-loaded centering piston (33) provided at the tip of the inspection pen device (5). In an inspection pen device, the inner casing (10) further includes a contact unit (11) to which at least two contact elements (13, 14), preferably a plurality of contact elements (13, 14), are attached, which extend in the longitudinal direction (9) toward the receiving portion (16) of the inspection pen device (5) located at the tip and play a role in contacting the contact partner (1), The contact elements (13, 14) are preferably pin-shaped contact elements that are elastically biased on both sides. The contact unit (11) is guided to be movable in the axial direction within the centering piston (33), An inspection pen device characterized in that the centering piston (33) is guided to move against the restoring force of the first spring device (15a) within the first piston (20) of the inner casing (10) such that when the inspection pen device (5) is not in contact, it is centered and mounted relative to the first piston (20), and in a second position where it is in contact with the contact partner (1) and the spring is at least partially deflected, it is preferably mounted together with the contact unit (11) relative to the first piston (20) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (9),

2. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the inspection pen device (5) comprises a spring-loaded contact plate (53), the contact plate (53) being axially movable relative to the centering piston (33) and the contact unit (11), at least partially engaging with the receiving portion (16), and configured to contact the contact partner (1) to center the contact partner (1) relative to the contact plate (53) and / or the contact unit (11).

3. An inspection pen device according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact plate (53) has convex and / or concave centering elements (57) that interact with the contact partner (1), and at least one, preferably a plurality of through openings (54, 55) for the contact elements (13, 14).

4. An inspection pen device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the contact plate (53) is mounted in a guiding manner against the restoring force of the second spring device (15b) such that when the contact plate (53) is not in contact with the contact partner (1), it is positioned in a center manner with respect to the contact unit (11) and / or the centering piston (33), and in a second position where the spring is partially deflected due to contact with the contact partner (1), it is mounted so as to be movable with respect to the contact unit (11) and / or the centering piston (33) in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (9).

5. An inspection pen device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second spring device (15b) and / or the contact plate (53) are configured to be centered relative to the contact unit (11) and / or the centering piston (33) when the spring of the second spring device (15b) is fully deformed.

6. An inspection pen device according to claim 4, wherein the second spring device (15b) includes at least two, preferably at least four, guide elements extending in the longitudinal direction (9), each guide element consisting of a guide pin (60) guided within a guide bush (64) with radial play, the guide pin (60) having two conical stoppers (65a, 65b) on either side of its tip, the stoppers (65a, 65b) configured to interact with complementary, preferably partially conical, contact portions (64a, 64b) of the guide bush (64).

7. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact unit (11) is mounted within the inner casing (10) so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction (9) and the opposite direction and / or in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

8. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the first piston (20) of the inner casing (10) is biased by a third spring device (15c) within the outer casing (6) and is provided to be movable in the longitudinal direction (9) and the opposite direction in the axial direction, wherein the piston is pre-biased with respect to the outer casing (6) such that when in the non-contact position it is in contact with a first stopper (21) formed by the outer casing (6), and the spring force of the third spring device (15c) is greater than that of the first and second spring devices (15a, 15b).

9. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the inner casing (10) includes a spring plate (41) that supports a third spring device (15c) and is permanently connected to the first piston (20), and the contact unit (11) is surrounded by the first piston (20) and the centering piston (33) adjacent to the spring plate in the longitudinal direction (9).

10. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the centering piston (33), which is movable in the longitudinal direction (9) and the opposite direction, is biased with respect to the contact unit (11) by the first spring device (15a), and the centering piston (33) is pre-biased with respect to the first piston (20) such that when in the non-contact position, it is in contact with the second stopper (34) formed by the first piston (20).

11. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the inspection pen device (5) is configured such that, when the contact partner (1) makes contact in the opposite direction to the longitudinal direction (9) and the springs of the spring devices (15a, 15b, 15c) of the inspection pen device (5) gradually bend, first the centering piston (33) is biased against the pre-existing bias of the first spring device (15a), then the contact plate (53) is biased against the pre-existing bias of the second spring device (15b), then the elastically biased contact elements (13, 14) are biased by contacting the contact partner (1), and preferably, then the first piston (20) is biased against the pre-existing bias of the third spring device (15c) within the outer casing (6).

12. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion (16) is provided at the tip of the centering piston (33) and has centering slopes (6a, 6b) located on the inner circumference of the centering piston (33) that play a role in interacting with the outer contour (1a) of the contact mating portion (1).

13. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact elements (13, 14) consist of at least one high-frequency contact element in a first passage (17) extending in the longitudinal direction of the contact element carrier (12) of the contact unit, and a non-high-frequency contact element in a second passage (18) extending in the longitudinal direction of the contact element carrier (12), wherein the first passage is spatially completely separated from the second passage.

14. An inspection pen device according to claim 1, wherein the contact unit (11) includes two high-frequency contact elements (13), each of which has an individual first passage (17) formed in the contact element carrier (12), and the contact unit (11) includes at least two, preferably six, non-high-frequency contact elements (14), each of which has a shared second passage (18) formed in the contact element carrier, and the non-high-frequency contact elements are preferably arranged in both rows and positioned between the high-frequency contact elements.

15. An inspection pen device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the high-frequency contact element (13) and / or the non-high-frequency contact element (14) are fixed and centered in the first passage and / or the second passage by a fixing element (51) of the contact unit (11) such that they pass through the fixing means in the longitudinal direction (9), and each fixing element (51) is preferably inserted into substantially the tip of the first passage (17) and / or the second passage (18), and is made of a plastic material, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

16. An inspection pen device according to claim 15, wherein the contact element carrier (12) includes a base body (42) having a first passage (17) and a second passage (18) for holding the high-frequency contact element (13) and / or the non-high-frequency contact element (14), a preferably plate-shaped fixed body (44) preferably connected to the base body by screws (43), and a conductor substrate (45) disposed between the base body and the fixed body for conductively connecting the high-frequency contact element and / or the non-high-frequency contact element to the high-frequency conductor (46) and / or non-high-frequency conductor of the inspection pen device (5).

Images