Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2009/0184720.html
Timestamp: 2020-02-26 17:45:16
Document Index: 446761837

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 523', 'art 523', 'art 523', 'art 523', 'art 523', 'art 502', 'art 523', 'art 523', 'art 502', 'art 524', 'art 524', 'art 523', 'art 524', 'art 523', 'art 510', 'art 524', 'art 510', 'art 523', 'art 523', 'art 502', 'art 502', 'art 524', 'art 510', 'art 523', 'art 523', 'arts 43', 'arts 43', 'arts 451', 'art 451', 'art 451', 'arts 451', 'arts 43', 'arts 451', 'arts 44', 'arts 44', 'arts 44']

ATTACHMENT APPARATUS, TEST HEAD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE TEST SYSTEM - ADVANTEST CORPORATION
ATTACHMENT APPARATUS, TEST HEAD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE TEST SYSTEM
United States Patent Application 20090184720
An apparatus comprises: an engagement shaft able to engage with a bottom surface of a DSA and held linear-movably; an air cylinder supplying a drive force for linearly moving the engagement shaft; and a link mechanism interposed between the air cylinder and the engagement shaft and transmitting the drive force input from the actuator to the engagement shaft, and the link mechanism transmits the drive force input from the air cylinder by rotary motion.
Doi, Atsuyuki (Tokyo, JP)
Ito, Yoshimasa (Tokyo, JP)
12/159041
439/310
H01R13/62; G01R1/04
Download PDF 20090184720 PDF help
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1. An attachment apparatus for attaching or removing a first board to or from a second board in a test head comprising the first board and the second board to which the first board is mounted, the attachment apparatus comprising: an engaging device configured to be able to engage with the first board and held linear-movably; an actuator supplying a drive force for linearly moving the engaging device; and a transmitting device interposed between the actuator and the engaging device and configured to transmit the drive force input from the actuator to the engaging device; wherein the transmitting device transmits the drive force input from the actuator by rotary motion.
4. The attachment apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the link mechanism comprises: a first link rotatably coupled with the drive shaft of the actuator through a first joint; a second link having a support point fixed in a rotatable manner and rotatably coupled with the first link through a second joint; and a third link rotatably coupled with the second link through a third joint and rotatably coupled with the engaging device through a fourth joint.
5. The attachment apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first board is a device specific adapter which are mounted with sockets which devices under test electrically contact, the second board is an interface apparatus body to which the device specific adapter is mounted, the interface apparatus body relays electrical connections between the devices under test and a test head body, and the engaging device is held at the interface apparatus body and is able to linearly move toward the device specific adapter.
6. The attachment apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first board is a probe card which are mounted with needles which devices under test electrically contact, the second board is an interface apparatus body to which the probe card is mounted, the interface apparatus body relays electrical connections between the devices under test and a test head body, and the engaging device is held at the interface apparatus body and is able to linearly move toward the probe card.
7. The attachment apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the link mechanism comprises: a link having a support point fixed in a rotatable manner; a first joint rotatably coupling one end of the link with the drive shaft of the actuator; and a second joint rotatably coupling other end of the link with the engaging device.
8. The attachment apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first board is an interface apparatus relaying electrical connections between devices under test and a test head body, the second board is the test head body to which the interface apparatus is detachably mounted, and the engaging device is held at the test head body and is able to linearly move along a direction substantially parallel to a main surface of the interface apparatus.
9. A test head comprising: a first board; a second board to which the first board is mounted; and an attachment apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for attaching or removing the first board to or from the second board.
10. An electronic device test system for testing electrical characteristics of devices under test, the electronic device test system comprising: a test head as set forth in claim 9 electrically connected to the devices under test; and a tester inputting test signals to the devices under test through the test head to operate them and inspecting their response signals.
As such a DSA attachment apparatus, a DSA attachment apparatus 540 using a cam mechanism shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 has been known in the past. This attachment mechanism 540 comprises: a cam 542 attached to a linearly moving drive shaft 541a of an air cylinder 541; and a cam follower 545 attached to an engagement shaft 544 engageable with the DSA 501. Further, by the cam follower 545 rolling along a cam groove 543 formed at the cam 542 at a slant and the engagement shaft 544 engaged with the DSA 501 linearly moving in the downward direction, the DSA 501 is attached to the HiFix body 510. As opposed to this, by the engagement shaft 544 engaged with the DSA 501 moving linearly along the upward direction, the DSA 501 is detached from the HiFix body 510.
441a . . . drive shaft
451a, 45b . . . extendable parts
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an opening 11a is formed at the substantial center of the base unit 11 of the handler 10 forming the bottom surface of the test chamber 102 A HiFix 5 mounted on the top of the test head 4 is connected to the opening 11a. A test tray is carried to above the sockets 506 of the HiFix 5, then the large number of ICs under test on the test tray are simultaneously electrically brought into contact with the HiFix 5 (strictly speaking, the contact pins of the sockets 506) so as to conduct the tests. The results of the tests are stored at addresses determined for example by the identification number assigned to the test tray and the numbers of the ICs under test assigned inside the test tray. A test tray finished being tested is thermally relieved in the thermal stress relieving tank 103, then conveyed to the unloader unit 400 after the temperatures of the IC devices return to room temperature.
Each DSA attachment apparatus 520, as shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 6, comprises: an air cylinder 521 having an extendable drive shaft 521a; a link mechanism 530 whose a force input point is coupled with a front end of the drive shaft 521a; and an engagement shaft 522 coupled with a force output point of of the link mechanism 530 and able to engage with a bottom surface 502 of the DSA 501. The engagement shaft 522 is held in a linearly movable manner by a through hole 510a formed in the top surface of the housing of the HiFix body 510. In this DSA attachment apparatus 520, the drive force input from the air cylinder 521 is transmitted by rotary motion of the link mechanism 530 so that the engagement shaft 522 can move in the up-down direction. Note that instead of the housing of the HiFix body 510, it is also possible to provide a dedicated member for holding the engagement shaft 522 in a linearly movable manner.
The link mechanism 530 comprises three links 531 to 533 and four joints 534 to 537. One end of the first link 531 is rotatably coupled to the front end of the drive shaft 521a of the air cylinder 521 through the first joint 534. The second link 532 is a substantially triangular shaped plate member. One vertex is rotatably fastened to the HiFix body 510 as the support point 538. The other end of the first link 531 is rotatably coupled with one other vertex of this second link 53 through a second joint 535. One end of the third link 533 is rotatably coupled with the remaining vertex of the second link 532 through a third joint 536. The bottom end of the engagement shaft 522 is rotatably coupled with the other end of the third link 533 through a fourth joint 537.
The engagement shaft 522, as shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5D, comprises an inner shaft 523, a lock shaft 524, hard balls 525, and a spring 526. The inner shaft 523 is inserted in the inner bore 524a of the lock shaft 524. Further, through holes passing through the side surface of the lock shaft 524 are formed at a part of that inner bore 524a. The hard balls 525 are provided at the through holes so as to be able to exit and enter from and into the side surface of the lock shaft 524. The inner shaft 523 is designed to be able to move relatively up and down inside the inner bore of the lock shaft 524. Further, this inner shaft 523 is formed with a projecting enlarged diameter part 523a near the hard balls 525. A constricted diameter part 523b is formed below this enlarged diameter part 523a. Usually, the hard balls 525 face the constricted diameter part 523b of the inner shaft 523, however the inner shaft 523 moves relatively downward inside the lock shaft 524 and the enlarged diameter part 523a pushes the hard balls 525 out from the side surfaces of the lock shaft 524, whereby it is possible to engage with the recess part 502b of the engagement hole 502a formed at the bottom surface 502 of the DSA 501. On the other hand, the hard balls 525 separate from the enlarged diameter part 523a, face the constricted diameter part 523b, and enter into the through holes formed in the side surfaces of the lock shaft 524, whereby it is possible to release the engagement between the recess part 502b and the hard balls 525.
A large diameter part 524d larger in inside diameter than the inner bore 524a is formed at the bottom of the inner bore 524a of the lock shaft 524. A spring 526 is inserted into this large diameter part 524d. The bottom of the spring 526 contacts the top surface of the housing 527 of the link mechanism 530. Due to the elastic force of this spring 526, the lock shaft 524 is biased toward the upper direction.
Further, a projecting part 523c projecting out in the radial direction is formed at the approximate center part of the inner shaft 523. As opposed to this, an elongated hole 524c whose long axis are along the axial direction is formed at a position corresponding to the projecting part 524c in the lock shaft 524. The projecting part 523c is inserted into the elongated hole 524c and is able to be moved in the up-down direction.
The above configured engagement shaft 522, as shown in the drawing, is inserted into a through hole 510a of the HiFix body 510. A step part 510b larger than the through hole 510a in inside diameter is formed at the bottom of the through hole 510a. In the above way, the lock shaft 524 is biased upward by the spring 526, however the large diameter part 524d of the lock shaft 524 engages with the step part 510b of the through hole 510a and therefore the action of the spring 526 biasing the lock shaft 524 upward is restricted.
