JP6013731B2 - Contact probe and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact probe (conductive contactor) for electrically connecting a first electrical component and a second electrical component, and a method for manufacturing the contact probe.

  Conventionally, this type of contact probe includes a first conductive contact member that contacts the first electrical component, a second conductive contact member that contacts the second electrical component, and the first and second contact members. At least one of the contact members is provided with a conductive cylinder that is movably fitted therein, and a spring that elastically biases the first contact member and the second contact member away from each other.

  As this contact probe, a cylindrical body is integrally formed on one of the first contact member and the second contact member, and the other is held so as to be movable with respect to the cylindrical body. There is a so-called both-end sliding type in which both the first contact member and the second contact member are held movably with respect to the cylinder (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this contact probe, in order to improve an internal short circuit between the first contact member and the second contact member and the cylindrical body, winding of the end portions of the spring (end portions contacting the first contact member and the second contact member) is performed. By devising the shape and the shape of the first contact member and the rear end of the second contact member (the end contacting the spring), the first contact member and the second contact member are inclined with respect to the cylinder, and the electric circuit The contact state of the first contact member, the second contact member, and the cylindrical body was to be ensured by forming.

Utility Model Registration No. 3088866

  However, in such a conventional device, the first contact member and the second contact member form an electric circuit in contact with the cylindrical body in an inclined manner. Regardless of the movable type, the contact state becomes unstable at the contact portion between the first contact member, the second contact member, and the cylindrical body, and an internal short circuit is not necessarily reliable. As a result, there has been a demand for ensuring that the contact probe is internally short-circuited, particularly when used for burn-in testing of high current devices.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a contact probe capable of reliably causing an internal short circuit and a method for manufacturing the same in order to meet such a demand.

In order to achieve such an object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a conductive first contact member that contacts the first electrical component, a conductive second contact member that contacts the second electrical component, An electrically conductive cylinder in which at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member is movably fitted inside, and the first contact member and the second contact member are disposed in the cylinder, and the first contact member and the second contact member are mutually connected. a contact probe comprising a spring which resiliently biased in a direction away, the one on the first contact element or the second contact member, the small-diameter portion is formed, of the cylindrical body some, direction of the abutting plate spring on one hand of the first contact member and the second contact member, the mouth of the tubular body one of the first or second contact member that is the contact in and out The tip of the leaf spring is An abutting portion that allows the small-diameter portion to be engaged and disengaged is formed, and in the locked state, the one first or second contact member is held in the cylindrical body, and the one first first is released from the locked state. or by pushing it a second contact member to the cylinder body, and by pulling out the first or second contact member of the one from the cylindrical body, and a contact probe that the locked state is configured so that the release It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the first contact member and the cylindrical body are integrally formed, and the second contact member is movably fitted to the cylindrical body. It is characterized by.

Invention according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 2, the distal end of the plate spring contact portion in contact with the front Stories second contact member toward the center of the cylindrical body protrudes It is formed so that it may do.

The invention according to claim 4, in addition to the configuration according to claim 2 or 3, the tip of it if the plate is bent toward the outside, the second contact member is inserted into the cylindrical body A guide portion that slides on the second contact member when formed is formed.

In addition to the structure in any one of Claims 2 thru | or 4, the invention of Claim 5 has the said small diameter part, and the said contact part of the said leaf | plate spring has the said small diameter. By locking the part , the protruding amount of the second contact member from the cylindrical body is regulated.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration according to any of the second to fifth aspects, a plurality of the leaf springs are provided, and the leaf springs are in contact with the second contact member. The axial center of the second contact member substantially coincides with the axial center of the cylindrical body.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the method for manufacturing the contact probe according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plate spring is formed by forming a substantially U-shaped cut in a conductive flat plate material. Then, the flat plate member is bent into a cylindrical shape, and the contact probe manufacturing method for manufacturing the cylindrical body of the contact probe is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the leaf spring formed in the cylindrical body is mechanically brought into contact with at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member using its elastic force. Therefore, the contact state between at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member and the cylindrical body can be stabilized, and the contact probe can be reliably internally short-circuited.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the leaf spring formed in the cylindrical body is mechanically brought into contact with the second contact member using its elastic force, the second contact member and It is possible to stabilize the contact state with the cylindrical body and reliably short-circuit the contact probe.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the contact portion formed on the leaf spring contacts the second contact member toward the center of the cylindrical body, the internal short circuit of the contact probe is made more reliable. Can do.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the contact probe is assembled, the second contact member can be easily inserted into the cylindrical body, so that the productivity of the contact probe can be increased.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the protrusion amount is regulated by the leaf spring engaging the thin diameter portion of the second contact member, it is possible to ensure the full length when the contact probe is used. It becomes.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the axis of the second contact member substantially coincides with the axis of the cylinder, the sliding resistance of the second contact member with respect to the cylinder is reduced, and the second contact The member can move up and down smoothly with respect to the cylinder.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the cylindrical body can be easily manufactured by curling, the number of steps of the contact probe in which the leaf spring is formed is increased as compared with cutting and other manufacturing methods. It becomes possible to manufacture at low cost without any problems.

