Abstract:
An in-circuit testing auto open and close system, apparatus and method includes an in-circuit tester having an upper panel and a lower panel, wherein the upper and lower panels are used to test electrical connections of one or more electronic units. One or more actuators are each coupled to both the upper panel and the lower panel such that they are able to move the upper and lower panels with respect to each other. As a result, a controller coupled with the in-circuit tester and the actuators is able to cause the actuators to automatically close the panels such that the panels sandwich the electronic units at the beginning of a testing program and to automatically open the panels such that the panels are separated at the end of the testing program.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Patent Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of the U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 61/772,991, filed Mar. 5, 2013, and entitled “ICT Fixture Auto Open &amp; Eject System,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to the field of in-circuit testing (ICT) fixtures. More specifically, the invention is directed to the field of an ICT fixture for testing printed circuit board assemblies and printed circuit boards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) and printed circuit boards (PCBs) are usually tested after being manufactured in order to detect any manufacturing defects. Generally speaking, PCB testing may be categorized as bare-board testing whereas PCBA testing can be categorized as loaded-board testing. During bare-board testing, a bare PCB, without any components and/or devices attached thereto, is tested to verify the continuity of the traces between the pads and/or the vias on the board. During loaded-board testing, a PCBA with some or all of the electrical components and/or devices mounted thereto is tested in order to verify that all the required electrical connections have been properly completed. Additionally, loaded-board testing can also include integrated circuits (hereinafter “IC” or “ICs”) testing to verify that the components mounted on the PCB perform within specifications. Operation of these tests requires one or more operators to provide inputs to the testing controller, to continuously monitor the units under testing (UUT) as well as to manually open and close the testing apparatus before and after the testing. All of this activity increases the cost of the testing process and therefore the cost of the UUTs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of an ICT device, system and method of operation are directed to a controller electrically coupled with a testing device, one or more UUTs and an actuating mechanism. The controller is able to utilize the actuating mechanism to automatically open or close the testing device when the UUTs are in position to be tested and/or have finished testing. As a result, the system is able to provide the advantage of eliminating the risks and costs of human operators opening and closing the testing device. 
     One aspect is directed to an in-circuit testing apparatus. The apparatus comprises an in-circuit tester including a body having an upper panel and a lower panel. The upper and lower panels are configured to test electrical connections of one or more electronic units. One or more actuators are each coupled to both the upper panel and the lower panel and is configured to move the upper and lower panels with respect to each other. A controller is coupled with the in-circuit tester and the actuators and configured to cause the actuators to automatically close the panels such that the panels sandwich the electronic units at the beginning of a testing program and to automatically open the panels such that the panels are separated at the end of the testing program. In some embodiments, the in-circuit tester comprises a vacuum and the controller causes the vacuum to create a hermetic seal between the upper and lower panels and the units after the panels are closed. In some embodiments, the in-circuit tester comprises one or more safety sensors that detect when an object is between the upper and lower panels. In some embodiments, the controller comprises a memory storing the testing program, wherein the testing program causes the testing of the units by the in-circuit tester and includes embedded open commands that cause the actuators to open the upper and lower panels and close commands that cause the actuators to close the upper and lower panels. In some embodiments, one or more of the actuators are pneumatic actuators. In some embodiments, the in-circuit tester comprises a kill switch which, when activated, overrides all other input and enables the upper and lower panels to be opened. In some embodiments, the controller is integrated into the housing of the in-circuit tester. In some embodiments, the in-circuit tester comprises one or more unit fixtures that provide an electrical interface between the units and the in-circuit panels such that the in-circuit tester and the units are able to exchange electrical signals via the unit fixtures. 
