Abstract:
A test handler which is capable of transporting and testing a plurality of USB memory devices is provided. The handler includes a tray loaded with USB memory devices for testing, and a loading/unloading picker which transfers the USB memory devices from the tray to a shuffle for transport to a test socket. The shuffle moves to insert connectors of the USB memory devices into corresponding USB ports of a test socket for testing, and to extract the connectors from the USB ports after testing. The loading/unloading picker is capable of detecting an orientation of the connectors of the USB memory devices to ensure proper insertion into corresponding USB ports in the test socket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing a USB memory and a method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for testing a USB memory capable of testing electrical characteristics of a plurality of USB memory devices after completion of assembly thereof, and a method thereof. 
   2. Background of the Related Art 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in case of a conventional USB (Universal Serial Bus: hereinafter, USB) memory  10 , a PCB (Printed Circuit Board, not shown) is mounted inside of a case  2 , wherein a USB client chip and a flash memory are electrically connected to the PCB. Moreover, the PCB and a USB connector  1  is electrically connected to the USB client chip. 
   A plurality of holes  1   a  are respectively formed on both ends of the USB connector  1  and an insulating member  1   b  is inserted therein. A plurality of leads (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the insulating member  1   b , wherein the leads are electrically connected to the USB client chip mounted on the PCB when the USB connector  1  is assembled thereto. 
   According to the prior art, in case that assembly of the USB memory is completed, a test is performed using a testing computer about whether or not electrical characteristics is in a good state. For this, an operator had to determine whether or not electrical characteristics of the USB memory is inferior, by inspecting a result thereof after inserting the USB memory into the USB port of the testing computer in handwork. 
   However, in case of a conventional apparatus for testing a USB memory, since an operator has to test electrical characteristics thereof in handwork, there is a problem that productivity of a testing operation and reliability thereon are depreciated. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for testing a USB memory and a method thereof, capable of testing a plurality of USB memory devices automatically by inserting the same mounted on a shuttle into a test socket. 
   An apparatus for testing a USB memory device according to the present invention comprises a tray, loading/unloading picking means, a buffer device, a shuttle means, and a test board. 
   The tray horizontally moves by a tray transfer, with vertically elevating by a tray elevator in a state where a plurality of USB memory devices are mounted. Loading/Unloading picking means transfers a case of a plurality of USB memory devices mounted to the tray after vacuum absorbing the same using a first picker by moving toward an X axis and a Y axis by XY gantries and in case of vacuum absorption of the USB memory devices, senses a fastening direction of a USB connector using a change of vacuum pressure of a second picker. If a plurality of USB memory devices are sequentially transferred by the loading/unloading picking means and the USB connector thereof is mounted to be projected, shuttle means horizontally moves by a shuttle transfer in a state where the upper surface of a plurality of mounted USB memory devices is supported by a plunger. And a test board is mounted by a test socket comprising a plurality of USB ports enabling electrical connection in such a way that the projected USB connector is inserted into shuttle means horizontally moving by the shuttle transfer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a general USB memory device. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of an apparatus of a USB memory device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of a tray illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a loading/unloading picker illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are bottom views of a nozzle illustrating another embodiments of a nozzle illustrated in  FIG. 4 , respectively. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating another embodiment of a picker for sensing an inverse state of a USB memory device illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shuttle illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a test board and a shuttle illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 9   a  is a perspective view illustrating another USB memory device. 
       FIG. 9   b  is a side view of  FIG. 9   a.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Hereinafter, the present invention will be in detail described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 2  is a plan view of an apparatus for testing a USB memory device according to the present invention. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , The apparatus for testing a USB memory device comprises a tray  20  horizontally moving by a tray transfer (not illustrated), with vertically elevating by a tray elevator  11  in a state where a plurality of USB memory devices  10  are mounted; a loading/unloading picking means  30  transferring a plurality of USB memory devices  10  mounted to the tray  20  by vacuum absorbing the same using a first picker  31  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) by moving toward an X axis and a Y axis by XY gantries  12  and  13  and in case of vacuum absorption of the USB memory devices  10 , sensing a fastening direction of a USB connector  1  using a change of vacuum pressure of a second picker; a buffer device  16  for storing a failed USB memory device after testing the USB memory device  10  and an inversed USB memory device to the fastening direction of the USB connecter  1 ; a shuttle means  40  horizontally moving by a shuttle transfer  51  in a state where the upper surface of a plurality of mounted USB memory devices  10  is supported by a plunger  53  (shown in  FIG. 8 ); and a test board  60  mounted by a test socket  61  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) comprising a plurality of USB ports  61   a  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) enabling electrical connection in such a way that the projected USB connector  1  is inserted into the shuttle means  40  horizontally moving by the shuttle transfer  51 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the tray  20  is configured so that a plurality of USB memory devices  10  may be mounted thereinside and the tray  20  is configured to be horizontally transferable by a tray transfer (not illustrated) with vertically elevating by the tray elevator  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a plurality of first fastening slots  21  are formed spaced apart by a predetermined interval inside of the tray  20  so that the USB memory devices  10  may not be fell off during a transfer thereof. 
