PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9513314-B2
Application Number: US-201313739917-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Configurable testing platforms for circuit boards with removable test point portions

Abstract:
Circuit boards are provided that include a functional portion and at least one removable test point portion. The removable test point portion may include test points which are accessed to verify whether the functional portion is operating properly or whether installed electronic components are electrically coupled to the board. If multiple boards are manufactured together on a single panel (in which the individual boards are broken off), the test points can be placed on bridges (e.g., removable portions) that connect the individual boards together during manufacturing and testing. Configurable test boards are also provided that can be adjusted to accommodate circuit boards of different size and electrical testing requirements. Methods and systems for testing these circuit boards are also provided.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A testing system for testing a side mounted circuit board having a side plane having side mounted test points, the testing system comprising:
 a testing platform operable to receive the one circuit board, the testing platform comprising:
 a first member and a second member for securing the one circuit board in place, wherein at least one member of the first member and the second member is movable such that the testing platform is capable of receiving circuit boards of different sizes, and wherein the at least one member comprises a test probe array comprising a plurality of test probes electrically configured by a test probe signal selection circuitry for passing signals between a control system electrically coupled to the test probe array and the side mounted test points of the circuit board. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first member is fixed, the second member is movable, and the second member is coupled to a tension member that exerts a force on the second member to assist in securing the at least one circuit board. 
     
     
       3. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are movable in a linear direction. 
     
     
       4. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first member and second member are movable in a radial direction. 
     
     
       5. The testing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member each comprise the test probe array. 
     
     
       6. The testing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the control system is configured to provide test signals to the plurality of test probes to test the at least one circuit board. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for configuring a testing platform operative to receive and test a plurality of circuit boards of different size and end-use purpose, the method comprising:
 receiving an indication of a type of circuit board to be received by the testing platform; and electrically configuring the testing platform based on the received indication by a test probe signal selection circuitry the testing platform comprising: a first member and a second member for securing the at least one circuit board in place wherein at least one member of the first member and the second member is movable such that the testing platform receive circuit boards of different sizes and wherein the at least one member comprises a test probe array comprising a plurality of test probes for interfacing with side mounted test points of the at least one circuit board; and 
 testing the circuit board by a control system electrically coupled to the test probe signal selection circuitry. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein electrically configuring comprises selectively electrically coupling a test probe to one of a plurality of source data lines. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the testing platform comprises at least one test probe array comprising test probes for interfacing with side mounted test points of the circuit board, the electrically configuring comprises configuring the test probes based on the received indication. 
     
     
       10. A testing platform operable to receive and test at least one circuit board, the testing platform comprising:
 a first member and a second member for securing the at least one circuit board in place, wherein at least one member of the first member and the second member is movable such that the testing platform is capable of receiving circuit boards of different sizes, and wherein the at least one member comprises a test probe array comprising a plurality of test probes for interfacing with side mounted test points of the at least one circuit board, and 
 a test probe signal selection circuitry coupled to a control system and operative to electrically configure the plurality of test probes of the test probe array. 
 
     
     
       11. The testing platform of  claim 10 , wherein the first member is fixed, the second member is movable, and the second member is coupled to a tension member that exerts a force on the second member to assist in securing the at least one circuit board. 
     
     
       12. The testing platform of  claim 10 , wherein the first member and the second member are movable in a linear direction. 
     
     
       13. The testing platform of  claim 10 , wherein the first member and second member are movable in a radial direction. 
     
     
       14. The testing platform of  claim 10 , wherein the first member and the second member each comprise the test probe array.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a Divisional Application which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/973,793, filed Oct. 9, 2007, entitled “CIRCUIT BOARDS INCLUDING REMOVABLE TEST POINT PORTIONS AND CONFIGURABLE TESTING PLATFORM”, which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 60/857,336, filed Nov. 7, 2006, entitled “CIRCUIT BOARDS INCLUDING REMOVABLE TEST POINT PORTIONS AND CONFIGURABLE TESTING PLATFORM”, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This relates to circuit boards including a removable test point portion and to configurable testing platforms for testing circuit boards. 
