Patent ID: 6259265
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
An apparatus testing performance of a printed circuit board, said apparatus comprising:a base being located at a lower surface of said apparatus;a test unit having a head disk assembly and being operationally coupled to said apparatus;a first plate being supported by first guide means installed at said base, being movable along a first path of conveyance toward and away from said base, and having a plurality of disk connector pins operationally coupled with the head disk assembly;a pin board being installed at said base, being disposed between said base and said first plate, having a first plurality of connection pins projecting a first distance toward said first plate, and having a second plurality of connection pins projecting a second distance toward said first plate, said first distance being different from said second distance;a masking board being movably coupled to said pin board, being movable toward and away from said pin board, and being disposed between said pin board and said first plate, said masking board receiving a printed circuit board assembly having power input pins and signal interface pins, said plurality of disk connector pins of said first plate projecting toward the printed circuit board assembly;a second plate being supported by second guide means, being moveably coupled to said first plate, being movable along a second path of conveyance back and forth across said base, having a power input connector conveying power to said power input pins of the printed circuit board assembly, and having a signal interface connector conveying signals to and from said signal interface pins of the printed circuit board assembly;a first control unit being operationally coupled to said first plate and controlling movement of said first plate along said first path of conveyance, and being operationally coupled to said second plate and controlling movement of said second plate along said second path of conveyance, said first path of conveyance being different from said second path of conveyance;said first plate moving along said first path of conveyance connecting electrically said plurality of disk connector pins with the printed circuit board assembly, in accordance with said first control unit;said first plate moving a first predetermined distance along said first path of conveyance, pressing the printed circuit board assembly and said masking board toward said pin board, and connecting electrically said first plurality of connection pins with the printed circuit board assembly through said masking board, in accordance with said first control unit;said first plate moving a second predetermined distance along said first path of conveyance, pressing the printed circuit board assembly and said masking board toward said pin board, and connecting electrically said second plurality of connection pins with the printed circuit board assembly through said masking board, in accordance with said first control unit; andsaid second plate moving along said second path of conveyance, connecting said power input connector with said power input pins, and connecting said signal interface connector with said signal interface pins, in accordance with said first control unit.