   The tray elevator  11  elevates the tray  20  vertically, i.e. the tray  20  into the upper and lower directions, and transfers the tray  20  horizontally, i.e. the tray  20  into a direction of Y axis directed by ‘A’ arrow, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Herein, the tray elevator  11  and the tray transfer(not shown) are configured to be able to elevate the tray  20  in an apparatus or transfer the same  20  into a horizontal direction. 
   Moreover, a tray loader  14  loading the tray  20  is provided at a predetermined location where the tray  20  is transferred by the tray transfer. On the contrary, a tray unloader  15  unloading the tray  20  is provided at an opposite location to the tray loader  14 . 
   A buffer device  16  for storing USB memory devices  10  is provided at an opposite location to the tray loader  14  and the tray unloader  15 , spaced apart by a predetermined interval. 
   In the meantime, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the loading/unloading picking means  30  is mounted on one surface of XY gantries  12  and  13 , and equipped with a first picker  31  and a second picker  33  in order to pick and place the USB memory devices  10 . In addition, the loading/unloading picking means  30  is transferable into both X and Y axes within an area drawn by two dotted lines  30   a  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   A plurality of the first pickers  31  are provided spaced apart by a predetermined interval and enabled to vacuum-absorb a case  2  of a plurality of USB memory devices  10 . In addition, a plurality of the second pickers  33  are also provided spaced apart by a predetermined interval and enabled to vacuum-absorb the connector  1  of a plurality of USB memory devices  10 . 
   Moreover, the first and the second pickers  31  and  33  maintain a predetermined interval in order to absorb the case  2  of a plurality of memory devices  10  and the USB connector  1  thereof respectively, and are respectively equipped with first and second nozzles  32  and  34 . 
   A fastening direction of the USB connector  1  is sensed using a change of vacuum pressure, absorbed by the second nozzle  34  of the second picker  33 . Namely, the vacuum pressure is different between in case that the USB connector  1  is normally fastened and in case that the same is inverse, whereby it is possible to confirm a fastening state of the USB connector  1 . Herein, a vacuum pressure sensor and a control unit (both not illustrated) are used in order to measure vacuum pressure through the second nozzle  34 . 
   The first nozzle  32  is fastened to one end of the first picker  31  and a plurality of holes  35   a  (refer to  5   a ) are formed thereinside. The second nozzle  34  is fastened to one end of the second picker  33  and a longitudinal hole  34   a  (refer to  5   b ) is formed thereinside. 
   In addition, it is possible to adopt an image senor  36  sensing a fastening direction of the USB connector  1 , by using a light image reflected off after investigation of light with the USB connector  1  instead of the second picker  33 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the image sensor  36  illuminates light coming from an illuminating device  36   b  by using the USB connector  1  and senses a fastening direction of the USB connector  1  by receiving a light image from a vision device  36   a  formed on one surface of the illuminating device  36   b , wherein the light image is formed in such a way that the inspected light is reflected off. Herein, a camera is adopted for the vision device  36   a  and an illuminating diode is adopted for the illuminating device  36   b.    
   As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a plurality of second fastening slots  41  are formed spaced apart by a predetermined interval on one surface of shuttle means  40  so that the USB memory devices  10  may not be fell off during a transfer thereof, and a plurality of fastening projections  42  are formed spaced apart by a predetermined interval on other surface thereof. 
   In the meantime, in order to support the USB memory devices  10  more firmly, a plunger  53  (illustrated in  FIG. 8 ) capable of supporting the upper surface of a plurality of USB memory devices  10  is formed on the upper and lower part. If a plurality of USB memory devices  10  fastened to the shuttle means  40  are transferred to a test board  60  in a state where the same  10  is supported by the plunger  53 , they are electrically connected in such a way that the USB connector  1  is inserted into a plurality of USB ports  61   a  of a test socket  61  fastened to the test board  60 . At this time, electrical characteristics of the USB memory  10  is inspected in the test board  10 . 
   In the meantime,  FIG. 9   a  illustrates another embodiment of a USB memory  100 . The USB memory device  100  comprises a knob  100   a  capable of transferring a USB connector  101  into a left and right directions in order to protect the same  101  and a guide slot  100   b  formed in length on a center of the USB memory  100 . The knob  100   a  is configured to be transferable into an ‘E’ direction of an arrow along the guide slot  100   b  whereby the USB connector  101  is possible to be in-and-out to the outside. 
   In addition, in case that the knob  100   a  is formed like above, a projection  153   a  for supporting the knob  100   a  is formed on one surface of a plunger  153  so that the USB connector  101  may be drawn out to the out side in the USB memory  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9   b.    
