Abstract:
Manufacture of electronic devices is usually accomplished through automated assembly lines using automated conveyors. These automated conveyors, typically comprising metallic components, cannot convey electronic devices into an RF chamber for testing (e.g., RF) during manufacture without compromising the efficacy of the shielding provided by the RF chamber. Thus, although electronic devices are assembled on automated assembly lines, a device is typically removed from the automated assembly line for testing, transported manually into an RF chamber, powered on, and then tested. After testing, the electronic device is powered down, manually removed from the RF chamber, and returned to the assembly line. Described herein are embodiments of a system and method to automatically transport electronic devices under power through an RF isolated chamber for testing (e.g., RF) as part of an automated assembly line process resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of electronic devices that can be tested.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/478,443, entitled “System and Method To Automate Transport Of Electronic Devices On An Assembly Line For Testing,” filed May 23, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to assembly line processing of electronic devices, and more particularly to automated transport of electronic devices under power for testing in an isolated RF chamber during assembly line processing. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Electronic devices (e.g., computers, electronic tablets, cellular phones, smartphones, and appliances) are mass-produced through assembly line processing. This assembly line processing is largely automated, with one important exception: testing of the electronic devices. 
     Testing of these electronic devices is a challenging issue because the testing needs to be performed in an environment shielded from electromagnetic interference. Interference from electromagnetic radiation (also known as radiofrequency (RF) inference) can interrupt, obstruct, or otherwise degrade or limit the effective performance of electronic circuits, resulting in inaccurate test results. One way to control this problem is to test electronic devices in an RF chamber such as a Faraday cage or an RF shielded chamber. 
     An RF chamber is an enclosure formed from a conducting material (e.g., copper) or a mesh of the conducting material. A static electrical field outside the RF chamber causes electrical charges within the cage walls of conducting material to redistribute so as to cancel the electrical field&#39;s effects within the interior of the chamber. Thus, by intercepting the external electrical fields, the RF chamber shields the interior of the chamber from exterior electromagnetic radiation. 
     RF chambers are typically designed as either benchtop lab units or as room-sized chambers. Regardless of the type, the interior of the RF chamber must be completely enclosed—that is, sealed off from the external environment—to reap the benefit of protection from electromagnetic interference. RF chambers used in laboratory settings are typically accessed through one hinged door. A door opening (i.e., frame) in the RF chamber, however, breaks the RF shielding around the chamber, thereby allowing electromagnetic fields to penetrate the chamber through the opening. In an attempt to block electromagnetic fields from entering the RF chamber through the opening, a gasket interface is typically inserted between the door and the door opening of the chamber. The gaskets used in non-military settings typically shield up to about 60-80 dB at e.g., up to 4 GHz reliably. One problem with these RF chambers is that the gasket interface, subject to repeated wear and tear as the door is opened and closed, is a weak point in the RF shielding which can require frequent maintenance and/or replacement. Military modifications of the typical laboratory RF chamber have achieved a higher attenuation (shielding in excess of 100 dB at, e.g., 6 GHz) by replacing the gasket interface with a reed interface comprised of individual reeds typically made of copper. As with the gasket interface, however, the reeds break easily, and therefore need to be replaced frequently to maintain acceptable shielding. 
     One consequence of the necessity for completely sealing the RF chamber is that assembly line conveyors (typically comprising metallic components) cannot carry electronic devices into the cage for testing without disrupting the efficacy of the shielding. Maintenance and cost issues associated with maintaining effective RF shielding around current RF chamber doors, moreover, make more than one door into the chamber impractical—and thus make running a conveyor through (e.g., in one side and out another side of) the chamber impractical as well. Thus, although electronic devices are assembled on automated assembly lines, a device is typically removed from the automated assembly line for testing (e.g., RF), transported manually into an RF chamber, powered on, and then tested. After testing, the electronic device is powered down, manually removed from the RF chamber, and manually repositioned on the assembly line. The procedure becomes even more time-consuming and difficult if the electronic device being manufactured is large, heavy, and/or bulky (e.g., a desktop computer such as the iMac from Apple, Inc.) such that one worker can move only one device at one time. This cumbersome process slows production and increases the cost of manufacturing electronic devices. What is needed is a way to automate transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state from the automated assembly line into an RF isolated chamber for testing (e.g., RF) and out of the chamber and back to the automated assembly line after testing. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment is provided a method of automating transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state for testing during assembly line processing comprising: conveying on a first conveyor to a first staged table a pallet with an electronic device thereon, the first conveyor configured to provide power to the pallet being conveyed thereon and the pallet configured to maintain electrical continuity with the electronic device to thereby power the electronic device; transferring by the first conveyor the pallet with the electronic device thereon from the first conveyor to an upper stage of the first staged table while maintaining power to the pallet, thereby maintaining power to the electronic device; moving to a fixture in a chamber the upper stage of the first staged table having the pallet with the electronic device thereon; transferring by the upper stage of the first staged table the pallet with the electronic device thereon from the upper stage of the first staged table to the fixture in the chamber, the fixture configured to provide power to the pallet positioned thereupon, while maintaining power to the electronic device; withdrawing the upper stage of the first staged table from the chamber; and isolating the chamber from extraneous RF interference to perform testing on the electronic device. 
