# US 2025/0085338 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 2025/0085338 A1 - Document ID: US20250085338A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/957,390 - 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 - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250085338A1 ## 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 1-249. (canceled) ### Claim 250 A connector, including: a connector body; a plurality of connector conductors held by the connector body, the connector interface being surfaces of the connector conductors; and 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 251 (depends on 250) The connector of claim 250, wherein the connector body includes a plurality of substantially parallel connector body substrates. ### Claim 252 (depends on 251) The connector of claim 251, wherein each connector body substrate is a printed circuit board. ### Claim 253 (depends on 251) The connector of claim 251, 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 254 (depends on 250) The connector of claim 250, wherein the connector conductors include a plurality of signal connector conductors and a plurality of ground connector conductors, further comprising: a bulk ground return connected to the ground connector conductors but not to the signal connector conductors. ### Claim 255 (depends on 254) The connector of claim 254, 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 256 (depends on 250) The connector of claim 250, 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 257 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, a connector interface being formed by surfaces of the connector conductors for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface; and 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; 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 258 (depends on 257) The apparatus of claim 257, 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 259 (depends on 257) The apparatus of claim 257, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution board substrate and a contactor substrate mounted to the distribution board substrate. ### Claim 260 (depends on 257) The apparatus of claim 257, further comprising: a cartridge, including a cartridge frame that is removably mountable to the apparatus frame, the contactor board forming part of the cartridge; a contactor interface on the contactor support structure; and a connector interface having a surface for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface. ### Claim 261 (depends on 260) The apparatus of claim 260, wherein the contactor interface is on a side of the contactor support structure opposing the terminals held by the contactor support structure. ### Claim 262 (depends on 261) The apparatus of claim 261, 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 263 (depends on 257) The apparatus of claim 257, wherein the connector body includes a plurality of substantially parallel connector body substrates. ### Claim 264 (depends on 263) The apparatus of claim 263, wherein each connector body substrate is a printed circuit board. ### Claim 265 (depends on 263) The apparatus of claim 263, 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 266 (depends on 257) The apparatus of claim 257, wherein the connector conductors include a plurality of signal connector conductors and a plurality of ground connector conductors, further comprising: a bulk ground return connected to the ground connector conductors but not to the signal connector conductors. ### Claim 267 (depends on 266) The apparatus of claim 266, 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 268 (depends on 257) The apparatus of claim 257, 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 269 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, a connector interface being formed by surfaces of the connector conductors for connecting to a surface of the contactor interface; and 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; 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 270 (depends on 269) The cartridge of claim 269, 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 271 (depends on 269) The cartridge of claim 269, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution board substrate and a contactor substrate mounted to the distribution board substrate. ### Claim 272 (depends on 269) The cartridge of claim 269, wherein the contactor interface is on a side of the contactor support structure opposing the terminals held by the contactor support structure. ### Claim 273 (depends on 272) The cartridge of claim 272, 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 274 (depends on 269) The cartridge of claim 269, wherein the connector body includes a plurality of substantially parallel connector body substrates. ### Claim 275 (depends on 274) The cartridge of claim 274, wherein each connector body substrate is a printed circuit board. ### Claim 276 (depends on 274) The cartridge of claim 274, 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 277 (depends on 269) The cartridge of claim 269, wherein the connector conductors include a plurality of signal connector conductors and a plurality of ground connector conductors, further comprising: a bulk ground return connected to the ground connector conductors but not to the signal connector conductors. ### Claim 278 (depends on 277) The cartridge of claim 277, 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 279 (depends on 269) The cartridge of claim 269, 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.