TEST SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TESTING ELECTRONIC DEVICES
First Claim
1. A process of testing DUTs in a test system comprising an aligner and test cells, said process comprising:
- positioning in said aligner a first DUT on a first carrier in an aligned position in which electrically conductive terminals of said first DUT are in a predetermined position with respect to carrier alignment features of said first carrier;
clamping said first DUT on said first carrier in said aligned position;
while said first DUT is clamped on said first carrier in said aligned position, moving said first carrier to a first one of said test cells, said first test cell comprising a first contactor comprising electrically conductive probes and contactor alignment features;
while said first DUT is clamped on said first carrier in said aligned position, mechanically coupling said carrier alignment features of said first carrier with said contactor alignment features of said first contactor, said coupling aligning said terminals of said first DUT with said probes of said first contactor; and
testing said first DUT in said first test cell by providing signals to and from said DUT through said first contactor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices under test (DUTs) can be tested in a test system that includes an aligner and test cells. A DUT can be moved into and clamped in an aligned position on a carrier in the aligner. In the align position, electrically conductive terminals of the DUT can be in a predetermined position with respect to carrier alignment features of the carrier. The DUT/carrier combination can then be moved from the aligner into one of the test cells, where alignment features of the carrier are mechanically coupled with alignment features of a contactor in the test cell. The mechanical coupling automatically aligns terminals of the DUT with probes of the contactor. The probes thus contact and make electrical connections with the terminals of the DUT. The DUT is then tested. The aligner and each of the test cells can be separate and independent devices so that a DUT can be aligned in the aligner while other DUTs, having previously been aligned to a carrier in the aligner, are tested in a test cell.
50 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A process of testing DUTs in a test system comprising an aligner and test cells, said process comprising:
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positioning in said aligner a first DUT on a first carrier in an aligned position in which electrically conductive terminals of said first DUT are in a predetermined position with respect to carrier alignment features of said first carrier; clamping said first DUT on said first carrier in said aligned position; while said first DUT is clamped on said first carrier in said aligned position, moving said first carrier to a first one of said test cells, said first test cell comprising a first contactor comprising electrically conductive probes and contactor alignment features; while said first DUT is clamped on said first carrier in said aligned position, mechanically coupling said carrier alignment features of said first carrier with said contactor alignment features of said first contactor, said coupling aligning said terminals of said first DUT with said probes of said first contactor; and testing said first DUT in said first test cell by providing signals to and from said DUT through said first contactor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A DUT test system comprising:
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an aligner comprising a moving mechanism configured to position a DUT on a carrier in an aligned position in which electrically conductive terminals of said DUT are in a predetermined position with respect to carrier alignment features of said carrier; test cells, each said test cell comprising a contactor, said contactor comprising electrically conductive probes and contactor alignment features, wherein mechanically coupling said carrier alignment features of said carrier with said contactor alignment features of said contactor aligns said terminals of said DUT with said probes of said contactor; and a mover comprising a robotic mechanism configured to remove said carrier with said DUT clamped in said aligned position from said aligner to one of said test cells. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification