Method and apparatus relating to test equipment with humidification capability

Abstract

A new method provides test equipment having a humidification capability. Such method includes the steps of fabricating equipment having (a) a chamber for stress-testing products placed therein, and (b) a cavity for receiving a module. The equipment is installed in a product test facility and used for stress-testing (by, e.g., "temperature cycling") a first group of products placed in the chamber. Later (perhaps several months or years later), the module is mounted in the cavity, a second group of products is placed in the chamber and humidity-controlled air is circulated across the second group of products. The new method is particularly useful for manufacturers or testers of products like electronic printed circuit boards initially requiring only a temperature-related testing capability but later needing to add humidity-related testing regimens.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.