It is a figure which shows the contact probe which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, Comprising: (a) is the perspective view, (b) is an expanded sectional view which follows the AA line of (a). It is a figure which shows the manufacturing method of the contact probe which concerns on the same Embodiment 1, Comprising: (a) is an expanded view of the barrel which shows a leaf | plate spring formation process, (b)-(f) is a contact probe which shows a plunger insertion process. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the use condition of the contact probe which concerns on the same Embodiment 1, Comprising: (a) is a state figure by which the contact probe was assembled | attached to the socket main body, and the IC socket was comprised, (b) is IC socket wiring FIG. 6C is a state diagram in which the IC package is accommodated in the IC socket. It is a graph which shows the change of the load which a plunger receives from a leaf | plate spring when the plunger of the contact probe which concerns on the same Embodiment 1 is inserted in a barrel. It is a horizontal sectional view of a contact probe according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the manufacturing method of the contact probe which concerns on the same Embodiment 2, Comprising: (a) is an expanded view of the barrel which shows a leaf | plate spring formation process, (b)-(f) is a contact probe which shows a plunger insertion process. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view. It is a figure which shows the contact probe which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, Comprising: (a) is the horizontal sectional view, (b) is an expanded view of a barrel. It is a figure which shows the contact probe which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention, Comprising: (a) is the horizontal sectional view, (b) is the expanded view of a barrel. It is a front view which shows the contact probe which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the contact probe which shows the plunger insertion process of the manufacturing method of the contact probe which concerns on the same Embodiment 5.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
Embodiment 1 of the Invention

  1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the configuration will be described. Reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1 is a so-called one-end sliding contact probe. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of contact probes 11 are assembled to the socket body 14 to “electrical component socket”. In the state where the IC socket 15 is configured, it is arranged on the wiring board 13 which is the “second electrical component”, and the burn-in test of the IC package 12 which is the “first electrical component” or the like For this purpose, the spherical terminal 12a of the IC package 12 and the wiring board 13 are electrically connected.

  The contact probe 11 is made of, for example, beryllium copper. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3C, the “first contact member” of the conductive barrel 16 that contacts the spherical terminal 12a of the IC package 12 is used. "A first contact portion 16b", a plunger 17 which is a conductive "second contact member" that contacts the wiring board 13, and a conductive barrel 16 in which this plunger 17 is movably fitted. A barrel main body 16a which is a “cylindrical body” and a spring 18 which is disposed in the barrel main body 16a and elastically biases the barrel 16 and the plunger 17 in a direction separating from each other (vertical direction in FIG. 3C). I have.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1A, the barrel 16 has a barrel body 16a having a large cylindrical shape, and one end portion (the upper end portion in FIG. 3) of the barrel body 16a has a small diameter. A cylindrical first contact portion 16b is integrally formed. Further, the barrel body 16a has three leaf springs 16c that are in contact with the plunger 17, as shown in FIG. 1B, arranged at equiangular intervals (that is, 120 ° intervals). Are formed so as to extend along the axial direction (vertical direction in FIG. 3). Each leaf spring 16c is formed with a contact portion 16d that contacts the plunger 17 so as to protrude obliquely toward the center of the barrel body 16a, and the tip of the leaf spring 16c (the end portion on the plunger 17 side). ), A guide portion 16e that is bent obliquely outward (in a direction away from the center of the barrel main body 16a) and slides on the plunger 17 when the plunger 17 is inserted into the barrel main body 16a is formed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3A, the plunger 17 has a substantially cylindrical second contact portion 17a, a substantially cylindrical small-diameter portion 17b, and a substantially conical large-diameter portion 17c integrated in order. Concatenated. The diameter of the small diameter portion 17b is smaller than the diameter of the second contact portion 17a, and the maximum diameter (diameter of the bottom surface of the cone) of the large diameter portion 17c is approximately the same as the diameter of the second contact portion 17a. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2D, the plunger 17 protrudes from the barrel body 16a when the contact portions 16d of the three leaf springs 16c of the barrel 16 engage the small diameter portion 17b of the plunger 17. The amount L1 is configured to be regulated. Further, as described above, since the three leaf springs 16c are arranged at equiangular intervals, in the state where these leaf springs 16c are in contact with the plunger 17, the axis CT1 of the plunger 17 is in the barrel main body 16a. It substantially coincides with the axis CT2.

