Test probe adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12092657-B2
Application number	US-202016802405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2020
Priority date	Feb 26, 2020
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) test probe adapter comprises a cable adapter operable for use with a RF test probe and a housing. The cable adapter comprises a cable connector configured to physically couple to a connector of a coaxial cable, a first pin operable to electrically couple a center conductor of the coaxial cable to a first lead of the RF test probe, and a second pin operable to electrically couple an outer conductor of the coaxial cable to a second lead of the test probe. The housing is sized and shaped to secure the RF test probe and the cable adapter in a physically coupled configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A radio frequency (RF) test probe adapter operable for use as a test attachment with a separate RF test probe comprising:
a cable adapter comprising:
a cable connector configured to physically couple to a connector of a coaxial cable to facilitate testing of electrical circuits having a coaxial cable connection,
a base, the base supporting the cable connector;
a first pin supported by and extending from the base, the first pin being operable to be inserted into a first lead of the RF test probe to electrically couple a center conductor of the coaxial cable to the first lead of the RF test probe, and
a second pin supported by and extending from the base, the second pin being operable to be inserted into a second lead of the RF test probe to electrically couple an outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the second lead of the test probe, wherein the second pin is offset longitudinally from the first pin; and
a housing sized and shaped to secure the RF test probe and the cable adapter in a physically coupled configuration.

2. The RF test probe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a ledge operable to interface with and secure the base of the cable adapter within the housing.

3. The RF test probe adapter of claim 2 , wherein the base is configured to be received within the housing, and to be removably supported by the housing, such that the cable adapter is interchangeable with a second cable adapter.

4. The RF test probe adapter of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a first portion configured to support a first side of the RF test probe and a first side of the base of the cable adapter and a second portion configured to support a second side of the RF test probe and a second side of the base of the cable adapter.

5. The RF test probe adapter of claim 4 , wherein the housing further comprises a hinge mechanism, and the first portion and the second portion are pivotally coupled together via the hinge mechanism.

6. The RF test probe adapter of claim 1 , wherein the housing is made, at least in part, of an electrostatic discharge material.

7. A radio frequency (RF) test probe assembly comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) test probe having a first lead and a second lead;
a radio frequency (RF) test probe adapter operable to be electrically coupled to the RF test probe as a test attachment, the radio frequency (RF) test probe adapter comprising:
a cable adapter comprising:
a cable connector configured to physically couple to a connector of a coaxial cable to facilitate testing of electrical circuits having a coaxial cable connection,
a base, the base supporting the cable connector;
a first pin supported by and extending from the base, the first pin being inserted into a first lead of the RF test probe to electrically couple a center lead of the coaxial cable to the first lead of the RF test probe, and
a second pin supported by and extending from the base, the second pin being inserted into a second lead of the RF test probe to electrically couple an outer conductor of the cable adapter to the second lead of the test probe, wherein the second pin is offset longitudinally from the first pin; and
a housing removably securing the RF test probe and the cable adapter in a physically coupled configuration.

8. The RF test probe assembly of claim 7 , wherein the housing further comprises a ledge removably securing the base of the cable adapter within the housing.

9. The RF test probe assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a second cable adapter operable for use with the RF test probe, wherein a base of the second cable adapter is configured to be received within the housing, and to be removably supported by the housing, such that the second cable adapter is interchangeable with the cable adapter.

10. The RF test probe assembly of claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises a first portion configured to support a first side of the RF test probe and a first side of the base of the cable adapter and a second portion configured to support a second side of the RF test probe and a second side of the base of the cable adapter.

11. The RF test probe assembly of claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a hinge mechanism, and the first portion and the second portion are pivotally coupled together via the hinge mechanism.

12. A method for facilitating adaption of leads of a radio frequency (RF) test probe to a coaxial cable via a radio frequency (RF) test probe adapter operable to be electrically coupled to the RF test probe as a test attachment, the method comprising:
configuring a cable adapter to have a cable connector operable to physically couple to a coaxial cable to facilitate testing of electrical circuits having a coaxial cable connection;
configuring the cable adapter to comprise a base, the base supporting the cable connector;
supporting a first pin from the base;
supporting a second pin from the base, wherein the second pin is offset longitudinally from the first pin;
inserting the first pin of the cable adapter into a first lead of the RF test probe operable to electrically couple a center lead of the coaxial cable to the first lead of the RF test probe;
inserting the second pin of the cable adapter into a second lead of the RF test probe to electrically couple an outer conductor of the coaxial cable to the second lead of the RF test probe; and
configuring a housing to have an internal cavity sized and shaped to secure the RF test probe and the cable adapter in a physically coupled configuration.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising configuring the internal cavity to be operable to secure a second cable adapter in a physically coupled configuration with the RF test probe, the second cable adapter being interchangeable with the cable adapter.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising configuring a second cable adapter to be interchanged with the cable adapter in the housing and to have a second cable connector, a first pin operable with the first lead of the RF test probe, and a second pin operable with the second lead of the RF test probe.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the base comprises a first base and the second cable adapter has a second base supporting the cable connector and each of the first and second pins of the second cable connector, and wherein the first base and the second base have substantially a same shape.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising configuring the housing to have a first portion operable to support a first side of a RF test probe and a second portion, joinable to the first portion, and operable to support a second side of the RF test probe.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising configuring the housing with a hinge mechanism to facilitate pivotal coupling of the first portion and the second portion.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Stuart Susanne L
• Grise John C

Classifications

• G01R13/20

  Cathode-ray oscilloscopes · CPC title

• G01R1/0416

  Connectors, terminals (G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364) · CPC title

• G01R1/06772 Primary

  High frequency probes · CPC title

• G01R1/06788 Primary

  Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments (end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18) · CPC title