Probe Head Layout for Accurate Overdrive Confirmation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connecting devices face challenges in accurately confirming the relationship between the programmed overdrive (POD) and actual overdrive (AOD) applied to probes, leading to inconsistent contact pressure between probes and inspection objects, which affects measurement accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The device employs probes with different tip-end lengths for measurement and confirmation, allowing for the precise determination of AOD by adjusting the overdrive amount (POD) to ensure consistent contact pressure, using shorter confirmation probes to verify the contact with the substrate and store the overdrive amount.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single probe structure is used for both measurement and confirmation, then the device structure is simple, but it is impossible to accurately determine the actual overdrive amount acting on measurement probes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetermination accuracy of actual overdrive amountVSAvoidprobe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The probe structure is segmented into two distinct types: measurement probes with longer tip ends for electrical measurement, and confirmation probes with shorter tip ends for verifying contact. This segmentation allows each probe type to perform its specific function independently, enabling accurate determination of actual overdrive amount through confirmation probe contact detection while maintaining clear functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Confirmation probes serve as an intermediary mechanism to indirectly determine the actual overdrive amount acting on measurement probes. By monitoring the contact state of confirmation probes (which have known shorter tip lengths), the system can calculate and confirm the overdrive condition of measurement probes without directly measuring it, thus solving the measurement precision problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the overdrive amount is not accurately confirmed, then the device operation is simple, but the contact pressure between probes and inspection object becomes inconsistent, affecting measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidoverdrive confirmation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting the contact state of confirmation probes and using this information to determine the actual overdrive amount. This feedback mechanism ensures that measurement reliability is maintained by continuously verifying that the overdrive pressure is within the appropriate range, allowing the system to adjust or confirm operational parameters based on real-time contact detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes parameter changes in probe tip length (confirmation probes have shorter tips than measurement probes) to create a measurable difference in contact behavior. By controlling and measuring the overdrive amount parameter through the differential contact of probes with different tip lengths, the system ensures consistent contact pressure while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If confirmation probes with shorter tip ends are used, then the actual overdrive amount can be accurately determined, but the probe design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverdrive amount measurement precisionVSAvoidmulti-type probe design
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The probe array is segmented into measurement probes and confirmation probes with distinct tip lengths. This segmentation enables the confirmation probes to make contact at a different stage or under different conditions than measurement probes, providing direct information about the actual overdrive amount. The segmented design achieves high measurement precision while keeping each individual probe type simple in structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3893005B1Electrical connecting device and inspection method
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 NIHON MICRONICS KK
  • EP3893005B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3893005B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3893005B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electrical connecting device includes a probe head (20), and probes for measurement (11) and probes for confirmation (12) held by the probe head (20). The probe head (20) holds the probes for measurement (11) and the probes for confirmation (12) in a state in which the respective tip ends are exposed therefrom. An exposed length from the probe head (20) to the tip end is shorter for the probes for confirmation (12) than for the probes for measurement (11).