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

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT), an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a fixture frame;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the 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 assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• a chassis that supports the fixture frame;
• and
• a power-margin circuit board mounted to the chassis and coupled to the spring-probe block connector assembly for producing a plurality of predetermined combinations of power-supply voltage levels to the EDUT.

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT) having a mating connector incorporating means for exchanging optical data, an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a fixture frame;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the fixture frame to engage the 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 and optical connecting means for making an optical data connection with the mating EDUT connector;
• and
• an ergonomic loading assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly.

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT) equipped with a first infared signal transceiver, an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a chassis;
• a fixture frame supported on the chassis;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the 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 assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• and
• a second infrared signal transceiver fixed to the chassis for exchanging signals with the EDUT.

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT), an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a fixture frame;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the 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 assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• and
• a multiplexer circuit board connected to the spring-probe block connector assembly to facilitate selection between a plurality of different connections to the EDUT.

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT), an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a chassis;
• a fixture frame mounted to the chassis;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the 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 assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• and
• one or more tester circuit cards mounted to the chassis for generating a plurality of electronic signals for use in creating a plurality of predetermined test conditions for the EDUT and an EDUT tester cable coupled to the spring-probe block connector assembly for transferring electronic signals.

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT), an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a fixture frame;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the 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 assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• and
• a compensator circuit fixed to the spring-probe block connector assembly for selecting one of a plurality of EDUT mating connectors and for matching circuit impedances between an EDUT tester cable and the EDUT mating connector.

In a testing apparatus for the operator-assisted testing of an electronic device under test (EDUT), an ergonomic EDUT loader comprising:

• a fixture frame;
• a translatable carriage for removably supporting and positioning the EDUT during loading and testing, the translatable carriage being moveably mounted on the fixture frame and configured for mechanically engaging the EDUT to thereby locate the EDUT with respect to the translatable carriage;
• a spring-probe block connector assembly mounted on the 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 assembly movably engaged to the fixture frame and operatively engaged with the translatable carriage and moveable to a loaded position in a loading direction and moveable to an unloaded position in an unloading direction such that movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the loading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage toward and into engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly and movement of the ergonomic loading assembly in the unloading direction urges the EDUT on the translatable carriage away from and out of engagement with the spring-probe block connector assembly;
• a chassis that supports the fixture frame;
• and
• a plurality of compliant supports connecting the fixture frame to the chassis.