Patent ID: 6396257
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A test head manipulator for a semiconductor integrated circuit tester including:a support frame, a vertical guide means attached to the support frame, a carriage mounted on the vertical guide means and movable vertically therealong, a manipulator arm attached at a proximal end to the carriage and projecting therefrom, there being a test head attached to the manipulator arm at a proximal end thereof, a counterbalance assembly mounted to the support frame for vertical movement relative thereto, a drum mounted to the support frame for rotation about a horizontal axis, a flexible tension member trained over the drum and having one end connected to the carriage and an opposite end connected to the counterbalance assembly whereby upward movement of the carriage is accompanied by downward movement of the counterbalance assembly and downward movement of the carriage is accompanied by upward movement of the counterbalance assembly, a hand operated power input element at a fixed height relative to the drum, and a force transmission mechanism which couples the power input element to the drum for transmitting manual effort from the power input element to the drum for raising or lowering the carriage.