AUTOMATIC TEST SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20160291080A1
• Filed: 12/07/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chroma ATE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chroma ATE Incorporated
• Inventors: LU, Chih-Cherng, TING, Chia-Ching, LIN, Chuan-Tse
• Granted Patent: US 9,841,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2834 Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3191 Calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3865 related to manufacture, e.g. testing after manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/00 Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 35/005 Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

An automatic test system and method are provided. The automatic test system includes at least one formation apparatus and a test fixture. The formation apparatus receives a first control command from a network and executes a test procedure according to the first control command. The test procedure includes a charging mode and a discharging mode. The test fixture is selectively coupled to the formation apparatus. During the test procedure, when the test fixture is coupled to the formation apparatus, the test fixture generates a first measurement result. The test fixture transmits the first measurement result to the formation apparatus via a wireless communication interface of the test fixture.

Claims

1. An automatic test system, comprising:

at least one battery formation apparatus, for receiving a first control command from a network and performing a test procedure including a charging mode and a discharging mode according to the first control command; and

a test fixture comprising a wireless transmission interface and selectively coupled to the at least one battery formation apparatus, for in response to the test procedure, generating a first measurement result and sending the first measurement result to the at least one battery formation apparatus via the wireless transmission interface when coupled to the at least one battery formation apparatus.

2. The automatic test system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a robotic device, for receiving a second control command from the network and moving the test fixture according to the second control command, so as to couple the test fixture to the at least one battery formation apparatus.

3. The automatic test system according to claim 1, wherein the test fixture comprises:

a connection-port module, electrically connected to the at least one battery formation apparatus when the test fixture is coupled to the at least one battery formation apparatus;

a control module coupled to the connection-port module, for performing the charging mode and the discharging mode through the connection-port module; and

a measurement module coupled to the connection-port module, for measuring the connection-port module under the charging mode and the discharging mode to generate the first measurement result and sending the first measurement result to the at least one battery formation apparatus through the wireless transmission interface.

4. The automatic test system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery formation apparatus, after receiving the first measurement result, generates a test value according to the first measurement result.

5. The automatic test system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery formation apparatus generates a second measurement result associated with the charging mode and the discharging mode, and compares the first measurement result with the second measurement result to generate a test result.

6. An automatic test system for calibrating at least one battery formation apparatus, comprising:

at least one computer, for receiving a first control command from a network and controlling the at least one battery formation apparatus to perform a test procedure comprising a charging mode and a discharging mode according to the first control command; and

a test fixture comprising a wireless transmission interface and selectively coupled to the at least one battery formation apparatus, for, in response to the test procedure, generating a first measurement result and sending the first measurement result to the at least one computer through the wireless transmission interface when coupled to the at least one battery formation apparatus.

7. The automatic test system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a robotic device, for receiving a second control command from the network and moving the test fixture according to the second control command, so as to couple the test fixture to the at least one battery formation apparatus.

8. The automatic test system according to claim 6, wherein the test fixture comprises:

a connection-port module, electrically connected to the at least one battery formation apparatus when the test fixture is coupled to the at least one battery formation apparatus;

a control module coupled to the connection-port module, for performing the charging mode and the discharging mode through the connection-port module; and

a measurement module, coupled to the connection-port module, for measuring the connection-port module under the charging mode and the discharging mode to generate the first measurement result and sending the first measurement result to the at least one battery formation apparatus through the wireless transmission interface.

9. The automatic test system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one computer generates a test value according to the first measurement result after receiving the first measurement result.

10. The automatic test system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one computer controls the at least one battery formation apparatus to generate a second measurement result associated with the charging mode and the discharging mode and compares the first measurement result with the second measurement result to generate a test result.

11. An automatic test method applied to an automatic test system that comprises at least one battery formation apparatus and a test fixture, and comprising steps of:

generating a first control command;

selectively coupling the test fixture to the at least one battery formation apparatus;

by the at least one battery formation apparatus, receiving the first control command from a network and performing a test procedure comprising a charging mode and a discharging mode according to the first control command;

by the test fixture, generating a first measurement result in response to the test procedure; and

by a wireless transmission interface in the test fixture, sending the first measurement result to the at least one battery formation apparatus.

12. The automatic test method according to claim 11, wherein the automatic test system further comprises a robotic device, and the step of selectively coupling the test fixture to the at least one battery formation apparatus comprises:

receiving a second control command from the network and moving the test fixture according to the second control command by the robotic device, so as to couple the test fixture to the at least one battery formation apparatus.

13. The automatic test method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating a test value according to the first measurement result by the at least one battery formation apparatus after the at least one battery formation apparatus receives the first measurement result.

14. The automatic test method according to claim 11, further comprising:

generating a second measurement result associated with the charging mode and the discharging mode by the at least one battery formation apparatus; and

comparing the first measurement result with the second measurement result to generate a test result.