  In the contact probe 11 having the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 2D, the contact portions 16d of the three leaf springs 16c formed on the barrel main body 16a of the barrel 16 are formed on the leaf spring 16c. Since it is in mechanical contact with the plunger 17 using elastic force, the contact state between the plunger 17 and the barrel 16 can be stabilized, and the contact probe 11 can be reliably internally short-circuited.

  The contact probe 11 can be manufactured by preparing a barrel 16 by curling and then incorporating a spring 18 and a plunger 17 in this barrel 16 in order, as will be described below.

  First, in order to produce the barrel 16 by curling, as shown in FIG. 2A, a conductive flat plate material 19 punched into a predetermined shape by a press is prepared, and the flat plate material 19 has a substantially U-shaped shape. Three incisions 20 are formed to form three leaf springs 16c. At this time, these cuts 20 are arranged at equal intervals.

  Next, the three leaf springs 16c are bent in the same direction (frontward in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 2A) to form a contact portion 16d, and the tips of these leaf springs 16c are reversed ( FIG. 2 (a) is bent in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to form a guide portion 16e (see FIG. 2 (b)). These three bending processes are performed simultaneously. As a result, the time required for bending the three leaf springs 16c can be shortened and the productivity of the contact probe 11 can be increased as compared with the case where these bending processes are performed one by one.

  Thereafter, the flat plate 19 is bent into a cylindrical shape (curling). At this time, the side where the contact portion 16d of the leaf spring 16c is bent is set inward. As a result, a barrel 16 is obtained in which a thin cylindrical first contact portion 16b is integrally formed with a large cylindrical barrel body 16a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), after inserting the spring 18 into the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16, as shown in FIGS. 2 (b) to 2 (d), the lower end of the barrel body 16a. Then, the plunger 17 is inserted.

  2E and 2F, even if the plunger 17 is inserted more than necessary, it is pushed back by the urging force of the spring 18. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 (d), the plunger 17 is stably supported when the abutting portion 16d of the barrel 16 hits the upper end of the small-diameter portion 17b. A quantity L1 is ensured.

  At this time, each leaf spring 16c of the barrel 16 is formed so as to extend along the axial direction of the barrel body 16a as described above, and the guide portion 16e is bent obliquely toward the outside at the tip of each leaf spring 16c. Has been formed. As a result, the plunger 17 can be easily inserted into the barrel body 16a, so that the assembly of the contact probe 11 can be improved.

  Further, as described above, the plunger 17 has a substantially cylindrical second contact portion 17a, a substantially cylindrical small diameter portion 17b having a smaller diameter than the second contact portion 17a, and a diameter substantially the same as that of the second contact portion 17a. Since the substantially conical large-diameter portion 17c is connected in order, the load received from the leaf spring 16c of the barrel 16 changes as shown in FIG. That is, this load increases linearly until the portion where the abutting portion 16d of the barrel 16 hits the plunger 17 reaches from the middle of the large diameter portion 17c to the vicinity of the conical bottom surface (see FIGS. 2B to 2C). From this point, the load decreases linearly until reaching the upper end of the small-diameter portion 17b (see FIGS. 2C to 2D), from the upper end to the lower end of the small-diameter portion 17b (FIG. 2). (See (d) to (e)), this load is kept constant and from the lower end of the small diameter portion 17b to the upper end of the second contact portion 17a (see FIGS. 2 (e) to (f)), This load increases linearly again, and thereafter the load is kept constant. In the graph of FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the amount of insertion of the plunger 17 into the barrel body 16a, and the vertical axis represents the load that the plunger 17 receives from the leaf spring 16c.

