Test contact, table device, test contact holding device and method for easily receiving a test contact through active pre-alignment by means of electromagnetic manipulation

Abstract

This invention relates to a test contact (10) comprising a contact tip (11) and a contact body (12), the test contact (10) having a vertical orientation (13), and the test contact (10) comprising a core (14) made of ferromagnetic material disposed below the center of gravity (15) of the test contact (10) in the vertical orientation (13). Furthermore, this invention relates to a machine tool (20) for processing the test contact (10) and a method for processing the test contact (10) through the machine tool (20). This invention also relates to a test contact holding device comprising a test contact support (40) for processing the test contact (10), and a method for processing the test contact (10) through the test contact holding device comprising the test contact support (40).

Description

Test Contact, Machine Device, Test Contact Holding Device, and Method for Facilitating the Receiving of a Test Contact by Active Pre - Alignment by Electromagnetic Manipulation The present invention relates to a test contact comprising a contact tip and a contact body, a machine device for handling a test contact comprising a contact tip and a contact body, a method for handling a test contact comprising a contact tip and a contact body by means of a machine device for handling test contacts, a test contact holding device for handling a test contact comprising a contact tip and a contact body, and a method for handling a test contact comprising a contact tip and a contact body by means of a test contact holding device for handling test contacts. According to the prior art, it is known that test contacts connect two or more electronic components to each other, especially for conducting electrical energy. Usually, the test contact is permanently connected to the first component, while the second component is mounted on the contact tip of the test contact that protrudes partially from the first component. In addition to the conductive connection, the test contact can additionally or alternatively be used to mechanically stabilize two or more components relative to each other. To ensure the stability of the mechanical connection and / or to create two or more conductive connections to form a more complex circuit, two or more test contacts are usually also used to connect two components. To correctly position the test contact on the first component, it must be positioned correctly aligned on or within the first component. In this case, the lower side or another part of the test contact is set on or in the first component, while the contact tip faces away from the first component. Thus, if the contact tip can be clamped approximately from above (in other words, from the direction in which the contact tip points), the handling of the test contact is simplest in terms of procedure. The problem here is that due to design reasons, the test contact stays on its side under the influence of gravity. Especially in the case of very small structures, such as in micro - technology, it is not possible to reliably clamp the test contact at the contact tip or requires considerable effort. Generally, to correctly clamp, the clamping method needs to be changed several times through two or more tools or manual correction. However, this means additional time in addition to the complex use of multiple tools. These tools must be carefully matched in terms of procedure to ensure damage - free handling. Therefore, there is a great need for a test contact, a machine device for handling test contacts, and a method for handling test contacts by means of a machine device that overcome the problems known in the prior art and ensure quick, safe, and reliable correct clamping of the test contact for further processing, especially for installation in electronic components. The test contact, machine device, and method are intended to facilitate and accelerate the clamping of especially test contacts and to minimize the use of tools and labor. In particular, correct clamping of the test contact is to be ensured. It is realized in a surprisingly simple but effective manner by means of the test contact according to claim 1, the machine device for processing the test contact according to claim 6, and the method for processing the test contact by means of the machine device according to claim 13. The present invention provides a test contact, comprising a contact top end and a contact body, wherein the contact body has an erection direction. The test contact is characterized in that the test contact comprises a core composed of a ferromagnetic material, and the core is arranged below the center of gravity of the test contact in the erection direction. The present invention is based on the following concept: Since the core of the ferromagnetic material is arranged below the center of gravity, the laterally placed test contact is at least partially erected in the magnetic field, so that the contact top end rises off the ground and can be securely clamped by a tool. The erection occurs because the pulling force of the magnetic force on the core is stronger than the pulling force on the material around the test contact. Erection is understood to mean that the test contact rests on the ground with one or more surfaces and twists in such a way that the lower side of the test contact rests on the ground under the influence of the magnetic pulling force of the magnetic field. Depending on the initial position and design of the test contact, erection can also involve tilting the test contact to one or more edges. In other words, the test contact operates in the same way as a tumbler toy, but not due to the pull of gravity, but due to the pull of the magnetic field. The ferromagnetic core moves the "magnetic center of gravity" of the test contact downward, just as the heavier material in a tumbler toy moves the center of gravity downward. The lifting of the contact top end creates a certain distance between the contact top end and the ground, and it is possible to clamp the contact top end from above when the tool completely encloses the contact top end, so that the test contact can be easily, quickly, reliably, and safely processed. The test contact comprises a contact top end and a contact body. The lower side of the contact body is partially, particularly having a lower region and / or completely mounted on or in a first electronic component. The contact body can also be used as a connection point for a circuit to be connected to a second electronic component. Assembly is preferably