Apparatus for testing electrical components

• US 6,113,262 A
• Filed: 01/22/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Klecha, David A., Purola, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeJesus, Lydia M.
• Application Number:
  US09/235,873
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 374/45, 374/4, 374/57, 374/50, 374/5, 165/201, 73/865.6
• US Class Current: 374/45
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/002 Thermal testing flaw detection G01N25/72
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 17/00 Investigating resistance of materials to the weather, to corrosion, or to light
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2849 Environmental or reliability testing, e.g. burn-in or validation tests of individual semiconductors G01R31/2642; of printed circuits boards G01R31/2817; of IC's G01R31/2855
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2862 Chambers or ovens; Tanks

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for testing at least one article (160) comprises a first chamber (20) having a controllable first environment, a second chamber (30) having a controllable second environment, and an intermediate housing (40) connected between the first and second chambers. The intermediate housing (40) defines a work space (54) and includes a window (70) which provides access to the work space. A rotatable container (100) is disposed in the work space (54) and defines a test chamber (110) in which the at least one article (160) is placed. The container (100) is rotatable between a first position in which the test chamber (110) is exposed to the first environment and is thermally insulated from the second environment, a second position in which the test chamber (110) is exposed to the second environment and is thermally insulated from the first environment, and a third position in which the test chamber (110) is accessible through the window (70) in the intermediate housing (40).

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing at least one article, said apparatus comprising:

a first chamber having a controllable first environment;

a second chamber having a controllable second environment,

one of said first and second environments being maintained at a relatively cold temperature and the other of said first and second environments being maintained at a relatively hot temperature with a relatively high humidity rate;

an intermediate housing connected between said first and second chambers, said intermediate housing defining a work space and including a window which provides access to said work space, said intermediate housing including a door for closing said window; and

a rotatable container disposed in said work space, said container defining a test chamber in which the at least one article is placed,

said container being rotatable between a first position in which said test chamber is exposed to said first environment of said first chamber and is thermally insulated from said second environment of said second chamber, a second position in which said test chamber is exposed to said second environment of said second chamber and is thermally insulated from said first environment of said second chamber, and a third position in which said test chamber is accessible through said window in said intermediate housing and is thermally insulated from both of said first and second environments,

said container being cycled between said first and second positions to allow for the development of moisture on the at least one article in said test chamber in order to determine if the moisture adversely affects the at least one article.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said intermediate housing includes means for thermally insulating said test chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for controlling said first environment in said first chamber and means for controlling said second environment in said second chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for rotating said container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a programmable controller operatively coupled to said means for rotating said container to control the cycling of said container between said first and second positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said programmable controller is operatively coupled with said means for controlling said first environment and is operatively coupled with said means for controlling said second environment.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first chamber has a first opening facing toward said intermediate housing for providing fluid communication between said first environment and said work space.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second chamber has a second opening facing toward said intermediate housing for providing fluid communication between said second environment and said work space.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said container has a third opening through which the at least one article is placed into said test chamber, said third opening being aligned with said first opening when said container is in said first position, said third opening being aligned with said second opening when said container is in said second position, said third opening being aligned with said window in said intermediate housing when said container is in said third position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first chamber has a first opening facing toward said intermediate housing for providing fluid communication between said first environment and said work space.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second chamber has a second opening facing toward said intermediate housing for providing fluid communication between said second environment and said work space.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said container has a third opening through which the at least one article is placed into said test chamber, said third opening being aligned with said first opening in said first housing when said container is in said first position, said third opening being aligned with said second opening in said second housing when said container is in said second position, said third opening being aligned with said window in said intermediate housing when said container is in said third position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for thermally insulating said work space includes a plurality of insulating flaps extending adjacent said first and second openings.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said container includes an aperture for receiving electrical wires associated with the at least one article in said test chamber.

15. An apparatus for testing at least one article, said apparatus comprising:

a first housing defining a first chamber having a controllable first environment;

a second housing defining a second chamber having a controllable second environment;

an intermediate housing connected between said first and second housings, said intermediate housing defining a work space and including a window which provides access to said work space, said intermediate housing including a door for closing said window and means for thermally insulating said work space; and

a rotatable container disposed in said work space, said container defining a test chamber in which the at least one article is placed,

said container being rotatable between a first position in which said test chamber is exposed to said first environment of said first chamber and is thermally insulated from said second environment of said second chamber, a second position in which said test chamber is exposed to said second environment of said second chamber and is thermally insulated from said first environment of said second chamber, and a third position in which said test chamber is accessible through said window in said intermediate housing and is thermally insulated from both of said first and second environments.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising means for controlling said first environment in said first chamber and means for controlling said second environment in said second chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for rotating said container.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a programmable controller operatively coupled to said means for rotating said container to control the rotation of said container.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said programmable controller is operatively coupled with said means for controlling said first environment and with said means for controlling said second environment.