  Here, the contact probe 11 is completed, and the manufacture of the contact probe 11 is completed.

  Thus, with this contact probe 11, the barrel 16 can be easily manufactured by curling. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the contact probe 11 at a lower cost than cutting and other manufacturing methods.

  Next, a method of using the contact probe 11 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, an IC socket 15 is configured by assembling a plurality of contact probes 11 in a vertical direction on a socket body 14 having an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22. In this IC socket 15, the barrel 16 is fitted to the stepped insertion hole 21a of the upper plate 21 so as to be movable up and down, and the plunger 17 is fitted to the stepped insertion hole 22a of the lower plate 22 so as to be movable up and down. The upper portion of the first contact portion 16b of the barrel 16 protrudes upward from the upper surface 21b of the upper plate 21, and the lower portion of the second contact portion 17a of the plunger 17 protrudes downward from the lower surface 22b of the lower plate 22 It has become.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the IC socket 15 is disposed on the wiring board 13. Then, each contact probe 11 rises against the urging force of the spring 18 in such a manner that the plunger 17 is pushed up to the wiring board 13, and the second contact portion 17 a of the plunger 17 and each electrode (not shown) of the wiring board 13 are not shown. Are brought into contact with each other at a predetermined contact pressure.

  At this time, as described above, in the contact probe 11, the axial center CT1 of the plunger 17 substantially coincides with the axial center CT2 of the barrel body 16a. Accordingly, the sliding resistance of the plunger 17 with respect to the barrel main body 16a is reduced, and the plunger 17 can be smoothly moved up and down as the barrel main body 16a.

  In this state, as shown in FIG. 3C, the IC package 12 is accommodated above the IC socket 15, and the IC package 12 is pressed downward by a pressing mechanism (not shown). Then, each contact probe 11 descends against the urging force of the spring 18 in such a manner that the barrel 16 is pushed down by the IC package 12, and the first contact portion 16 b of the barrel 16 and each spherical terminal 12 a of the IC package 12. Are in contact with each other at a predetermined contact pressure.

  As a result, the spherical terminal 12 a of the IC package 12 and the electrode of the wiring board 13 are in a state of being electrically connected to each other via the contact probe 11.

  In this state, a current is passed through the IC package 12 to perform a burn-in test or the like.

  At this time, as described above, the contact probe 11 is securely short-circuited internally, so that it is possible to properly perform a burn-in test or the like of the IC package 12 even when a high current is passed through the IC package 12. It becomes.

Further, as described above, in the contact probe 11, the protrusion amount L1 of the plunger 17 from the barrel main body 16a is regulated by the three leaf springs 16c of the barrel 16 engaging the narrow diameter portion 17b of the plunger 17. It is configured as follows. As a result, since the full length (for example, 3 mm) of the contact probe 11 can be ensured, a burn-in test or the like of the IC package 12 can be performed without any trouble.
[Embodiment 2 of the Invention]

  5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

  The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment described above except that the number of leaf springs 16c of the barrel 16 is four instead of three.

  That is, in the contact probe 11, as shown in FIG. 5, the barrel body 16a is formed in such a manner that four leaf springs 16c are arranged on the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16 at equiangular intervals (that is, 90 ° intervals). Is formed so as to extend along the axial direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 5).

  About another structure, it is the same as that of Embodiment 1 mentioned above. Therefore, the second embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above.

  Further, as described in the first embodiment, the contact probe 11 is manufactured by manufacturing the barrel 16 by curling and then incorporating the spring 18 and the plunger 17 in this barrel 16 in order, as described below. Can do.

  First, in order to produce the barrel 16 by curling, as shown in FIG. 6A, a conductive flat plate material 19 punched into a predetermined shape by a press is prepared, and the flat plate material 19 has a substantially U-shaped shape. Four cuts 20 are formed to form four leaf springs 16c. At this time, these cuts 20 are arranged at equal intervals.

