ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLY CARRIER WITH BUILT-IN SHUNT

A carrier (220) for insertion of a device under test (210) into a tester (110) includes engagement structures (226, 234) and an integrated activator (236). The engagement structures (226, 234) are shaped to engage and hold the device under test (210) in the carrier (220) for insertion in tester (110). The activator (236) is positioned to automatically contact and activate a configuration component on the device under test (210). The activator (236) may particularly include a shunt positioned to electrically contact and short together configuration pins (216). The shorting or other activation sets an operating mode of the device under test (210) during testing.

BACKGROUND

Devices being manufactured commonly require testing to prove the devices are working properly before the devices may be sold. Manufactures commonly test devices in bulk in dedicated test systems that may be able to test many devices at the same time. Testing of a batch of electronic assemblies such as printed circuit assemblies, for example, often includes installing one or more electronic assemblies into one or more carriers to create modules that are easily plugged into or removed from the test equipment. Testing may be complex for electronic assemblies that operate in different modes, particularly if the modes are selected through configuration of jumpers, switches, or similar manually installed or operated features. In such cases, testing of each electronic assembly during manufacture may require a tester to correctly set switches or jumpers for a test mode of the assembly or to set and reset the switches and jumpers for testing all operating modes of the assembly. The setting jumpers or switches for testing takes time and creates a risk that a jumper or switch could be set incorrectly during all or a portion of a test. Also, an assembly set to operate in a test mode for a test or diagnostic procedure needs to be switched back to a normal operational mode after the test or diagnostic procedure is complete. A failure to reset a device to an operational mode can result in a product that may be unready for sale or consumer use.

The drawings illustrate examples for the purpose of explanation and are not of the invention itself. Use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a carrier for an electronic assembly automatically configures the assembly to operate in a specific mode, e.g., a test mode, while the assembly is attached to the carrier and automatically returns the assembly to a unconfigured state when the assembly is removed from the carrier. In one example, the carrier includes a retainer that engages with an assembly, i.e., a device under test, to hold the assembly as part of a module suitable for insertion into a tester, and the retainer may include an activator such as a shunt that automatically contacts a configuration component of the assembly to set the assembly in a test mode while the carrier engages and holds the assembly.

Primary functions of a carrier are to protect a product during handling and to provide a compatible structure for insertion and removal the product in a test system. Conventionally, jumpers or switches on the product may need to be set to control the behavior of the product during testing or normal use, and conventional setting of the jumpers and switches is unrelated to and independent of whether the product is held in a carrier. A unique feature disclosed herein is the integration of one or more shunts in a carrier, so that mounting of an electronic assembly in the carrier automatically positions the shunt(s) to interact with a header of the electronic assembly and set the operating mode of the electronic assembly for testing.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a carrier for insertion of a device under test into a test system includes engagement structures with an integrated activator such as a shunt. The engagement structures may be shaped to engage and hold the device under test in the carrier for insertion in a test system. The activator is integrated into the carrier and positioned to contact and activate a configuration component on the device under test, thereby setting an operating mode of the device under test during testing.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a carrier for a device under test includes a spine, an end fitting attached to the spine, and a retention clip mounted on the spine. The end fitting may include an engagement feature shaped to engage one portion of the device under test. The retention clip may be slide mounted on the spine and may include an engagement feature shaped to engage another portion of the device under test so that that carrier holds the device under test between the retention clip and the end fitting. The carrier further has an integrated activator such as shunt, e.g., on the end fitting or retention clip, at a position causing the activator to contact and activate a configuration component on the device under test when the carrier is engaged with the device under test.

A product such as an electronic assembly may operate under different modes for different applications or uses of the product or at different times during the life cycle of the product. During manufacturing, for example, the product may need to operate in a test mode so that all functions of the product may be tested in a test system. During customer use, the product may operate in one or more different normal operational modes. During troubleshooting, a defective or malfunctioning product may need to operate in the test mode or a diagnostic mode when the product undergoes analysis. Systems and methods disclosed herein may employ a carrier that holds or mounts a product such as an electronic assembly for testing and automatically configures a product for the proper testing mode without the need to attach a jumper or configure a switch. The product automatically returns to a normal operational mode when removed from the carrier.

