Prober Support Unit Four-Bar Linkage Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional probe units face challenges in reducing weight and minimizing dents on probed objects due to the necessity of maintaining a certain thickness in linking arms to function as pivots, which restricts weight reduction and increases dent size.
Innovation Solution
A probe unit design featuring strip-like arms with through-holes positioned closer to the front end and base end portions, forming a four-bar linkage that facilitates elastic deformation and reduces stress concentration, allowing for thinner and lighter construction, with the probe pin functioning as a linking portion to further reduce weight and dent size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thickness of linking arms is maintained to form pivots by cutting away, then the structural integrity and pivot function are ensured, but the weight of the probe unit increases and dent size on probed objects enlarges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the linking arms by introducing through-holes that reduce material thickness only at specific locations where pivots are needed, while maintaining full thickness in other areas. This localized parameter change allows the arms to function as pivots without requiring overall thickness reduction, thus reducing weight while preserving pivot functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The linking arms are segmented into different functional zones: regions with through-holes that serve as pivots and regions without through-holes that provide structural support. This segmentation allows different parts of the same component to have different thicknesses, enabling weight reduction at pivot locations while maintaining structural integrity where needed.
2Reliability
If the thickness of linking arms is maintained to form pivots, then the pivot function is ensured, but the size of dents on probed objects increases due to larger probe unit mass
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing through-holes at specific locations in the linking arms, the patent reduces the mass of the probe unit without compromising the pivot function. The reduced mass directly decreases the harmful effect of dents on probed objects, while the strategic placement of through-holes ensures that pivot functionality is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The linking arms exhibit local quality variations through the strategic placement of through-holes. Areas with through-holes have reduced mass to minimize dent size, while areas without through-holes maintain full thickness to ensure structural support and pivot function. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reducing harm and maintaining reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the thickness of linking arms is reduced to minimize dents, then the dent size decreases, but the ability to form functional pivots is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the linking arm structure into pivot regions (with through-holes) and support regions (without through-holes). This segmentation allows the pivot regions to have reduced thickness for minimizing dents, while support regions maintain sufficient thickness for structural integrity, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing harm and maintaining reliability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the mass of probe main body is reduced to minimize dents, then the dent size decreases, but the linking arms require certain thickness which prevents weight reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the parameter of linking arm thickness by introducing through-holes at specific locations, allowing the arms to be thinner overall while maintaining sufficient thickness where structural support is needed. This parameter change enables mass reduction of the probe main body to minimize dents, while the linking arms maintain their required thickness through strategic material distribution.
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 design effectively reduces the weight and size of dents on probed objects by enabling thinner arms and distributing stress symmetrically, enhancing probing accuracy and precision while preventing edge damage.
Implementation Method 1
the support unit constructing a four-bar linkage where linear movement or approximately linear movement of the probe pin in an opposite direction to the direction of probing is permitted
Data Source
AI summary
A probe unit includes a probe pin and a support unit supporting the probe pin. The support unit includes first and second arms disposed at a distance along a direction in which the probe pin probes a probed object; a holding unit holding base ends of the arms; and a linking unit attached to the probe pin and linking front ends of the arms. The support unit constructs a four-bar linkage that permits linear or approximately linear movement of the probe pin in an opposite direction to the probing direction. The first and second arms have through-holes at positions slightly closer to the front ends than the base ends and positions slightly closer to the base ends than the front ends, center parts between the through-holes function as bars in the four-bar linkage, and formation positions of the through-holes function as joints in the four-bar linkage.