Apparatus for testing circuit boards
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising electronic equipment, a circuit board for testing and being designed to be used with said electronic equipment in the normal operation of said electronic equipment, and switch means connected between said electronic equipment and said circuit board for permitting said circuit board to be tested by removable connection with said electronic equipment, wherein removal or installation of a said circuit board connected directly to said electronic equipment during said normal operation will prevent maintenance of integrity of the circuit board, said switch means comprising means for removably receiving said circuit board and means for selectively transmitting power or bus signals between said electronic equipment and said circuit board in a predetermined sequence for allowing said circuit board to be installed or removed while said electronic equipment remains activated while maintaining the integrity of said circuit board, whereby said circuit board may be installed or removed without inactivating said electronic equipment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The testing of printed circuit boards is facilitated by a device which comprises a plurality of switches for electrically connecting or disconnecting the circuit board from electronic equipment which uses it, such as a small computer. The apparatus connects between the bus terminals on the computer and those on the printed circuit board and provides a plurality of switches controlling the connection of address, data, control and power signals. The switches are controlled in a predetermined sequence such that the electronic equipment need not be shut down to permit removal and replacement of the circuit board.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. Apparatus comprising electronic equipment, a circuit board for testing and being designed to be used with said electronic equipment in the normal operation of said electronic equipment, and switch means connected between said electronic equipment and said circuit board for permitting said circuit board to be tested by removable connection with said electronic equipment, wherein removal or installation of a said circuit board connected directly to said electronic equipment during said normal operation will prevent maintenance of integrity of the circuit board, said switch means comprising means for removably receiving said circuit board and means for selectively transmitting power or bus signals between said electronic equipment and said circuit board in a predetermined sequence for allowing said circuit board to be installed or removed while said electronic equipment remains activated while maintaining the integrity of said circuit board, whereby said circuit board may be installed or removed without inactivating said electronic equipment.
- 6. Apparatus for controlling the connection of a circuit board to be tested to an electronic equipment wherein removal or installation of a said circuit board connected directly to said electronic equipment during normal operation of said electronic equipment will prevent maintenance of integrity of the circuit board, said apparatus comprising bus switch means for connection between a first bus on said electronic equipment and a second bus on said circuit board, said bus switch means comprising a plurality of switches for selectively connecting said first bus to said second bus in response to a first instruction signal, and timing circuit means for activating said plurality of switches in a predetermined sequence in response to said first instruction signal to connect said first bus to said second bus in such a manner that said circuit board may be installed or removed while said electronic equipment remains activated while maintaining the integrity of said circuit board, whereby said circuit board may be installed or removed without inactivating said electronic equipment.
- 17. A method for testing a circuit board designed to be used with electronic equipment in the normal operation of said electronic equipment, wherein removal or installation of said circuit board connected directly to said electronic equipment during said normal operation will prevent maintenance of integrity of the circuit board, said method comprising providing said electronic equipment with means for controlling the connection of said circuit board to said electronic equipment, wherein said means for controlling comprises a plurality of switches for allowing said circuit board to be installed or removed while said electronic equipment remains activated while maintaining the integrity of said circuit board, activating said electronic equipment, attaching said circuit board to said means for controlling such that said plurality of switches are connected between bus terminals on said electronic equipment and corresponding bus terminals on said circuit board, and activating said switches to pass control, data, address or power signals between said electronic equipment and said circuit board.
Specification