     In another embodiment is a method further comprising: moving to the fixture in the chamber an upper stage of a second staged table configured to provide power to electronic devices positioned thereupon; transferring by the upper stage of the second staged table the pallet with the electronic device thereon from the fixture to the upper stage of the second staged table while maintaining power to the pallet, thereby maintaining power to the electronic device; withdrawing from the chamber the upper stage of the second staged table whereupon the pallet with the electronic device thereon is positioned; transferring the pallet with the electronic device thereon from the upper stage of the second staged table to a second conveyor while maintaining power to the pallet, thereby maintaining power to the electronic device; and conveying the pallet with the electronic device thereon on the second conveyor to a designated location while maintaining power to the pallet, thereby maintaining power to the electronic device. 
     A system for automating transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state for testing during assembly line processing comprising: a pallet configured with: one or more electrical connector configured to electrically connect to the electronic device; electrical rails for making electronic contact to receive power; and an electrical connection configured to maintain electrical continuity between the one or more electrical connector and the electrical rails; a conveyor configured to convey the pallet and further configured with power pins for providing power to the pallet rails when the pallet is positioned thereupon; an RF isolatable chamber comprising two or more operable doors, the chamber configured to be RF isolated when each of the two or more operable doors are closed; a fixture within the chamber whereupon automated testing of the electronic device can be performed when the two or more operable doors of the chamber are closed, the fixture configured with power pins for providing power to the pallet rails when the pallet is positioned thereupon; and a staged table configured with power pins for providing power to the pallet rails when the pallet is positioned thereupon, the staged table further configured to be: within close proximity to the conveyor such that the pallet is transferrable from the conveyor to an upper stage of the staged table without interrupting power to the pallet; and extendable to the chamber fixture and configured for automatic placement of the pallet on the chamber fixture without interrupting power to the pallet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a system and method of automating testing on an assembly line according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic showing a topside view of a pallet according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic showing an underside view of the pallet according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic showing a topside view of a conveyor according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic showing a side view of a table according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic showing a topside view of an upper stage of the table according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic showing a topside view of a fixture in a chamber according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic showing a topside view of the upper stage of the table positioned around the chamber fixture according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustrating (a) a chamber with (b) a frame of a door assembly and (c) closure of the door to electrically isolate the chamber for testing according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart detailing a method of automating transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state for testing during assembly line processing according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart detailing a method of automating transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state for assembly line processing after testing according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of an RF isolatable chamber described herein offer benefits over current RF chambers, to wit: these embodiments have (1) a more robust door design than current RF chambers, which design reduces required maintenance and associated costs of that maintenance; and (2) one or more door, the presence of which allows testing of electronic devices to be incorporated as an automated flow-through process into assembly line manufacturing of electronic devices. 
     Further embodiments are described herein of a system and method to automate transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state for testing during assembly line processing. These embodiments provide a non-conveyor system to transport electronic devices under power into the RF isolatable chamber and thereby allow testing to be incorporated as an automated process into assembly line manufacturing of electronic devices. Thus, these embodiments allow testing (e.g., RF, functional/operational, sound, and/or light testing) on up to 100% of assembled electronic devices. 