     Another aspect is directed to a method of operating an in-circuit testing apparatus. The method comprises positioning one or more electronic units within an in-circuit tester having a body including an upper panel and a lower panel, causing one or more actuators to automatically close the panels with a controller coupled with the in-circuit tester such that the panels sandwich the electronic units at the beginning of a testing program, wherein the one or more actuators are each coupled to both the upper panel and the lower panel and configured to move the upper and lower panels with respect to each other, testing the electrical connections of the one or more electronic units with the upper and lower panels based on the testing program and causing one or more actuators to automatically open the panels with the controller such that the panels are separated at the end of the testing program. In some embodiments, the method further comprises causing a vacuum of the in-circuit tester to create a hermetic seal between the upper and lower panels and the units with the controller after the panels are closed. In some embodiments, the method further comprises detecting if an object is between the upper and lower panels with one or more safety sensors of the in-circuit tester and stopping the actuators from closing the upper and lower panels if the object is detected as being between the upper and lower panels by the safety sensors. In some embodiments, the testing program causes the testing of the units by the in-circuit tester and includes embedded open commands that cause the actuators to open the upper and lower panels and close commands that cause the actuators to close the upper and lower panels. In some embodiments, one or more of the actuators are pneumatic actuators. In some embodiments, the method further comprises enabling the upper and lower panels to be opened regardless of conflicting input from the testing program when a kill switch of the in-circuit tester is activated. In some embodiments, the controller is integrated into the housing of the in-circuit tester. In some embodiments, positioning the one or more electronic units within the in-circuit tester comprises coupling the units with one or more unit fixtures of the in-circuit tester, wherein the unit fixtures provide an electrical interface between the units and the in-circuit panels such that the in-circuit tester and the units are able to exchange electrical signals via the unit fixtures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Several example embodiments are described with reference to the drawings, wherein like components are provided with like reference numerals. The example embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. The drawings include the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an ICT system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an ICT apparatus according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate ICT control commands according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method of operating an ICT system according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present application are directed to an ICT device, system and method of operation. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the ICT device, system and method of operation is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the ICT device, system and method of operation as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application and business related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an ICT system  100  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  comprises an ICT  102 , an actuator mechanism  106 , a controller  104  and one or more UUTs  108 . Alternatively, the controller  104  is able to be incorporated with the ICT  102  such that the ICT  102  comprises a built-in controller within the ICT  102  that controls the operation of the ICT  102 . In some embodiments, the controller  104  comprises a display and/or one or more peripheral devices to display and provide an user interface with the results of the ICT  102  testing. Alternatively, if the controller  104  is incorporated within the ICT  102 , the display and/or peripherals are able to be separate from the controller  104 . It is understood that the ICT  102 , the actuator mechanism  106  and/or the controller  104  are able to comprise processing elements, memory and/or other circuitry well known in the art that have been omitted herein for the sake of brevity. 
     The ICT  102  is able to be physically coupled with the actuator mechanism  106  such that the mechanism  106  is able to physically open or close the ICT  102 . The UUTs  108  are able to be selectively electrically coupled with the ICT  102  such that the ICT  102  is able to perform electrical tests on each of the coupled UUTs  108 . Although as shown in  FIG. 1  the ICT  102  is coupled with three UUTs  108 , more or less UUTs  108  are contemplated. The controller  104  is electrically coupled with the ICT  102  and/or the actuator mechanism  106  in order to send electrical control signals (e.g. see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) to the ICT  102  and/or the actuator mechanism  106  that control their operation. For example, the controller  104  is able to cause the actuator mechanism  106  to close the ICT  102  when the UUTs  108  are in position within the ICT  102 , the ICT  102  to test the UUTs  108 , and then the actuator mechanism  106  to automatically open when the testing is complete. As a result, the system  100  provides the advantage of eliminating the need for an operator to continuously open and close the ICT  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the system  100  further comprises one or more UUT and/or operator safety sensors coupled to the ICT  102 , the controller  102  and/or the actuator mechanism  106 . In some embodiments, one or more of the UUT sensors are able to detect the position of the UUTs  108  within the ICT  102  and prevent the closure of the ICT  102  by the actuator mechanism  106  if one or more of the UUTs  108  are misaligned or otherwise improperly coupled with the ICT  102 . In some embodiments, the UUT safety sensors are able to detect the position of the UUTs  108  mechanically and/or electrically based on physical and/or electrical connections between the UUTs  108  and the ICT  102  monitored by the sensors. Alternatively or in addition, the UUT safety sensors are able to detect the position of the UUTs  108  visually based on a camera or other light-sensing device that is able to observe the positioning of the UUTs  108  within the ICT  102 . In some embodiments, one or more of the operator safety sensors are able to detect the position of the operators or other users relative to the ICT  102  and prevent the closure of the ICT  102  by the actuator mechanism  106  if an operator or user is in a dangerous area. For example, the operator safety sensors are able to detect if an object (e.g. operator hand) is between or proximate the panels of the ICT  102  and/or in the path of the closing panels of the ICT  102 . Similar to the UUT safety sensors, these operator sensors are able to detect the position of the operators visually based on a camera or other light-sensing device that is able to observe the positioning of the operators relative to the ICT  102 . 
