Abstract:
The transport frame has engagement elements configured to engage and hold a battery-operated electronic device via its battery compartment and/or securing elements for the battery compartment cover only. The engagement elements optionally may be movable apart to secure the device, for example by a lever-actuated cam against spring biasing. The transport frame optionally may be mounted in a fixture, for example at a testing location, the transport frame and fixture being configured in complementary fashion whereby the transport frame is mountable in the fixture for any desired purpose, for example to facilitate testing of the device at the fixture location.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to handling of battery-powered handheld electronic devices, and more particularly to a transport frame which holds the device. If desired, the transport frame may be mounted in a fixture for quality control testing or other purposes.  
         [0002]     Although particularly developed for use in quality control testing of handheld wireless communication devices, the invention is applicable to handling of any small electronic device requiring the use of a battery, not just wireless devices, and whether for testing purposes or otherwise.  
         [0003]     When testing such devices, reliable handling is important in order to obtain consistent measurement. Commonly, fixturing and various types of guides and retainers are used, which contact external surfaces of the device to obtain a secure grip. These often result in some risk of damaging or scratching the device, due to contact with the guides or retainers. Furthermore, there can be an increased probability of inaccurate measurements due to stresses on the device introduced by the guides and retainers.  
         [0004]     There is a therefore an ongoing need for ways of transporting and mounting such devices for testing, with minimized impact on the device. This is particularly important where, as with many devices, there is 100% testing of every device, not just occasional samples. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     Examples of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a battery-powered electronic device and an exemplary transport frame;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the device mounted on the transport frame, and a fixture;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the device mounted on the transport frame, and the transport frame mounted in the fixture;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the transport frame and the device;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a similar exploded perspective view showing the transport frame and the device from a different angle;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing back of the transport frame;  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side cross-section showing the device about to be positioned on the transport frame, with the transport frame actuator in a ready position;  
         [0013]      FIG. 8  is a corresponding side cross-section showing the device positioned on the transport frame, with the transport frame actuator still in a ready position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 9  is a corresponding side cross-section showing the device positioned on the transport frame, with the transport frame actuator in an intermediate position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 10  is a corresponding side cross-section showing the device positioned on the transport frame, with the transport frame actuator in a locked position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing a battery-powered electronic device mounted on another example of a transport frame, ready for positioning in a fixture;  
         [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the device mounted on the  FIG. 11  transport frame and positioned in the fixture;  
         [0018]      FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view showing the  FIG. 11  transport frame and the device;  
         [0019]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the  FIG. 11  transport frame;  
         [0020]      FIG. 15  is a side cross-section showing the device positioned on the  FIG. 11  transport frame, with the transport frame actuator in a ready position; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 16  is a corresponding side cross-section showing the device positioned on the transport frame, with the transport frame actuator in a locked position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     The transport frame holds the device using a battery compartment or battery compartment area of the device only, rather than external features of the device, and is defined by the accompanying claims. If desired, the transport frame may be mounted in a fixture, for example at a testing location.  
         [0023]     For convenience, most references herein will be to mounting the device on a transport frame for testing purposes. However, it should be appreciated that the transport frame may be useful in any other situation where it is desired to mount or transport the device without handling it externally, and the invention is therefore not limited to testing applications.  
         [0024]     In the following description, specific examples of the invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the examples being described.  
         [0025]     The transport frame  1  supports and retains the device  2  by emulating a battery, in the sense that the transport frame provides engagement elements which fit into the device&#39;s battery compartment  3  and/or its battery compartment cover securing means, to retain the device. The frame can then be handled to transport the device and if desired mount it in a fixture for testing or other purposes, avoiding or minimizing contact with the external surfaces of the device. Typically, the transport frame is configured to mate with a fixture  4 , at a fixed test location. Thus in an assembly-line process, devices can be mounted onto transport frames at one or more locations, and carried or transported to the test location for mounting in the fixture for testing. Once the testing is completed, the transport frame and device can be removed from the fixture, and the device can be removed from the transport frame for further processing, for example packaging for sale.  