achieved in a form-fitting manner (particularly through overmolding) and / or in a material-bonding manner (particularly through welding). For such an electronic and / or mechanical connection, the test contact has a contact top end, which is subsequently preferably connected to the second electronic component through a form-fitting push-fit connection during use. The lower side or lower region of the contact body is the side or region of the contact body opposite to the contact top end. Therefore, the lower side is "below", and the contact top end or the region indirectly provided on the contact top end on the contact body is thus "above". The lower region of the contact body does not necessarily have to be adjacent to the lower side of the contact body, but can also be at a certain distance from it, as long as at least the largest part of the lower region is located below the geometric center of gravity of the contact body. Test contacts can generally have any geometric design; preferably, the contact body has a cylindrical or cuboid shape, especially a cube shape, and / or has a substantially cylindrical, cuboid, and / or cube shape. Preferably, the top end has the shape of a cone or pyramid or is substantially conical or pyramidal, and the base of the cone or pyramid is provided on the contact body or on an element between the contact body and the contact top end. Particularly preferably, the contact top end and the contact body and the contact core are designed as one piece. The erection direction extends from the lower side and / or the lower region towards the contact top end or extends to a region indirectly provided on the contact body between the contact top ends, in other words, from the bottom to the top. The test contact has a core composed of a ferromagnetic material, and a strong pulling force can be exerted on it by a magnetic field. It should be noted that in addition to the core, the test contact is composed of a conductive material and / or a conductive material with a relatively low relative magnetic permeability. This means that the pulling force of the magnetic field on the test contact other than the core is weaker than that on the core itself. Preferably, in addition to the core, the test contact is composed of one or more diamagnetic materials and / or one or more paramagnetic materials. Particularly preferably, in addition to the core, the test contact is composed of copper, aluminum, gold, silver, or their composites and / or alloys. Exactly where the core is arranged in the test contact is arbitrary, as long as it is arranged below the center of gravity of the test contact when viewed from the erection direction. Preferably, the core is arranged within the contact body. With the test contact according to the present invention, it is possible to clamp the test contact in a simple, safe, and reliable manner using a single tool, and in this way, a cost-effective test contact and rapid processing, especially clamping, can be achieved. The term "substantially" means that only relatively small, especially insignificant, changes, modifications, and / or deviations from the relevant conditions exist. In particular, a "substantially cylindrical, cuboid, cube, conical, or pyramidal object" is essentially cylindrical, cuboid, cube, conical, or pyramidal, where the shape has insignificant changes, alterations, and / or deviations, especially depressions or protrusions on the surface or distortions or compressions in partial regions of the basic shape or in the complete basic shape. The term "one piece" relates to manufacturability in a single manufacturing process, such as specifically but by no means exclusively in a single casting process, especially molding the core with the material used to manufacture the test contact (excluding the core). In particular, no additional separate components need to be subsequently attached. Subsequent correction work (such as filing) is not considered a separate manufacturing process. The term "ferromagnetic" relates to materials with a relative magnetic permeability much greater than 1, especially greater than 40. The term "paramagnetic" relates to materials with a relative magnetic permeability approximately equal to 1 but greater than 1, especially greater than 1 and less than 1.1. The term "diamagnetic" relates to materials with a relative magnetic permeability less than or equal to 1 but greater than 0. Advantageous embodiments of the invention, which can be implemented individually or in combination, are described in the dependent claims. It is conceivable that the core is arranged in the contact body, in particular on the bottom of the contact body, opposite the contact tip. "On the bottom" means that the core forms the lower side of the contact body or the core is arranged in the lower region of the contact body, but at a certain distance from the lower side. Preferably, the core is arranged in the lower third and at a certain distance from the lower side. More preferably, the sides of the core are surrounded by the material of the rest of the contact body. Particularly preferably, the core is completely surrounded by the material of the rest of the contact body. The material of the rest of the contact body is the material used to manufacture the contact body (excluding the core). In this way, the contact body is reliably erected through the magnetic field because the core is located below the center of gravity of the test contact. Even more preferably, the contact area is arranged in the contact body above the core. The contact area is the area that is connected to the first component when the test contact is installed in the first component, such that current can flow through the test contact from the first component to the contact tip or from the contact tip to the first component in this area. With this arrangement, the current conducted from the first component to the second component through the test contact does not conduct through the core. Therefore, the electrical properties, in particular the conductivity, of the core material can be ignored when designing the test contact. The term "at a certain distance from the lower side" relates to an arrangement in which at least one layer of the material of the rest of the contact body is arranged below the core. In another embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable that the contact body comprises a mounting surface and the core is formed flat and parallel to the mounting surface. The mounting surface is arranged at the bottom of the contact body. Due to the planar and parallel design of the core, the pulling force of the magnetic field generates a lever effect to place the test contact on the mounting surface. The mounting surface ensures that the test contact stands firmly on it when the magnetic field is activated. If the contact body has a cylindrical or cuboid shape (as described elsewhere), the mounting surface preferably corresponds to the lower end face of the cylinder or to the end face of the cuboid. The mounting surface is preferably planar. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the core consists of iron, nickel or cobalt, has an iron, nickel and / or cobalt content, or consists of a ferromagnetic alloy, in particular a ferromagnetic iron, nickel and / or cobalt alloy. These materials are ferromagnetic materials with a high enough magnetic permeability coefficient to ensure that the test contact is erected through the influence of the magnetic pull. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the test contact comprises an arm, the contact body is arranged at one end of the arm, and the contact tip is arranged at the other end of the arm. Preferably, the contact tip is angled 90° away from the arm. It is common and widespread to design contact tips that protrude laterally from the component and protrude 90° upwards and downwards, especially for wafers. An example of such an embodiment is a dual in-line package. For such a design, it should also be noted that the center of gravity is usually located outside the contact body. Therefore, the test contact designed in this way will collapse under the influence of gravity. If the test contact has a ferromagnetic core according to the present invention, the test contact can also be set up and processed quickly and easily. The design with an arm is one possible, but by no means the only, indirect arrangement of the contact tip on the contact body, as described elsewhere. Unless otherwise stated, it is assumed that the definitions and / or interpretations of the above terms apply to all aspects described in the following description. The present invention also provides a machine device for processing test contacts (as described above), the machine device comprising a plate. The machine device is characterized in that a magnetic field unit comprising at least one magnet is arranged on the plate such that the magnetic field of the magnet appears substantially perpendicular to the plate. As described above, it has been recognized that it is advantageous to erect and arrange test contacts in this way for processing, because the subsequent further processing of the test contacts can be carried out in a simple and reliable manner in terms of procedure. For this purpose, one or more test contacts are arranged on the plate. A magnetic field unit having at least one magnet is arranged such that the magnetic field of the magnet appears substantially perpendicular to the plate, and the magnetic field unit pulls the core of the test contact through the generated magnetic field, whereby the pulling force acts on the core. According to the present invention, since the core is arranged below the center of gravity of the test contact, the test contact is erected. Its mode of operation is the same as that of a tumbler toy, except that the magnetic force acts on the test contact instead of gravity. Once the test contact is placed in the erected position, the test contact can then be processed in a quick, easy and uncomplicated manner. The plate can have any design. However, it should be horizontal and planar. It is conceivable that the magnetic field unit preferably comprises at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 magnets of the same or different designs. More preferably, the magnetic field unit comprises a control unit for enabling and disabling one or more magnets. Specifically, the magnet is an electromagnet, and the control unit closes the switch in the conductor leading to or from the electromagnet to enable the electromagnet and opens the switch to disable the electromagnet. In the present invention, "substantially vertically emerging from the board member" particularly means that the deviation of the field direction of the magnetic field in the area of the board member where the test contact is to be placed from the perpendicular of the board member does not exceed 15°. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the magnet is arranged below, inside, beside, and / or above the board member. This is advantageous because the force acting on the test contact acts maximally in the intended direction. This ensures the required effect, namely the erection of the test contact. The shape, arrangement, and / or design of the magnet must conform to the corresponding arrangement. Obviously, the magnet arranged above the board member must be arranged at a certain distance from the board member, and the distance must at least allow for operation. In particular, it is conceivable that a bar magnet is arranged below, above, beside, and / or within the center of the board member, with one pole at the top and the other pole at the bottom. Thus, the magnetic field substantially vertically emerges from the board member, and thereby, depending on the arrangement, different magnetic field regions emerge from the board member. In particular, for a horseshoe magnet, it is conceivable that one leg is arranged above and the other leg is arranged below, and the crossbar connecting the legs is arranged beside the board member. The legs are oriented parallel to the board member. In this way, the uniform part of the magnetic field of the horseshoe magnet emerges perpendicular to the board member. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the magnet is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet. The advantage of an electromagnet is that it can be activated and / or deactivated. Therefore, the magnet can be activated only when the test contact has been placed on the board member, so that the test contact can be easily positioned in the correct position. In addition, the electromagnet can be deactivated after or during processing, so that once the test contact is processed, the magnetic force no longer acts on the test contact. For example, the test contact is clamped and lifted with a tool. If the electromagnet is deactivated at the moment of lifting, a smaller force acts on the test contact and / or a smaller force is required to clamp the test contact. This can prevent the test contact from being damaged, especially bent, during processing. The advantage of a permanent magnet or a permanently activated electromagnet is that the magnetic force permanently acts on the test contact placed on the board member, so that the test contact is more securely held on the board member and is less