     As shown in the block diagram of  FIG. 1  (not drawn to scale), a system to automate transport of electronic devices under power for testing (e.g., RF) during assembly line processing comprises: a unit under test (UUT)  101  affixed to a pallet  102 , one or more conveyor  103 , one or more multi-stage table  104 , an RF isolatable chamber  105  having one or more chamber door assemblies  106 , and a chamber fixture  107  within chamber  105 . For assembly line processing, UUT  101  is placed on or affixed to pallet  102  (discussed further herein with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is positioned on conveyor  10  (discussed further herein with reference to  FIG. 4 ), conveyed to table  104  (discussed further herein with reference to  FIGs. 5 and 6 ) and transferred thereto. Table  104  then moves pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) through chamber door assembly  106  into chamber  105  (discussed further herein with reference to  FIG. 9 ) and onto chamber fixture  107  (discussed further herein with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) for testing of UUT  101 . Conveyor  103 , table  104 , chamber  105 , and chamber fixture  107  are each connected to a power source to receive electrical power that is in-phase among these structures. 
     UUT  101  is an electronic device subject to testing (e.g., RF) during manufacture. UUT  101  can be, e.g., a personal computer, a laptop, a mobile device such as a phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a media device e.g., the iPod or iPod Touch from Apple, Inc.), an electronic tablet (e.g., an iPad from Apple, Inc.), an electronic reader device (e.g., a Kindle from Amazon.com, Inc. of Seattle, Wash.), or any other product with wireless communication capabilities (e.g., WiFi or cellular communications) subject to testing during manufacture. UUT  101  is powered on before or after being affixed to or placed on pallet  102  and remains in a powered-on state throughout subsequent steps as discussed herein. 
     Pallet  102  is a platform to which UUT  101  is affixed or placed on for transport through the assembly line. Pallet  102  comprises a sturdy material such as a plastic, resin, or the like which can maintain structural integrity while traveling on the assembly line. Pallet  102  is shown in a topside-view schematic ( FIG. 2 ) and in an underside-view schematic ( FIG. 3 ) according to one embodiment. Referring first to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment UUT  101  is affixed to a mounting plate  201  using one or more bracket  203 . Mounting plate  201  is preferably a rotating plate (e.g., a lazy-Susan) that can rotate 360 degrees to allow easily adjustable positioning of UUT  101  for testing. In addition, one or more brace  204  can be used to secure UUT  101  at a specific angle to improve RF or other electronic signals. Once affixed, a power cable from UUT  101  is plugged into power socket  202 . Power socket  202  is electrically connected to electrical rails on the underside of pallet  102  (as discussed further herein). In one embodiment, the power cable for UUT  101  can be a device-specific power cable that connects to a device-specific power socket  202 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , four metal rails traverse the underside of pallet  102 : a sensor rail  301 , a hot rail  302 , a ground rail  303 , and a neutral rail  304 . The rails ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304 ) are oriented on the underside of pallet  102  such that the pallet, when placed in a correct orientation on an assembly line structure, receives power when the rails are in contact with electrical pins of the assembly line structure (discussed further herein). Sensor rail  301 , when powered through the pallet by the other rails, can be used to sense and track progress of pallet  102  along conveyor  103  and to trigger automated actions for transfer of pallet  102  to and from assembly line structures (e.g., from conveyor  103  to table  104  as discussed elsewhere herein) when sensor rail  301  contacts a power pin, thus completing an electric circuit. 
     The underside of pallet  102  contains several (e.g., four) table alignment sockets  305  and several (e.g., four) fixture alignment sockets  306  for the pallet with, respectively, table  104  and chamber fixture  107  (as discussed elsewhere herein). Alignment sockets  305  and  306  are preferably depressions in the underside of pallet  102  rather than holes through pallet  102 . 
     Pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is positioned—either manually or automatically—on conveyor  103  to travel through the assembly line. Conveyor  103  is a conveyor system as is known in the electronics manufacturing industry. A topside view of conveyor  103  according to one embodiment is shown in  FIG. 4 . Conveyor wheels  402  rotate to move pallet  102  along conveyor  103 . Interspersed among conveyor wheels  402  are lines of spring-loaded electrical power pins  401  (preferably pogo pins from Everett Charles Technologies, Pomona, Calif.) aligned perpendicular to a direction of travel of conveyor  103 . Power pins  401  are connected to a power source (not shown) and oriented in the same fashion as rails  301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304  of pallet  102  such that when pallet  102  travels along conveyor  103 , the rails of pallet  102  pass over and contact lines of power pins  401 . As each line of power pins  401  is contacted, electrical continuity is established between each power pin  401  and the respective rail ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , or  304 ) with which it is in contact. Thus, electrical power passes from the power source, through power pins  401 , and through rails  301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304  of pallet  102  to UUT  101 , thereby maintaining continuous power to UUT  101  as it travels along conveyor  103 . As pallet  102  travels along conveyor  103 , successively contacted lines of power pins supply power to the rails of pallet  102 . 
