Conductive Elastic Sheet Test Socket for Stable Low-Resistance Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test sockets experience poor contact stability and high contact resistance between probes and devices under test, leading to electro-thermal effects, probe wear, and contamination, which necessitate frequent cleaning and replacement.
Innovation Solution
A test socket design featuring a conductive elastic sheet with embedded bumps on elastic metal members, increasing contact area and reducing resistance, while maintaining stable contact and preventing debris entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If point contact between probe tips and conductive blocks is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but contact resistance increases and contact stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from point contact (0D) to line contact (1D) by changing the probe tip geometry from spherical/needle-shaped to elongated structures. This dimensional change increases the contact area between probe tips and conductive blocks, thereby reducing contact resistance and improving contact stability without significantly complicating the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the probe tips by using elongated structures instead of spherical or needle-shaped tips. This parameter change increases the contact area and improves electrical contact performance while maintaining the simplicity of the device structure.
2Strength
If solid hard metal probes are used, then structural strength is maintained, but wear occurs and metal debris is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite material structures for the contact interface, combining elastic metal members with conductive elastic sheets. This composite approach maintains electrical conductivity and structural strength while reducing wear and metal debris generation through the elastic properties of the materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameters by introducing elastic properties to the contact interface components. The elastic metal members and conductive elastic sheets provide both mechanical strength and wear resistance, reducing metal debris generation while maintaining structural integrity.
3Reliability
If frequent cleaning procedures are implemented, then contact resistance is reduced, but productivity decreases and maintenance time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic metal members and conductive elastic sheets have self-cleaning properties through their elastic deformation during contact. The repeated compression and relaxation cycles naturally remove contaminants from the contact surface, reducing contact resistance without requiring external cleaning procedures, thereby maintaining high testing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic contact interface maintains continuous electrical contact through constant elastic pressure, ensuring stable electrical connection and consistent contact resistance performance throughout the testing process without interruption for cleaning or maintenance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple probes are used in parallel, then testing capability is improved, but difficulty in detecting damaged probes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive elastic sheet provides visual indication of contact status and potential damage through changes in its appearance or electrical properties. This allows for easy detection of damaged probes among multiple parallel probes, maintaining high testing capability while simplifying damage detection.
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 provides stable and low-resistance electrical connections, reduces wear and contamination, and simplifies maintenance by allowing the conductive elastic sheet to be replaced instead of individual probes.
Implementation Method 1
the probe tip of the conventional probe 103 is driven by the elastic force of an internal spring to push against the conductive block 91 of the DUT 9
Implementation Method 2
a conductive elastic sheet located above the first surface of the base
Implementation Method 3
a serious electro-thermal effect will occur when the current of the test signal passes through the contacts between the probe tips and the conductive blocks 91
Data Source
AI summary
A test socket is provided and includes a base with a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface and through holes, a conductive elastic sheet located on the first surface, and a plurality of elastic metal members with first contact ends facing toward the conductive elastic sheet. The first contact ends include bumps suitable for inserting into the conductive elastic sheet, and each elastic metal member may be prevented from being contaminated by covering the base with the conductive elastic sheet. When the elastic metal members are pressured to insert the bumps into the conductive elastic sheet, a low resistance better than the resistance of the elastic metal members without squeezing can be obtained. When the bumps are inserted into the conductive elastic sheet, the surface of the bumps can be cleaned and the elastic metal members are stably in contact with the conductive elastic sheet.