Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for retaining a production level device for use with an automated testing device for testing personal computer components. The apparatus includes an extrusion having a first portion for receiving the production level device and a second portion for attaching the extrusion to the automated test device. The apparatus also includes a moldable fastener for precisely fastening the production-level device to the first portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The disclosures herein relate generally to computer systems and, more particularly, to enabling auto-insertion of production level devices (“PLDs”). 
     Computer systems and components require testing during manufacture and assembly to ensure proper operation. This testing requires that PLDs, such as audio cards, video cards, and memory modules, be inserted into appropriate connectors to test the functionality of the connectors. The wide variety of connectors available requires that many different sizes and shapes of PLDs be used during testing. The repetitive insertion and removal of a PLD stresses the PLD, which eventually causes breakage and/or failure of the PLD. 
     One method used for the actual insertion and removal process is to manually insert and remove the PLDs. However, the manual insertion of PLDs, such as dual in-line memory modules (“DIMMs”), by a test operator for the purpose of functionally testing motherboards has proven in the past to cause extensive damage to the motherboards and the PLDs, which results in increased cost to manufacturers. Automated testing was introduced to overcome some of the problems presented by the manual testing procedures, but the testing introduced other complications. 
     A major complication introduced with automated testing devices is that they require a means to access the tooling features of a PLD, which for purposes of example is a DIMM. Tooling features on a DIMM or other PLD are holes placed on the printed circuit board which are used during the manufacturing process for hold-down purposes, and to determine the degree of conformity of the position of a pattern relative to its intended position, or with that of any other conductor layer of the board. During automated testing, the tooling features are used by an automated test device to correctly insert the DIMM module into the appropriate connector of a computer unit under test (“UUT”). However, different PLDs generally have different tooling features and a large variety of PLDs may be used to test the various connectors of a UUT. Because of this variety, the testing procedures and equipment should account for all the variations in tooling features. 
     In order to align the DIMM during the insertion process, the automated test equipment generally uses special tooling holes which have been added to the DIMM and are matched against the available tooling features on the DIMM. These tooling holes are generally non-plated tooling holes which have a very tight tolerance. However, DIMMs typically have very little available space for adding the tooling holes and so additional material is generally needed on the DIMM to provide sufficient surface area. 
     Because of the lack of available space on which to place the tooling holes, it is often necessary to create custom PLDs to use during testing. This is an expensive solution which requires relatively long lead times to design, create, and incorporate into the testing process. Once developed, future versions of the custom device are generally necessary as the tooling features on the PLDs often change over time. Each iteration requires extensive redesign and related tooling costs. 
     To avoid these and other problems, it is desirable to have a device which is able to utilize “off the shelf” PLDs for automated testing, without expensive customization or excessive retooling. Such a device would provide the ability to securely retain a PLD, such as a standard DIMM, and could be used for multiple types of PLDs without extensive modification. Therefore, what is needed is a device that enables the auto-insertion of PLDs into a UUT using automated testing equipment. 
     SUMMARY 
     One embodiment, accordingly, provides for retaining a production level device for use with an automated testing device for testing personal computer components. To this end, an extrusion includes a first portion for receiving the production level device and a second portion for attaching the extrusion to the automated test device. The production level device is precisely retained in the first portion by a moldable fastener. 
     A principal advantage of this embodiment is that the production level device is held in the correct position which enables accurate auto-insertion to occur. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a view of an exemplary extrusion to hold a production level device, shown with an uninserted production level device. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a view taken along line  1   b — 1   b  of FIG. 1 a.    
     FIG. 1 c  is a view taken along line  1   c — 1   c  of FIG. 1 a.    
     FIG. 2 is an exemplary method for utilizing a production level device for automated testing. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view of one embodiment of a device for inserting production level devices into extrusions. 
     FIG. 4 a  is one embodiment of a schematic view of an extrusion designed to hold a production level device, shown with an inserted production level device. 
     FIG. 4 b  is a view taken along line  4   b — 4   b  of FIG. 4 a.    
     FIG. 5 a  is a perspective view of an exemplary clamping apparatus designed to hold multiple extrusions. 
     FIG. 5 b  is a view taken along line  5   b — 5   b  of FIG. 5 a.    
     FIG. 5 c  is a view taken along line  5   c — 5   c  of FIG. 5 a.   
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 a,    1   b,  and  1   c,  in one embodiment, the reference numeral  10  indicates an extrusion capable of accepting a PLD. The extrusion  10 , substantially Y-shaped in cross-section, may be viewed as comprising a curved, U-shaped portion  12  formed by two flanges  12   a  and  12   b,  and connected to a planar portion  14  as better illustrated in FIG. 1 c.  The two portions  12  and  14  are connected along their longitudinal axes to form the single Y-shaped extrusion  10 . 
     The U-shaped portion  12  includes a plurality of holes  16  formed therein. The holes  16  extend substantially parallel along both flanges  12   a  and  12   b  of the U-shaped portion  12  and serve as tooling holes to match available tooling features as will be described. The precise location, number, shape, and dimensions of the holes  16  are dictated by the particular tooling features to be matched. The internal surfaces of the U-shaped portion  12  define a groove  17 . The groove  17  contains multiple ribs  18  which run longitudinally down the length of the U-shaped portion  12  in a substantially parallel fashion as illustrated in FIGS. 1 a,    1   b,  and  1   c.    
     The planar portion  14  contains a slot  20  and a hole  22  formed therein. The slot  20  and the hole  22  serve as conventional positioning and fastening features to allow the extrusion  10  to be inserted into a clamping device, as will be described in reference to FIGS. 5 a,    5   b  and  5   c.    
     Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 a,    1   b  and  1   c,  is a PLD  30 , which for purposes of this example is a DIMM, although the PLD  30  may be any type of device, card, or circuit board capable of being inserted into a receptacle or connector in a computer system. The DIMM  30  contains multiple slots  32   a  and  32   b  along an edge  34  of the DIMM  30  and additional slots  36   a  and  36   b,  which are located on edges  38  and  40  of the DIMM  30 , respectively. The slots  32   a,    32   b,    36   a  and  36   b  serve as tooling features on the DIMM  30 . In addition, the DIMM  30  contains a number of memory chips  42 , which serve as the foundation for the DIMM  30 &#39;s random access memory capabilities. The memory chips  42  appear on both sides of the DIMM  30 , as better illustrated by FIG. 1 c.  Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  are a pair of corners  44  of the DIMM. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, an exemplary method for utilizing a PLD for automated testing, such as the PLD  30  of FIGS. 1 a,    1   b  and  1   c,  is shown. Continuing the above example, the PLD  30  is a DIMM. Beginning with step  50 , an extrusion  10 , such as the extrusion  10  of FIGS. 1 a,    1   b  and  1   c,  is chosen to match the tooling features of the DIMM  30 , such as the tooling features  32   a,    32   b,    36   a  and  36   b  of FIGS. 1 a,    1   b  and  1   c.    
     Once the appropriate extrusion  10  has been selected in step  50 , the method moves to step  52 . In step  52 , the DIMM  30  is inserted into the extrusion  10  using an assembly device  70 , such as the assembly device  70  of FIG.  3 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, the device  70  comprises two fastener blocks  72  and  74 , which may hold multiple extrusions  10  and DIMMs  30 , respectively. The exact method of holding the extrusions  10  and the DIMMs  30  may vary, but preferably allows the position of the extrusions  10  and the DIMMs  30  to be adjusted while retaining them firmly. 
     Multiple extrusions  10  are inserted into the fastening block  72 . Multiple DIMMs  30  are likewise inserted into the fastening block  74  and positioned using tooling features on each DIMM  30  so as to be exactly opposite their respective extrusions  10 . After aligning the extrusions  10  and the DIMMs  30  appropriately, a handle  76  is used to manually reposition the fastening blocks  72  and  74  so that each DIMM  30  is inserted into each corresponding extrusion  10 . The device  70  allows the DIMMs  30  to be precisely aligned and inserted into the extrusions  10 , as required by step  54  of FIG.  2 . 