       FIRST EXAMPLE  
       [0026]     A first example of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-10 .  FIG. 1  shows the transport frame  1 , having a body  10 , with a fixed block  12  and a movable block  14  as the engagement elements, both extending from a rear surface  16  thereof. The body  10  preferably has a grippable feature or handle  18  extending therefrom, allowing the transport frame to be easily moved from one location to another, whether manually or via automation.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the transport frame  1  and device  2  positioned for mounting on a fixture  4 , and  FIG. 3  shows the transport frame and device mounted on the fixture.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fixed and movable blocks  12  and  14  fit within the battery compartment  3 . For testing of the device, one of the blocks, in this example the fixed block  12 , may include electrical contacts  30  which mate with electrical contacts  32  within the battery compartment to provide power to the device while it is being tested. The powering of the transport frame will be understood by one skilled in the art, and typically may be supplied to the transport frame by the fixture  4  once the transport frame is mounted therein, for example via contacts  80  on the transport frame engaging contacts  82  on the fixture, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The blocks  12  and  14  each have portions which engage with complementary features in the battery compartment. The actuator  20  moves the blocks from a removal position where they are readily insertable in the battery compartment, to an expanded position where they are spaced farther apart to secure the device using the battery compartment.  
         [0029]     The movable block  14  is mounted on a proximal end of a pair of shafts  40  which are movable axially through bushings  42 . Springs  44  act against preferably larger-diameter distal ends of the shafts, to bias the shafts and hence the movable block  14  towards the fixed block  12 . The actuator  20  operates to overcome that bias, to move the movable block away from the fixed block.  
         [0030]     The actuator  20  includes a lever  22  mounted on a shaft  24 . A cam  26  is also mounted on the shaft, so that operation of the lever produces rotation of the cam. The cam bears against the movable block  14 , so that movement of the lever from the “ready” position shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , through the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 9 , to the locked position shown in  FIG. 10 , moves the movable block  14  to an “expanded” position where it is farthest from the fixed block  12 . As can be seen from these drawings, this results in tabs  50  or other engagement features on the fixed and movable blocks engaging recesses, slots or other such receptors  52  in the battery compartment  3 , resulting in the device  2  thereby being secured on the frame  1 . As can be seen from  FIG. 10 , the cam goes slightly “over center” against the spring force to get to the locked position, resulting in it staying in that position once placed there.  
         [0031]     The shaft  24  could be mounted directly on the body  10  of the frame. When the actuator was moved to the locked position, this would result in the fixed and movable blocks  12  and  14  being at a fixed minimum expanded distance from each other. That could be acceptable, but it is preferable not to have that distance fixed, and therefore preferably the shaft is permitted to float somewhat. This is accomplished by mounting the shaft on two opposing shaft mounts  28 , which are free to move a limited distance within the body  10 . Shaft biasing springs  29  bias the shaft away from the fixed block. Thus in the locked position, the movable block has a limited degree of freedom in both directions away from its basic locked position, i.e. slightly towards or slightly away from the fixed block. This has the significant advantage that the pressure of the blocks against the battery compartment of the device is governed by the springs  44  and  29 , not by the mechanical dimensions. This of course results in more consistency, given the inevitable small differences in dimensions due to normal manufacturing tolerances.  
         [0032]     Movement of the actuator  20  through the intermediate position via its lever  22  may result in one of the tabs  50  mating with a complementary recess  52  within the battery compartment to partially lock the device against the transport frame, as illustrated, or in both tabs moving part way towards their respective recesses.  
         [0033]     After the device  2  has been mounted to the transport frame  1 , the assembly may then mounted in an exemplary fixture  4  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Although many different ways of mounting the transport frame in the fixture could be employed, and many different fixture configurations could be contemplated, in this example the body  10  includes a pair of holes  60  for mating with a pair of posts  62  located on the fixture. The fixture also includes a guide  64  for aligning and positioning the transport frame as it is being mounted to the fixture. Once the transport frame is mounted to the fixture, various quality control tests may be performed on the device. These tests may include, but are not limited to RF alignment and tests, audio tests, display tests, charger tests, etc.  
         [0034]     Notwithstanding the preceding, as stated previously, the invention is not limited to testing applications, nor to any specific testing. It may be convenient to mount the device in a fixture for purposes other than testing.  
