A locking mechanism and method for selectively fixing and allowing movement of a tip portion of a probe relative to a rigid portion of the probe are provided. The mechanism comprises a locking ball joint for selectively locking and allowing relative movement between the tip portion and the rigid portion and a sleeve about the ball joint. The locking ball joint is locked by the placement of the sleeve in a first position, thereby fixing the position of the tip portion relative to the rigid portion, and released by the placement of the sleeve in a second position, thereby allowing movement of the tip portion relative to the rigid portion.
1. A probe, comprising:
A rigid portion for supporting the probe;
A tip portion comprising two electrically conductive tips for contacting a test sample;
A locking mechanism for selectively fixing and allowing rotational movement of the tip portion relative to the rigid portion;
A tip positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the two electrically conductive tips relative to each other;
A flexible circuit in electrical contact with each of the two electrically conductive tips; and
A bridge portion of the flexible circuit for allowing the flexible circuit to bridge the space between the two electrically conductive tips.
2. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the bridge portion of the flexible circuit is deformable upon a change in the relative positioning between the two electrically conductive tips.
3. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking ball joint.
4. The probe of claim 3 , wherein the locking ball joint is locked by the placement of a sleeve about the ball joint in a first position, and released by the placement of the sleeve about the ball joint in a second position.
5. The probe of claim 4 , wherein the sleeve is moved relative to the ball joint in accordance with a threaded portion of the sleeve engaging a complimentarily threaded portion of the rigid portion.
6. The probe of claim 4 , wherein a force is imparted to lock the ball joint when the sleeve is in the first position by a spring mechanism biasing a force against a holder holding the ball joint.
7. The probe of claim 3 , wherein the tip portion is fixed to an extension of the ball joint, thereby allowing for the movement of the tip portion upon movement of the ball joint.
8. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion is adapted to be supported by a rigid holder.
9. The probe of claim 1 , wherein the rigid portion further comprises a telescoping mechanism.