Environmental test method and system

An environmental test system for controlling a temperature environment of a member to be tested at least from a low temperature environment to a high temperature environment, said high temperature environment being higher in temperature than the low temperature environment, said system comprising:

• a test chamber unit having a wall portion for defining a test chamber that contains the member to be tested, said wall portion being made of heat insulating material, said temperature environment surrounding the member to be tested in the test chamber;
• a dehumidifier for eliminating moisture in the air to generate low dew point air, said low dew point air having a dew point temperature lower than a predetermined temperature defined by the low temperature environment;
• an air supplying unit for supplying the low dew point air to an inside of the test chamber;
• and
• a temperature changing unit for changing a temperature of the low dew point air supplied from the air supplying unit to the inside of the test chamber to control the temperature environment from the low temperature environment to the high temperature environment,
• wherein said temperature changing unit includes a cooling unit for cooling the low dew point air supplied from the air supplying unit up to substantially a predetermined cooling temperature, and a heating unit for heating the low dew point air supplied from the air supplying unit up to a substantially predetermined heating temperature, said predetermined heating temperature being defined by the high temperature environment,
• wherein said member to be tested includes a circuit board, further comprising:
• an energizing unit electrically connected to the circuit board and configured to energize the circuit board while the temperature environment is changed from the low temperature environment to the high temperature environment, and
• a supporting member fixedly supporting the circuit board, said supporting member having a first connector electrically mechanically connects between the energizing unit and the circuit board, and a first communication port communicable with the inside of the test chamber and the air supplying unit for circulating the low dew point air supplied therefrom in the test chamber,
• wherein said test chamber unit comprises a housing that is formed by the wall portion and defines the test chamber, said housing having an opening that allows the circuit board to be inserted therein, and, when the circuit board is inserted through the opening in the housing, said supporting member is closely contacted to an inner periphery of the opening of the housing so that the circuit board is substantially airtightly contained in the housing.