Apparatus for thermally testing an electronic device

• US 6,227,701 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Wu, Wen-Shien
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US09/368,357
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 374/4, 374/5, 374/57, 374/1, 374/45, 374/33, 73/865.6, 73/865.8, 436/147
• US Class Current: 374/57
• 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

Abstract

A turbulent plate is installed nearby the heat source of an apparatus for thermally testing an electronic device. The testing apparatus comprises a main body and a pallet. The main body is formed with a first chamber for receiving the electronic device, and a second chamber located around and communicated with the first chamber. The pallet having a plate mounted with window and a through hole filled with corrugated heat insulators, supports the electronic device, which is turned on and received in the first chamber. The status of the electronic device can be inspected through the window. The heat insulators fully envelop a lead wire passed the through hole and connected between the portable computer and a power supply.

Claims

1. An apparatus for thermally testing a running electronic device, comprising:

a main body formed with a first chamber for receiving said electronic device and a second chamber located around and communicating with said first chamber, wherein said second chamber has an opening communicating said first chamber to the outside of said body;

a pallet receivable into said main body through said opening for closing off said first chamber from the outside of said main body, said pallet having a base for supporting said electronic device within said first chamber and a window for inspecting said electronic device therein;

a heat source located in said second chamber;

means for blowing the heat flow generated by said heat source to circulate between said first chamber and said second chamber;

means for forming a turbulent effect to average the temperature within said first chamber and said second chamber, located in said second chamber and installed near said heat source.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for forming a turbulent effect is a turbulent plate mounted within said second chamber.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said for blowing the heat flow means is a plurality of fans mounted within said second chamber.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein a control device installed on said main body is used to control said heat source, said fans and said turbulent plate.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are separated by a plurality of perforated plates.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said perforated plates are mounted with a plurality of fans.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said electronic device is electrically connected to a power supply located outside the main body by a lead wire, and said pallet has a through hole serving as a passage for the lead wire.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said through hole is filled with heat insulators.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said heat insulators has a corrugated surface and said lead wire is clamped therebetween.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said electronic device is a portable computer.