     Circuit boards such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), logic boards, printed wiring boards, etched wiring boards, and other known boards may be used to mechanically support and electronically connect electronic components (e.g., integrated circuits, resistors, transistors, and capacitors). Circuit boards are typically constructed using one or more layers of a non-conductive substrate and signal conducting pathways. The signal conducting pathways may exist in one or more layers or in each layer of the non-conductive substrate. The signal conducting layers, sometimes referred to as traces, members, or leads, may be a metal conductive material (e.g., copper or gold) or an optical conductive material (e.g., fiber optics). 
     Electronic components may be mounted to the circuit board using a through-hole construction or a surface-mount construction and electronically coupled to one or more signal-conducting pathways via soldering. When the electronic components are physically and electrically coupled to the board, tests may be performed to check, for example, the interconnection of signal conducting paths and electronic components, proper component installation and operation, electromagnetic compliance, electrostatic discharge, and other suitable testing parameters. Such tests may be performed by applying probes to test points or test nodes populated throughout the circuit board. 
     Test points may be electrically connected to the signal conducting pathways and thus operative to provide test data to a probe connected thereto.  FIG. 1  shows a top view of a simplified block diagram of a prior art circuit board  100  including a functional portion  110  and test points  120  (shown as cross-hatched squares) disposed among functional portion  110 . A disadvantage of test points in conventional circuit boards, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , is that they occupy valuable “real estate” on the board, thereby limiting the end-use functional efficiency of the board that would otherwise be obtained but for the presence of the test nodes. That is, the test points occupy real estate that would be better utilized by electronic components. As a result, test points, while necessary to perform tests, limit scaling (e.g., miniaturization) of the board and component density. Accordingly, what is needed is a circuit board that maximizes end-use functional efficiency while providing test points for use in performing tests. 
     Testing platforms for performing tests on circuit boards are known. For example, one known testing machine may include a computer operated probe that is moved from one test node to another. However, such testing platforms may require sophisticated and expensive robotics to move the test probe to specific locations on the circuit board. In addition, such robotics may require sophisticated control software for each circuit board being tested. Other testing platforms, which are not as flexible as robotic based testing platforms, include custom-made testing platforms specifically designed to test a particular circuit board. Such platforms may include a top test panel and bottom test panel which each include specifically arranged probes that are interfaced with test points on the circuit board. Drawbacks of these custom-made platforms include expensive manufacturing cost, limited lifespan, and inability to test more than one circuit board. Accordingly, what is needed is a versatile testing platform capable of testing many different types of circuit boards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A circuit board that maximizes end-use functional efficiency while providing test nodes for use in performing tests is provided. End-use functional efficiency is maximized and test nodes are provided in a circuit board constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention to include a functional portion and a least one removable test node portion. As defined herein, the functional portion is the portion of the circuit board that may be used for an end-use purpose (e.g., in a consumer electronic device). For example, the functional portion may include the electronic components (e.g., processor, memory, battery, capacitors, etc.) necessary for the end-use purpose. The removable test node portion includes test nodes that are electrically coupled to signal conducting pathways in the functional portion to permit desired testing of the functional portion at, for example, a test site. After the desired testing is performed, the removable portion may be removed, thereby leaving only the functional portion for the end-use purpose. 
     Other circuit boards may be provided that include two or more functional portions that share a removable test point portion. The shared removable test point portion may serve as a bridge that may serve an interconnecting framework for enabling a circuit board to be populated with several functional portions. An advantage of using shared removable test point portions is that it may be sized to yield a circuit board for testing by existing testing devices. For example, because the location of test probes of a testing device is known, shared removable test point portions may be constructed such that the test probes of the testing device align with the test points located on the shared portions when the test probes are applied. 
     Configurable testing platforms are provided for interfacing with and testing circuit boards of different types and sizes, in particular circuit boards having side mounted test points. Side mounted test points, as opposed to top or bottom mounted test points, exist on the edge of the board. Configurable platforms may be physically configurable to receive circuit boards of different size and electrically configurable to test different types of circuit boards (e.g., circuit boards having different end-use purposes), thereby providing a “universal” testing platform. 
