IP Library Granted Patent US 7,463,044
Granted Patent B2
US 7,463,044 · App. 11/531,092 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

Adapter for positioning of contact tips

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,463,044
App. No.
11/531,092
Granted
Dec 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An adapter for positioning of contact tips has a location surface for locating a contact tip and a base element with a base for setting the adapter on a mounting surface. A positioning element is in mechanical contact with and mobile relative to the base element. The location surface can be positioned relative to the base, in at least one positioning direction, by the positioning element which includes a gearing for converting rotary movement to translational movement in the positioning direction.

Claims (13)

1. An adapter for positioning of contact tips, comprising a location surface for locating a contact tip, a base element with a base for setting the adapter on a mounting surface and a positioning element in mechanical contact with the base element and mobile relative to the base element so that the location surface can be positioned relative to the base in at least one positioning direction by the positioning element, and wherein the positioning element has at least a first gearing for converting a rotatory movement to a translational movement, and direction of the translational movement corresponds to the positioning direction, and wherein the positioning element has an extension arm of which a degree of freedom has a direction that deviates from the positioning direction of the gearing and wherein the gearing comprises at least one eccentric mechanism with at least one guide element for guiding the movement of the location surface along the positioning direction, and wherein each eccentric mechanism comprises an eccentric disc and an eccentric pin, the eccentric pin coupling to the eccentric disc and having an axis offset from an axis of the disc.

2. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein an end position of the location surface is fixable.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning element has an extension arm with a fixed first end and a free second end, of which a degree of freedom corresponds to the positioning direction, and an end position of the free end of the extension arm is fixable.

4. The adapter according to claim 3 , wherein an angle between the base and the location surface can be changed by torsion of the extension arm and fixed by the torsion of the extension arm.

5. The adapter according to claim 4 , wherein the torsion of the extension arm is in a range up to 3°.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning element can be positioned in an other positioning direction by being formed in two pieces and having a second gearing for converting a rotatory movement to a second translational movement, and direction of the second translational movement corresponds to the other positioning direction.

7. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning element realizes movements of the location surface relative to the base in a range up to 5 mm.

8. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the positioning element realizes movements of the location surface relative to the base in a range up to 1 mm.

9. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter is fastened on the mounting surface by suction or by screws or by clamps or by magnetic attachment.

10. An adapter for positioning of contact tips, comprising a location surface for locating a contact tip, a base element with a base for setting the adapter on a mounting surface and a positioning element in mechanical contact with the base element and mobile relative to the base element so that the location surface can be positioned relative to the base in at least one positioning direction by the positioning element, and the positioning element has at least a first gearing for converting a rotatory movement to a translational movement, and direction of the translational movement corresponds to the positioning direction, and wherein the gearing comprises at least one eccentric mechanism with at least one guide element for guiding the movement of the location surface along the positioning direction, and wherein each eccentric mechanism comprises an eccentric disc and an eccentric pin, the eccentric pin coupling to the eccentric disc and having an axis offset from an axis of the disc.

11. The adapter according to claim 10 , wherein the gearing comprises multiple eccentric mechanisms for guiding movement of the location service along the positioning direction.

12. The adapter according to claim 10 , wherein the positioning element can be positioned in an other positioning direction by being formed in two pieces and having a second gearing for converting a rotatory movement to a second translational movement, and direction of the second translational movement corresponds to the other positioning direction.

13. The adapter according to claim 10 , wherein the adapter is fastened on the mounting surface by suction or by screws or by clamps or by magnetic attachment.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2025
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FORMFACTOR, INC.
Reel/Frame 072853/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 18, 2018
From: CASCADE MICROTECH, INC.
To: FORMFACTOR BEAVERTON, INC.
Reel/Frame 046573/0664 →
SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS Recorded Jul 12, 2016
From: FORMFACTOR, INC.; ASTRIA SEMICONDUCTOR HOLDINGS, INC.; CASCADE MICROTECH, INC.; MICRO-PROBE INCORPORATED
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 039184/0280 →
MERGER Recorded May 9, 2011
From: SUSS MICROTEC TEST SYSTEMS GMBH
To: CASCADE MICROTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 026246/0706 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2006
From: SCHOTT, STEFFEN; KREISSIG, STEFAN; RUNGE, DIETMAR; BECKER, AXEL
To: SUSS MICROTEC TEST SYSTEMS GMBH
Reel/Frame 018453/0363 →