When attaching the DSA 501 to the HiFix body 510, as shown in FIG. 5B, first, the engagement shaft 522 of each DSA attachment apparatus 520 is inserted into the engagement hole 502a formed at the bottom surface 502 of the DSA 501. Note that in this state, the hard balls 525 are housed in the lock shaft 524 with facing the constricted diameter part 523b of the inner shaft 523.
Next, the air cylinder 521 is driven in the direction extending the drive shaft 521a. Due to this drive operation, the first link 531 is pushed, the second link 532 rotates around the support point 538 in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, and the engagement shaft 522 is pulled in the downward direction via the third link 533.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 5C, the lock shaft 524 is biased upward by the spring 526, so the inner shaft 523 moves relatively downward inside the inner bore 524a of the lock shaft 524. Along with this relative movement, the hard balls 525 housed in the lock shaft 524 is pushed out from the side faces of the lock shaft 524 due to the enlarged diameter part 523a of the inner shaft 523 and the hard balls 525 engage with the recessed part 502b of the engagement hole 502a. If the engagement shaft 522 is pulled further in the downward direction by the air cylinder 521 through the link mechanism 530 from this state, the projection 523c of the inner shaft 523 engages with the bottom wall surface of the elongated hole 524c of the lock shaft 524.
Due to this engagement, as shown in FIG. 5D, the force which pulls down the engagement shaft 522 through the link mechanism 530 by the air cylinder 521 overcomes the elastic force of the spring 526, so the engagement shaft 522 as a whole including the lock shaft 524 moves relatively downward with respect to the through hole 510a of the HiFix body 510 and the hard balls 525 engages with the bottom of the recessed part 502b. Due to this engagement, the DSA 501 is pulled toward the HiFix body 510 side and the DSA 501 is attached to the HiFix body 510.
When detaching the DSA 501 from the HiFix body 510, the air cylinder 521 is driven in the direction shortening the drive shaft 521a from the state shown in FIG. 5D. Due to this drive action, the first link 531 is pulled, the second link 532 turns around the support point 538 in the clockwise direction in the figure, and the engagement shaft 522 is pushed in the upward direction through the third link 533.
If the engagement shaft 522 is pushed in the upward direction, the elastic force of the spring 526 causes the lock shaft 524 to move upward as well. If the large diameter part 524d of the lock shaft 524 abuts against the step part 510b of the HiFix body 510, the inner shaft 523 moves relatively upward with respect to the lock shaft 524 (see FIG. 5C). Due to this relative movement, the hard balls 525 which had been pushed out from the side surface of the lock shaft 524 by the enlarged diameter part 523a of the inner shaft 523 are held in the lock shaft 524 with facing the constricted diameter part 523b of the inner shaft 523 (see FIG. 5B) and the engagement is released, so the DSA 501 can be detached from the engagement shaft 522.
In the present embodiment, when fitting together the lower connectors 514 and the test head body side connectors 42, the engagement member 43 shown in FIG. 4 is used to fit together the connectors 514, 42. That is, as shown in the drawing, the connectors 514, 42 are provided with projections 514a, 42a projecting out to their sides. Engagement grooves 43b, 43d having bent parts 43c, 43e bent in the same direction are formed at the engagement member 43. Then the projections 514a, 42a are inserted into the straight parts of the engagement grooves 43b, 43d. In that state, the engagement member 43 is slid in the left direction in the figure, whereby the projections 514a, 42a are guided along the bent parts 43c, 43e of the engagement grooves 43b, 43d and the connectors 514, 42 are pulled in and fit together.
This HiFix attachment apparatus 44, as shown in FIG. 7A to FIG. 8, comprises: an air cylinder 441 having an extendable drive shaft 441a; a link mechanism 450 whose a force input point is coupled with a front end of the drive shaft 441a; a plate member 443 coupled with a force output point of the link mechanism 450; and linear guides 444 linear-movably holding the plate member 443. The plate member 443 is provided with insertion pins 442 to be inserted into insertion holes 43a of the engagement member 43. In this HiFix attachment apparatus 44, the drive force input from the air cylinder 441 is transmitted by rotary motion of the link mechanism 530 so that the engagement member 43 can move in the direction substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the HiFix 5.
The link mechanism 450 comprises one link 451 and two joints 452, 453. The link 451 is rotatably fixed to the test head body 41 at the support point 454 and first and second extendable parts 451a, 451 able to extend along the longitudinal direction are provided at its two ends. Further, the end of the first extendable part 451a is rotatably coupled with the front end of the drive shaft 441a of the air cylinder 441 through the first joint 452. Further, the end of the second extendable part 451b is rotatably coupled through the second joint 453 with the bottom end of the plate member 443 holding the insertion pins 442. The plate member 443 is linear-movably held at the linear guides 444. As shown in FIG. 8, this plate member 443 has a large number of insertion pins 442 arranged in a line at substantially equal intervals.
