Contact Probe With Conductive Insert For High-Frequency Current
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Contact probes used in high-frequency applications face challenges in carrying high-frequency signals while maintaining sufficient elasticity to avoid breakage and ensuring appropriate force on contact pads, due to increased rigidity and electrical resistance in short probes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a conductive insert made of low-electrical resistivity material, such as silver, within the probe body's bending plane, along a neutral axis, to enhance current capacity and minimize electrical resistance, while maintaining mechanical performance and reducing the risk of breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the probe length is reduced for high-frequency applications, then the self-inductance is reduced improving high-frequency signal transmission, but the rigidity increases causing higher contact force that may break the probe or pad
Solution Approach 1:
The probe body is divided into multiple arms (typically three arms) separated by slots, creating a segmented structure. This segmentation reduces the overall rigidity of the probe while maintaining its structural integrity, allowing the probe to flex more easily during contact without breaking the probe or contact pad, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced length for high-frequency performance and reduced rigidity to prevent breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The probe employs a composite structure combining conductive material (for electrical conductivity) with a segmented arm configuration (for mechanical flexibility). The conductive insert or coating ensures low electrical resistance while the multi-arm structure provides controlled flexibility, achieving both high-frequency signal transmission and mechanical durability
2Speed
If the probe length is reduced for high-frequency applications, then the self-inductance is reduced improving signal transmission, but the electrical resistance increases reducing current capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The probe incorporates a conductive insert or coating specifically at critical locations (such as the contact tip or along the probe body) to enhance local electrical conductivity. This localized enhancement of electrical quality compensates for the increased resistance caused by reduced probe length, maintaining current capacity while preserving the short length needed for high-frequency performance
3Strength
If the probe is made with multiple arms to reduce rigidity, then the contact force is reduced preventing breakage, but the current capacity decreases due to increased electrical resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive insert or coating is strategically positioned within or on the multi-arm structure to provide localized electrical pathways with low resistance. This ensures that even though the probe is segmented into multiple arms for flexibility, the electrical current can flow efficiently through the conductive pathways, maintaining current capacity while benefiting from the reduced contact force of the multi-arm design
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
The solution allows for effective transmission of high-current signals with reduced electrical resistance and mechanical stress, minimizing the risk of probe and pad breakage, and is suitable for high-frequency applications up to 1000 MHz with reduced dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one conductive insert extended inside said contact probe along the longitudinal development direction... said conductive insert being made of a first material having electrical resistivity lower than an electrical resistivity of a second material which the contact probe is made of
Data Source
AI summary
A contact probe having a first end portion and a second end portion, a probe body extended along a longitudinal development direction between the first end portion and the second end portion is disclosed. The probe body has a pair of arms separated by a slot and extending according to the longitudinal development direction and a conductive insert extended along the longitudinal development direction, in a bending plane of the contact probe. The conductive insert is made of a first material and the contact probe is made of a second material and the first material has a lower electrical resistivity than an electrical resistivity of the second material. The conductive insert is a power transmission element of the contact probe and the arms are structural support elements of the contact probe during a deformation of the probe body.