Patents by Inventor Kohei Hironaka

Kohei Hironaka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11656246
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: a signal probe configured to receive and output a signal from and to a predetermined circuit structure; a power supply probe configured to supply power to the predetermined circuit structure; a grounding probe configured to supply a ground potential to the predetermined circuit structure; and a conductive probe holder including a plurality of hole portions in which the signal probe, the power supply probe, and the grounding probe are insertable, the plurality of hole portions having a same hole shape as one another, wherein the signal probe, the power supply probe, and the grounding probe inserted into the plurality of hole portions are interchangeable with one another to change an arrangement of the signal probe, the power supply probe, and the grounding probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Kazuya Soma
  • Publication number: 20220317155
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: a signal probe configured to receive and output a signal from and to a predetermined circuit structure; a power supply probe configured to supply power to the predetermined circuit structure; a grounding probe configured to supply a ground potential to the predetermined circuit structure; and a conductive probe holder including a plurality of hole portions in which the signal probe, the power supply probe, and the grounding probe are insertable, the plurality of hole portions having a same hole shape as one another, wherein the signal probe, the power supply probe, and the grounding probe inserted into the plurality of hole portions are interchangeable with one another to change an arrangement of the signal probe, the power supply probe, and the grounding probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Kazuya Soma
  • Patent number: 11422156
    Abstract: A contact probe includes: a cylindrical pipe member; a collar including a hollow portion and fixed to an inner circumferential side of at least one end in a longitudinal direction of the pipe member; and an inner conductor including a flange configured to abut on a stepped portion formed by the pipe member and the collar, the inner conductor being expandable and contractible along the longitudinal direction and penetrating the pipe member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Kazuya Soma
  • Patent number: 11320461
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: a plurality of contact probes each of which has one end that is brought into contact with a contacting electrode, the one end being an end in a longitudinal direction; a first ground member connected to an external ground; a second ground member provided around each of the contact probes; a connecting member electrically connected to the first ground member, and electrically connected to one end of the second ground member; and a probe holder configured to hold the contact probes, the first ground member, the second ground member and the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Shuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11293946
    Abstract: A conductive contactor unit includes: a signal conductive contactor configured to input or output a signal to or from a predetermined circuit structure, the signal conductive contactor including a first plunger, a second plunger, and a spring member; and a conductive contactor holder configured to house the signal conductive contactor used for inputting and outputting the signal to and from the predetermined circuit structure, the conductive contactor holder having a coaxial structure with the signal conductive contactor, and including a holder substrate including an opening configured to allow the signal conductive contactor to be inserted therethrough, a holding member housed in the opening, and including a holding hole configured to hold one or more of the signal conductive contactors, and a stab configured to form a hollow space extending from the holding hole in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the holding hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Tsuyoshi Inuma
  • Publication number: 20210156887
    Abstract: A contact probe includes: a cylindrical pipe member; a collar including a hollow portion and fixed to an inner circumferential side of at least one end in a longitudinal direction of the pipe member; and an inner conductor including a flange configured to abut on a stepped portion formed by the pipe member and the collar, the inner conductor being expandable and contractible along the longitudinal direction and penetrating the pipe member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Kazuya Soma
  • Publication number: 20200225265
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: a plurality of contact probes each of which has one end that is brought into contact with a contacting electrode, the one end being an end in a longitudinal direction; a first ground member connected to an external ground; a second ground member provided around each of the contact probes; a connecting member electrically connected to the first ground member, and electrically connected to one end of the second ground member; and a probe holder configured to hold the contact probes, the first ground member, the second ground member and the connecting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Shuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20200141975