likely to be knocked off the board member by an external force. In an embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the machine device includes at least one insert, and the insert is disposed on or in the upper side of the plate member. The insert is an area where test contacts can be placed. It is conceivable that the insert and the test contacts are placed together and / or placed on the plate member. The insert serves as a container for transporting the test contacts. For this purpose, the insert is preferably designed with an edge and / or a lid. In addition, the insert can be optimized for the placement of the test contacts, while the plate member is optimized for the transmission of the magnetic field. For example, the insert can be particularly easily cleaned and / or can be antistatic. Preferably, the insert is composed of glass. Particularly preferably, the machine device includes at least 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 inserts. In order to place the insert at the correct position in the plate member, preferably, the plate member has corresponding recesses such that the insert is disposed on the upper side of the plate member. Particularly preferably, the machine device includes at least two inserts, the magnetic field unit includes at least a number of electromagnets corresponding to the number of inserts, each insert is assigned at least one electromagnet, and the assigned electromagnet is arranged such that the magnetic field of the designated electromagnet substantially appears perpendicular to the designated insert. Thus, two or more test contacts according to the present invention can be placed on the machine device and can be individually prepared for processing. In particular, this enables continuous and / or simultaneous processing or preparation for processing test contacts, whereby different methods are located at different points or different steps. This speeds up the processing speed. The term "on the upper side of the plate member" means that the insert rests on the top of the plate member and is shape-fittingly connected and / or materially bonded thereto (if applicable). The term "in the upper side of the plate member" means that the insert is partially or completely sunk into the corresponding recess. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the plate member is composed of a paramagnetic material. If the relative permeability of the material for manufacturing the plate member is too high, such as in the case of ferromagnetic materials, the magnetic field will be bound by the plate member in a shielding manner and cannot act on the core of the test contacts placed on the plate member. If it is a diamagnetic material, the magnetic field will move out of the plate member and cannot or can only weakly affect the core of the test contacts. Paramagnetic materials have a relatively low but not too low relative permeability. When using electromagnets that are enabled or disabled during processing, they can also minimize losses because only lower hysteresis losses occur in the plate member. The present invention also provides a method for processing test contacts (described elsewhere) through a machine device (described elsewhere), the method comprising the following steps: a. placing the test contacts on the plate member of the machine device; b. erecting the test contacts by enabling the magnet. The erection of the test contact can be carried out more simply and with fewer tools or easily by hand. This is because the test contact has a predictable spatial orientation, where the top of the test contact is lifted. If necessary, the tool only needs to be rotated about an axis for processing. The erection of the test contact is achieved by a ferromagnetic core, and the magnetic field of the activated magnet acts on the ferromagnetic core (as described elsewhere), and the ferromagnetic core is arranged below the center of gravity. It is conceivable to perform step a multiple times. This means that several test contacts, especially at least two test contacts, are placed on the plate of the machine device. In addition, it is conceivable to erect several test contacts, especially at least two test contacts, by activating the magnet in step b. It is also conceivable that several methods and / or method steps are executed simultaneously or with a certain time delay. In another embodiment, the method includes step c after step b, that is, clamping the test contact by a processing unit. Particularly preferably, the clamp can be rotated about an axis, especially about the Z-axis. This enables the test contact to be clamped for correct alignment. It is conceivable to use a Cartesian coordinate system with a Z-axis to move the clamp. For this purpose, the slider with the clamp moves in the XY plane through a connecting rod, whereby the clamp can move along the Z-axis on and / or with the slider, and the Z-axis is perpendicular to the XY plane. The XY plane is a plane parallel to the configuration of the plate. Alternatively, it is conceivable to arrange the clamp on a robotic arm. After the robotic arm or the Cartesian coordinate system with a Z-axis clamps the test contact, the test contact can be lifted and positioned at any position. For example, the robotic arm or the Cartesian coordinate system with a Z-axis can place the test contact at a previously determined position of the first electronic component, insert it into the component and / or fix it in place. In addition, it is conceivable that the magnet is deactivated after it is clamped and the processing unit moves together with the clamp arranged on it. This means that the robotic arm or the Cartesian coordinate system with a Z-axis transports the test contact to a different position. By deactivating the magnet, the magnetic force no longer acts on the test contact, enabling the clamp to be equipped with a weaker clamping force. This reduces the total force acting on the test contact and protects the test contact. In addition, the present invention proposes a test contact holding device, which includes a test contact bracket for processing the test contact (as described elsewhere), and the test contact bracket includes a magnetic field unit. The test contact holding device is characterized in that the test contact bracket includes a particularly vertical contact surface, and the magnetic field unit includes at least one magnet, and the magnet is arranged such that the magnetic field of the magnet is substantially parallel to the contact surface. As described previously, it has been found that it is advantageous if the test contact is erected and arranged to be processed in this way, because subsequent