   In the mean time, a method for testing a plurality of USB memory devices of the present invention will be described. 
   The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of USB memory devices  10  to a tray  20 ; transferring the tray  20  to a loading position of the tray loader by tray transfer (not shown); transferring USB memory device stored at the tray  20  to shuttle means  40  by loading/unloading picking means  30 ; testing USB memory device  10  inserted at a USB port  61   a  of test socket  61  after transferring shuttle means  40  to test board by shuttle transferring device  51 ; moving shuttle means  40  with an inverse direction by shuttle transferring means  51  after completing the test of USB memory device  10 ; storing a failed USB memory device to a buffer device  16  and storing good USB memory device to a tray  20  located at loading position; unloading the tray  20  from tray unloader by the tray transfer. 
   In the step for providing USB memory device  10  to the tray  20 , the tray  20  is mounted with multi-step at the tray elevator  11 . Also, the tray  20  is moved at a loading position (that is, a remaining location of the tray loader  20 ) by the tray transfer(not shown). 
   The USB memory device  10  of the tray  20  is picked by loading/unloading picking means and an inversed and picked USB memory device among picked USB memory device is also stored at the buffer device  16 . Also, a normal picked USB memory device is stored and mounted at the shuttle means  40 . 
   That is, in the step of transferring USB memory device  10  stored at the tray  20  to shuttle means  40  by loading/unloading picking means  30 , the step comprises the steps of storing an inversed and picked USB memory device among picked USB memory devices to a buffer device  16  by loading/unloading picking means; storing a normal picked USB memory device to shuttle means. 
   In the meantime, in the step of transferring USB memory device stored at the tray to shuttle means  40  by loading/unloading picking means, the step further comprising the step of, providing plunger  53  for preventing left of USB memory devices. When the plunger  53  returns to a position of the shuttle means  40  by shuttle transferring device  51  after completing the test of the USB memory device  10 , the plunger  53  is removed. 
   Now, operation of apparatus for testing a USB memory of the present invention will be described. 
   First, if a plurality of USB memory devices  10  to be tested are mounted to the tray  20 , the USB memory device  10  is stacked with a multistage by the tray elevator  11 . The tray  20  drawn out from the tray elevator  11  is transferred to a side of the tray loader  12 , a loading position, by the tray transfer (not illustrated). At this time, the tray loading position is where the tray loader  12  is located in  FIG. 2 . 
   If the tray  20  is transferred to the loading position, the first picker  31  of the loading/unloading picking means  30  and the second picker  33  thereof pick the predetermined number of the USB memory devices  10  and transfer the same to the shuttle means  40 . 
   When the loading/unloading picking means  30  transfers the USB memory device  10 , the first picker  31  absorbs the case  2  of the USB memory device  10  and the second picker  33  absorbs the USB connector  1 . If the second picker  33  absorbs a plurality of holes  1   a  formed on both ends of the front surface of the USB connector  1 , in absorbing the same  1 , it is determined to be normally absorbed. 
   However, in case that the second picker  33  absorbs a plurality of holes (not shown) formed on both ends of the rear surface of the USB connector  1 , blocked by the insulation member  1   b  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), it is determined to be an error since pressure of vacuum absorption is respectively different in comparison with the case of absorbing a plurality of holes formed on both ends of the front surface and an inverse direction of the USB memory  10  is absorbed. 
   That is, it is possible to determine whether or not a fastening direction of the USB memory device  10  is right based on a change of pressure of the USB connector  1  absorbed by the second picker  33 . Herein, it is determined by a control unit (not illustrated) adopted in the apparatus  100  for testing a USB memory device  10 . In addition, the USB memory device  10  of which fastening direction is not in a right state is transferred to the buffer  16  by the loading/unloading picking means  30 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when each of shuttle means  40  is transferred from arrows ‘B’ to ‘C’ by the shuttle transfer  51 , the plunger  53  prevents the USB memory device  10  received inside the shuttle means  40  from falling off by supporting the upper surface thereof. In this state, the USB memory device  10  is tested in such a way that the USB connector  1  projected on one surface of the shuttle means  40  is inserted into the USB port  61   a  fastened to the test socket  61  of the test board  60 . 
   If a test of the USB memory device  10  is completed, the shuttle means  40  is transferred to an opposite direction by the shuttle transfer  51 . At this time, the USB memory device  10  having caused an error is classified into the buffer device  16  and other normal USB memory devices  10  are transferred to an unloading position where the tray unloader  15  is located, by the loading/unloading picking means  30 . In addition, the tray  20  stored with normal USB memory devices  10  is removed after being transferred from the tray loader  15  to the tray elevator  11  by the tray transfer (not illustrated). 
   There is an advantage that it is possible to automatically test a plurality of USB memory devices more promptly and more precisely in such a way that a plurality of USB memory devices is transferred to a shuttle after transferring the tray receiving a plurality of USB memory devices to a tray loading position, and simultaneously inserted into a test socket.