Contact Probe With Nested Spring For Miniaturization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact probes face challenges in miniaturization due to degradation of pipe member strength, making it difficult to achieve a reduced diameter without swaging, which complicates the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A contact probe design featuring a helically wound spring member with varying diameters, where the outer circumference of one end is larger than other portions, allowing the spring member to be housed within a cylindrical part, and a boss part to couple with the spring member, enabling contraction and maintaining contact without requiring pipe member swaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the diameter of the pipe member is reduced to miniaturize the contact probe, then the contact probe achieves reduced diameter, but the strength of the pipe member is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is nested inside the cylindrical part of the pipe member, with the spring member's outer circumference fitting within the inner circumference of the cylindrical part. This nesting arrangement allows the contact probe to achieve miniaturization while maintaining structural integrity through the hierarchical placement of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member is designed with varying diameter along its length, where at least the outer circumference diameter of one end part is larger than the diameters of other portions. This parameter variation allows the spring member to provide adequate mechanical strength and elasticity while fitting within the reduced-diameter cylindrical part, resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and strength maintenance.
2Length of moving object
If the diameter of the pipe member is reduced, then miniaturization is achieved, but the end part cannot be swaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the plunger retention function from the pipe member swaging process and transfers it to the spring member-cylindrical part interface. The spring member's varying diameter design provides mechanical retention of the plunger through its enlarged end portion, eliminating the need for swaging the pipe member end and enabling miniaturization.
3Volume of moving object
If the spring member is housed within the cylindrical part, then the contact probe achieves compact structure, but the spring member must have varying diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is designed with local quality variation, where only specific portions (end parts) have enlarged outer circumference diameters while other portions maintain smaller diameters. This localized geometric variation enables the spring member to provide both retention function and elastic operation while maintaining a compact overall structure when housed within the cylindrical part.
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 allows for the creation of a contact probe with a reduced diameter without compromising strength, facilitating miniaturization and maintaining effective electrical connection in conductivity tests.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member configured to couple the first contact member and the second contact member in a manner capable of expansion/contraction
Data Source
AI summary
A contact probe includes: a first contact member; a second contact member; and a spring member. The first contact member includes: a first tip part configured to contact a first contact target; and a boss part configured to couple with the spring member by fitting into the spring member, and the second contact member includes: a second tip part configured to contact a second contact target; and a cylindrical part extending from the second tip part and having a cylindrical shape with an inner circumference having a uniform diameter, the cylindrical part being engaged with at least a portion of the spring member, the portion of the spring member that is engaged with the cylindrical part having a diameter larger than the other portion of the spring member, the entire spring member being configured to be housed in the cylindrical part when the spring member is contracted.