What is claimed is:
1. A sample holder comprising:
a holder body comprising a sample holding portion configured to receive and hold a sample;
a first opening located in the sample holding portion, said first opening configured to receive the sample; and
an elastic member configured to supply a holding force to hold the sample in the first opening.
2. The sample holder of claim 1, further comprising a second opening located adjacent the first opening, wherein a sample holding member is located in the second opening.
3. The sample holder of claim 2, wherein the sample holding member is capable of longitudinal movement within the second opening.
4. The sample holder of claim 3, wherein the sample holding member is biased in a forward position by the holding force supplied by the elastic member.
5. The sample holder of claim 1, further comprising a third opening disposed along a side of the first opening and configured to permit easy insertion and removal of the sample into and from the first opening.
6. The sample holder of claim 5, wherein a depth of the third opening is less than a depth of the first opening, and wherein a corner at an interface between the first and third openings is rounded or beveled.
7. The sample holder of claim 2, wherein the sample holding member comprises:
a main body configured to contact a longitudinal side of a sample inserted into the first opening; and
a lower lip protruding from the main body, said lower lip configured to contact a lateral side of the sample mounted in the first opening.
8. The sample holder of claim 7, wherein a width of the second opening is greater than a width of the first opening.
9. The sample holder of claim 7, wherein a height of an upper surface of the lower lip is lower than a height of an upper surface of the main body.
10. The sample holder of claim 7, wherein a protrusion is disposed on the upper surface of the main body of the sample holding member.
11. The sample holder of claim 1, wherein a catch is formed on a lower portion of an external surface of the holder body of the sample holder.
12. The sample holder of claim 7, wherein a forward end of the lower lip of the sample holding member is rounded.
13. The sample holder of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a compression spring configured to resist compression to generate the holding force.
14. The sample holder of claim 2, further comprising an elastic member insertion groove arranged in the holder body in communication with the second opening, wherein a first end of the elastic member is inserted into the elastic member insertion groove, and wherein a second end of the elastic member is arranged in contact with the sample holding member.
15. The sample holder of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a tension elastic member that uses a tension-resistant force to supply the holding force.
16. An auxiliary apparatus for facilitating insertion of a sample into a sample holder, the auxiliary apparatus comprising:
a base;
one or more holder supports arranged on the base, wherein the holder supports are configured to support a sample holder a predetermined height above the base; and
a first stop configured to stop the forward movement of a sample holding member of the sample holder at a predetermined distance from a forward end of the auxiliary apparatus.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a second stop arranged at a predetermined location on the base to prevent premature backward movement of the sample holder relative to the auxiliary apparatus when the sample holder is arranged in a forward position on the first and second supports.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first stop comprises a hole configured to permit a forward end of the sample holder to pass therethrough and to stop forward movement of a protrusion formed on the sample holding member at an entrance thereof.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second stop comprises a latch.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the latch comprises a moveable latching member having an edge that slants upwardly in a direction of a forward end of the auxiliary apparatus and a substantially vertical edge that extends downward from a forward end of the slanted edge, and wherein a catch formed on a lower external surface of the sample holder is configured to catch on the latch to prevent premature backward movement of the sample holder from the auxiliary apparatus.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the latch includes an elastic member that biases a latching member in an upward position, wherein a catch of the sample holder is configured to force the latching member downward as the sample holder is moved forward in the auxiliary apparatus, and wherein the latching member returns to the upward position to prevent premature backward movement of the sample holder when the catch passes the latch.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the latch comprises a handle configured to permit a user to initiate a downward movement of a latching member to release the sample holder from the auxiliary apparatus.
23. A method of positioning a sample in a sample holder, the method comprising:
mounting a sample holder on a holder support of an auxiliary apparatus;
moving the sample holder forward on the auxiliary apparatus;
forcing a sample holding member of the sample holder rearward to enable receipt of a sample into an opening of the sample holder;
mounting the sample in the opening of the sample holder; and
removing the sample holder from the auxiliary apparatus to permit an elastic holding force provided by an elastic holding element to cause forward movement of the sample holding member to securely hold the sample in the opening.
24. A method according to claim 23, further comprising latching the sample holder in a forward position in the auxiliary apparatus to prevent premature backward movement of the sample holder.
25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising unlatching the sample holder from the auxiliary apparatus to permit backward movement thereof.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for forming a Z-directed component for insertion into a mounting hole in a printed circuit board, comprising:
filling a first cavity having a tapered surface with a body material to form a tapered end portion of the Z-directed component;
providing a first layer of a constraining material on top of the first cavity, the first layer of the constraining material having a second cavity having a width that is smaller than a width of the first cavity;
filling the second cavity with the body material;
providing successive layers of the constraining material on top of the first layer of the constraining material, each of the successive layers of the constraining material having a cavity defining the outer shape of a corresponding layer of a main body portion of the Z-directed component;
selectively filling the cavities of the successive layers of the constraining material with at least the body material to form the layers of the main body portion of the Z-directed component;
dissipating the constraining material to release the Z-directed component from the constraining material; and
firing the Z-directed component.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cavity includes a protrusion on a bottom surface thereof that forms a corresponding indentation in an end surface of the tapered end portion of the Z-directed component for engaging a tool for removing the tapered end portion after the Z-directed component is inserted into the mounting hole in the printed circuit board.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cavity is formed in a substrate that supports the layers of the constraining material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first cavity is formed in a release layer coated on a substrate that supports the layers of the constraining material.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first cavity is formed in the release layer by gray scale lithography.