Electronics tester with output circuits operable in voltage compensated power mode, driver mode or current compensated power mode
AssigneeAehr Test Systems
InventorsDonald P. Richmond, II, David S. Hendrickson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tester is described having output circuits that are operable in either power mode or driver mode. A switching circuit connects force and sense lines to one of the output circuits when in power mode, or connects the same lines separately to the output circuits when in driver mode. A further configuration allows for power to be provided through the lines separately while detecting a measure of power through each line and correcting for unknown resistances of leads connected to the lines.
Claims26
A tester for a device comprising:
- a first output circuit operating as either a power circuit or a driver circuit;
- a second output circuit operating as either a power circuit or a driver circuit;
- first and second lines, the first line connected to an output terminal of the first output circuit;
- and
- a switching circuit operable to switch between either a power mode or a driver mode, in the power mode
- (i) the first output circuit providing power through the output terminal of the first output circuit and the first line to a power terminal of the device;
- (ii) the second line being connectable to the power terminal to serve as a sense line;
- (iii) the second line being connected to a feedback terminal of the first output circuit;
- and
- (iv) an output of the second output circuit being disconnected from the second line, in the driver mode:
- (i) the first output circuit providing a driver signal through the output terminal of the first output circuit and the first line for delivery to a first signal terminal of the device;
- (ii) the second line being disconnected from the first driver circuit;
- and
- (iii) the output of the second output circuit connected to the second line to provide a driver signal through the second line to a second signal terminal of the device.
In a tester for a device comprising a first output circuit operating as either a power circuit or a driver circuit, a second output circuit operating as either a power circuit or a driver circuit, first and second lines, the first line connected to an output terminal of the first output circuit, and a switching circuit, a method of operating the switching circuit comprising:
- switching the switching circuit between a power mode and a driver mode, in the power mode:
- (i) the first output circuit providing power through the output terminal of the first output circuit and the first line to a power terminal of the device;
- (ii) the second line being connectable to the power terminal to serve as a sense line;
- and
- (iii) the second line being connected to a feedback terminal of the first output circuit;
- (iv) an output of the second output circuit being disconnected from the second line, in the driver mode:
- (i) the first output circuit providing a driver signal through the output terminal of the first output circuit and the first line for delivery to a first signal terminal of the device;
- (ii) the second line being disconnected from the first driver circuit;
- and
- (iii) the output of the second output circuit connected to the second line to provide a driver signal through the second line to a second signal terminal of the device.
A tester for a device comprising:
- a first output circuit having an input and an output based on the input;
- a first line connected to the output of the first output circuit, the first line having a first line resistance;
- a device connection resource that includes:
- a first holder for a first device;
- and
- a connection lead having a first lead resistance and connecting the line to a first terminal on the first device when held by the holder;
- a first detector detecting a measure of power provided from the output of the first circuit to the first terminal of the first device;
- and
- a current compensation circuit connected to the detector and adjusting power provided to the input based on the measure of the power detected by the first detector.
A method of testing a device comprising:
- holding the device;
- connecting a first lead between a first line and a first terminal of the device, the first line having a first line resistance and the first lead having a first lead resistance;
- providing an input current to a first input circuit, the first line connected to an output of the first input circuit;
- detecting a measure of power provided by the first input circuit to the first terminal;
- and
- adjusting power provided to an input of the first input circuit based on the measure of the power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.