     The physical configurability may be realized using circuit boards having side mounted test points because the location of the side mounted test points may not vary in the same manner as top or bottom mounted test point may vary. That is, for any given circuit board having side mounted test points, many such circuit boards may be constructed to have similar standards. Therefore, regardless of the length and width of the circuit board, use of side mounted test points may be consistent from one board to the next. Such consistency provides a stable foundation for constructing a test probe array, which may interface with the side mounted test points, regardless of board size and end-use purpose. 
     Electrical configuration may be accomplished using test probe signal selection circuitry. Different boards, and thus the test points of those boards, may require specific signals during testing. The test probe array or arrays of a configurable testing platform may be configured under the direction of test probe signal selection circuitry to provide each test probe a desired signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present invention, its nature and various advantages will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of a simplified block diagram of a prior art circuit board; 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of a simplified block diagram of a circuit board constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-L  show top views of different circuit boards according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a side-view of a portion of a simplified block diagram of a circuit board constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a circuit board arrangement in which two functional portions share a common removable test point portion in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows an illustrative circuit board including several functional portions bridged by a shared removable test point portion in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing steps that may be performed using a circuit board including at least one removable portion in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of a black-box abstraction of a configurable testing platform constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a blown-up partial cross-sectional view of a section of the circuit board of  FIG. 8  in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a simplified top view of a configurable testing platform in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  show simplified views of another configurable testing platform in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  shows a simplified side view of yet another configurable testing platform according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  shows test probe signal selection circuitry that may be used to electrically configure testing platforms in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  shows a flowchart illustrating steps that may be taken to interface a configurable testing platform to a circuit board in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 15  shows an illustrative system  1500  that may be used in connection with a configurable testing platform in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       FIG. 2  shows a top view of a simplified block diagram of a circuit board  200  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As shown, circuit board  200  includes functional portion  210  and removable test point portion  220 . Functional portion  210  may include the electronic components (not shown), and any software that may be stored and/or processed by one or more of the components, that may ultimately be used for an end-use purpose. Signal conducting pathways (not shown in functional portion  210  though shown extending from portion  210  to portion  220 ) may exist in one or more layers of circuit board  200 . Test conductors  225  (which are a type of signal conducting pathway, and thus may also exist in one or more layers of circuit board  200 ) may provide a substantially direct pathway between a test point  228  in portion  220  and one or more test sites (e.g., a component of portion  210  or an interconnection between a component and circuit board  200 ) in portion  210 . In some embodiments, test conductors  225  may be signal conducting pathways specifically placed in circuit board  200  for testing purposes only. In other embodiments, test conductors may be signal conducting pathways that may serve multiple purposes. For example, a test conductor may serve as both a test conductor for enabling tests to be performed and, after removable portion  220  is removed, a signal conducting pathway for transmitting signals in an end-use application. 
     Note that the representation of functional portion  210  and removable portion  220  in  FIG. 2  is merely illustrative. As shown, removable portion  220  is attached to functional portion via test conductors  225 , whereas the actual portions may not be attached.  FIG. 2  shows dashed lines extending between portions  210  and  220  to illustrate, that in some embodiments, portions  210  and  220  may actually be attached to each other (e.g., portion  210  is direct physical contact with portion  220 ) or may be attached to each other by an interposing medium. Actual board construction (e.g., how portions  210  and  220  are attached) may be a matter of design choice and need not be limited to the examples and representations discussed herein. 
     In circuit boards having multiple layers, test conductors  225  and other signal conducting pathways may preferably be located in the middle layers to maximize available real estate for electronic components on the top, bottom or both top and bottom portions of the circuit board. It is understood that even if test conductors and other signal conducting pathways are primarily located in the middle layers, such pathways may also be present in the top, bottom, or both top and bottom layers. It is further understood that the principles of the present invention can be applied to any type of circuit board configuration, regardless of whether it is a single or multilayer layer construction. 
