Ergonomic test apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of electronic devices

An ergonomic testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT) loaded into the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• an enclosed chassis having a plurality of ventilation perforations;
• one or more tester circuit cards disposed within the enclosed chassis for generating a plurality of electronic signals for use in creating a plurality of predetermined test conditions for the EDUT;
• connector means on the enclosed chassis for accepting an electronic connection from a remote host computer, thereby allowing the remote host computer to define at least one of the plurality of electronic signals;
• a monolithic fixture frame formed from a single piece of material and having unitary lateral supports, a unitary fan support, and a unitary base coupled by means of compliant supports to the enclosed chassis;
• a monolithic translatable carriage for supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the monolithic translatable carriage being moveably-engaged to the unitary base of the monolithic fixture frame and having one or more fixed elements for mechanically engaging one or more corresponding elements in the EDUT, thereby locating the EDUT with respect to the monolithic translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly retained and disposed by the unitary lateral supports of the monolithic fixture frame to engage a mating connector in the EDUT when loaded, the spring-probe block connector assembly having one or more mechanical locating elements each for engaging a corresponding mechanical locating element in the EDUT during loading;
• an ergonomic loading handle assembly movably engaged to the unitary lateral supports of the monolithic fixture frame and rotatably engaged to the monolithic translatable carriage and having a loading handle moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that a single movement of the loading handle in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the monolithic translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and a single movement of the loading handle in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the monolithic translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• and
• a spring-loaded pin in the ergonomic loading handle assembly for retaining the loading handle at the loaded position, whereby the EDUT is held engaged to the spring-probe block connector assembly for testing.