US Patent 6881072 Membrane probe with anchored elements

A structure and method to establish an electrical connection between a tester and an electrical component. A flexible dielectric layer has a first side and a second side. A through via extends through the first side and the second side of the dielectric layer. A blind via is placed in a position that is offset from the through via and extends laterally in a first direction from a section of the first through via to a section of the flexible dielectric layer. The blind via extends in a second direction from the first side of the flexible dielectric layer to a section of the flexible dielectric layer that is between the first side and the second side of the dielectric layer. An electrically conductive member extends through the through via and extends into the blind via, thereby filling the through via and the blind via. The electrically conductive member has a first surface and a second surface. Any distance between the first surface and the second surface is greater than a distance between the first side of the dielectric layer and the second side of the dielectric layer.