     Conveyor  103  delivers pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) to table  104 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a schematic of table  104  is shown. Table  104  is a multi-stage table, preferably a cantilever, with an upper table stage  501 , a middle table stage  502 , and a lower table stage  503 . Upper table stage  501  can be moved (e.g., extended horizontally), preferably using a slidable track system within middle table stage  502  while lower table stage  503  remains stationary. Table  104  is mated to conveyor  103  such that their top surfaces are at the same height, and both use the same electrical pin orientation to provide power to the underside of pallet  102 . Upper table stage  501 , as shown in a topside view in  FIG. 6 , is a fork-like structure with two arms connected by a bridge on which power pins  601  are positioned. Power pins  601  are arranged with the same electrical pin orientation as conveyor  103  so as to provide power to the rails on the underside of pallet  102 . Near leading and trailing edges of each arm ( 605  and  606 , respectively) are table alignment pins  603 , each in an alignment pin well  604 . Table alignment pins  603  can be beveled to increase pallet stability when pallet  102  is positioned thereon. Each table alignment pin  603  is vertically extendible and retractable through a cylinder-piston mechanism (not shown). 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , as pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) approaches an end of conveyor  103  near table  104 , a conveyor PLC (not shown) sends a signal to a table PLC (not shown) that pallet  102  is approaching. Table PLC prepares table  104  for pallet  102  (e.g., ensures that table  104  is in a non-extended state ready for pallet  102 ). Conveyor wheels  402  push pallet  102  off conveyor  103 , across a gap between conveyor  103  and table  104 , and onto trailing edge  606  of upper table stage  501 . When a first sensor (not shown) on table  104  is activated (signaling that leading edge  605  of pallet  102  has broken an infrared beam (not shown) on an edge of table  104 ), then power is turned on to power pins  601  of table  104 . As rails of pallet  102  contact a first row of table power pins  601 , power is provided by table  104  to pallet  102 . Table  104  is located within close proximity to conveyor  103  such that pallet  102  straddles the gap between conveyor  103  and table  104  while rails of pallet  102  make contact with conveyor power pins  401  as well as table power pins  601  (so both conveyor  103  and table  104  is provided power to pallet  102 ). 
     As conveyor wheels  401  continue to push pallet  102  off conveyor  103 , pallet  102  continues to slide across upper table stage  501  until pallet  102  reaches leading edge  605  of upper table stage  501 . When a sensor on table  104  (not shown) signals that pallet  102  is aligned over upper table stage  501 , table alignment pins  603  are raised from alignment pin wells  604  into table alignment sockets  305  of pallet  102  to raise pallet  102  higher (e.g., an inch above the height of conveyor  103 ) and maintain pallet  102  in an aligned position above the surface of upper table stage  501 . Because pallet  102  is greater in length and width than upper table stage  501 , raising pallet  102  prevents conveyor  103  from continuing to push pallet  102  past a point at which pallet  102  is centered on upper table stage  501 . 
     Once pallet  102  is maintained in the raised and aligned position, the slidable track system of middle stage  502  can be triggered. Middle stage  502  comprises one or more track  504  and a cylinder (e.g., hydraulic or pneumatic)  505 . When triggered, cylinder  506  releases a piston (not shown) which applies force to push upper table stage  501  (with pallet  102  thereon) horizontally along tracks  504  away from conveyor  103 , across a gap between table  104  and chamber  105 , into chamber  105 , and into a position surrounding (on three sides) chamber fixture  107 . 