    Abstract: A conductive contactor unit includes: a signal conductive contactor configured to input or output a signal to or from a predetermined circuit structure, the signal conductive contactor including a first plunger, a second plunger, and a spring member; and a conductive contactor holder configured to house the signal conductive contactor used for inputting and outputting the signal to and from the predetermined circuit structure, the conductive contactor holder having a coaxial structure with the signal conductive contactor, and including a holder substrate including an opening configured to allow the signal conductive contactor to be inserted therethrough, a holding member housed in the opening, and including a holding hole configured to hold one or more of the signal conductive contactors, and a stab configured to form a hollow space extending from the holding hole in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the holding hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Tsuyoshi Inuma
  • Patent number: 10274517
    Abstract: Provided is a conductive probe having a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion. The first end portion includes first to fourth linear ridges and first to fifth vertexes, and the first to fourth linear ridges are spaced from one another and arranged to form a cross. The first to fourth vertexes are located on an outer circumference of the first end portion and further arranged between the first linear ridge and the second linear ridge, between the second linear ridge and the third linear ridge, between the third linear ridge and the fourth linear ridge, and between the fourth linear ridge and the first linear ridge, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Kazuya Souma, Satoshi Shoji, Ryosuke Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10120011
    Abstract: A test unit according to the present invention includes: a first contact probe contacting with an electrode provided on a front surface of one of contact targets, and contacting with an electrode of the other contact target; a second contact probe contacting with an electrode provided on a back surface of the one of contact targets and contacting with an electrode of a substrate; a first probe holder including a suction holder that sucks and holds the one of contact targets, and accommodating and holding therein the first contact probes; a second probe holder accommodating and holding therein the second contact probes; and a base portion, which is layered over the first probe holder and holds the other contact target at a side thereof layered over the first probe holder; and a gap is formed between the other contact target and the first probe holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Takashi Nidaira, Tomohiro Yoneda
  • Patent number: 10082525
    Abstract: A probe unit according to the present invention is suitable for allowing a large current to flow. In the probe unit that accommodates a plurality of contact probes for electrically connecting an inspection target object and a signal processing device used to output an inspection signal, both ends of a large current probe (3) are electrically connected to electrodes of a contact target object, and a large current is made to flow via a metal block (50) that comes into contact with both end portions of the large current probe (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Kohei Hironaka
  • Publication number: 20180238932
    Abstract: Provided is a conductive probe having a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion. The first end portion includes first to fourth linear ridges and first to fifth vertexes, and the first to fourth linear ridges are spaced from one another and arranged to form a cross. The first to fourth vertexes are located on an outer circumference of the first end portion and further arranged between the first linear ridge and the second linear ridge, between the second linear ridge and the third linear ridge, between the third linear ridge and the fourth linear ridge, and between the fourth linear ridge and the first linear ridge, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Kohei HIRONAKA, Kazuya SOUMA, Satoshi SHOJI, Ryosuke YAMAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170299631
    Abstract: A probe unit according to the present invention is suitable for allowing a large current to flow. In the probe unit that accommodates a plurality of contact probes for electrically connecting an inspection target object and a signal processing device used to output an inspection signal, both ends of a large current probe (3) are electrically connected to electrodes of a contact target object, and a large current is made to flow via a metal block (50) that comes into contact with both end portions of the large current probe (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Kohei Hironaka
  • Publication number: 20170010315
    Abstract: A test unit according to the present invention includes: a first contact probe contacting with an electrode provided on a front surface of one of contact targets, and contacting with an electrode of the other contact target; a second contact probe contacting with an electrode provided on a back surface of the one of contact targets and contacting with an electrode of a substrate; a first probe holder including a suction holder that sucks and holds the one of contact targets, and accommodating and holding therein the first contact probes; a second probe holder accommodating and holding therein the second contact probes; and a base portion, which is layered over the first probe holder and holds the other contact target at a side thereof layered over the first probe holder; and a gap is formed between the other contact target and the first probe holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Kohei HIRONAKA, Takashi NIDAIRA, Tomohiro YONEDA
