IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,188,977
Granted Patent B2
US 12,188,977 · App. 17/911,827 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Contact probe, probe holder and probe unit

Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inuma (Kanagawa, JP); Shuji Takahashi (Kanagawa, JP); Kazuya Soma (Kanagawa, JP); Takashi Nidaira (Kanagawa, JP); Yuya Hironaka (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
G01R31/2863G01R1/07314
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 12,188,977
App. No.
17/911,827
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A probe unit includes: a plurality of first contact probes each coming into contact with an electrode to be contacted on one end side in a longitudinal direction; a second contact probe connected to an external ground; and a probe holder configured to hold the first and second contact probes, the probe holder including a first hollow portion configured to allow the first contact probes to be inserted therethrough and hold the first contact probes, a second hollow portion configured to allow the second contact probe to be inserted therethrough and hold the second contact probe, and a through-hole provided around the first hollow portion, wherein the probe holder includes a conductive portion that constitutes the through-hole and electrically connects the through-hole and the second contact probe.

Claims (24)

1. A probe unit comprising:

a plurality of first contact probes each coming into contact with an electrode to be contacted on one end side in a longitudinal direction;

a second contact probe connected to an external ground; and

a probe holder configured to hold the first and second contact probes, the probe holder including

a first hollow portion configured to allow the first contact probes to be inserted therethrough and hold the first contact probes,

a second hollow portion configured to allow the second contact probe to be inserted therethrough and hold the second contact probe, and

a through-hole provided around the first hollow portion, wherein

the probe holder includes a conductive portion that constitutes the through-hole and electrically connects the through-hole and the second contact probe.

2. The probe unit according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive portion is provided in the through-hole and on a surface forming an opening end of the through-hole.

3. The probe unit according to claim 1 , wherein the through-hole has a stepped hole shape having a partially different diameter.

4. The probe unit according to claim 1 , wherein the through-hole has a stepped hole shape in which central axis positions are different from each other.

5. The probe unit according to claim 1 , wherein the probe holder is formed of one member.

6. The probe unit according to claim 1 , wherein the probe holder is formed by laminating a plurality of members in a penetrating direction of the first hollow portion.

7. The probe unit according to claim 6 , wherein

the through-hole is formed by penetration holes formed in the plurality of members, respectively, and

has a stepped hole shape in which diameters of the penetration holes are partially different in at least one member.

8. The probe unit according to claim 6 , wherein

the through-hole is formed by penetration holes formed in the plurality of members, respectively, and

has a stepped hole shape in which central axis positions of the penetration holes are different from each other in at least one member.

9. The probe unit according to claim 6 , wherein

in the plurality of members, penetration holes constituting the through-hole are formed, respectively, and

in the through-hole, penetration holes formed in members adjacent to each other in a laminating direction of the members at least partially overlap with each other when viewed from a penetrating direction of the penetration holes.

10. The probe unit according to claim 1 , wherein

in the through-hole, an opening has an elongated hole shape when viewed from a penetrating direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: INUMA, TSUYOSHI; TAKAHASHI, SHUJI; SOMA, KAZUYA; NIDAIRA, TAKASHI; HIRONAKA, YUYA
To: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 061107/0860 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-053388 · Mar 24, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230138105A1 · May 4, 2023
References Cited (22)
US 6917525B2 · Mok et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 8535101B2 · Suzuki · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 11143675B2 · Hsieh et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11293946B2 · Hironaka et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20020113611A1 · Goto · 2002 [cited by examiner]
US 20100188112A1 · Yoshida · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120115366A1 · Suzuki et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20170215274A1 · Yan et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20190317129A1 · Hsieh et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210156887A1 · Hironaka et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220011345A1 · Inuma et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220018877A1 · Inuma et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006507479A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010175371A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012098219A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
TW 201630276A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
TW 202032136A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2018230627A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019022204A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020111076A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 12, 2021, issued for Taiwan Patent Application No. 11020990850 and English translation thereof. [cited by applicant]
Office Action mailed Sep. 26, 2024, issed in the corresponding Korean patent application No. 10-2022-7030337 and English machine translation thereof. [cited by applicant]