Method and apparatus for automated docking of a test head to a device handler
AssigneeinTEST Corporation
InventorsDaniel J. Graham, Alyn R. Holt, Robert E. Matthiessen, I. Marvin Weilerstein, Christopher L. West
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Abstract
A positioner facilitates docking and undocking of an electronic test head with a device handler. The positioner provides for rotation of the test head about a first axis. The positioner includes a linkage arm structure for moving the test head along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. Using motors, sensors and a processor, the linkage arm structure accurately docks the electronic test head with the device handler.
Claims17
A positioner for docking and undocking an electronic test head with a device handler comprising:
- head rotation means for rotating said electronic test head about a first axis;
- motion means, including a plurality of arm structures coupled to said head rotation means;
- a first one of said plurality of arm structures coupled to a second one of said plurality of arm structures to form a scissor shaped member of increasable and decreasable length for moving said electronic test head along a second axis orthogonal to said first axis;
- inclinometer means coupled to at least one of said plurality of arm structures for providing a signal corresponding to angular orientation of said at least one arm structure;
- and
- processing means for converting said signal to a measurement of distance between said test head and said device handler.
A method for docking an electronic test head with a device handler, comprising the steps of:
- rotating said electronic test head about a first axis;
- moving said test head along the second axis orthogonal to said first axis by increasing and decreasing length of a scissor-shaped member which includes a plurality of arm structures;
- providing a signal corresponding to angular orientation of at least one of said plurality of arm structures;
- and
- converting said signal to a measurement of distance between said test head and said device handler in order to dock said electronic test head with said device handler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.