       SECOND EXAMPLE  
       [0035]     In the preceding example, the locking of the frame to the device takes place entirely within the battery compartment, via a movable block. However, in another example of the invention, shown in  FIGS. 11-16 , the locking is partly within the battery compartment, and partly making use of the battery compartment cover securing means. Other examples could conceivably make use of battery compartment cover securing means only, or of features within the battery compartment other than those specifically described herein.  
         [0036]     In this second example of the invention, there are still opposing engagement elements which move apart from each other to lock the device  2  in place. However, in this example, the transport frame  1 ′ has a main body  102 , a sliding portion  104  and an actuator  20 ′ with a lever  22 ′. The main body has lugs  106  extending therefrom which engage battery compartment cover securing slots  107 . The sliding portion  104  is movable away from the main body  102  by operation of the lever  22 ′, and has an extension  108  therefrom which corresponds in effect to the movable block  14  of the first example. The main body preferably has a handle  18 ′.  
         [0037]      FIG. 11  shows this example with the device mounted on it, ready for mounting in a fixture  4 ′, including guides  64 ′.  FIG. 11  shows that a simulated earphone connector  110  can be provided on the fixture if desired, to plug into an earphone jack on the device for audio output testing.  FIG. 12  shows the device and frame mounted in the fixture.  
         [0038]      FIG. 13  illustrates the features used to secure the device to the frame, i.e. the lugs  106  engaging the battery compartment cover securing slots  107 , and the extension  108  which extends into a recess  109  in the battery compartment.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 14-16  show the operation of the transport frame. A pair of shafts  112  are slidably housed within the main body  102  and are connected to the sliding portion  104 , so that when the shafts move axially, the sliding portion moves towards or away from the main body. (In  FIG. 14 , a cover plate has been removed to show one of the shafts, the other being hidden under cover plate  113 .) As seen best in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the actuator  20 ′ and its lever  22 ′ have cam portions  26 ′ which act against the ends of the shafts  112  to move the sliding portion  104  away from the main body when the lever is moved from the  FIG. 15  “ready” position to the  FIG. 16  “locked” position. A return spring  44 ′ biases the sliding portion towards the main body, so that it is only expanded when the actuator and lever are moved to the  FIG. 16  position. The cam design is again such that it goes “over center” so as to remain in the  FIG. 16  locked position once there.  
         [0040]     Note that the sliding portion  104  may be provided with electrical contacts  30 ′ to engage corresponding contacts in the device. The contacts are wired through the frame to a second set of contacts (not shown). When the frame is mounted on the fixture  4 ′, this second set of contacts connects with power supplied to the fixture in order to provide power to the battery contacts of the device.  
         [0000]     General  
         [0041]     Several examples of the invention are described above. Variations of those examples may be or become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. It is expected that such persons will employ such variations as appropriate, and it is therefore expected that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above. Accordingly, the invention is defined not by the above examples, but by the claims appended hereto, and includes such variations on the above examples as may be adopted by those knowledgeable in the field of the invention.  
         [0042]     Without limiting the generality of the foregoing statement, some specific examples of possible variations may include the following, though others may be apparent to those knowledgeable in the field of the invention.  
         [0043]     The invention may not necessarily involve a fixture, for testing or otherwise. In some applications, mounting the device on the transport frame may suffice for that application, and there may be no need to place the device and transport frame in any fixture.  
         [0044]     Details of size, shape and specific configuration of the transport frame and the features by which it engages the device may obviously be varied according to the desired engagement details and according to the configuration of the battery compartment and battery compartment area of the device. Similarly, details of any fixture, for testing or otherwise, may also vary.  
         [0045]     The examples described above both include cam actuation via a lever. However, it is conceivable that the engagement means might not involve any elements requiring positive actuation. For example, the engagement means could simply snap into position in the battery compartment in a manner similar to a battery. Alternatively, there could be resilient engagement elements which displace slightly on insertion in the battery compartment, and are biased by that resilience towards a locked position. Or there could be movable elements as in the above examples, without positive actuation, i.e. the elements could be biased apart, for example by one or more springs, and insertion in the battery compartment could compress the spring or springs, or they could be manually compressed during or before insertion. The spring or springs would then move the elements apart to a locked position.