     In operation, as described above, after the UUTs  108  have been positioned within the ICT  102  (and no safety sensor warnings have been received), the controller  104  sends control commands to the ICT  102  and/or actuator mechanism  106  to automatically close the ICT  102  around the UUTs  108  and begin the testing process. During the testing process, the ICT  102  provides a useful and efficient form of UUT  108  (e.g. printed circuit board) testing by measuring each component of the UUTs in turn to check that it is in place and of the correct value. As most faults on a UUT  108  arise out of the manufacturing process and usually consist of short circuits, open circuits or wrong components, this form of testing catches most of the problems on a board. These are able to easily be checked using simple measurements or resistance, capacitance, and sometimes inductance between two points on the UUTs  108 . In some embodiments, each of the UUTs  108  are tested in parallel. Alternatively, one or more of the UUTs  108  are able to be tested serially. Subsequently, after testing of the UUTs  108  has been completed, the controller  104  sends control commands to the ICT  102  and/or actuator mechanism  106  to automatically open the ICT  102  around the UUTs  108  such that the UUTs  108  are able to be removed. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an ICT apparatus  200  according to some embodiments. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the apparatus  200  comprises an ICT  202  having a top panel  202   a  and a bottom panel  202   b , an actuator mechanism  206  having a plurality of extending elements  206   a  and a control interface  206   b , a controller  204  having a display  204   a  and one or more peripherals  204   b  and one or more UUTs  208 . As described above, some or all of the controller  204  is able to be incorporated into the ICT  202 . In some embodiments, as described above, the ICT  102  is able to comprise one or more UUT safety sensors  98  and/or one or more operator safety sensors  97 . Although as shown in  FIG. 2 , the safety sensors  98  and  97  are located on the bottom panel  202   b  of the ICT  202 , one or more of the safety sensors  98 ,  97  are able to be located in other positions on the ICT  202  (e.g. the top panel  202   a ) and/or be separate from but coupled with the ICT  202 . 
     Each of the extending elements  206   a  of the actuator mechanism  206  have a first end coupled to the top panel  202   a  of the ICT  202  and a second end coupled to the bottom panel  202   b . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the elements  206   a  are coupled to opposite sides of the ICT  202 . Alternatively, one or more of the elements  206   a  are able to be positioned on other parts of the ICT  202 . Additionally, the first and second ends of the extending elements  206   a  are able to move with respect to each other (e.g. via a telescoping action) that causes the top panel  202   a  to cover and/or contact the bottom panel  202   b  such that the UUTs  208  are sandwiched when the ends move closer together and causes the top panel  202   a  and the bottom panel  202   b  to separate and reveal the UUTs  208  when the ends move apart. The control interface  206   b  electrically coupled with the controller  204  and is operatively (e.g. electrically) and/or physically coupled with the extending elements  206   a  such that based on commands received from the controller  204 , the control interface  206   b  is able to cause one or more of the elements  206   a  to selectively extend or retract their ends as desired thereby selectively automatically opening or closing the ICT panels  202   a ,  202   b . In some embodiments, the control interface  206   b  causes the ends to move between an open position and a closed position. Alternatively, the control interface  206   b  is able to move the elements  206   a  together or independently between any number of positions or extension lengths. In some embodiments, the extending elements  206   a  comprise pneumatic pistons, a pneumatic valve, a tube splitter, an air pressure regulator and/or an air release valve. Alternatively, one or more of the extending elements  206   a  are able to comprise pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, electric or other types of pistons, actuators or other actuating mechanisms known in the art. In some embodiments, the controller  204  interfaces or communicates with the control interface  206   b  via the ICT  202  (e.g. an ICT system card). Alternatively, the controller  204  is able to interface or communicate with the control interface  206   b  directly. 
