# US 2010/0164482 A1 · Centering device for electronic components, particularly ics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0164482 A1 - Document ID: US20100164482A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/445,373 - Filed: 2008-04-24 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-11 - Assignees: Multitest Elektronische Systeme GmbH - Inventors: Johann Pötzinger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164482A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/2891: {related to sensing or controlling of force, position, temperature (G01R31/2874 takes precedence; sensing of force G01L; sensing of position G01B, G01D; sensing of temperature G01K; controlling in general G05)} - G01R 1/0466: {concerning contact pieces or mechanical details, e.g. hinges or cams; Shielding} - G01R 31/2893: {Handling, conveying or loading, e.g. belts, boats, vacuum fingers (G01R31/2867 takes precedence; handling semiconductor devices or wafers during manufacture or treatment H10P72/00)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A centering device for electronic components, particularly for ICs, has at least one centering unit comprising two L-shaped centering elements and two coupling elements. The centering elements and coupling elements are hinged together such that a pivoting movement of the coupling elements is forcibly coupled to a parallel displacement of the centering elements, thus causing a widening or narrowing of a centering opening for the components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Centering device for electronic components, particularly IC's, which are introduced to a contacting means by a feed means, comprising at least one centering unit wherein the centering unit comprises: two L-shaped centering elements, each of which comprises a centering arm with a centering surface and a cross-arm, the centering elements being arranged alongside one another in a ring shape in a plane, in such a way that the centering surfaces of the two centering arms face one another with mutual spacing, and the two cross-arms face one another with mutual spacing, in such a way that the centering elements surround a centering opening for the component to be centered, and two coupling elements, which are pivotable about two mutually parallel pivot axes arranged perpendicular to the plane of the centering elements, and are hinged on opposite sides of the centering opening in one case to the one centering element and in the other case to the other centering element, in such a way that a pivoting movement of the coupling elements is positively coupled to a change in the distance between the centering arms. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering arms comprise ramps for the components in the region of the centering surfaces. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering elements and coupling elements are formed in the shape of plates and lie in the same plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling elements together with the cross-arms of the centering elements form a parallelogram. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein the pivot axes of the coupling elements are arranged centrally between the ends thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein the centering elements and coupling elements are produced from a single plate element, the articulated connections between the coupling elements and centering elements consisting of thin, elastically deformable webs of the plate element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein an actuation device for displacing the centering elements is functionally connected to the centering elements and comprises pivot levers which are pivotable about a pivot axis arranged parallel to the plane of the centering elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Centering device according to claim 7, wherein the feed means can be brought into entrainment engagement with at least one pivot lever, in such a way that the pivot lever can be pivoted by the movement of the feed means into such a position as to displace the centering elements outwards in opposite directions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Centering device according to claim 8, wherein the pivot levers comprise an engagement portion, which engages with the centering elements, and a locking portion, it being possible for the feed means to be locked to the locking portion by means of a ball and spring locking device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Centering device according to claim 1, wherein two centering units are arranged parallel to one another, adjacent and rotated by 90° in opposite directions, in such a way that the component can be centered from four sides. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Centering device according to claim 10, wherein the centering surfaces are formed by one of the two centering units on projections which project, perpendicular to the plane of the centering elements, into the region of the other centering unit, in such a way that the component is centered on all four sides simultaneously.