Clip-On Contact Spring Block for Sequential Test Socket Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of maintaining contact sockets used in sequential testing of electronic components due to the need for precise and expensive contact spring blocks, which become polluted and require complete replacement, hindering reliable and efficient testing.
Innovation Solution
A contact spring block design featuring a base block and a clip-on device that allows for easy alignment and clamping of individual contact springs, enabling quick replacement and maintenance, reducing the need for entire block replacement and lowering maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If contact spring blocks are integrally formed and entirely screwed on a socket frame, then the structural integrity and alignment precision are improved, but the maintenance cost and complexity increase due to complete replacement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The contact spring block is divided into separate contact springs that can be individually removed and replaced, while the base block remains fixed. This segmentation allows maintenance of only the polluted contact springs rather than replacing the entire block, reducing maintenance cost and complexity while preserving the precise alignment of the base block structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If contact spring blocks are manufactured with extreme high accuracy for small pitch dimensions, then the contact precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the contact springs from the base block, the high precision requirements are concentrated only in the base block's positioning features, while the contact springs themselves can be manufactured with standard tolerances and replaced economically. This reduces overall manufacturing cost while maintaining contact precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact springs are designed as replaceable, lower-cost components that can be manufactured with less expensive processes. When polluted, only these cheaper springs are replaced rather than expensive precision-machined base blocks, reducing maintenance costs.
3Reliability
If complete contact spring blocks are replaced to restore functionality, then the reliability is improved, but the maintenance time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The replaceable contact spring units can be quickly removed and replaced individually without disturbing the precisely aligned base block. This significantly reduces maintenance time compared to replacing entire contact spring blocks, while restoring reliability by replacing only the polluted contact springs.
4Ease of repair
If contact springs are made replaceable individually, then the maintenance cost is reduced, but the alignment precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The base block contains integrated positioning features (such as guide rails,定位 holes, or precision-machined surfaces) that automatically align each contact spring during installation. This ensures that even though contact springs are replaceable, their alignment precision is maintained through the base block's built-in alignment mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design facilitates efficient and cost-effective maintenance of contact sockets by allowing for the easy swapping of contact springs, improving reliability and reducing the time and expense associated with maintaining the testing equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The contact springs have usually an elastic section and a contact tip at an outer end by which pads or leads of electronic components are contacted
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A contact spring block for a sequential test of electronic components comprises: a base block, a group of single contact springs, and a clip-on device: The group of single contact springs is clamped and aligned when the clip-on device is clipped to the base block.