     The ICT  202  is electrically coupled with the controller  204  and selectively coupled with the UUTs  208  such that the ICT  202  is able to perform tests on each of the coupled UUTs  208 . Although as shown in  FIG. 2  the ICT  202  is coupled with two UUTs  208 , more or less UUTs  208  are contemplated. The controller  204  is electrically coupled with the ICT  202  (and/or the control interface  206   b  of the actuator mechanism  206  as described above) in order to send electrical control signals (e.g. see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) to the ICT  202  and/or the actuator mechanism  206  that control their operation. As a result, the controller  204  is able to select the position of the ICT panels  202   a ,  202   b  (e.g. open or closed) by sending command signals to the control interface  206   b  while concurrently sending command signals to the ICT  202  that causes the ICT  202  to begin testing of the UUTs  208  when closed. Additionally, in some embodiments the controller  204  is able to receive one or more warning signals from the sensors  98 ,  97  and stop and/or reverse operation of the ICT  202  and/or the actuator mechanism  206  based on the warning signals in order to prevent injury or malfunction. 
     The panels  202   a ,  202   b  of the ICT  202  are able to be rotatably coupled together such that one panel  202   a  is able to move with respect to the other panel  202   b . For example, in some embodiments the ends of the panels  202   a ,  202   b  are coupled together via a hinge that enables the panels  202   a ,  202   b  to rotate with respect to each other from a stacked or parallel position where the UUTs  208  are sandwiched in between the panels  202   a ,  202   b  to an “open mouth” position where the panels  202   a ,  202   b  are angled with respect to each other such that the UUTs  208  are accessible. In some embodiments, the panels  202   a ,  202   b  comprise a matrix of drivers and sensors that are used to set up and perform the UUT  208  testing measurements and operations. For example, the panels  202   a ,  202   b  are able to comprise 1000 or more of these driver sensor points. In some embodiments, the panels  202   a ,  202   b  comprise a vacuum mechanism that is able to hermetically seal the panels  202   a ,  202   b  together by applying a vacuum between the panels  202   a ,  202   b  when they are in the closed position. As a result, the UUTs  208  are able to be sealed in between the panels  202   a ,  202   b  creating better testing environment. 
