Patent ID: 6362640
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
An IC (integrated circuit) package test handler for holding an IC (integrated circuit) package to a socket of an IC (integrated circuit) package test station, the IC package test handler comprising:a test handler housing for carrying a chilled water jacket, wherein said test handler housing is comprise of a thermal insulating material, and wherein chilled water circulates through said chilled water jacket; a test handler base cartridge that is mounted to a bottom of said test handler housing, wherein said test handler base cartridge contacts said IC package when said IC package test handler is holding said IC package to said socket of said IC package test station, said test handler base cartridge being comprised of a thermally conductive material, and said test handler base cartridge comprising: a heating element embedded within said test handler base cartridge for heating up said test candler base cartridge; and a temperature sensor embedded in said test handler base cartridge, wherein said temperature sensor contacts said IC package to sense a temperature at said IC package when said IC package test handler is holding said IC package said socket of said IC package test station; a cylinder piston dispose on top of said chilled water jacket, wherein compressed air from a compressed air source is provided to said cylinder piston such that said cylinder piston pushes said chilled water jacket down toward said test handler base cartridge; and an IC package temperature controller coupled to said temperature sensor, said heating element within said test handler base cartridge, and said compressed air source; wherein said temperature controller controls said compressed air source to decrease an amount of said compressed air provided to said cylinder piston to retract said cylinder piston away from said chilled water jacket such that said chilled water jacket does not contact said test handler base cartridge, and wherein said temperature controller controls said heating element to heat up said test handler base cartridge, to increase said temperature of said IC package when said temperature at said IC package as sensed by said temperature sensor is below a desired temperature; and wherein said temperature controller controls said compressed air source to increase an amount of said compressed air provided to said cylinder piston to extend said cylinder piston toward said chilled water jacket such that said chilled water jacket contacts said test handler base cartridge, and wherein said temperature controller controls said heating element to turn off, to decrease said temperature of said IC package when said temperature at said IC package as sensed by said temperature sensor is above said desired temperature.