     A topside view of chamber fixture  107  is shown in  FIG. 7 . Chamber fixture  107  is a RF-invisible structure onto which pallet  102  is positioned for testing of UUT  101 . Chamber fixture  107  is smaller in length and width than both upper table stage  501  and pallet  102 . Arrayed on a top surface of chamber fixture  107  are power pins  701 . Power pins  701  are arranged with the same electrical pin orientation as conveyor  103  and table  104  so as to contact the rails on the underside of pallet  102  when pallet  102  is aligned on chamber fixture  107 . Also mounted on the top surface of chamber fixture  107  are four RF-invisible fixture alignment pins  703  which can be beveled to increase pallet stability when pallet  102  is positioned thereon. In one embodiment, fixture alignment pins  703  are larger than table alignment pins  603  so as to increase pallet stability. This embodiment is particularly useful when chamber fixture  107  is smaller than upper table stage  501 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a topside view of upper table stage  501  and chamber fixture  107  during transfer of pallet  102  in one embodiment. Upper table stage  501  moves into chamber  105  to position pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) such that the upper table stage  501  surrounds chamber fixture  107  on three sides. At this point, fixture alignment sockets  306  of pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) are aligned over fixture alignment pins  703 , table alignment pins  603  are seated in table alignment sockets  305  of pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ), and rails ( 301 ,  302 ,  303 , and  304 ) of pallet  102  are in contact with upper table stage power pins  601 . Once it has been determined that pallet  102  is aligned over chamber fixture  107  and that cylinder  505  is fully extended, table alignment pins  603  are lowered and thereby retracted from table alignment sockets  305  and into alignment pin wells  604 . As table alignment pins  602  retract into alignment pin wells  604 , upper table stage  501  descends until table alignment pins  603  are no longer in contact with pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ), fixture alignment pins  703  are seated in fixture alignment sockets  306  of pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) and the rails of pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) are in contact with fixture power pins  701 . Upper table stage  501  is then withdrawn from chamber  105  and repositioned on middle stage  502  and lower table stage  503  of table  104 . 
     In one embodiment, chamber  105  is an RF shielded enclosure (e.g., RF chamber) with at least two chamber doors so as to permit assembly line components to be automatically moved into and out of chamber  105  through chamber door assembly  106 , preferably with ingress of assembly line components through one chamber door assembly  106  and egress of assembly line components through another chamber door assembly  106 . Chamber  105  is formed from a conducting material (usually copper coated or zinc plated steel) which blocks external static and non-static electromagnetic fields from entering the chamber. When sealed by chamber door assembly  106  (preferably beryllium-coated copper (Be—Cu) reed interface), chamber  105  is an RF isolated chamber suitable for testing (e.g., RF) of electronic devices. 
     A structure and operation of chamber door assembly  106  according to one embodiment is detailed in  FIGS. 9(   a ), ( b ), and ( c ). Referring first to  FIG. 9(   a ), each chamber door assembly  106  comprises a frame  901 , an insert  902 , and a panel  903  attached to insert  902 . In this figure, the right side of chamber  105  is open, as indicated by the separation of frame  901  from insert  902  and panel  903 . As shown in a cross-section view in  FIG. 9(   a ) and a full-face view in  FIG. 9  ( b ), frame  901  comprises an open-center, rectangular, metallic channel  904  preferably mounted (e.g., bolted) on a side of chamber  105  which allows entry into chamber  105  through the open center of rectangular channel  904 . In another embodiment, channel  904  can be formed or cut into a side wall of chamber  105 . Strips of Be—Cu reeds form a reed interface  905  along all four inner walls  908  and outer walls  909  of channel  904 . In other embodiments, reed interface  905  can be placed also or instead on back walls  910  of channel  904 . The Be—Cu reeds are convex-bent metal so each has spring-like flex. Corners of channel  904  can be coated with conductive paste to ensure that corners provide an uninterrupted electrical shield. 
     As shown in cross-section in  FIGS. 9  ( a ) and ( c ), insert  902  is a rectangular steel plate with each side bent 90 degrees to form an edge along each of the four sides of insert  902 , which edges can be slotted into channel  904  of frame  901 . Insert  902  is attached to panel  903  which is attached to structure  906 . Vertical movement of panel  903  (with insert  902  attached thereto) is controlled with a cylinder-piston mechanism (not shown). To close chamber door assembly  106 , panel  903  (with insert  902  attached thereto) is dropped to the level of frame  901 , and then pushed into frame  901  (as shown in the progression of  FIG. 9  ( c )) until reed interface  905  makes contact with, and holds the four bent edges of insert  902  with some tension in channel  904  of frame  901 . Horizontal movement of panel  903  to push insert  902  into frame  901  is controlled by several (e.g., 8) small cylinder-piston mechanisms  907  arrayed around panel  903  so reed interface  905  contacts the four bent edges of insert  902  simultaneously. When insert  902  is fully inserted into frame  901  (as in  FIGS. 9(   a ) and ( c )), an unbent surface of insert  902  bridges the open center within frame  901 , thereby closing chamber door assembly  106  and electrically isolating chamber  105  so testing (e.g., RF) of an electronic device can be performed therein. 