     Removable test point portion  220  may include several test points  228  which may be electrically coupled to test conductors  225 . As defined herein, a test point is a region where signals can be applied thereto and/or extracted therefrom, for example, by a testing platform for testing a test subject or subjects of portion  210 . Test points  228  may reside on a top portion, a bottom portion, both top and bottom portions, a side portion, two or more side portions, or any combination thereof of circuit board  200 . The side portion refers to an edge of a circuit board (as opposed to a top or bottom portion). A more detailed explanation of test points residing in a side portion may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/545,958, filed Oct. 10, 2006, entitled “Method and Apparatuses for Testing Circuit Boards,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In circuit board embodiments which include test points located on the top, bottom, or both top and bottom portions, such circuit boards may be constructed such that removable test point portion  220  includes a majority or all of the test points. Such construction advantageously yields a functional portion of circuit board  200  having enhanced end-use functional efficiency. That is, by concentrating the test points in removable portion  200 , the size of functional portion  210  may be reduced. In addition, the density of electronic components may be increased. In other circuit board embodiments which include test points located on at least one side and on the top, bottom, or both top and bottom portions, such circuit boards may be constructed such that the test points on the top, bottom, or both top and bottom portions are concentrated in removable portion  220 . In yet other circuit board embodiments which have only side mounted test points, such circuit boards may be constructed such that those test points are located on removable portion  220 . 
     It is understood that although in some embodiments it may be preferable to concentrate the location of test points on removable portion  220 , other embodiments may be provided where the percentage of test points on functional portion  210  is the same or greater than the percentage of test points on removable portion  220 . For example, a circuit board having side mounted test points on one or more sides of the functional portion  210  may outnumber the number of test points on removable portion  220  regardless of whether removable portion  220  has side, top, and/or bottom mounted test points. 
       FIG. 2  shows a circuit board  200  having removable portion  220  attached to a first side of functional portion  210 , though it is understood that many different circuit board arrangements may be practiced in accordance with the principles of the present invention. A few examples of these different arrangements are shown in  FIGS. 3A-I , each of which show a top view of different circuit boards according to the principles of the present invention.  FIGS. 3A-D  show circuit boards including a functional portion  310  and a removable test point portion  320  located on only one side of functional portion  310 . In particular, removable test point portion  320  is located on the right, left, bottom, and top sides of functional portion  310  as shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D , respectively.  FIGS. 3E-I  show circuit boards including removable portions  320  attached to at least two sides of functional portion  310 . In particular,  FIG. 3E  shows two removable portions  320  attached to adjacent sides of functional portion  310 .  FIGS. 3F and 3G  show two removable portions  320  attached on opposite sides (left and right in  FIG. 3F  and top and bottom in  FIG. 3G ) of functional portion  310 .  FIG. 3H  shows three removable portions  320  attached to three sides of functional portion  310 , whereas  FIG. 3I  shows four removable portions  320  attached to four sides of functional portion  310 . 
       FIG. 3J  shows a circuit board having several removable portions  320  attached to a side of functional region  310 . Including several independently removable portions  322  with a circuit board may provide flexibility in testing and installation of the circuit board in an end use device. For example, it may be desirable to test a portion of the circuit board, remove the removable portion  322  including the test points used for testing that portion, and at least partially install (e.g., attach a device to the board) the circuit board. Then, when the circuit board is at least partially installed, further testing may be performed using the remaining removable portions. After testing, the remaining removable portions may be removed. The foregoing example is not limited to the embodiment of  FIG. 3J  and may be practiced in any circuit board according to the invention having at least two removable portions (e.g.,  FIGS. 3E-I ). 
       FIG. 3K  shows a circuit board in which a removable portion  320  can be attached to a functional portion  312  that is non-rectilinear. As shown, the circuit board has a removable portion  320  surrounding a large portion of non-rectilinear functional portion  312 .  FIG. 3L  shows a circuit board having a functional portion  310  completely surrounded by a removable test point portion  322 . 
     It is understood that the arrangements discussed in  FIGS. 3A-L  are merely illustrative and that different arrangements may be practiced by the present invention. 
     Circuit boards according to the invention may be constructed to facilitate removal of a removable test point portion. Referring to  FIG. 4 , a side-view of a portion of a simplified block diagram of a circuit board  400  constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. Circuit board  400  shows functional portion  410  and removable portion  420  coupled together (at dashed line  402 ). Cleavable portions  440  and  442  may exist in the top and bottom portions of board  400 , respectively, to promote removal of removable portion  420 . If desired, additional cleavable portions (not shown) may be provided on one or more sides of circuit board  400 . Cleavable portions  440  and  442  may influence a breakage point between portions  410  and  420 , akin to how a perforation promotes separation in paper, by intentionally making a portion of the board more susceptible to breakage than other portions of the board. In addition, cleavable portions  440  and  442  may also serve as a “guide channel” for a cleaving tool that may be used to separate portions  410  and  420 . For example, assuming the cleaving tool punches through the board to sever the portions, it may be inserted into the “guide channel” prior to punching through, thereby ensuring the punch occurs at the right location on the board. 
