Modular test systems for severe environments

• US 8,184,437 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dayton Region Signature Fund, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Pallas Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Berlekamp, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, ZACHARY
• Application Number:
  US12/707,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 361/704, 361707-709, 361714-715, 361/719, 361/679.46, 361/679.54, 165/80.2, 257712-713, 174/521, 174/526, 174/547, 174/252, 312/236, 731/146.1
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20409 Outer radiating structures on heat dissipating housings, e.g. fins integrated with the housing

Abstract

A modular equipment testing apparatus is suitable for use in severe environments. The testing apparatus comprises a base computing unit, an interchangeable test instrument board, and an interchangeable equipment interface pod. The base computing unit and the interchangeable test instrument board are sealed within a computing case. A bottom panel of the computing case is formed of a heat conducting material and acts as a heat sink for removing heat from inside the computing case. The computing case and the equipment interface pod interface to form a hermetically sealed case, which can withstand a drop of 1 meter to a solid surface and immersion to a depth of 0.5 meters in water without damage to components located within the sealed case.

Claims

1. A modular equipment testing apparatus suitable for use in severe environments, the apparatus comprising a base computing unit, an interchangeable test instrument board, and an interchangeable equipment interface pod,

wherein the base computing unit and the interchangeable test instrument board are sealed within an instrument case comprising a top panel displaying a touch-screen interface, a front panel with a sealable case access door, a back panel with a sealable equipment interface pod connector and a bottom panel formed of a heat conducting material;

wherein the equipment interface pod comprises a sealable computing unit interface connector and one or more equipment interface connections;

wherein the instrument case and the equipment interface pod, when interfaced with one another, form a hermetically sealed case such that environmentally sensitive components are protected within an interior of the sealed case;

wherein the sealed case is capable of sustaining a drop of 1 meter to a solid surface and immersion to a depth of 0.5 meters in water without damage to the sensitive components or rupture of the sealed case;

wherein the base computing unit and the test instrument board are cooled by means of conduction between heat generating components of the base computing unit and the test instrument board and the bottom panel functioning as a heat sink while maintaining a hermetic seal isolating the base computing unit and the test instrument board from an external environment;

wherein the equipment interface pod is operable to provide a variety of connections between equipment being tested and the base computing unit;

wherein the equipment interface pod is operable to be interchanged with another equipment interface pod with a different configuration to allow the base computing unit to function as a testing apparatus with different connections, while maintaining the integrity of the sealed case.

2. The modular testing equipment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base computing unit further comprises an analog to digital converter that is capable of operating at greater than 250 MHz, and

wherein operation of the analog to digital converter does not produce more heat than can be removed from the interior of the sealed case by conduction cooling.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a synthetic instrument, wherein the base computing unit, the test instrument board, and the interchangeable equipment interface pod provide a generic hardware system and in conjunction with a test bed integration software, the synthetic instrument can function as two or more of a volt/ohm meter, an oscilloscope, a signal generator, a trouble code reader, and a video display to perform a variety of test equipment functions without alteration to hardware of the testing apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an antenna system for delivering wireless signals to the sealed case, the antenna system comprising:

a) a flat external collecting array disposed in a depression formed in a surface of the sealed case;

b) an antenna interface that projects from an interior surface of the external collecting array, said antenna interface comprising a pressure fitting connection; and

c) a case antenna connector disposed inside the sealed case, the case antenna connector comprising a pressure fitting connection compatible with the antenna interface and providing a capacity for electrically connecting the case antenna connector with equipment disposed inside the sealed case,

wherein an external surface of the external collecting array covers the antenna interface, forming a hermetic seal over the antenna interface while maintaining the integrity of the sealed case.