     In some embodiments, the ICT  202  is able to further comprise one or more fixtures  202   c  that provide an interface between the panels  202   a ,  202   b  and the UUTs  208 . Specifically, the fixtures  202   c  are able to take the connections for the driver sensor points of the panels  202   a ,  202   b  and route them directly to the relevant points on the UUTs  208  using different routing mechanisms (e.g. a “bed of nails”). Although all of the fixtures  202   c  are able to interface with the panels  202   a ,  202   b  (and/or the remainder of the ICT  202 ), each of the fixtures  202   c  are UUT-specific such that their design or configuration is based on one or more types of UUTs  208  and they are only able to interface with the types of UUTs  208  based on which they were designed. As a result, different fixtures  202   c  are able to be replaced and/or mixed and matched such that the ICT  202  is able to interface with and test different types of UUTs  208  by simply selecting a fixture  202   c  designed based on the desired type or types of UUTs  208 . In some embodiments, the ICT  202  comprises a kill switch  99  that is configured to automatically cause the actuator mechanism  206  to open the panels  202   a ,  202   b  and/or cause the actuator mechanism  206  to disengage such that the panels  202   a ,  202   b  are able to be manually opened in case of an emergency. Alternatively, the kill switch  99  is able to be configured to turn the ICT  202  on and off. In some embodiments, the UUTs  208  comprise integrated circuits and/or printed circuit board assemblies having integrated circuits and/or other electrical components. Alternatively, one or more of the UUTs  208  are able to comprise other electrical devices for testing. As a result, the apparatus  200  provides the advantage of eliminating the need for an operator to continuously open and close the ICT  202  as well as providing safety measures for safer operation of the automatic opening and closing. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate ICT control commands according to some embodiments. In particular,  FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary testing program startup  300   a  wherein the automatic ICT close commands  302   a  are embedded within the program  300   a . As a result, in the course of execution of the program  300   a  the controller  204  will cause the mechanism  206  to close the panels  202   a ,  202   b  around the UUTs  208  and then proceed with the testing operations. In some embodiments, the testing program  300   a  is able to further comprise an embedded vacuum seal command that causes a vacuum to be produced between the panels  202   a ,  202   b  as described above. In some embodiments, the testing program  200   a  is able to further comprise a safety close check command that queries or checks input from one or more of the safety sensors  98 ,  97  as described above before automatically closing and/or proceeding with the testing operations. Similarly,  FIG. 3B  illustrates an exemplary testing program shutdown  300   b  wherein the automatic ICT open commands  302   b  are embedded within the program  300   b . As a result, in the course of execution of the program  300   b , after completing the testing operation on the UUTs  208 , the controller  204  will cause the mechanism  206  to automatically open the panels  202   a ,  202   b  exposing the UUTs  208 . In some embodiments, the testing program  300   b  is able to further comprise a safety open check command that queries or checks input from one or more of the safety sensors  98 ,  97  as described above before automatically opening to ensure nothing is in a dangerous area. It should be noted that the specific testing operation language of the programs  300   a ,  300   b  is based on the ICT  202  hardware/software and/or the type of UUTs  208  to be tested. For example, different types of tests and/or different parameters for the tests performed as instructed by the programs  300   a ,  300   b  are able to be tailored based on the type of UUTs  208  to be tested. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a method of operating an ICT system according to some embodiments. At the step  402 , one or more UUTs  208  are operatively coupled with the ICT  202 . In some embodiments, the coupling with the ICT  202  comprises physically and/or electrically coupling each of the UUTs  208  with a corresponding fixture  202   c  of the ICT  202 . At the step,  404 , the controller  204  executes a testing startup program that automatically closes the panels  202   a ,  202   b  of the ICT  202  with the actuator mechanism  206  and begins testing of the UUTs  208 . In some embodiments, while executing the testing startup program the controller  204  checks a status or input from one or more of the safety sensors  98 ,  97  and only closes the panels  202   a ,  202   b  if the safety sensors  98 ,  97  indicate that it is safe to do so. In some embodiments, while executing the testing startup program the controller  204  causes a vacuum mechanism of the ICT  202  to create a vacuum between the panels  202   a ,  202   b  in order to seal the UUTs  208  within the ICT  202 . At the step  406 , the controller executes a testing shutdown program that automatically opens the panels  202   a ,  202   b  with the actuator mechanism  206  when the testing of the UUTs  208  has been completed. In some embodiments, while executing the testing shutdown program the controller  204  checks a status or input from one or more of the safety sensors  98 ,  97  and only opens the panels  202   a ,  202   b  if the safety sensors  98 ,  97  indicate that it is safe to do so (i.e. no users are detected within the area). As a result, the method provides the advantage of eliminating the need of an operator to open and close the ICT  202  which removes human error, saves cost and reduces the risk of injury. 
     The present application has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the power converter. Many of the components shown and described in the various figures can be interchanged to achieve the results necessary, and this description should be read to encompass such interchange as well. As such, references herein to specific embodiments and details thereof are not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made to the embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the application.