Probing Adapter With Elastomeric Pivoting Tips For Compact PCB Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing signal acquisition probes are bulky and lack sufficient compliance, making them inefficient for high-frequency signal measurement on compact circuit boards, where the probes need to maintain contact at various angles without degrading signal fidelity.
Innovation Solution
A probing adapter with a rotatable support member and elastomeric bushings in the probing arms, allowing for 120° arc rotation and varying tip spacing, provides compliance through elastomeric bushings and pivot points, ensuring consistent contact regardless of angle and height differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If signal acquisition probes use traditional probe body design with probing tips extending from the probe body, then the probes can acquire signals, but the probes become bulky and cumbersome to use on compact circuit boards
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into separate functional components: a probe body housing containing circuitry and separate probing tips that can be independently positioned. The probing tips are mounted on a probing tip member that can be independently manipulated from the probe body, allowing the tips to be positioned close together without requiring a bulky probe body structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The probing tips are arranged in a configuration that utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently. The tips can be positioned at different heights and angles relative to the probe body, allowing them to access closely spaced test points on circuit boards without requiring the probe itself to be small in all dimensions.
2Reliability
If high frequency signals are acquired, then signal fidelity is improved, but the probes require coaxial signal paths which increase probe complexity and size
Solution Approach 1:
The coaxial signal path requirement is extracted from the probe body structure. Instead of requiring the entire probe to have a coaxial configuration, only the critical signal path from the probing tip through the circuitry to the connector is designed for high frequency performance, while the probe body housing can be a simpler structure.
Solution Approach 2:
High frequency performance is concentrated in the critical signal path components (probing tip, circuitry, connector) rather than requiring the entire probe structure to be optimized for high frequency. The probe body housing and non-critical components can use simpler, less expensive materials and construction methods.
3Strength
If probing tips are made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but compliance is reduced making it difficult to maintain contact at various angles
Solution Approach 1:
The probing tip member combines multiple functions: it provides structural support for the probing tips, enables angular adjustment for compliance, and maintains electrical connectivity. By integrating these functions into a single component, the design achieves both strength and adaptability without requiring separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The probing tip member is designed to be dynamically adjustable rather than statically fixed. It can rotate and pivot to accommodate various angles of contact while maintaining structural integrity. This dynamic capability allows the rigid tips to adapt to different probing positions without compromising their structural strength.
4Adaptability or versatility
If variable spacing probing tips are implemented, then adaptability to different circuit layouts is improved, but the mechanism for adjusting spacing increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The probing tip member utilizes rotational movement around a pivot point to achieve variable spacing between tips. By rotating the tipping member about an axis, the distance between tips at different angular positions varies naturally, providing spacing adjustment without requiring complex linear translation mechanisms.
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 adapter ensures reliable high-frequency signal acquisition by maintaining contact and reducing the force required to bend or break the probing tips, even when angled, thus preventing signal degradation and improving usability on compact circuit boards.
Implementation Method 1
The probing adapter has elastomeric compliant members disposed against the probing tip member to allow for axial and lateral rotation displacement of the probing tip member
Data Source
AI summary
A probing adapter has a support member receiving a probing tip assembly having probing arms. The probing tip assembly is mounted to the support member via a rotational joint having elastomeric member disposed in the probing arms with each of the probing arms having a pivot point disposed away from the rotational joint. Each of the probing arms supports a removable probing tip substrate having a probing tip at one end electrically coupled via an electrical signal conductor to an electrical connector at the other end. Substrate retention clips secure the removable probing tip substrates to the probing arms. A probing tip positioning member is mounted to the probing arms for varying the distance between the probing tips on the removable probing tip substrates.