  Next, the four leaf springs 16c are bent in the same direction (FIG. 6 (a) toward the front in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) to form a contact portion 16d, and the tips of these leaf springs 16c are reversed ( FIG. 6 (a) is bent in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to form a guide portion 16e (see FIG. 6 (b)). These four bending processes are performed simultaneously. As a result, the time required for bending the four leaf springs 16c can be shortened and the productivity of the contact probe 11 can be increased as compared with the case where these bending processes are sequentially performed one by one.

  Thereafter, the flat plate material 19 is bent into a cylindrical shape. At this time, the side where the contact portion 16d of the leaf spring 16c is bent is set inward. As a result, a barrel 16 is obtained in which a thin cylindrical first contact portion 16b is integrally formed with a large cylindrical barrel body 16a.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), after inserting the spring 18 into the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16, as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) to 6 (d), the lower end of the barrel body 16a. Then, the plunger 17 is inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F, even if the plunger 17 is inserted more than necessary, it is pushed back by the urging force of the spring 18. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6D, the plunger 17 is stably supported when the abutting portion 16d of the barrel 16 hits the upper end of the small-diameter portion 17b. A quantity L1 is ensured.

  At this time, each leaf spring 16c of the barrel 16 is formed so as to extend along the axial direction of the barrel main body 16a, and a guide portion 16e is bent obliquely toward the outside at the tip of each leaf spring 16c. ing. As a result, the plunger 17 can be easily inserted into the barrel body 16a, so that the assembly of the contact probe 11 can be improved.

  Here, the contact probe 11 is completed, and the manufacture of the contact probe 11 is completed.

  Thus, with this contact probe 11, the barrel 16 can be easily manufactured by curling. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the contact probe 11 at a lower cost than cutting and other manufacturing methods.

The method of using the contact probe 11 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the second embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above.
Embodiment 3 of the Invention

  FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the third embodiment, the number of leaf springs 16c of the barrel 16 is not one, but one, and the axis CT1 of the plunger 17 is eccentric from the axis CT2 of the barrel body 16a. The configuration is the same as that of Form 1.

  That is, in this contact probe 11, as shown in FIG. 7A, one leaf spring 16c is formed on the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16 in the axial direction of the barrel body 16a (FIG. 7A). Direction). Further, the plunger 17 has its axis CT1 eccentric from the axis CT2 of the barrel body 16a downward in FIG. 7 (a).

  About another structure, it is the same as that of Embodiment 1 mentioned above. Therefore, the third embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above. In addition to this, in the third embodiment, since the number of leaf springs 16c is one, the size control of the leaf springs 16c becomes easier than in the case where there are a plurality (two or more) of leaf springs 16c. Accordingly, the degree of freedom in designing the contact probe 11 can be increased.

  Further, as described in the first embodiment, the contact probe 11 is manufactured by manufacturing the barrel 16 by curling and then incorporating the spring 18 and the plunger 17 in this barrel 16 in order, as described below. Can do.

  First, in order to produce the barrel 16 by curling, as shown in FIG. 7B, a conductive flat plate material 19 punched into a predetermined shape by a press is prepared. One notch 20 is formed to form one leaf spring 16c.

  Next, the leaf spring 16c is bent forward in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 7 (b) to form a contact portion 16d, and the tip of the leaf spring 16c is reversely directed (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 7 (b)). The guide portion 16e is formed by being bent in the opposite direction.

  Thereafter, the flat plate material 19 is bent into a cylindrical shape. At this time, the side where the contact portion 16d of the leaf spring 16c is bent is set inward. As a result, a barrel 16 is obtained in which a thin cylindrical first contact portion 16b is integrally formed with a large cylindrical barrel body 16a.

  Next, after inserting the spring 18 into the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16, the plunger 17 is inserted into the lower end of the barrel body 16a.

  At this time, the leaf spring 16c of the barrel 16 is formed so as to extend along the axial direction of the barrel body 16a, and the guide portion 16e is bent obliquely toward the outside at the tip of the leaf spring 16c. . As a result, the plunger 17 can be easily inserted into the barrel body 16a, so that the assembly of the contact probe 11 can be improved.

  Here, the contact probe 11 is completed, and the manufacture of the contact probe 11 is completed.