further processing of the test contact can be carried out in a simple and reliable manner in terms of the procedure. To achieve erection, the test contact support moves towards at least one test contact such that the test contact is within the operating range of the magnetic field unit. This means that the magnetic field of the magnet of the magnetic field unit can act on one test contact or several test contacts, such that one test contact or several test contacts are erected under the influence of the magnetic field. It is particularly advantageous if the test contact is erected at an angle such that it is parallel to the contact surface of the test contact support to be fixed. For this purpose, the magnetic field lines of force must substantially be parallel to the contact surface, such that the force acting on the test contact is also substantially parallel to the contact surface. The magnet attracts the core of the test contact or several test contacts through the generated magnetic field, whereby a pulling force acts on the core. According to the invention, the test contact is erected because the core is arranged below the center of gravity of the test contact. Its mode of operation is the same as that of a tumbler toy, except that the force acting on the test contact is magnetic force instead of gravity. This effect or the substantially parallel path of the magnetic field parallel to the contact surface is achieved by appropriately arranging and aligning the magnetic field unit. Once the test contact has entered the erected position, subsequent processing of the test contact can be carried out in a fast, simple and uncomplicated manner, in particular by placing and holding the test contact on the contact surface. Receiving the test contact is preferably achieved by erecting it using the magnetic field and fixing it to the receiving surface. It is conceivable that the magnetic field unit preferably comprises at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 magnets of the same or different designs. More preferably, the magnetic field unit comprises a control unit for enabling and disabling one or more magnets. Specifically, the magnet is an electromagnet, and the control unit closes the switch in the conductor leading to or from the electromagnet to enable the electromagnet and opens the switch to disable the electromagnet. More preferably, the test contact support can be moved spatially so as to be able to pick up the test contact on a substantially vertical contact surface and transfer it to another position. Preferably, the test contact support can rotate the test contact around one, two or three spatial axes. Particularly preferably, the test contact support comprises a track system and / or a linkage system and / or a robotic arm in order to achieve the required mobility. Preferably, it is conceivable to move the test contact support through a Cartesian coordinate system having a Z-axis. For this, the slider having the test contact support moves in the XY plane through a linkage device, whereby the test contact support can move on the slider and / or move along the Z-axis together with the slider, the Z-axis being perpendicular to the XY plane. The XY plane is a plane arranged parallel to the plate. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the test contact support is arranged on a robotic arm.After the robotic arm or the Cartesian coordinate system with a Z-axis clamps the test contact point, the test contact point can be lifted and positioned at any position. For example, the robotic arm or the Cartesian coordinate system with a Z-axis can place the test contact point at a previously determined position of the first electronic component, insert it into the component, and / or fix it in place. Particularly preferably, especially when receiving the test contact point, the contact surface is arranged perpendicular to the support surface on which the test contact point rested before being received by the test contact point holding device, or the contact surface is arranged at an acute angle, particularly preferably at an angle not exceeding 45°, 40°, 35°, 30°, 25°, 20°, 15°, 10°, and / or 5°. In the present invention, the term "substantially parallel" relates to a parallel arrangement or an arrangement forming an acute angle, particularly an angle not exceeding 15°. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that a magnet is arranged above and / or behind the contact surface, forms part of the contact surface, or forms the contact surface. This is advantageous because the force acting on the test contact point acts maximally in the intended direction. This ensures the desired effect, i.e., the test contact point is erected parallel to the contact surface. The shape, arrangement, and / or design of the magnet must conform to the corresponding arrangement. Obviously, the magnet arranged within and / or after the contact surface must be aligned in a manner according to the present invention such that the field direction of the magnetic field is substantially parallel to the contact surface. If the magnet itself forms part of the contact surface or the surface of the magnet forms the contact surface, correct alignment must also be ensured during manufacturing and / or arrangement to ensure that the magnetic field is substantially parallel to the contact surface according to the present invention. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the magnet is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet. The advantage of an electromagnet is that it can be activated and / or deactivated. Therefore, the magnet can be activated only when the test contact point has been placed within the operating range of the test contact point holder, so that the test contact point can be easily positioned in the correct position. In addition, the electromagnet can be deactivated after or during processing, so that the magnetic force no longer acts on the test contact point. For example, if the magnetic field holds the test contact point on a substantially vertical contact surface, the test contact point is released by deactivating the magnetic field. This allows the test contact point holder of the test contact point holding device to quickly and easily place the test contact point at the designated position. This can prevent the test contact point from being damaged, especially bent, during processing. The advantage of a permanent magnet or a permanently activated electromagnet is that the magnetic force acts as early as the test contact point holder approaches the test contact point, so that the test contact point has been erected and can therefore be clamped more quickly. It is also conceivable that the test contact point holding device includes a clamp. In addition to or as an alternative to the magnetic field, the clamp can also hold the test contact point on the contact surface. The clamp is preferably a pliers clamp, a two-finger, three-finger, and / or four-finger clamp. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the test contact holding device includes at least one transmission channel for transmitting thermal energy and / or for transmitting negative pressure, and the orifice of the transmission channel is arranged in the area of the contact surface. Through negative pressure, the test contact is held on the contact surface in a quick, simple and protected manner. Heat transfer heats the test contact in a targeted manner so that the test contact can be attached to the first electronic component by welding. Particularly preferably, heat is introduced into the test contact by laser energy. In another embodiment, the test contact holder includes two parallel receiving sides that form a receiving gap, the transmission channel is arranged above the receiving gap and terminates at the receiving gap, and at least one inner side of the receiving sides that form the receiving gap, the receiving gap forms the contact surface. After receiving, the test contact is placed in the receiving gap and held by the negative pressure in the receiving gap. It is also conceivable that each of the two inner sides forms a contact surface. After receiving, the test contact abuts one of the contact surfaces or abuts both contact surfaces simultaneously. In another preferred embodiment, the test contact holding device includes a positioning unit having at least two positioning surfaces, and the first of the positioning surfaces includes the contact surface. The test contact, particularly the absorption area of the test contact, is fixed in place on the positioning surface of the positioning unit. The accurate positioning of the test contact on the test contact holding device is ensured by the two positioning surfaces. Particularly preferably, the positioning surfaces are arranged at right angles to each other. In another embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable that the contact surface is formed by the side surface of a wedge. Preferably, the wedge is composed of a paramagnetic material. If the relative magnetic permeability of the material forming the wedge is too high, such as in the case of a ferromagnetic material, the magnetic field will be bound by the wedge in a shielding manner and cannot act on the core of the test contact within the expected working range of the test contact holder. If it is a diamagnetic material, the magnetic field will move away from the wedge and cannot or can only weakly affect the core of the test contact. Paramagnetic materials have a relative magnetic permeability that is low enough but not too low. When using electromagnets that are enabled or disabled during operation, they can also minimize losses because only low hysteresis losses occur in the wedge. The present invention also proposes a method for handling a test contact (described elsewhere) through a test contact holding device (described elsewhere), the method comprising the following steps: a. placing the test contact at a position accessible by the test contact holder; b. moving the test contact holder towards the test contact; c. erecting the test contact by activating the magnet; d. receiving the test contact through the test contact holder. Enable the test contact setup to allow handling of the test contact holding device or by hand in a simple manner. This is because the test contact has a predictable spatial orientation, where the top of the test contact is lifted. If needed, the operation can be performed by simply moving the test contact holder towards the test contact and rotating it about an axis. The setup of the test contact is achieved by a ferromagnetic core, and the magnetic field of the activated magnet acts on the ferromagnetic core (as described elsewhere), and the ferromagnetic core is disposed below the center of gravity. It is conceivable to perform step a multiple times. This means that several test contacts, especially at least two test contacts, are placed at positions accessible to the test contact holder. It is also conceivable that the test contact holder is randomly arranged in a way that does not require moving the test contact holder towards one of the test contacts. In addition, it is conceivable to set up several test contacts, especially at least two test contacts, by activating the magnet in step c. It is also conceivable to perform several methods and / or method steps simultaneously or with a delay, especially by means of several test contact holders. After the test contact has been received by the test contact holder, the test contact holder can preferably place the test contact at a previously determined position of the first electronic component, insert it into the component, and / or fix it in place. In addition, it is conceivable that the reception in step d is achieved by magnetic force and / or mechanically, especially by clamping. The magnetic field of the activated magnet holds the test contact on the contact surface and / or the test contact is received on the contact surface in a form-fitting and / or frictionally engaging manner. In particular, it is conceivable to combine a single, several, and / or all steps of the previously described method for handling test contacts by means of a machine device with a single, several, and / or all steps of the previously described method for handling test contacts by means of a test contact holding device. These steps can be carried out continuously, sequentially, and / or simultaneously. From the following description of the preferred illustrative examples in conjunction with the dependent claims, more details, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent. Each feature can be implemented individually or in combination with each other. The present invention is not limited to the illustrative examples. The illustrative examples are schematically shown in the accompanying drawings. The same reference symbols in each of the accompanying drawings represent similar elements, elements with similar functions, or elements corresponding in terms of function. Figure 1 shows a test contact 10 according to the present invention, which is provided in a first embodiment of a machine device 20 according to the present invention. The test contact 10 includes a contact tip 11 and a contact body 12. Through the contact body 12, the test contact 10 is connected to a first component (not shown), such that a second component (not shown) can subsequently be mounted on the contact tip 11. A vertical arm 17 is provided on the upper side of the contact body 12, and the other end of the vertical arm 17 forms the contact tip 11. The test contact 10 has a center of gravity 15. In addition, the test contact 10 has an erection direction 13, which extends from bottom to top. The contact tip 11 is parallel to the erection direction 13. In addition, the test contact 10 includes a core 14 composed of a ferromagnetic material and provided below the center of gravity 15. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the core 14 has an elongated design and is arranged parallel to the mounting surface 16 on which the test contact 10 is erected. The test contact 10 is provided on an insert 26 of the machine device 20. The insert 26 is placed on a plate 21 of the machine device 20. A magnetic field unit 22 including a magnet 23 is located below the plate 21. This embodiment is an electromagnet, which can be enabled and / or disabled through a control unit 25. In Figure 1, the magnet 23 is enabled and thus applies a magnetic field 24, which substantially vertically passes through the plate 21 and the insert 26. The magnetic field 24 generates a force acting on the core 14, thereby erecting the test contact 10 on the mounting surface 16. Figure 2 shows six test contacts 10 according to the present invention provided on a second embodiment of a machine device 20 according to the present invention. In principle, the second embodiment of the machine device 20 corresponds to the first embodiment of the machine device 20 according to the present invention shown in Figure 1. However, it differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in that it includes six inserts 26 on which six test contacts 10 can be provided. The inserts 26 are evenly distributed on the plate 21. The magnetic field unit 22 is provided below the plate 21, and the magnetic field unit 22 includes six magnets 23, which can be enabled and / or disabled through a control unit 25, although only the front three magnets 23 are shown in Figure 2. Each insert 26 is associated with one magnet 23. Each magnet 23 can be enabled individually, such that parallel processing of the test contacts 10 is possible. Figure 3A shows a third embodiment of a machine device 20 according to the present invention. The machine device 20 includes a plurality of inserts 26. One test contact 10 is provided on each insert 26. The magnetic field unit 22 is provided below the plate 21, and the magnetic field unit 22 includes a controllable magnet 23, which is disabled in Figure 3A. Step a., i.e., placing the test contact 10 on the plate 21 of the machine device 20, has been performed multiple times in Figure 3A. Figure 3B shows the machine device 20 in Figure 3A, with the magnet 23 enabled, such that a magnetic field 24 is emitted from the magnet 23. The magnetic field 24 positions the test contacts 10, 20 on the insert 26. This means that step b., namely positioning the test contacts 10 by enabling the magnet 23, has been performed. Due to its positioning, the test contact 10 can be simply clamped by a fixture 31 provided on a Cartesian coordinate system 30. The Cartesian coordinate system 30 includes a slider on which the fixture 31 is provided, and the slider is moved by a connecting rod. The fixture 31 can rotate about the Z-axis and can move along the Z-axis. Figure 3C shows an enlarged portion of the machine device 20, with the magnetic field unit 22 enabled. Accordingly, the magnet 23 emits a magnetic field 24 such that the test contact 10 is positioned on the insert 26 in the plate member 21. Figure 3D shows an alternative embodiment, where the fixture 31 is provided on a multi-axis robotic arm 32. The fixture 31 can also rotate about an axis A. Figure 4A shows a plurality of test contacts 10 according to the present invention, which are positioned within the operating range of a test contact bracket 40 of a first embodiment of a test contact holding device according to the present invention. The test contact bracket 40 includes a contact surface 41 formed by the side surface of a wedge member. In addition, the test contact bracket 40 includes a magnetic field unit 42 having a magnet 43. In this case, the magnet 43 is an electromagnet that can be enabled and disabled. The test contact bracket 40 has been moved towards one of the test contacts 10 such that the test contact is within the operating range of the magnet 43. In Figure 4B, the magnet 43 of the magnetic field unit 42 has been enabled such that a magnetic field 44 is generated. The test contact 10 located within the impact distance of the contact surface 41 has positioned itself due to the magnetic field 44. In Figure 4C, the test contact 10 has been picked up and held on the contact surface 41 by the magnetic field 44 of the magnet 43 (not shown in Figure 4A). Subsequently, the test contact bracket 40 can be moved together with the test contact 41. 10: Test contact 11: Contact tip 12: Contact body 13: Positioning direction 14: Core 15: Center of gravity 16: Mounting surface 17: Vertical arm 20: Machine device 21: Plate member 22: Magnetic field unit 23: Magnet 24: Magnetic field 25: Control unit 26: Insert 30: Cartesian coordinate system 31: Fixture 32: Multi-axis robotic arm 40: Test contact bracket 41: Contact surface 42: Magnetic field unit 43: Magnet 44: Magnetic field [Figure 1] shows a test contact according to the present invention provided on a first embodiment of a machine device according to the present invention; [Figure 2] shows six test contacts according to the present invention provided on a second embodiment of a machine device according to the present invention; [Figs. 3A to 3D] show a plurality of test contacts according to the present invention disposed on a third embodiment of a machine apparatus according to the present invention, and a processing method according to the present invention is implemented by means of the machine apparatus; and [Figs. 4A to 4C] show a plurality of test contacts according to the present invention, which are disposed within the operating range of a test contact bracket of a first embodiment of a test contact holding apparatus according to the present invention, and a processing method according to the present invention is implemented by means of the test contact holding apparatus. 10: Test contact 11: Contact tip 12: Contact body 13: Erection direction 14: Core 15: Center of gravity 16: Mounting surface 17: Vertical arm 20: Machine apparatus 21: Plate member 22: Magnetic field unit 23: Magnet 24: Magnetic field 25: Control unit 26: Insert