     The removable test point portion of a circuit board according to the invention may be removed using any number of suitable approaches. For example, the removable portion may be removed by cleaving (whether by application of a cutting object such a saw or a high energy source such as a laser), punching, or other suitable approach. 
       FIG. 5  shows a circuit board arrangement in which two functional portions share a common removable test point portion in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As shown, a shared removable test point portion  525  is attached to functional portions  510  and  512 . Shared portion  525  may include test points (not shown) common to both portions  510  and  512 , test points (not shown) specific to either portion  510  or  512 , or a combination of both common and specific test points. A common test point may be electrically coupled to one or more of the same components or signal conducting pathways in both portions  510  and  512 . Common test points may enable a testing device to test two or more functional portions at a time, thereby reducing testing time and extra material cost. Specific test points may be electrically connected to only one functional portion (e.g., portion  512 ). 
     Shared removable test point portion  525  may serve as a bridge among two or more functional portions, and as such, may provide an interconnecting framework for enabling a circuit board to be populated with several functional portions, which can be tested using removable test point portions.  FIG. 6  shows an illustrative circuit board  600  including several functional portions  610  bridged by shared removable test point portion  625  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As shown, circuit board  600  includes an N-by-M matrix of functional portions  610 , where N represents a predetermined number of functional portions  610  along a x-coordinate (shown as four portions) and where M represents a predetermined number of functional portions along a y-coordinate (shown as three portions). Interspersed among functional portions  610  is shared removable test point portion  625  (shown as a contiguous bridge within board  600 ). Shared removable test point portion  625  may include common test points and/or specific test points located on the top, bottom, or both top and bottom sides of board  600 . Also shown are removable test point portions  630  disposed on the outside edges of circuit board  600 . Removable test point portions  630  may include specific test points located on the edge, top, bottom, or a combination thereof of board  600 . 
     An advantage of using shared removable test point portion  625  is that it may be sized to yield a circuit board for testing by existing testing devices. For example, because the location of test probes of a testing device is known, shared removable test point portion  625  may be constructed such that the test probes of the testing device align with the test points located on the portion  625  when the test probes are applied. Thus, cost savings may be realized by using a “generic” testing device to test different functional portions, each having different end-use purposes. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing steps that may be performed using a circuit board including at least one removable portion in accordance with the principles of the present invention. At step  710 , a circuit board including at least one functional portion and at least one removable test point portion is provided. For example, any one of the circuit boards discussed above in connection with  FIGS. 2-6  may be provided. At step  720 , electrical components (e.g., integrated circuits, resistors, and capacitors) may be installed on the circuit board. The electrical components may be installed using known techniques such as soldering, pinch crimps, snap connections, and any other known technique for securing an electrical connection. 
     Concurrently with or after the installation of electrical components, the functional portion may be tested by applying at least one test probe to at least one test point on the removable test point portion (as indicated at step  730 ). The testing may check a test site on functional portion such as, for example, whether a particular electrical component is electrically coupled to a signal conducting pathway or another electrical component. Test probes may be applied to top, bottom, and/or side mounted test points. 
     At step  740 , a removable test point portion may be removed from the circuit board, thereby yielding the functional portion for an end-use purpose. When the removable test point portion is removed, exposed leads (e.g., signal conducting pathway) on the functional portion may be treated to prevent corrosion. The exposed leads may be treated by applying an epoxy, wax, or anti-oxidizing agent to the exposed leads. At step  750 , the functional portion may be used for an end-use purpose. 
     It is understood that the steps illustrated in  FIG. 7  are merely illustrative and that additional steps may be added and that existing steps may be omitted. For example, the step of treating exposed leads may be added. 
       FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of a black-box abstraction of a configurable testing platform constructed according to the principles of the present invention. Configurable testing platform  810  abstractly represents one of many different testing device embodiments according to the invention that may receive and test a circuit board  820 , in particular, a circuit board having side mounted test points (shown as test point  822 ). A detailed discussion of circuit boards having side mounted test points can be found the in the above-identified patent application entitled “Methods and Apparatuses for Testing Circuit Boards,” however, for convenience,  FIG. 9  is provided to show a blown-up partial cross-sectional view of section A of circuit board  820 , illustrating side mounted test points  822  on an edge surface of board  820 . Note the construction of side mounted test point  822  is consistent from one test point to another (e.g., in distance between test points and the size of each test point), showing that the construction may conform to side mounted test point construction standard. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 8 , configurable platform  810  may be physically configurable to receive circuit boards of different size. In fact, circuit board  820  is drawn to show it may vary in size (shown as having a varying lengthwise direction), as indicated by the gap separating the board. It is understood that circuit board  820  may vary in size in the widthwise and heightwise directions as well. The physical configurability may be realized using circuit boards having side mounted test points because the location of the side mounted test points may not vary in the same manner as top or bottom mounted test point may vary. That is, for any given circuit board having side mounted test points, many such circuit boards may be constructed to have similar standards. Therefore, regardless of the length and width of the circuit board, use of side mounted test points may be consistent from one board to the next. Such consistency provides a stable foundation for constructing a test probe array, which may interface with the side mounted test points, regardless of board size and end-use purpose. Preferably, the width of the test probe array is at least as wide as the widest circuit board to be tested on platform  810 , thereby ensuring universal accommodation of all desired circuit boards. In addition, at least one test probe array may be movable to accommodate circuit boards of different lengths, as will be explained in greater detail in connection with the discussion accompanying  FIGS. 10-12 . In some embodiments, control system  830  may control movement of the at least one movable test probe array by, for example, adjusting pneumatics or drive belts connected to the movable test probe array. Note that one of the test probe arrays may be a member that holds a received circuit board in place, but is not able to interface with test point. 
     In addition, configurable platform  810  may be electrically configurable to accommodate different circuit boards. Different boards, and thus the test points of those boards, may require specific signals during testing. The test probe array or arrays of configurable testing platform  810  may configure each test probe to provide a desired signal. Electrical configuration may be accomplished using test probe signal selection circuitry according to the principles of the present invention and discussed in more detail below in connection with the discussion accompanying  FIG. 13 . In some embodiments, the selection of signals provided to test probes may be performed by control system  830 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a simplified top view of a configurable testing platform  1000  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Testing platform  1000  includes test probe arrays  1010  and  1012 , each of may include several test probes  1015 . Test probe arrays  1010  and  1012  are located on opposite sides of circuit board  1020 . One or both test probe arrays  1010  and  1012  may be movable. If movable, the array may be coupled to a precision controlled movement system (not shown). For example, a pneumatic system or a track system (e.g., linear slide) may be used to provide precisely controlled movement of one or both test probe arrays  1010  and  1012 . In the pneumatic system, pneumatics may be attached to probe arrays  1010  and  1012  to control positioning with respect to circuit board  1020 . In the track system, probe arrays  1010  and  1012  may reside on carriages that can be moved to desired locations on the track. 
     Testing platform  1000  may provide automated interfacing with and testing of circuit board  1020 . For example, circuit board  1020  may be placed in a predetermined position in the platform  1000  and a user may indicate to a control system (not shown) the type of circuit board  1020 . The control system may automatically adjust one or both test probe arrays  1010  and  1012  such that relevant test probes  1015  are interfaced with the test points (not shown) of circuit board  1020 . Note that some test probes may not interface with circuit board  1020  when test probe arrays  1010  and  1012  are in the “interfacing position”. Such non-interfaced probes may not affect the testing performed by testing platform. In fact, the control system (not shown) may configure such non-interfaced probes to be null (e.g., by coupling such nodes to ground). The interfaced probes may be electrically configured to accommodate circuit board. When test probe arrays  1010  and  1012  are in the interfacing position, testing may commence. 
