Patents by Inventor Tsuyoshi Inuma

Tsuyoshi Inuma 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: 11782074
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: first contact probes each coming into contact with a target electrode on one end side in a longitudinal direction; a second contact probe connected to an external ground; a signal pipe disposed around each first contact probes; a ground member provided around each signal pipe and configured to form an air layer with the signal pipe; a probe holder including a plate-shaped first and second members; a first wiring part provided at least on a front surface of the first member and electrically connected to the second contact probe; a second wiring part provided at least on a front surface of the second member and electrically connected to the second contact probe; a first conductive unit configured to electrically connect the first wiring part and the ground member; and a second conductive unit configured to electrically connect the second wiring part and the ground member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inuma, Kazuya Soma
  • Publication number: 20230138105
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inuma, Shuji Takahashi, Kazuya Soma, Takashi Nidaira, Yuya Hironaka
  • Publication number: 20220196704
    Abstract: A measurement unit includes: a ground portion forming a part of a line configured to provide continuity for grounding electric potential, the ground portion including a surface forming a plane at one end of the ground portion; a signal portion forming a part of a line configured to provide continuity for a signal for measurement, the signal portion including an end portion configured to come out in a plane that is same as the plane of the ground portion; an insulative dielectric portion provided between the ground portion and the signal portion; an electrically conductive first contact probe configured to expand and contract along a longitudinal axis, the first contact probe coming into contact with the signal portion; and an electrically conductive second contact probe configured to expand and contract along a longitudinal axis, the second contact probe coming into contact with the ground portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inuma, Hiroshi Nakayama, Shuji Takahashi
  • 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: 20220018877
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: a first contact probe configured to come in contact with a signal electrode; a second contact probe configured to come in contact with a ground electrode; a probe holder including a first holder hole through which the first contact probe passes, and a second holder hole through which the second contact probe passes; and a conductive floating member including a first through hole to which the first contact probe is inserted and the signal electrode is inserted, and a second through hole to which the second contact probe is inserted and the ground electrode is inserted. The probe holder is configured such that at least an inner circumferential surface of the first holder hole has an insulating property, and the probe unit has a coaxial structure in which central axes of the first contact probe and the first through hole are aligned with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inuma, Shuji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20220011345
    Abstract: A probe unit includes: first contact probes each coming into contact with a target electrode on one end side in a longitudinal direction; a second contact probe connected to an external ground; a signal pipe disposed around each first contact probes; a ground member provided around each signal pipe and configured to form an air layer with the signal pipe; a probe holder including a plate-shaped first and second members; a first wiring part provided at least on a front surface of the first member and electrically connected to the second contact probe; a second wiring part provided at least on a front surface of the second member and electrically connected to the second contact probe; a first conductive unit configured to electrically connect the first wiring part and the ground member; and a second conductive unit configured to electrically connect the second wiring part and the ground member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Inuma, 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: 8456184
    Abstract: A probe card is provided that is capable of accurately ensuring the flatness and the parallelism with respect to a predetermined reference surface. A point (Q) of application of force applied from a leaf spring (17) that presses a portion near an edge portion of a surface of a probe head (15) from which a plurality of probes projects over an entire circumference in a direction of a substrate to the probe head (15) is positioned inside of an outer edge of the probe head (15), and a point (P) of application of force applied from the retainer (16) that presses a portion near an edge portion of a space transformer (14) over an entire circumference in the direction of the substrate to the space transformer (14) is positioned inside of an outer edge of the space transformer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Hiroshi Nakayama, Mitsuhiro Nagaya, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Takashi Akao
  • Patent number: 8149008
    Abstract: A probe card includes a probe head that holds a plurality of probes; a flat wiring board that has a wiring pattern corresponding to a circuit structure; an interposer that is stacked on the wiring board and relays wirings of the wiring board; a space transformer that is placed between the interposer and the probe head, transforms a space between the wirings relayed by the interposer, and leads the transformed wirings out to a surface facing the probe head; and a plurality of post members that are formed in a substantially columnar shape with a height larger than a sum of a thickness of the wiring board and a thickness of the interposer, and embedded to pierce through the wiring board and the interposer in a thickness direction such that one of end surfaces of each post member comes into contact with the space transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Hiroshi Nakayama, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Takashi Akao
