Apparatus for use in testing circuit boards

An apparatus for use in testing circuit boards in a test chamber having an airflow opening, said apparatus comprising

• a plurality of hand manipulable circuit board baskets adapted to contain a plurality of circuit boards, said baskets each including
• frame means defining a structure of generally open construction and having a closed end,
• a plurality of first electrical connectors supported by said frame means and adapted to engage electrical connectors on the circuit boards,
• a second electrical connector supported by said frame means, said second connector being electrically connected with each of said first electrical connectors and adapted to be plugged into the test chamber, and
• means for supporting the circuit boards in parallel spaced relationship within said frame means and in parallel relation to said closed end with the electrical connectors on the circuit boards being plugged into said first electrical connectors, and
• a cart adapted to be placed within the test chamber, said cart including walls generally closing said cart except for opposite open ends and one open side between said open ends, a plurality of third electrical connectors mounted inside said walls, and electrical connector means in electrical circuit with said third electrical connectors and being adapted to be plugged into the test chamber,
• said baskets being supported in said cart such that said second electrical connectors engage said third electrical connectors, such that said closed ends of said baskets close said open side of said cart, and such that the circuit boards extend parallel to the direction between said open ends, and said cart and said baskets forming an air plenum having said opposite open ends and being adapted to contain the circuit boards with one of said open ends being adapted to register with the airflow opening in the test chamber, and the other of said open ends being adapted to be open to the test chamber such that air flow is directed through said cart and said baskets between the airflow opening and said other of said open ends.

An apparatus for use in testing circuit boards in a test chamber having an airflow opening, said apparatus comprising

• a cart adapted to be placed within the test chamber, said cart including a top wall and side walls generally closing said cart except for opposite open ends and one open side between said open ends, a plurality of third electrical connectors mounted inside said walls, and electrical connector means in electrical circuit with said third electrical connectors and being adapted to be plugged into the test chamber, and
• a plurality of circuit board baskets adapted to contain a plurality of circuit boards, said baskets each including a closed end, a closed bottom, an open top, and a second electrical connector adapted to be in electrical circuit with each of the circuit boards, said baskets being supported in said cart such that said second electrical connectors engage said third electrical connectors and such that said closed ends of said baskets close said open side of said cart, and said baskets being arranged in a plurality of rows and in a plurality of columns such that in each column said open top of the uppermost basket is closed by said top wall of said cart and said open top of each of the other baskets is closed by said closed bottom of the upwardly adjacent basket, such that in the uppermost row said closed bottoms are aligned in planar, end-to-end relation and said open tops are closed by said top wall, and such that in the other rows said closed bottoms are aligned in planar, end-to-end relation and said open tops are closed by said closed bottoms of the upwardly adjacent row, whereby said top wall and said baskets cooperate to define a plurality of horizontal air ducts corresponding to said rows,
• said cart and said baskets forming a closed air plenum including said air ducts, having said opposite open ends and being adapted to contain the circuit boards, with one of said open ends being adapted to register with the airflow opening in the test chamber, and the other of said open ends being adapted to be open to the test chamber such that air flow is directed through said cart and said baskets, through said ducts and between the airflow opening and said other of said open ends.

An apparatus for testing circuit boards, said apparatus comprising

• a cart including walls generally closing said cart except for opposite open ends and one open side between said open ends, a plurality of third electrical connectors mounted inside said walls, a main electrical connector mounted on one of said open ends and in electrical circuit with said third electrical connectors, and a plurality of casters supporting said cart for movement on a supporting surface,
• a plurality of circuit board baskets adapted to contain a plurality of circuit boards, said baskets each including a closed end and a second electrical connector adapted to be in electrical circuit with each of the circuit boards, said baskets being insertable into said cart such that said second electrical connectors engage said third electrical connectors and such that said closed ends of said baskets close said open side of said cart,
• a test chamber for enclosing said cart, said test chamber including air conditioning means having an airflow opening registering with said one of said open ends of said cart, an electrical connector slideably engageable with said main electrical connector, a floor, and a pair of slots in said floor for receiving said casters on said cart so as to align said cart with said airflow opening and said main electrical connector on said cart with said electrical connector in said test chamber,
• a flexible seal around said airflow opening and registering with said one of said open ends of said cart for substantially sealing said airflow opening to said cart, and
• interengageable means on said cart and in said test chamber for moving said cart toward said airflow opening such that said main electrical connector engages said electrical connector in said test chamber,
• said cart and said baskets forming a closed air plenum having said opposite open ends and being adapted to contain the circuit boards, with said one of said open ends registering with said airflow opening in said test chamber and said main electrical connector engaging said electrical connector in said test chamber, and with the other of said open ends being open to said test chamber such that airflow is directed through said cart and said baskets between the airflow opening and said other of said open ends.

A hand manipulable basket for containing a plurality of generally planar circuit boards to be tested, said basket comprising

• frame means defining a structure of generally open construction,
• a plurality of first electrical connectors supported by said frame means and being adapted to engage electrical connectors on the circuit boards,
• a second electrical connector supported by said frame means and being electrically connected with each of said first electrical connectors and adapted to be plugged into a test chamber, and
• means for supporting the circuit boards in parallel spaced relationship within said frame means with the electrical connectors on the circuit boards being plugged into said first electrical connectors, said frame means being characterized in that it has a box-like structure having opposite first and second sides, opposite third and fourth sides, and opposite first and second ends, said opposite ends and said first side being closed by walls to prevent air flow therethrough, and said second, third and fourth sides being open to permit air flow therethrough, the circuit boards being supported in perpendicular relation to said opposite open sides, whereby when said basket is supported adjacent another basket with the closed first side of the other basket closing said second side of said basket, said frame means defines a plenum so that air can flow freely through said basket and over the circuit boards supported therein.