     Returning now to FIG. 2, after the DIMM  30  is placed in the extrusion  10  and properly aligned as described above in steps  52  and  54 , the method moves to step  56 . In step  56 , the DIMM  30  is precisely positioned and fixed in place between the flanges of the U-shaped portion  12  using a moldable fastener such as an epoxy, e.g. available from the 3M Company of St. Paul, Minn. The epoxy is preferably both non-sagging and non-conductive. The epoxy is applied to the surfaces between the DIMM  30  and the flanges of the U-shaped portion  12 . A sufficient quantity of epoxy is used such that the space between the DIMM  30  and flanges of the U-shaped portion  12  is completely filled. The epoxy provides a method of retaining the DIMM  30  precisely in the required location regardless of variations in the dimensions of different DIMMs. This is because the soft pliable epoxy molds itself around the DIMM  30  and then takes a set to hold the DIMM  30  in place. The extrusion  10 , in combination with the epoxy, holds the DIMM  30  in such a way that bowing of the DIMM may not occur, which further decreases stress on the DIMM  30  during insertion in a connector of a UUT. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b,  the extrusion  10  and DIMM  30  of FIGS. 1 a,    1   b  and  1   c,  are shown with DIMM  30  inserted between the flanges of the U-shaped portion  12  of the extrusion  10  as described above. The DIMM  30  is retained in the extrusion  10  by an epoxy  80 , such as the epoxy described above, and the combination of the extrusion  10  and the DIMM  30  comprises a test unit  30 ′. 
     Returning again to FIG. 2, the method continues to step  58 . After the epoxy  80  has set and the DIMM  30  is firmly retained between the flanges  12   a  and  12   b  of the U-shaped portion  12  to form the test unit  30 ′, the edge  34  and the corners  44  of the DIMM  30 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b,  are altered to reduce wear on the DIMM  30  and to make testing easier. To accomplish this, the test unit  30 ′ is mounted on a fixture, which is in turn attached to a sanding device (not shown), such as a commercial belt sander. The sander is used to chamfer the corners  44  from the DIMM  30 . This prevents the DIMM  30 , when inserted in a connector in a UUT, from engaging the connector&#39;s socket locking latches and allows the DIMM  30  to be easily removed from the connector. 
     In step  60 , the sander is used to bevel both sides of the edge  34  of the DIMM  30  which is to be inserted into the connector. This beveling is accomplished by sanding away from the edge, which avoids slivers from the metal connector “fingers” of the DIMM  30 . The now beveled edge  34  extends the insertion life of the DIMM  30  and also helps to avoid connector breakage. 
     Once the DIMM  30  has been chamfered and beveled, the method of FIG. 2 proceeds to a final step  62 , where the test unit  30 ′ is ready to be used in testing. To use the test unit  30 ′ for testing, the test unit  30 ′ is inserted into a clamping apparatus  90  such as the clamping device described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/487,132, filed on Jan. 19, 2000, and also assigned to Dell USA, L.P., entitled “PC CARD CLAMPING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATED TEST FIXTURE” and hereby incorporated by reference as if reproduced in its entirety, and illustrated in FIGS. 5a,  5   b  and  5   c.    
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 a,    5   b  and  5   c,  the clamping apparatus  90  includes a base member  92  having a plurality of slots  94  formed therein. The slots are divided by ribs  96 . Two holes  98  and  100  allow access for two fasteners  102  and  104 , respectively. The fasteners  102  and  104  are suitable for insertion into the holes  98  and  100 . The fasteners include threaded ends  106 , which are inserted into the holes  98  and  100  and engage threaded receivers therein. 
     To insert the test unit  30 ′ into the base member  92 , the fastener  104  must be removed. Once removed, the slot  20  of the planar portion  14 , as illustrated in FIGS. 1 a,    1   b  and  1   c,  is inserted into one of the slots  94  and engages the fastener  102  present in the hole  98 . The end of the planar portion  14  containing the hole  22  is then rotatably inserted into the same slot  94 . The base  90  may receive up to four test units  30 ′,  30 ″,  30 ′″ and  30 ″″ in its four slots  94 . 
     Once the desired number of test units  30 ′- 30 ″″ have been inserted into the slots  94 , the fastener  104  is inserted into the hole  100  and engages the holes  22  of the planar portions  14 . Both fasteners  102  and  104  are then tightened in a conventional manner so that their respective threads  106  engage the receiving threads of the holes  98  and  100 . Once the test units  30 ′- 30 ″″ have been restrained by the fasteners  102  and  104 , the clamping apparatus  90  may be attached to an automated test device (not shown) and utilized in an automated test procedure as desired. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the corners of the PLD  30  are sanded after the extrusion  10  is inserted into the clamping apparatus  90  and before the clamping apparatus  90  is attached to a test fixture. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the PLD  30  is retained in the extrusion  10  by means of one or more clips or pins. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the extrusion  10  is formed comprising multiple U-shaped portions  12 , which allows multiple PLDs  30  to be retained by a single extrusion  10   
     Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.