Electrical Contactor Curved Arm Elastic Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in improving the electrical inspection of semiconductor integrated circuits is the difficulty in achieving better conduction characteristics of electrical signals through probes due to the reduced size and increased complexity of electrode terminals, which leads to issues with elastic deformation and control of the contact portion's movement and scrubbing.
Innovation Solution
The electrical contactor design includes a base end portion, arm portions, a coupling portion, and a pedestal portion with a curved portion on the closest-to-contact arm portion, allowing for improved elastic support and adjustment of the contact portion's movement, scrubbing, and needle pressure, enhancing the conduction characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thickness of the arm portion is increased to improve conduction characteristics, then electrical conductivity is improved, but the elastic deformation capability deteriorates leading to increased movement and scrubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the arm portion by introducing a curved section that connects the first and second arm portions. This curved geometry allows the arm to flex more effectively during contact, providing the necessary elastic deformation capability even when the overall thickness is increased for better conduction characteristics. The curved shape acts as a flexible hinge point that enables controlled movement while maintaining structural integrity.
2Volume of moving object
If the length of the arm portion in the left and right directions is reduced to accommodate smaller probes, then probe size is reduced, but the controllability of contact portion movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a curved section that adds a vertical dimension to the arm portion's geometry. Instead of relying solely on the horizontal length of the arm portions for flexibility, the curved configuration utilizes the vertical dimension to create effective leverage and movement control. This dimensional transition allows short arm portions to achieve sufficient elastic deformation capability through the curved path, enabling proper control of contact portion movement despite the reduced horizontal span required for smaller probe sizes.
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 improves the electrical inspection by reducing the amount of movement and scrubbing of the contact portion, thereby enhancing the conduction characteristics of the electrical signal and ensuring accurate contact with the electrode terminals.
Implementation Method 1
the arm portions act elastically in the above-mentioned way when the contact portion of the probe and the electrode terminal of the object to be inspected come into electrical contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical contactor includes: an installing portion; a base end portion extending continuously toward the installing portion; a plurality of arm portions extending from the base end portion in a longitudinal direction; a coupling portion coupled to the tip of each of the arm portions; a pedestal portion provided continuously toward the coupling portion; and a contact portion provided at a lower end of the pedestal portion, wherein each of the plurality of arm portions elastically supports the contact portion in contact with a first contact target, and a curved portion is provided on the coupling portion side or the base end portion side of a closest-to-contact-portion arm portion that is the closest to the contact portion among the plurality of arm portions.