  Thus, with this contact probe 11, the barrel 16 can be easily manufactured by curling. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the contact probe 11 at a lower cost than cutting and other manufacturing methods.

The method of using the contact probe 11 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the above-described first embodiment are obtained except for the operational effects due to the fact that the axial center CT1 of the plunger 17 substantially coincides with the axial center CT2 of the barrel main body 16a.
[Embodiment 4 of the Invention]

  FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  The fourth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the above-described first embodiment except that the number of leaf springs 16c of the barrel 16 is two instead of three.

  That is, in the contact probe 11, as shown in FIG. 8A, two leaf springs 16c are arranged on the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16 at equiangular intervals (ie, 180 ° intervals). It is formed so as to extend along the axial direction of the barrel body 16a (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 8A).

  About another structure, it is the same as that of Embodiment 1 mentioned above. Therefore, the fourth embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above.

  Further, as described in the first embodiment, the contact probe 11 is manufactured by manufacturing the barrel 16 by curling and then incorporating the spring 18 and the plunger 17 in this barrel 16 in order, as described below. Can do.

  First, in order to produce the barrel 16 by curling, as shown in FIG. 8B, a conductive flat plate material 19 punched into a predetermined shape by a press is prepared, and the flat plate material 19 has a substantially U-shaped shape. Two notches 20 are formed to form two leaf springs 16c.

  Next, these two leaf springs 16c are bent in the same direction (FIG. 8 (b) toward the front in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface) to form a contact portion 16d, and the tips of these leaf springs 16c are reversed ( FIG. 8B is bent in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to form the guide portion 16e. These two bending processes are performed simultaneously. As a result, the time required for bending the two leaf springs 16c can be shortened and the productivity of the contact probe 11 can be increased as compared with the case where these bending processes are sequentially performed one by one.

  Thereafter, the flat plate material 19 is bent into a cylindrical shape. At this time, the side where the contact portion 16d of the leaf spring 16c is bent is set inward. As a result, a barrel 16 is obtained in which a thin cylindrical first contact portion 16b is integrally formed with a large cylindrical barrel body 16a.

  Next, after inserting the spring 18 into the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16, the plunger 17 is inserted into the lower end of the barrel body 16a.

  At this time, each leaf spring 16c of the barrel 16 is formed so as to extend along the axial direction of the barrel main body 16a, and a guide portion 16e is bent obliquely toward the outside at the tip of each leaf spring 16c. ing. As a result, the plunger 17 can be easily inserted into the barrel body 16a, so that the assembly of the contact probe 11 can be improved.

  Here, the contact probe 11 is completed, and the manufacture of the contact probe 11 is completed.

  Thus, with this contact probe 11, the barrel 16 can be easily manufactured by curling. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the contact probe 11 at a lower cost than cutting and other manufacturing methods.

The method of using the contact probe 11 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the fourth embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above.
Embodiment 5 of the Invention

  9 and 10 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

  The fifth embodiment has basically the same configuration as that of the second embodiment described above except that the barrel 16 is manufactured by cutting instead of curling.

  That is, in the contact probe 11, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10B, the first contact portion 16b of the barrel 16 is formed to have the same outer diameter as the barrel main body 16a, and the upper portion of the barrel main body 16a. Further, a ring-shaped protrusion 16f for locking the barrel 16 to the upper plate 21 is provided in a circle, and the contact portion 16d and the guide portion 16e of the leaf spring 16c are straightly formed downward without being bent. ing.

  About another structure, it is the same as that of Embodiment 2 mentioned above. Therefore, the fifth embodiment has the same effects as the second embodiment described above.

  Further, the contact probe 11 can be manufactured by incorporating the spring 18 and the plunger 17 in this barrel 16 in order as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D after the barrel 16 is manufactured by cutting. it can.

  Thus, in this contact probe 11, since the barrel 16 is produced by cutting, the barrel 16 can be produced with higher precision as compared to the curling.