       FIG. 11A  shows a simplified perspective view of another configurable testing platform  1100  in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  FIG. 11B  shows a simplified side view of configurable testing platform  1100  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Reference will be made to both  FIGS. 11A and 11B  during the discussion of testing platform  1100 . Configurable testing platform  1100  includes fixed test probe array  1110  and movable test probe array  1112 , each of which may include test probes  1115  (shown as the concaved portions). Test probe arrays  1110  and  1112  may be electrically coupled to a control system (not shown) for electrically configuring test probes  1115 . 
     Fixed test probe array  1110  is fixed in a permanent position in platform  1100 , serving as an anchor for accepting circuit board  1120 . Movable test probe array  1112  is free to slide in a linear direction towards and away from fixed test probe array  1110 . When circuit board  1120  is received by platform  1100 , a first end of board  1120  may be inserted into test probe array  1110 , movable test probe array  1112  may be moved away from fixed test probe array  1110  to provide clearance for a second end of board  1120  to be received by movable test probe array  1112 . Movable test probe array  1112  may be coupled to a tension member  1130  which is fixed to anchor member  1140 . Tension member  1130  may be a coil spring or other tension inducing object or device that exerts linear pressure on movable test probe array  1112  in the direction of fixed test probe array  1110 . Tension member  1130  may be designed such that sufficient pressure is exerted on movable test probe array  1112  to ensure a secured interfacing position is obtained for circuit boards of any desired size. 
       FIG. 12  shows a simplified side view of yet another configurable testing platform  1200  according to the principles of the present invention. Configurable testing platform  1200  includes test probe arrays  1210  and  1212 , both of which may include test probes  1215  (as shown by the concaved portion). Test probe arrays  1210  and  1212  may be electrically coupled to a control system (not shown) for electrically configuring test probes  1215 . Test probe arrays  1210  and  1212  may rotate about axis&#39;s  1211  and  1213 , respectively. Referring specifically to array  1210 , array  1210  may rotate from a ninety degree angle (at which point array  1210  is perpendicular to platform base  1202 ) to a predetermined angle less than ninety degrees. Arrays  1210  and  1212  may be tension loaded such that they are biased to reside at the ninety degree angle. Such a bias may be desired to ensure sufficient test probe array pressure is exerted on circuit board  1220  when in an interfacing position. 
     When configurable testing platform receives circuit board  1220 , test probe arrays  1210  and  1212  may rotate away from circuit board  1220  to accommodate circuit boards of different size. For example, board  1220  itself may cause test probes arrays  1210  and  1212  to rotate away from board  1220  until board  1220  is secured in place by test probes  1215 . In some embodiments, the test probes  1115  may move independently of the rotation of test probe arrays  1210  and  1212  to further promote interfacing of circuit board test points (not shown) to test probes  1215 . For example, as the lean angle of arrays  1210  and  1212  decreases (i.e., drops from ninety degrees to a predetermined angle), the position of the test probes  1215  may be counter-rotated with respect to the rotation of array  1210  and  1212  so that test probes  1215  are better able to make contact to the test points. In other words, test probes  1215  may be constructed on a independently rotating carriage which may allow the relative position of test probes  1215  (within arrays  1210  and  1212 ) to remain substantially the same regardless of the lean angle. As such, the relative position of test probes  1215  may be same when arrays  1210  and  1212  are at a ninety degree angle as when arrays  1210  and  1212  are at a seventy degree angle. 
       FIG. 13  shows a test probe signal selection circuitry  1302  that may be used to electrically configure testing platforms in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Also shown in  FIG. 13  is test probe array  1310  that has several test probes  1315 . Each test probe is coupled to a test probe data line  1318 . Each test probe data line  1318  may be selectively electrically coupled to any one of source data lines D 1  through D N  by selection circuitry  1310 , based on the circuit board to be interfaced to test probe array  1310 . Source data lines may include signals of different voltage and current and other test data signals. The data for the source data lines may be supplied by and monitored by control system  1330 . 
