IP Library Granted Patent US 9,766,269
Granted Patent B2
US 9,766,269 · App. 13/730,850 · Granted Sep 19, 2017

Conductive test probe

Inventor: Wayne Russell (Ontario, CA)
Assignee: Power Probe TEK, LLC
G01R1/06788G01R1/00G01R1/06755G01R3/00H01L21/00H01L2221/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,766,269
App. No.
13/730,850
Granted
Sep 19, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A conductive probe may include a probe body for communicating with a circuit tester or a jumper. The probe body may be formed of metal and may have a free end. A probe tip may be mounted to the end of the probe body. The probe tip may be formed of thorium-tungsten. The probe tip may be configured for contacting a circuit node.

Claims (51)

1. A conductive probe, comprising:

a probe body configured for communicating with a circuit tester or a jumper, the probe body comprising metal and having a free end;

the conductive probe having only one probe tip, the probe tip configured for contacting a circuit node, the probe tip mounting to the free end, the probe tip being comprised of thorium-tungsten; and

wherein the probe tip is configured to (1) transmit electrical current to a circuit node so as to energize an electrical path and (2) measure one or more electrical parameters.

2. The conductive probe of claim 1 , further comprising:

a probe plug; and

the probe body being removably engageable to the circuit tester or the jumper via the probe plug.

3. The conductive probe of claim 1 wherein:

the probe tip is approximately 0.5-5.0 percent thorium by weight.

4. The conductive probe of claim 1 wherein:

the probe tip is conical in shape.

5. The conductive probe of claim 1 wherein:

the probe tip is narrowed to a contact surface for contacting the circuit node.

6. The conductive probe of claim 5 wherein:

the probe tip is configured such that a shortest distance between the contact surface and the probe body is less than approximately 0.250 inch.

7. The conductive probe of claim 5 wherein:

the probe tip is configured such that a shortest distance between the contact surface and the probe body is approximately 0.100 inch.

8. The conductive probe of claim 1 wherein:

the probe body is comprised of brass.

9. The conductive probe of claim 8 wherein:

the probe body is at least approximately 80 percent of the conductive probe by volume.

10. The conductive probe of claim 1 , further comprising:

a gold plating applied to the probe tip.

11. A conductive probe, comprising:

a probe body configured for communicating with a circuit tester or a jumper, the probe body comprising metal and having a free end;

a socket being formed in the free end;

a singular probe tip, the probe tip having a buried end and a narrowed end located opposite the buried end, the buried end being mountable within the socket, the socket being shaped and sized complementary to the buried end in order to minimize contact resistance therebetween, the narrowed end being narrowed to a contact surface for contacting a circuit node;

the probe tip being comprised of thorium-tungsten and being configured such that a shortest distance between the contact surface and the probe body is less than approximately 0.250 inch; and

wherein the probe tip is configured to (1) transmit electrical current to a circuit node so as to energize an electrical path and (2) measure one or more electrical parameters.

12. A conductive probe narrowing into a singular probe tip, comprising:

a probe tip receivable by a probe body configured for communicating with a circuit tester or a jumper, the probe tip having a buried end and a narrowed end located opposite the buried end;

the buried end being receivable by the probe body in such a manner that contact resistance between the probe tip and the probe body is minimized;

the narrowed end being narrowed to a contact surface for contacting a circuit node;

the probe tip being comprised of thorium-tungsten and being configured such that a shortest distance between the contact surface and the probe body is less than approximately 0.250 inch; and

wherein the probe tip is configured to (1) transmit electrical current to a circuit node so as to energize an electrical path and (2) measure one or more electrical parameters.

13. The tip of claim 12 wherein:

the probe tip is approximately 0.5-5.0 percent thorium by weight.

14. The tip of claim 12 wherein:

the probe tip has a conical shape.

15. The tip of claim 12 wherein:

the shortest distance between the contact surface and the probe body is approximately 0.100 inch.

16. The tip of claim 12 wherein:

the buried end is sized to provide an interference fit with a socket formed in the probe body.

17. The tip of claim 16 wherein:

the buried end has a width of no greater than approximately 0.250 inch.

18. The tip of claim 16 wherein the buried end has a width of one of the following:

approximately 0.097 inch; and approximately 0.125 inch.

19. The tip of claim 12 wherein:

the buried end of the probe tip has a cylindrical shape.

20. The tip of claim 12 , further comprising:

a gold plating applied to the probe tip.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2024
From: LIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL CORP.
To: POWER PROBE GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 068825/0051 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2022
From: POWER PROBE GROUP, INC.
To: LIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 061176/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2021
From: POWER PROBE, INC.
To: POWER PROBE GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 054864/0730 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE UNDERLYING DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 051444 FRAME 144. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 13, 2020
From: BFI BUSINESS FINANCE
To: POWER PROBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051929/0153 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2020
From: BFI BUSINESS FINANCE
To: POWER PROBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 051444/0144 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: POWER PROBE, INC.
To: BFI BUSINESS FINANCE
Reel/Frame 034671/0831 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2012
From: RUSSELL, WAYNE
To: POWER PROBE, INC.
Reel/Frame 029544/0599 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140184260A1 · Jul 3, 2014