FIG.1shows a test system100in accordance with one example of the present disclosure. Test system100includes a tester110with connectors116adapted to connect to test modules120A to120Z. Each of test modules120and120A to120Z includes an electronic assembly210, which is the device under test. Electronic assemblies210may, for example, be computer or add-in cards, e.g., PCI-e cards, or other systems including printed circuit boards with connectors or contacts that, during normal operations, electrically connect to a host device, e.g., plug into slots in a standard peripheral interface such as a PCI bus in a host server or computer. In one specific example, connectors116include sockets or slots, and each electronic assembly210has a blind mate connector, where the blind mate connector has self-alignment features that tolerate small misalignments of electronic assembly210when mating, e.g., sliding or snapping, into a socket or slot in a connector116.

Each electronic assembly210is mounted in a carrier220for testing, and the combination of electronic assembly210and carrier220forms test module120. For bulk testing as shown inFIG.1, multiple electronic assemblies210are mounted in respective carriers220to form multiple test modules120and120A to120Z, that may be simultaneously connected to tester110.

Tester110may be a specialized test system that includes a large number or connectors116for testing many electronic assemblies210. Tester110may test multiple assemblies210in parallel (simultaneously) or test connected assemblies210sequentially during a single test procedure. In the illustrated example, tester110includes a chassis118containing a motherboard114, and motherboard114has connectors116, e.g., sockets or slots, capable of accepting respective test modules120and120A to120Z. (FIG.4, which is described further below, shows a top view of an example of tester110without any devices under test inserted to better illustrate some components in an example of tester110.) Motherboard114may include test circuitry, e.g., one or more processors with interface circuits for connection to electronic assemblies210through connectors116. The processors on motherboard114may execute a test program for testing the functions of electronic assemblies210. To facilitate the installation and removal of test modules120, chassis118of tester110may include a frame or mechanical guide112with guide features113(FIG.4) that complement mechanical guiding features on carriers220. For example, a guide feature may, for example, be a pad or tab225having a uniform or slightly tapered width. Tabs225are located at opposite ends of the carrier220, and the tabs225on opposite ends of the carrier220may respectively engage or fit into a pair of uniform width or slightly tapered tracks or slots113. A carrier220having tabs225engaged with slots113aligns the held electron assembly210to an associated connector116into which the test module120may be inserted. Tabs225of carrier220and tracks113of frame112may guide modules112and120A to120Z and may particularly align contacts on assemblies210for vertical insertion into respective connectors116in tester100.

FIG.2-1andFIG.2-3respectively show exploded and assembled views of a test module120including an electronic assembly210and a carrier220. Electronic assembly210is the device under test and in an example system, may be a PCI-e card for use in a server. A PCI card may be any type of device including, for example, a disk drive, a solid-state storage device, a storage controller, or a storage processing unit. Carrier220includes a main spine222with end fittings223and224. The length of carrier220from end fitting223to end fitting224matches the available length in a tester, e.g., matches the distance between a pair of tracks113in tester110ofFIGS.1and3. End fitting223at one end of spine222includes a product retention feature226that is shaped to engage and hold a corresponding feature212of electronic assembly210. For example, product retention feature226may include a slot, and feature212at one end of electronic assembly210may include a metal projection or tab that fits into the slot of retention feature226. The length of carrier220is generally greater than a length of electronic assembly210, and a retention clip230, which may be slid along main spine222to as needed according to the length of the device under test, includes an opposing product retention feature234the engages a feature214at the other end of electronic assembly210.

End fittings223and224include guide features225that are shaped to engage complementary guide features113on the tester110, e.g., so that the carrier220in a test module120automatically positions and aligns contacts218of electronic assembly210to plug into a connector116in tester110as guide features225slide in guide features113of tester110. Guide features225may, for example, be rectangular or slightly tapered (trapezoidal) pads sized to slide into tracks113in frame112of tester110.

Injector/ejector features228on end fittings223and224may engage features of tester110, e.g., when contacts218begin to engage a connector116. In the example shown inFIGS.4and5, injector/ejector feature228include a lever410that pivots relative to a fulcrum or axel on an end fitting223or224, and a slot or slots412in lever410engage projections or ridges422on a slot insert420on the tester. Each insert420attaches to the frame of the tester and includes or forms at least a portion of a guide feature113. A pair of levers410at opposite ends of the carrier220can lock a test module120in place in tester110and provide a mechanical advantage when pushing contacts218into a connector116in tester110or when pulling or prying an electronic assembly210out of tester110. Levers410may also provide a convenient and effective grip for removing an assembly210from the tester110.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure shown inFIGS.2-1and2-3, retention clip230of a carrier220engages an end (e.g., the back or header) of electronic assembly210opposite from where end fitting223engages the electronic assembly210. In the illustrated example, retention chip230and main spine220are shaped to provide an adjustable mount for mounting of retention clip230anywhere along the length of main spine222of carrier220. For example, the adjustable mount may be a slide mount resulting from a projection232on retention clip230that fits into a track running along main spine222of carrier220, so that retention clip230is able to slide along the track. A retaining screw or other structure may releasably lock retention clip230in place on main spine222.

A process for mounting electronic assembly210in carrier220, in one example of the present disclosure, includes engaging feature212of electronic assembly210with product retention feature226of end fitting223while main spine222extends along a length of electronic assembly210, placing projection232in the track in main spine222, and sliding retention clip230along main spine222until product retention feature234of retention clip230mechanically engages and holds feature214of electronic assembly210illustrated inFIGS.2-1and2-3. At which point, retention clip230may be locked in place on main spine222, and electronic assembly210is securely held in carrier220.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, retention clip230includes an integrated activator236positioned to contact or engage a configuration component on electronic assembly210when retention feature234contacts electronic assembly210, and retention clip230thereby automatically activates the configuration component and configures the operating mode of electronic assembly210for testing. Activator236in one example is a shunt, which may be a compliant conductive structure that electrically shorts a gap between configuration pins216on electronic assembly210. In one example, retention clip230includes a rigid, insolating member238made of plastic or a metal with an insulating coating, and activator or shunt236includes a compliant, conductive member attached to rigid member238with a fastener or adhesive. A compliant shunt236could be constructed using a piece of thin metal formed into a leaf spring or using a foam block wrapped in electrically conductive fabric.

FIG.2-2shows an enlarged view of a pair of electrical configuration pins216on an electronic assembly210. For the example using configuration using pins216, activator236is a shunt integrated into retention clip230, and rigid member238of retention clip230is shaped to automatically apply shunt236to configuration pins216when electronic assembly210is mounted in carrier220. In one example of the present disclosure, retention clip230shorts pins216together to put electronic assembly210into a test or diagnostic mode. More generally, retention clip230and activator236may be shaped to automatically position one or more shunts in contact with one or more set of pins216on an electronic assembly210mounted in carrier220to place the mounted electronic assembly210in any mode desired for testing. Further, carrier210may employ different versions of retention clip230with different shapes to position one or more shunts236in different locations, for example, to short different sets of configuration pins on the same electronic assembly210for testing of different operating modes of the electronic assembly210. Further, different versions of retention clip230may be shaped for testing of different types of electronic assembly210that have configuration pins216in different locations. When the retention clip230is installed to hold an electronic assembly210, retention clip230secures the electronic assembly210to carrier220and automatically electrically shorts two or more pins216on the header of electronic assembly210without the need of a worker to separately set a jumper or switch to select the operating mode of the electronic assembly210.

In an alternative example, a retention clip may be shaped to contact and depress or activate a bottom or switch that may be provided on an electronic assembly. In this case for carrier220, activator236may not require a shunt, and activator236at the end of rigid member238may be shaped according to the location and shape of one or more configuration switches or buttons that need to be set to control the operating mode of electronic assembly210.

Removal of electronic assembly210from the carrier220automatically removes activator236from electronic assembly210, e.g., removes the shunt from the header pins216or removes pressure from configuration switches or buttons, so that electronic assembly210defaults back to a normal operating mode when testing is complete. A worker is not needed to separately set a jumper or switch to return electronic assembly210to the default operating mode. Accordingly, manufacturing failures where electronic assemblies210are unintentionally left in a test mode after testing may be automatically avoided.

Although example implementations have been disclosed to illustrate aspects of the present disclosure, these implementations are only examples and should not be taken as limitations. Other implementations of the disclosed examples may be employed. For example, although the illustrated configuration employs a shunt or shunts on a retention clip with a slide mounting, an alternative configuration may employ a shunt fixed on a structure such as an end fitting that is fixed relative to the main spine of the carrier. Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the implementations disclosed are within the scope of the following claims.