     In one embodiment, testing comprises RF testing. In other embodiments, testing comprises functional/operational, sound, and/or light testing. 
     After testing, chamber door assembly  106  is opened. To open chamber door assembly  106 , panel  903  (with insert  902  attached thereto) is retracted from frame  901  and raised on structure  906 . Once chamber door assembly  106  is open, pallet  102  can be removed from chamber  105  by reversing the process of bringing pallet  102  into chamber  105 . Specifically, with reference again to  FIG. 8 , upper table stage  501  is moved into chamber  105  until upper table stage  501  surrounds chamber fixture  107  on three sides as shown in  FIG. 8 . At this point, table alignment pins  603  are positioned under table alignment sockets  305  of pallet  102 , fixture alignment pins  703  are seated in fixture alignment sockets  306  of pallet  102 , rails of pallet  102  are in contact with fixture power pins  701  and table power pins  601 , and power is being provided to pallet  102  through upper table stage  501  of table  104  and/or through chamber fixture  107 . Cylinders controlling table alignment pins  603  of upper table stage  501  are then operated such that table alignment pins  603  ascend through alignment pin wells  604  and thereby raise upper table stage  501  until table alignment pins  603  are seated in table alignment sockets  305  on pallet  102  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ). Table alignment pins  602  continue to ascend, thereby raising upper table stage  501  further and lifting pallet  102  off fixture alignment pins  703 . Once pallet  102  has been lifted off fixture alignment pins  703 , upper table stage  501  (with pallet  102  positioned thereon) is withdrawn from chamber  105  through chamber door assembly  106 . 
     When table stage  501  (with pallet  102 ) has been withdrawn to a point where table stage  501  is centered over table lower stage  503 , pallet  102  (greater in length and width than upper table  501 ) extends over table  104 , over the gap between table  104  and conveyor  103 , and over a portion of conveyor  103 , Table alignment pins  603  are then retracted into table alignment pin wells  602 . When table alignment pins  603  have been retracted, pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is in contact with both power pins  601  on upper table stage  501  and power pins  401  of conveyor  103 , Wheels  402  of conveyor  103  then move pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) along conveyor  103 . 
     The two or more chamber door assemblies  106  of chamber  105  can open and close simultaneously or sequentially. In one embodiment, the two or more chamber door assemblies  106  open simultaneously, thereby allowing a second UUT  101  on a second pallet  102  to be moved into chamber  105  as a first UUT  101  on a first pallet  102  is being withdrawn from chamber  105 . In this embodiment, a first upper table stage  501  that is to withdraw the first UUT  101  enters chamber  105  before a second upper table stage  501  that is delivering the second UUT  101  so the first pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) can be withdrawn from chamber fixture  107  before second upper table stage  501  attempts to position second pallet  102  on chamber fixture  107 . In another embodiment, chamber  105  can have only one chamber door assembly  106  through which a first UUT  101  (on a first pallet  102 ) is withdrawn from chamber  105  through a first chamber door assembly  106 , after which a second UUT  101  (on a second pallet  102 ) is moved into chamber  105  through the first chamber door assembly  106 . 
     It is to be understood that various PLCs as described herein can be located within individual assembly line components and/or can be located within a separate housing, and that multiple PLCs can be combined as one PLC with programming logic for multiple assembly line components (e.g., conveyor  103 , table  104 , and chamber fixture  107 ). One of skill in the art will further recognize that other sensors can be used to detect the presence of pallet  102  on assembly line components (e.g., optical sensors. such as infrared sensors, or otherwise). 
     Chamber  105  offers several benefits over traditional RF test boxes. Because the edges of insert  902  are inserted in a knife-like fashion into channeled reed-interface  905  of frame  901 , the reeds are not subject to being compressed between the full weight of a heavy door and a wall of the channel. Thus, the lifetime of the reeds used with chamber  105  is greatly extended compared to the lifetime of reeds which are frequently crushed from being compressed between a weighty hinged door and a face of a frame on which the reed interface is mounted as in a typical RF chamber, thereby reducing maintenance costs (in terms of chamber down time and money). Furthermore, because reed interface  905  lines each side of channel  904  of frame  901 , shielding can be maintained even if one (or more) reed breaks, because reeds on an opposing side of channel  904  can maintain metallic continuity necessary for shielding. An additional benefit of chamber  105  is that 100 dB shielding at 6 GHz can be consistently achieved, making testing of the electronic devices more reliable. Furthermore, because that level of shielding can be attained even with the two or more doors, chamber  105  can be used with an extendable table as described herein to automate transport of electronic devices for testing as part of an assembly line process. This can allow up to 100% testing RF) of assembled units. 