  • Publication number: 20150139722
    Abstract: A socket attachment structure for attaching a socket to a substrate, the socket including a plurality of contact probes that respectively contact the substrate and a contacted body at both longitudinal direction ends thereof, a probe holder that accommodates and holds therein the plurality of contact probes according to a predetermined pattern, and a holder member provided around the probe holder, includes: a plurality of support members that extend out from a principal plane of the substrate and are respectively inserted through insertion holes provided in the holder member; and a spring member that is attached to the plurality of support members in a state of biasing the holder member placed on the substrate towards the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Kohei Hironaka, Yusman Sugianto, Chee Ping B. Loh, Choon Joo S. Yeow, Teck H. Wong, Xiaojun T. Wang
  • Patent number: 8633724
    Abstract: A probe-unit base member having high rigidity and requiring no troublesome operations for its manufacture and a probe unit are provided. To achieve the purpose, the probe-unit base member includes a conductive substrate 41 that has a first opening 41a capable of fitting therein a probe holder 3 and a second opening 41b communicated with the first opening 41a; a coating 42 that is made of an insulating adhesive agent and is coated at least on an edge of the second opening 41b; and an insulating guide member 43 that is bonded to the edge of the second opening 41b through the coating 42 and guides one of two contact bodies to a position in contact with probes 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kazama, Kohei Hironaka, Mitsuhiro Kondo, Osamu Ito
  • Patent number: 8344747
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: large diameter probes; small diameter probes; a large-diameter probe holder having large hole portions which individually hold the large diameter probes, and reception hole portions which have diameters smaller than those of the large hole portions, communicate with the large hole portions, and receive end portions of the small diameter probes so that the end portions come into contact with the large diameter; and a small-diameter probe holder probes having small hole portions which individually hold the small diameter probes. The central axes of the large hole portion and the small hole portion that communicate with each other are separated from each other, and the small hole portions include two small hole portions which are adjacent to each other and of which central axes are separated from each other by a distance shorter than a distance between the central axes of two large hole portions that are corresponding to the two small hole portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kazama, Kohei Hironaka, Shigeki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8096840
    Abstract: Provided are a conductive contact holder and a conductive contact unit that enable a test to be performed in a precise temperature environment. For this objective, a construction includes a holder substrate that individually receives plural conductive contacts, and a floating member attached to the holder substrate such that a distance from a surface of the holder substrate is varied within a predetermined range by an external force. The floating member has plural hole sections into which a front end section of each of the conductive contacts received in the holder substrate is inserted. A gap between the holder substrate and the floating member forms at least a part of a passage of fluid introduced from outside of the conductive contact holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Hironaka, Toru Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Kondo
  • Publication number: 20110227596
    Abstract: A probe-unit base member having high rigidity and requiring no troublesome operations for its manufacture and a probe unit are provided. To achieve the purpose, the probe-unit base member includes a conductive substrate 41 that has a first opening 41a capable of fitting therein a probe holder 3 and a second opening 41b communicated with the first opening 41a; a coating 42 that is made of an insulating adhesive agent and is coated at least on an edge of the second opening 41b; and an insulating guide member 43 that is bonded to the edge of the second opening 41b through the coating 42 and guides one of two contact bodies to a position in contact with probes 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kazama, Kohei Hironaka, Mitsuhiro Kondo, Osamu Ito
  • Publication number: 20110025358
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: large diameter probes; a small diameter probes; a large-diameter probe holder having large hole portions which individually hold the large diameter probes, and hole portions which have diameters smaller than those of the large hole portions, communicate with the large hole portions, and receive end portions of the small diameter probes so that the end portions come into contact with the large diameter; and a small-diameter probe holder probes having small hole portions which individually hold the small diameter probes The central axes of the large hole portion and the small hole portion that communicate with each other are separated from each other, and the small hole portions include two small hole portions which are adjacent to each other and of which central axes are separated from each other by a distance shorter than a distance between the central axes of two large hole portions that are corresponding to the two small hole portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kazama, Kohei Hironaka, Shigeki Ishikawa