Claims

1. A test contact (10) comprising a contact tip (11) and a contact body (12), the test contact (10) having an upright direction (13), wherein the test contact (10) comprises a core (14) made of ferromagnetic material, the core being disposed in the upright direction (13) below the center of gravity (15) of the test contact (10), such that the core (14) is configured to keep the test contact (10) upright in response to the action of a magnetic field (24), wherein the core (14) is disposed in the contact body (12) opposite to the contact tip (11).

2. The test contact (10) of request item 1, wherein the contact body (12) includes a mounting surface (16) and the core (14) is formed as a plane and parallel to the mounting surface (16).

3. The test contact (10) of request item 1, wherein the core (14) is composed of iron, nickel or cobalt, has an iron, nickel and / or cobalt content, or is composed of a ferromagnetic alloy, particularly a ferromagnetic, nickel and / or cobalt alloy.

4. The test contact (10) of request item 1, wherein the test contact (10) includes an arm (17), the contact body (12) is disposed at one end of the arm (17), and the contact tip (11) is disposed at the other end of the arm (17).

5. A machine tool (20) for processing a test contact (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, the machine tool (20) comprising a plate (21) having a magnetic field unit (22) comprising at least one magnet (23) disposed on the plate (21) such that the magnetic field (24) of the magnet (23) appears substantially perpendicular to the plate (21).

6. The machine tool (20) for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the magnet (23) is disposed below, inside, beside and / or above the plate (21).

7. The machine tool (20) for processing test contacts (10) as requested in item 5 or 6, wherein the magnet (23) is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet.

8. The machine tool (20) for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the machine tool (20) includes at least one insert (26) disposed on or in the upper side of the plate (21).

9. The machine tool (20) for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the insert (26) is made of glass.

10. A machine device (20) for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the device comprises at least two inserts (26) and the magnetic field unit (22) comprises at least a number of electromagnets corresponding to the number of the inserts (26), each insert (26) being assigned at least one of the electromagnets, the assigned electromagnetic system being configured such that the magnetic field (24) of the assigned electromagnet appears substantially perpendicular to the assigned insert (26).

11. The machine tool (20) for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate (21) is composed of a paramagnetic material.

12. A method for processing a test contact (10) of any one of claims 1 to 4 via a machine device (20) of any one of claims 5 to 11, the method comprising the steps of: a. placing the test contact (10) on the plate (21) of the machine device (20); b. erecting the test contact (10) by activating the magnet (23).

13. The method for processing a test contact (10) as claimed in claim 12, wherein after step b, the method comprises the following steps: c. clamping the test contact (10) by means of a processing unit, particularly a fixture (31).

14. The method for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the method comprises the following steps after step c: d. deactivating the magnet (23) and moving the processing unit, in particular the fixture (31).

15. A test contact holding device comprising a test contact holder (40) for handling a test contact (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, the test contact holder (40) comprising a magnetic field unit (42), wherein the test contact holder (40) comprises a particularly perpendicular contact surface (41), the magnetic field unit (42) comprising at least one magnet (43) configured such that the magnetic field (44) of the magnet (43) is substantially parallel to the contact surface (41).

16. The test contact holding device of claim 15, wherein the magnet (43) is disposed above and / or behind the contact surface (41), forms part of the contact surface (41), or forms the contact surface (41).

17. The test contact holding device as requested in item 15 or 16, wherein the magnet (43) is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet.

18. The test contact holding device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the test contact holder (40) includes a clamp.

19. The test contact holding device of claim 15, wherein the test contact holding device includes at least one transmission channel for transmitting heat energy and / or transmitting negative pressure, the channel opening of the transmission channel being disposed in the region of the contact surface (41).

20. The test contact holding device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the substantially vertical contact surface (41) is formed by the side surface of a wedge.

21. A method for handling a test contact (10) of any one of claims 1 to 4 via a test contact holding device of any one of claims 15 to 18, the method comprising the steps of: a. placing the test contact (10) in a position accessible by the test contact holder (40); b. moving the test contact holder (40) toward the test contact (10); c. erecting the test contact (10) by activating the magnet (43); d. receiving the test contact (10) via the test contact holder (40).

22. The method for processing test contacts (10) as claimed in claim 21, wherein the receiving system performed in step d. is achieved by magnetic and / or mechanical means, particularly by clamping.

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