     An advantage of selection circuitry  1310  is the ease in which a testing platform can be electrically reconfigured for interfacing with a different circuit board. In digital implementations of selection circuitry  1310 , control signals provided by control system  1330  may cause selection circuitry  1310  to selectively electrically couple the appropriate source data line to the test probe data line. Each dot represents a “switch” that may be selectively turned ON and OFF to electrically couple a source data line to a particular test probe data line. A digital implementation may include a multiplexor, a digitally controlled switch matrix (e.g., an FPGA) or a software emulation of such hardware. Selection circuitry  1310  may also be implemented in a manual implementation such as, for example, a manually controlled switch matrix which may require a user to physically insert and/or remove jumpers to affect the desired electrical couplings. 
       FIG. 14  shows a flowchart illustrating steps that may be taken to interface a configurable testing platform to a circuit board in accordance with the principles of the present invention. At step  1410 , a configurable testing platform is provided (e.g., platforms  1000 ,  1100 , or  1200  of  FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 , respectively). At step  1420 , an indication is received of the type of circuit board to be received by the testing platform. For example, a user may input into a control panel or computer which circuit board is to be tested. At step  1430 , the testing platform is electrically configured based on the received indication. More particularly, the test probes may be “primed” for testing a specific circuit board by selectively electrically coupling the test probe to a particular data line using, for example, test probe signal selection circuitry  1302  of  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 15  shows an illustrative system  1500  that may be used in connection with a configurable testing platform in accordance with the principles of the invention. System  1500  may include computer  1510 , user interface equipment  1530 , and configurable testing platform  1540 . System  1500  may include multiple computers  1510  and user interface equipment  1530 , but only one of each is illustrated in  FIG. 15  to avoid complicating the drawing. Computer  1510  is shown connected to user interface equipment  1530 , and platform  1540  via communication paths  1590 . 
     Computer  1510  may include circuitry such as a processor  1512 , database  1514  (e.g., a hard-drive), memory  1516  (e.g., random-access-memory), and removable-media drive  1518  (e.g., a floppy disk drive, a CD-ROM drive, or a DVD drive). This circuitry can be used to transmit data to, from, and/or between user interface equipment  1530  and the platform  1530 . Computer  1510  may configure platform  1530  (e.g., electrically and/or physically configure) by responding to user input (e.g., a specified type of circuit board) from user interface equipment  1530 . Computer  1510  may also provide information to the user at user interface equipment  1530  with respect to results obtained from testing a circuit board interface with platform  1540  according to embodiments of the invention. Database  1514  may store information such as, for example, configuration settings to be used for selected circuit boards. 
     User interface equipment  1530  enables a user to input commands to computer  1530  via input device  1532 . Input device  1532  may be any suitable device such as a conventional keyboard, a wireless keyboard, a mouse, a touch pad, a trackball, a voice activated console, or any combination of such devices. Input device  1532  may, for example, enable a user to enter commands to test a circuit board. A user may view the test results on display device  1534 . Display device  1534  may be a computer monitor, a television, a flat panel display, a liquid crystal display, a cathode-ray tube (CRT), or any other suitable display device. 
     Communication paths  1590  may be any suitable communications path such as a cable link, a hard-wired link, a fiber-optic link, an infrared link, a ribbon-wire link, a blue-tooth link, an analog communications link, a digital communications link, or any combination of such links. Communications paths  1590  are configured to enable data transfer between computer  1510 , user interface equipment  1530 , and platform  1540 . 
     It will also be understood that various directional and orientational terms such as “vertical” and “horizontal,” “left” and “right,” “top” and “bottom,” “edge,” “height,” and the like are used herein only for convenience, and that no fixed or absolute directional or orientational limitations are intended by the use of these words. For example, the devices of this invention can have any desired orientation. If reoriented, different directional or orientational terms may need to be used in their description, but that will not alter their fundamental nature as within the scope and spirit of this invention. 
     Thus it is seen that circuit boards with removable test point portions and configurable testing platforms are provided. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation, and the invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20130111
Publication Date: 20161206
Grant Date: 20161206
Priority Date: 20061107
Inventors: ROSENBLATT MICHAEL
GARDNER W. BRYSON
SALEHI AMIR
AGHAZARIAN TONY
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H05K1/0268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09181", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R1/0408", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09127", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R31/2818", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/0052", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09181", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09181", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R31/2818", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09127", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/0052", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/403", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K3/0052", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R1/0408", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G01R31/2818", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K1/0268", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H05K2201/09127", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 39359201