     A flowchart detailing a method to automate transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state for testing (e.g., RF) during assembly line processing according to one embodiment is presented in  FIG. 10 . 
     In step  1001 , pallet  102  (with UUT  101  in a powered-on state) is conveyed by conveyor  103  to table  104  as described herein. 
     In step  1002 , pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is transferred to table  104  as described herein. 
     In step  1003 , upper table stage  501  of table  104  is moved through chamber door assembly  106  to chamber fixture  107  as described herein. 
     In step  1004 , pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is transferred from upper table stage  501  to chamber fixture  107  as described herein. 
     In step  1005 , upper table stage  501  is withdrawn from chamber  105  through chamber door assembly  106  as described herein. 
     In step  1006 , chamber  105  is RF isolated by closing chamber doors  106  as described herein. 
     Following step  1006 , testing (e.g., RF) can be conducted through automated control on UUT  101  (powered by chamber fixture  107  through pallet  102 ). In one embodiment, connectors affixing UUT  101  to pallet  102 , in addition to providing power, can also provide signal lines that can be used to trigger operational testing of UUT  101 . 
     Once testing is completed, pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) can be removed from chamber  105  and delivered to a desired location. A flowchart detailing a method to automate transport of an electronic device in a powered-on state after testing for further assembly line processing according to one embodiment is presented in  FIG. 11 . 
     In step  1101 , chamber door assemblies  106  are opened as described herein. 
     In step  1102 , upper table stage  501  of table  104  is moved into chamber  105  through chamber door assembly  106  to chamber fixture  107  as described herein. 
     In step  1103 , pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is transferred from chamber fixture  107  to upper table stage  501  as described herein. 
     In step  1104 , upper table stage  501  (with pallet  102  aligned thereon) is withdrawn from chamber  105  through chamber door assembly  106  as described herein. 
     In step  1105 , pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is transferred from upper table stage  501  to conveyor  103 . 
     Once pallet  102  (with UUT  101 ) is transferred to conveyor  103 , pallet  102  can be conveyed to any desired location for further assembly line processing. 
     The method detailed in  FIGS. 10 and 11  are preferably performed simultaneously for different UUTs  101 . In this embodiment, as a first UUT  101  (on a first pallet  102 ) is withdrawn from chamber  105  through a first chamber door assembly  106  as a second UUT  101  (on a second pallet  102 ) is moved into chamber  105  through a second chamber door assembly  106 . One of skill in the art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the method described herein can be performed sequentially such that a first UUT  101  (on a first pallet  102 ) is withdrawn from chamber  105  through a first chamber door assembly  106 , after which a second UUT  101  (on a second pallet  102 ) is moved into chamber  105  through the first chamber door assembly  106 . 
     The disclosed method and apparatus has been explained above with reference to several embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. Certain aspects of the described method and apparatus may readily be implemented using configurations other than those described in the embodiments above, or in conjunction with elements other than those described above. For example, different types of alignment pins between the pallets and the fixture, perhaps more complex than those described herein, may be used, as well as possibly between other system components. As another example, the RF isolated chamber discussed herein can also be an RF anechoic chamber such as have been used to test antennas and radars. One of skill in the art will recognize that such a chamber will be covered internally with radiation absorbent material to reduce reflection and external noise in radio frequencies. 
     Further, it should also be appreciated that the described method and apparatus can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, or a system. The methods described herein may be implemented by program instructions for instructing a processor to perform such methods, and such instructions recorded on a computer readable storage medium such as a hard disk drive, floppy disk, optical disc such as a compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD), flash memory, etc., or a computer network wherein the program instructions are sent over optical or electronic communication links. It should be noted that the order of the steps of the methods described herein may be altered and still be within the scope of the disclosure. 
     It is to be understood that the examples given are for illustrative purposes only and may be extended to other implementations and embodiments with different conventions and techniques. While a number of embodiments are described, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the embodiment(s) disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents apparent to those familiar with the art. 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention is described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. Various features and aspects of the above-described invention may be used individually or jointly. Further, the invention can be utilized in any number of environments and applications beyond those described herein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the specification. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be recognized that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used herein, are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of art.