# US 12,007,411 B2 · Test socket having an automated lid

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,007,411 B2
- Document ID: US12007411B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/354,444
- Filed: 2021-06-22
- Published: 2022-12-22
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-22
- Assignees: Teradyne, Inc.
- Applicants: Teradyne, Inc.
- Inventors: John P. Toscano; Christopher Bruno; David Graziose
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007411B2

## CPC

- G01R 1/0466: {concerning contact pieces or mechanical details, e.g. hinges or cams; Shielding}
- G01R 1/0458: {related to environmental aspects, e.g. temperature}
- G01R 31/2863: {Contacting devices, e.g. sockets, burn-in boards or mounting fixtures (in general G01R1/04)}
- G01R 31/2875: {related to heating}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)

## Abstract

An example test socket for a test system includes a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT) and a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle. The lid is controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle. Closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A test socket for a test system, the test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT);
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT;
an actuator to control opening and closing of the lid, the actuator being configured to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle; and
a gear connected to the actuator, the gear being usable to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The test socket of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a motor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The test socket of claim 2, where a torque of the motor provides a clamping force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT.

### Claim 4

A test socket for a test system, the test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT);
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT;
an actuator to control opening and closing of the lid, the actuator being configured to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle; and
wherein the actuator comprises a helical worm drive screw that causes motion of the lid and that is configured to provide a clamping force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT.

### Claim 5

A test socket for a test system, the test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT);
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT;
an actuator to control opening and closing of the lid, the actuator being configured to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle; and
a plate having a track having a first branch that extends perpendicularly to the receptacle and a second branch that extends obliquely relative to the receptacle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The test socket of claim 5, wherein the lid comprises a roller, the actuator for moving the roller along the first branch to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and for moving the roller along the second branch to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle.

### Claim 7

A test socket for a test system, the test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT);
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT; and
a thermal control system to control a temperature of the DUT in the test socket separately from control over temperatures of other DUTs in other test sockets, the thermal control system comprising a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and a structure connected to the lid that is thermally conductive, the TEC being in thermal communication with the DUT to control the temperature of the DUT by transferring heat between the DUT and the structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The test socket of claim 7, wherein the thermal control system comprises:
liquid coolant to flow through the structure to reduce a temperature of the structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The test socket of claim 8, wherein the liquid coolant comprises liquid nitrogen.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The test socket of claim 7, wherein the thermal control system comprises a heater.

### Claim 11

A test socket for a test system, the test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT);
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT;
a first plate on a first side of the lid, the first plate comprising first tracks;
a second plate on a second side of the lid, the second plate comprising second tracks;
first rollers on the first side of the lid; and
second rollers on the second side of the lid;
wherein, during opening and closing of the lid, the first rollers move along the first tracks and the second rollers move along the second tracks.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The test socket of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first tracks and at least one of the second tracks comprises a right-angled track.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The test socket of claim 11, wherein the first plate is a single plate and the second plate is a single plate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The test socket of claim 11, further comprising:
a hinge to which the lid is connected, the hinge comprising a spring that enables compression of the lid to apply force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT.

### Claim 15

A test socket for a test system, the test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT);
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT;
a first set of plates on a first side of the lid, the first set of plates comprising first tracks;
a second set of plates on a second side of the lid, the second set of plates comprising second tracks;
first rollers on the first side of the lid; and
second rollers on the second side of the lid;
wherein, during opening and closing of the lid, the first rollers move along the first tracks and the second rollers move along the second tracks.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The test socket of claim 15, wherein the first set of plates comprise a first mobile plate and a first stationary plate, and the second set of plates comprise a second mobile plate and a second stationary plate; and
wherein the first mobile plate is controllable to move relative to the first stationary plate and the second mobile plate is controllable to move relative to the second stationary plate to cause the lid to open or to close.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The test socket of claim 16, wherein the first mobile plate comprises a first track and a second track, the first stationary plate comprises a third track and a fourth track, the first track intersecting the third track at a location of one of the first rollers and the second track intersecting the fourth track a location of one of the first rollers; and
wherein the second mobile plate comprises a fifth track and a sixth track, the second stationary plate comprises a seventh track and an eighth track, the fifth track intersecting the seventh track at a location of one of the second rollers and the sixth track intersecting the eighth track a location of one of the second rollers.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The test socket of claim 15, wherein each of the first tracks and the second tracks comprises one or more bends.

### Claim 19

A test system comprising:
a test socket comprising:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections to a device under test (DUT); and
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to complete the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT;
a pick-and-place robot to move the DUT relative to the test socket; and
one or more processing devices to coordinate operation of the pick-and-place robot and to control opening and closing the lid so that the lid is pivoted when the pick-and-place robot reaches the test socket.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The test system of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing devices are configured to coordinate opening the lid with movement of the pick-and-place robot.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The test system of claim 19, further comprising:
a gantry on which the pick-and-place robot is mounted, the gantry being configured to move the pick-and-place robot relative to the test socket to position the pick-and-place robot for picking the DUT from the test socket or placing the DUT into the test socket;
wherein the test socket is arranged in at least one array of test sockets so that the test socket is accessible to the pick-and-place robot.

### Claim 22

A test system comprising:
packs comprising:
test sockets for testing devices under test (DUTs); and
at least some test electronics for performing tests on the DUTs in the test sockets, where different packs are configured to have different configurations, the different configurations comprising at least different numbers of test sockets arranged at different pitches;
wherein a test socket among the test sockets comprises:
a receptacle to make electrical and mechanical connections a DUT; and
a lid to cover the DUT in the receptacle, the lid being controllable to open automatically to enable receipt of the DUT in the receptacle and, following receipt of the DUT, to close automatically to cover the DUT in the receptacle, where closing the lid applies force to the DUT to make the electrical and mechanical connections between the test socket and the DUT.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The test system of claim 22, wherein the test socket comprises:
an actuator to control opening and closing of the lid, the actuator being configured to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle;
wherein the test socket comprises a plate having a track having a first branch that extends perpendicularly to the receptacle and a second branch that extends obliquely relative to the receptacle; and
wherein the lid comprises a roller, the actuator for moving the roller along the first branch to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and for moving the roller along the second branch to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The test system of claim 22, wherein the test socket comprises:
a first plate on a first side of the lid, the first plate comprising first tracks;
a second plate on a second side of the lid, the second plate comprising second tracks;
first rollers on the first side of the lid; and
second rollers on the second side of the lid; and
wherein, during opening and closing of the lid, the first rollers move along the first tracks and the second rollers move along the second tracks.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The test system of claim 22, wherein the test socket comprises:
an actuator to control opening and closing of the lid, the actuator being configured to move the lid perpendicularly to the receptacle and to pivot the lid relative to the receptacle.

### Claim 26 (depends on 22)

The test system of claim 22, wherein the test socket comprises an actuator to open and close the lid;
wherein the actuator comprises one of a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator.