Patent · US Expired

Testing fixture and method for circuit traces on a flexible substrate

US5467020A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
9References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 29, 1994
Grant dateNov 14, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 29, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/2805
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A mechanism is provided for testing circuit traces extending along a flexible substrate, which is fed in a longitudinal direction between an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper plate includes a number of upper apertures extending across the flexible substrate and a number of upper segments, also extending across the flexible substrate, between adjacent apertures. The lower plate includes lower segments extending under the upper apertures and lower apertures extending under the upper segments. Two upper test probes are moved above the flexible substrate, while two lower test probes are moved under the flexible substrate. Tests are applied to both sides of the flexible substrate as the probes are brought into contact with test points in the areas accessible through the upper and lower apertures, with segments extending along the apertures on the opposite sides of the flexible substrate providing a backing surface for probe contact. A two-probe method may be used to determine the electrical characteristics of a circuit trace extending between test points, or a single-probe method may be used to determine the capacitance between a circuit trace and the plates. Circuit areas on the…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.