Universal contactor system for testing ball grid array (BGA) devices on multiple handlers and method therefor

A universal contactor system for testing BGA devices of various sizes on multiple handlers comprising, in combination:

• a plurality of pogo pins for providing a connection with each BGA device to be tested when said BGA device is placed in said universal contactor system thereby compressing said plurality of pogo pins;
• a contactor block having a plurality of apertures therethrough for holding said plurality of pogo pins within said contactor block;
• a guide plate coupled to said contactor block and having an aperture therethrough for aligning said BGA device to be tested on said contactor block;
• a bottom keeper plate coupled to a bottom portion of said contactor block for holding said pogo pins within said contactor block;
• a top keeper plate coupled to a top portion of said contactor block for holding said pogo pins within said contactor block, said top keeper plate having an array of apertures for receiving all of a plurality of contact elements extending from said BGA device being tested and is of suitable thickness to limit an amount of insertion of said BGA device being tested thereby limiting compression of said pogo pins;
• isolation ring coupled to a top portion and a bottom portion of each of said plurality of pogo pins for ensuring said plurality of pogo pins do not come in contact with said contactor block when said plurality of pogo pins are positioned within said contactor block;
• a BGA device holding device coupled to said guide plate for holding said BGA device in said universal contactor system during testing of said BGA device, said BGA device holding device comprising:
• a first support block coupled to said guide plate for pivotally holding one end of a holding plate;
• holding plate having one end pivotally coupled to said first support block for holding said BGA device in said universal contactor system when said BGA device is being tested;
• a second support block coupled to said guide plate for holding a second end of said holding plate when said holding plate is lowered and said BGA device is being tested;
• and
• a locking device coupled to said second end of said holding plate for locking said holding plate to said second support block when said BGA device is being tested.

A method of providing a universal contactor system for testing BGA (Ball Grid Array) devices of various sizes on multiple handlers comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of pogo pins for providing a connection with each BGA device to be tested when said BGA device is placed in said universal contactor system thereby compressing said plurality of pogo pins;
• providing a contactor block having a plurality of apertures therethrough for holding said plurality of pogo pins within said contactor block;
• providing a guide plate coupled to said contactor block and having an aperture therethrough for aligning said BGA device to be tested on said contactor block;
• providing a bottom keeper plate coupled to a bottom portion of said contactor block for holding said pogo pins within said contactor block;
• providing a top keeper plate coupled to a top portion of said contactor block for holding said pogo pins within said contactor block, said top keeper plate having an array of apertures for receiving all of a plurality of contact elements extending from said BGA device being tested and is of suitable thickness to limit an amount of insertion of said BGA device being tested thereby limiting compression of said pogo pins.