  • Patent number: 8049525
    Abstract: A parallelism adjusting mechanism of a probe card is provided. The parallelism adjusting mechanism can bring probes held by a probe card into uniform contact with a wafer even if a parallelism between a mounting reference surface for the probe card and the wafer as a test object is lost. To achieve this purpose, specifically, to adjust a parallelism of a probe card (101) that holds a plurality of probes (1) for electrically connecting a wafer (31) as a test object and a circuitry for generating a signal for a test with respect to the wafer (31), adjusting screws (22) as at least part of an inclination changing unit are provided. The inclination changing unit changes a degree of inclination of the probe card (101) with respect to a mounting reference surface (S1) of a prober (202) for mounting the probe card (101) thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Hiroshi Nakayama, Mitsuhiro Nagaya, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Takashi Akao
  • Patent number: 7898272
    Abstract: A probe card includes a flat wiring board having a wiring pattern corresponding to a circuit structure for generating a signal for a test, an interposer that is stacked on the wiring board and relays wirings of the wiring board, a space transformer that is stacked on the interposer and fastened thereto by an adhesive, transforms a space between the wirings relayed by the interposer, and leads the wirings out to a surface opposite a surface facing the interposer, and a probe head that is stacked on the space transformer and houses and holds a plurality of probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Yoshio Yamada, Mitsuhiro Nagaya, Takashi Akao, Hiroshi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100219852
    Abstract: A probe card includes a probe head that holds a plurality of probes; a flat wiring board that has a wiring pattern corresponding to a circuit structure; an interposer that is stacked on the wiring board and relays wirings of the wiring board; a space transformer that is placed between the interposer and the probe head, transforms a space between the wirings relayed by the interposer, and leads the transformed wirings out to a surface facing the probe head; and a plurality of post members that are formed in a substantially columnar shape with a height larger than a sum of a thickness of the wiring board and a thickness of the interposer, and embedded to pierce through the wiring board and the interposer in a thickness direction such that one of end surfaces of each post member comes into contact with the space transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Hiroshi Nakayama, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Takashi Akao
  • Publication number: 20100164518
    Abstract: A probe card is provided that is capable of accurately ensuring the flatness and the parallelism with respect to a predetermined reference surface. A point (Q) of application of force applied from a leaf spring (17) that presses a portion near an edge portion of a surface of a probe head (15) from which a plurality of probes projects over an entire circumference in a direction of a substrate to the probe head (15) is positioned inside of an outer edge of the probe head (15), and a point (P) of application of force applied from the retainer (16) that presses a portion near an edge portion of a space transformer (14) over an entire circumference in the direction of the substrate to the space transformer (14) is positioned inside of an outer edge of the space transformer (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: NHK Spring Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Hiroshi Nakayama, Mitsuhiro Nagaya, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Takashi Akao
  • Publication number: 20100001748
    Abstract: A probe card includes a flat wiring board having a wiring pattern corresponding to a circuit structure for generating a signal for a test, an interposer that is stacked on the wiring board and relays wirings of the wiring board, a space transformer that is stacked on the interposer and fastened thereto by an adhesive, transforms a space between the wirings relayed by the interposer, and leads the wirings out to a surface opposite a surface facing the interposer, and a probe head that is stacked on the space transformer and houses and holds a plurality of probes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Sasaki, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Yoshio Yamada, Mitsuhiro Nagaya, Takashi Akao, Hiroshi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20100001752
    Abstract: A parallelism adjusting mechanism of a probe card is provided. The parallelism adjusting mechanism can bring probes held by a probe card into uniform contact with a wafer even if a parallelism between a mounting reference surface for the probe card and the wafer as a test object is lost. To achieve this purpose, specifically, to adjust a parallelism of a probe card (101) that holds a plurality of probes (1) for electrically connecting a wafer (31) as a test object and a circuitry for generating a signal for a test with respect to the wafer (31), adjusting screws (22) as at least part of an inclination changing unit are provided. The inclination changing unit changes a degree of inclination of the probe card (101) with respect to a mounting reference surface (S1) of a prober (202) for mounting the probe card (101) thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Yamada, Hiroshi Nakayama, Mitsuhiro Nagaya, Tsuyoshi Inuma, Takashi Akao