The method of using the contact probe 11 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Therefore, the fifth embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment described above.
[Other Embodiments of the Invention]

  In the first, second, third, and fourth embodiments, the case where the leaf springs 16c of the barrel 16 are 3, 4, 1, and 2, respectively, the number of the leaf springs 16c is as follows. If it is one or more, it will not specifically limit. When there are a plurality (two or more) of the leaf springs 16c, normally, as described above, these leaf springs 16c are arranged at equal angular intervals, and the plunger 17 has an axis CT1 of the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16 as the center. It is desirable to support in a state substantially coincident with the axial center CT2 in terms of smoothing up and down movement of the plunger 17 with respect to the barrel body 16a. However, depending on the use of the contact probe 11 and other situations, the plunger 17 can be moved by disposing a plurality of leaf springs 16c at unequal angular intervals or appropriately adjusting the pressing force of each leaf spring 16c. It is also possible to support the shaft center CT1 in a state of being eccentric from the shaft center CT2 of the barrel body 16a of the barrel 16.

  Moreover, in the said Embodiment 1-5, the substantially cylindrical 2nd contact part 17a, the substantially cylindrical small diameter part 17b smaller in diameter than this 2nd contact part 17a, and the diameter substantially the same as the 2nd contact part 17a In the above description, the plunger 17 having the substantially conical large-diameter portion 17c, that is, the plunger 17 having a non-uniform diameter along the axial direction has been described. However, a straight-shaped plunger having a uniform diameter over the entire length in the axial direction. 17, that is, a cylindrical plunger 17 can be substituted.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the so-called one-end sliding contact probe 11 has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a so-called both-end sliding contact probe 11.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the contact probe 11 made of beryllium copper has been described. However, the present invention is similarly applied to a contact probe 11 made of a material other than beryllium copper (for example, brass, phosphor bronze, etc.). can do.

  Further, in the first to fifth embodiments, the contact probe 11 is applied to the IC socket 15 as the “electrical component socket”. However, the contact probe 11 is not limited to this, and the contact probe 11 is applied to other electric component sockets. Of course you can. The electrical component socket may be a so-called open top type or clamshell type IC socket, or a pusher for pressing the electrical component provided on the automatic machine side.

11 Contact probe
12 IC package (first electrical component)
13 Wiring board (second electrical component)
16 barrels
16a Barrel body (cylinder)
16b 1st contact part (1st contact member)
16c leaf spring
16d contact part
16e Guide section
17 Plunger (second contact member)
17b Small diameter part
17c Large diameter part
18 Spring
19 Flat plate
20 notches
CT1 Plunger shaft center (axis of second contact member)
CT2 barrel body axis (tubular axis)

Claims (7)

A conductive first contact member that contacts the first electrical component, a conductive second contact member that contacts the second electrical component, and at least one of the first contact member and the second contact member move inside. A contact probe comprising a conductive cylinder that fits freely, and a spring that is disposed in the cylinder and elastically biases the first contact member and the second contact member in a direction away from each other. Because
One of the first contact member and the second contact member is formed with a small diameter portion,
Some of the cylindrical body, the abutting plate spring to one of the first contact member and the second contact member, said tubular body said abutment is the one of the first or second contact member and out An abutting portion that allows the small diameter portion to be engaged and disengaged is formed at the distal end portion of the leaf spring. The one first or second contact member is held, and the one first or second contact member is pushed into the cylinder, or the one first or second contact member is removed from the cylinder. A contact probe configured to be released from the locked state by being pulled out .   The contact probe according to claim 1, wherein the first contact member and the cylindrical body are integrally formed, and the second contact member is movably fitted to the cylindrical body. The distal end portion of the plate spring contact of claim 2, contact portion for contacting a pre-Symbol second contact member is characterized in that it is formed so as to protrude toward the center of the cylindrical body probe. The tip of it if the plate is bent outwardly, that guide portion slides is formed the second contact member when said second contact member is inserted into the cylindrical body The contact probe according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: Having said second contact member is a small diameter portion, by the abutment of the plate spring is engaged with the small-diameter portion, the amount of projection of the second contact member from the cylinder is restricted The contact probe according to claim 2, wherein the contact probe is configured as described above.   A plurality of the leaf springs, and in a state where these leaf springs are in contact with the second contact member, an axis of the second contact member substantially coincides with an axis of the cylindrical body. The contact probe according to claim 2. A method of manufacturing a contact probe according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
Forming the cylindrical body of the contact probe by forming a substantially U-shaped cut in the flat plate material having conductivity to form the leaf spring, and then bending the flat plate material into a cylindrical shape. A method of manufacturing a contact probe.

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