# US 2025/0085337 A1 · System for testing an integrated circuit of a device and its method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0085337 A1 - Document ID: US20250085337A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/957,379 - Filed: 2024-11-22 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-19 - Assignees: Aehr Test Systems - Applicants: Aehr Test Systems - Inventors: Scott E. Lindsey; Jovan Jovanovic; David S. Hendrickson; Donald P. Richmond, II, II - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250085337A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/2891: {related to sensing or controlling of force, position, temperature (G01R31/2874 takes precedence; sensing of force G01L; sensing of position G01B, G01D; sensing of temperature G01K; controlling in general G05)} - G01R 31/287: {Procedures; Software aspects} - G01R 31/31908: {Tester set-up, e.g. configuring the tester to the device under test [DUT], down loading test patterns} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) ## Abstract A cartridge, including a cartridge frame, formations on the cartridge frame for mounting the cartridge frame in a fixed position to an apparatus frame, a contactor support structure, a contactor interface on the contactor support structure, a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting contacts on a device, and a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the interface to the terminals. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-222. (canceled) ### Claim 223 A connector, including: a connector body; a plurality of connector conductors held by the connector body, wherein the connector conductors include a plurality of signal connector conductors and a plurality of ground connector conductors, the connector interface being surfaces of the connector conductors; and a bulk ground return connected to the ground connector conductors but not to the signal connector conductors. ### Claim 224 (depends on 223) The connector of claim 223, wherein the connector body includes a plurality of substantially parallel connector body substrates. ### Claim 225 (depends on 224) The connector of claim 224, wherein each connector body substrate is a printed circuit board. ### Claim 226 (depends on 224) The connector of claim 224, wherein the connector body includes a cap on each one of the printed circuit boards, each connector conductor including a finger on the printed circuit board and a contact on the cap. ### Claim 227 (depends on 223) The connector of claim 223, wherein each signal connector conductor and each ground connector conductor are coaxially located one within the other with an insulation layer between the signal connector conductor and the ground connector conductor. ### Claim 228 (depends on 223) The connector of claim 223, further comprising: a flexible cable, the flexible cable being mounted to the connector and extending from the connector in a direction opposing the connector interface. ### Claim 229 (depends on 223) The connector of claim 223, further comprising: a pin on the connector body for being received in an opening adjacent a contactor interface to align the connector interface with the contactor interface. ### Claim 230 An apparatus for testing an integrated circuit of a device, comprising: an apparatus frame; a cartridge including a cartridge frame that is removably mountable to the apparatus frame, and a contactor support structure mounted to the cartridge frame; a contactor interface on the contactor support structure; a connector including: a connector body; a plurality of connector conductors held by the connector body, wherein the connector conductors include a plurality of signal connector conductors and a plurality of ground connector conductors, a connector interface being formed by surfaces of the connector conductors for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface; and a bulk ground return connected to the ground connector conductors but not to the signal connector conductors; a holder for the device, secured to the apparatus frame; a plurality of terminals held by the contactor support structure, the holder and contactor support structure being movable relative to one another so that each one of the terminals makes releasable contact with a respective contact of the device; a power source; a power electrical path connecting the power source to a power terminal of the terminals held by the support structure; a signal source; and a plurality of signal electrical paths, each connecting the signal source to a respective signal terminal of the terminals held by the support structure. ### Claim 231 (depends on 230) The apparatus of claim 230, further comprising: an actuator connected between the apparatus frame and the contactor support structure, having first and second portions that are movable relative to one another to move the contactor support structure relative to the apparatus frame and toward the surface of the holder so that the terminals are urged against contacts of the device. ### Claim 232 (depends on 230) The apparatus of claim 230, wherein the contactor interface is on a side of the contactor support structure opposing the terminals held by the contactor support structure. ### Claim 233 (depends on 232) The apparatus of claim 232, further comprising: a flexible cable, the connector interface being connected to the flexible cable to form a flexible attachment, the cartridge frame including an opening and the flexible attachment passing at least partially through the opening. ### Claim 234 (depends on 230) The apparatus of claim 230, wherein the connector body includes a plurality of substantially parallel connector body substrates. ### Claim 235 (depends on 234) The apparatus of claim 234, wherein each connector body substrate is a printed circuit board. ### Claim 236 (depends on 234) The apparatus of claim 234, wherein the connector body includes a cap on each one of the printed circuit boards, each connector conductor including a finger on the printed circuit board and a contact on the cap. ### Claim 237 (depends on 230) The apparatus of claim 230, wherein each signal connector conductor and each ground connector conductor are coaxially located one within the other with an insulation layer between the signal connector conductor and the ground connector conductor. ### Claim 238 (depends on 230) The apparatus of claim 230, further comprising: a flexible cable, the flexible cable being mounted to the connector and extending from the connector in a direction opposing the connector interface. ### Claim 239 (depends on 230) The apparatus of claim 230, further comprising: a pin on the connector body, wherein the contactor support structure has an opening that receives the pin to align the connector interface with the contactor interface. ### Claim 240 A cartridge, comprising: a cartridge frame; formations on the cartridge frame for mounting the cartridge frame in a fixed position to an apparatus frame; a contactor support structure mounted to the cartridge frame; a connector including: a connector body; a plurality of connector conductors held by the connector body, wherein the connector conductors include a plurality of signal connector conductors and a plurality of ground connector conductors, a connector interface being formed by surfaces of the connector conductors for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface; and a bulk ground return connected to the ground connector conductors but not to the signal connector conductors; a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting contacts on a device; and a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the interface to the terminals. ### Claim 241 (depends on 240) The cartridge of claim 240, further comprising: an actuator connected between the cartridge frame and the contactor support structure, having first and second portions that are movable relative to one another to move the contactor support structure relative to the cartridge frame and toward the surface of the holder so that the terminals are urged against contacts of the device. ### Claim 242 (depends on 240) The cartridge of claim 240, wherein the contactor interface is on a side of the contactor support structure opposing the terminals held by the contactor support structure. ### Claim 243 (depends on 242) The cartridge of claim 242, further comprising: a flexible cable, the connector interface being connected to the flexible cable to form a flexible attachment, the cartridge frame including an opening and the flexible attachment passing at least partially through the opening. ### Claim 244 (depends on 240) The cartridge of claim 240, wherein the connector body includes a plurality of substantially parallel connector body substrates. ### Claim 245 (depends on 244) The cartridge of claim 244, wherein each connector body substrate is a printed circuit board. ### Claim 246 (depends on 244) The cartridge of claim 244, wherein the connector body includes a cap on each one of the printed circuit boards, each connector conductor including a finger on the printed circuit board and a contact on the cap. ### Claim 247 (depends on 240) The cartridge of claim 240, wherein each signal connector conductor and each ground connector conductor are coaxially located one within the other with an insulation layer between the signal connector conductor and the ground connector conductor. ### Claim 248 (depends on 240) The cartridge of claim 240, further comprising: a flexible cable, the flexible cable being mounted to the connector and extending from the connector in a direction opposing the connector interface. ### Claim 249 (depends on 240) The cartridge of claim 240, further comprising: a pin on the connector body, wherein the contactor support structure has an opening that receives the pin to align the connector interface with the contactor interface. ### Claim at position 29 250-279. (canceled)