US 7,402,994 B2Granted

Self-cleaning lower contact

AssigneeElectro Scientific Industries, Inc.

InventorDouglas J. Garcia

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Abstract

An electrical component handler that tests electrical circuit components and includes a self-cleaning lower contact offers reduced yield loss and mean time between assists. A preferred embodiment of the electrical component handler includes multiple sets of upper and lower contacts, each set of which is spatially aligned to electrically contact a single device-under-test (DUT). Each DUT is seated in a test plate that transports the DUT to and from a test measurement position between the upper and lower contacts. The lower contact includes a contact tip that a biasing mechanism urges against the electrical component as it undergoes a test process and against a surface of the test plate as it transports the electrical component. The lower contact rubs against the test plate, thereby contributing to removal of contaminant material acquired by the contact tip during component handler operation.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A contact assembly configured for use in an electrical component handler and performance of electrical measurement of electrical components, the electrical components seated in a component holder that has a surface and advances relative to a contact tip of a contact element to successively place the electrical components in contact with the contact tip to perform the electrical measurement and to impart sliding contact of the surface of the component holder against the contact tip when none of the electrical components is in contact with the contact tip, comprising:

a housing having a length and an interior slot formed along the length of the housing, the interior slot defined by interior walls that form bearing surfaces;
a contact element sized to fit in the interior slot and slide lengthwise in the housing along the bearing surfaces, the contact element including opposite ends, one of which terminating in a contact tip formed of electrically conductive contact tip material;
and
the electrically conductive contact tip material exhibiting wear characteristics such that, in response to the sliding contact of the contact tip against the surface of the component holder as the component holder advances to successively place the electrical components to perform the electrical measurement, the electrically conductive contact tip material undergoes removal and thereby results in purposeful progressive shortening of the contact element to present a refreshed electrically conductive contact tip to the electrical components during the performance of electrical measurement.

1 more element

A double-sided contact element configured for placement in a contact assembly of an electrical component handler and performance of electrical measurement of electrical components, the electrical components seated in a component holder that has a surface and advances relative to a contact tip of a contact element to successively place the electrical components in contact with the contact tip to perform the electrical measurement and to impart sliding contact of the surface of the component holder against the contact tip when none of the electrical components is in contact with the contact tip, comprising:

a body including first and second opposite end portions terminating in respective first and second contact tips, the first and second end portions being of generally rectangular cross-section, and each of the first and second contact tips formed of electrically conductive contact tip material exhibiting wear characteristics such that, in response to the sliding contact of the contact tip against the surface of the component holder as the component holder advances to successively place the electrical components to perform the electrical measurement, the electrically conductive contact tip material undergoes removal and thereby results in purposeful progressive shortening of the contact element to present a refreshed electrically conductive contact tip to the electrical components during the performance of electrical measurement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.