When attaching the HiFix 5 to the test head body 41, as shown in FIG. 9A, first, the projections 514a of the lower connector 514 are inserted into the upper grooves 43b of the engagement member 43. Note that the insertion pins 442 of the HiFix attachment apparatus 44 are inserted into the insertion holes 43a of the engagement member 43 so that the engagement member 43 is attached in advance to the test head body 41.
The projections 514a of the lower connector 514, as shown in FIG. 9B, are inserted down to the bottom portions of the straight parts of the upper grooves 43b, then the air cylinder 441 is driven in a direction shortening the drive shaft 441a from the state shown in FIG. 7B. Due to this drive operation, the link 451 rotates around the support point 454 counterclockwise in the drawing with extending the first and second extendable parts 451a, 451b, the plate member 443 moves linearly in the left direction in the drawing due to the linear guides 444, and it attains to the state of FIG. 7A. Along with this movement operation of the insertion pins 442, the engagement member 43 also moves and, as shown in FIG. 9C, the projections 514a, 42a move along the bent parts 43c, 43d of the grooves 43b, 43d and the connector 514, 42 are pulled together for engagement. At the time of this pull together operation, the link mechanism 450 can multiply the drive force input from the air cylinder 521 several-fold by the lever principle in accordance with the ratio of distance from the support point 454 to the ends of the links 451 and transmit it. Note that it is also possible to adjust the position of the support point 454 so as to make the reduction ratio of the link mechanism 450 variable.
When detaching the HiFix 5 from the test head body 41, the air cylinder 441 is driven in a direction extending the drive shaft 441a from the state shown in FIG. 7A. Due to this drive operation, the link 451 rotates around the support point 454 in the clockwise direction in the figure with shortening the first and second extendable parts 451a, 451b, the insertion pins 442 move linearly in the right direction in the drawing due to the linear guide 443, the engagement member 43 pulls apart the connectors 514, 42, and the state is set where the HiFix 5 can be detached from the test head body 41.
An engagement member 43′ in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10A, comprises a slide member 44f and a fixed member 44j. The slide member 44f is formed with two upper grooves 44h having bent parts 44i bent in the right direction in the figure at positions facing the projections 514a of the lower connector 514. Further, an insertion hole 44g into which an insertion pin 42 of the HiFix attachment apparatus 44 can insert is formed at the left end of the slide member 44f in the figure. The fixed member 44j is fixed to the test head body 41 by bolts 44k. As shown in FIG. 10B, the bottom of the slide member 44f is slidably held by the fixing member 44j and can move in the arrow direction shown in FIG. 10A.
In the present embodiment, when attaching the HiFix 5 to the test head body 41, first, the projections 514a of each lower connector 514 are inserted into the upper grooves 44h of the engagement member 43′. Projections 514a of a lower connector 514 are inserted to near the inlets of the bent parts 44i of the upper grooves 44h, then the air cylinder 441 is driven to move the plate member 443 in the left direction of FIG. 10A. Along with this movement operation, the engagement member 43′ also moves in the left direction in the figure, the projections 514a move along the bent parts 44i of the upper grooves 44h, and the lower connector 514 is pulled to the test head side connector 42 and fitted together them.
When attaching two HiFixes 5 to the top of the test head body 41, the HiFix attachment apparatus 44′ shown in FIG. 11 may also be used. This HiFix attachment apparatus 44′ comprises two link mechanisms 450 and one air cylinder 441. The air cylinder 441 is provided in a posture so that a drive shaft 441a moves up and down. The front end of the drive shaft 441a is rotatably coupled with the ends of two links 451 through a first joint 452. Further, the engagement member 43 engaging with one HiFix 5 is designed to be moved by one link mechanism 450, while the engagement member 43 engaging with the other HiFix 5 is designed to be moved by the other link mechanism 450. By employing such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of air cylinders 441.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing a probe card attachment apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. This probe card attachment apparatus 610 has a configuration similar to that explained with reference to FIG. 5A to FIG. 6. A large number of needles 601 which electrically contact the wafer W under test are mounted on one main surface of the probe card 600. The engagement shafts 522 inserts into and engages with the engagement holes 600a formed in the another main surface of the probe card 600, then the engagement shafts 522 are pulled by the link mechanism 450, thereby the probe card attachment apparatus 610 can attach the probe card 600 to the HiFix 5.
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