Apparatus for testing electronic devices

A contactor assembly, comprising:

• a contactor support structure, wherein the contactor support structure has respective sets of two threaded openings;
• at least first and second interfaces, on the contactor support structure, each having at least one row of contacts for contacting a respective terminal of a connector, the rows of the contacts of the interfaces being at an angle between 0° and 180° relative to one another, each set of two threaded openings being at opposing ends of each interface for securing the respective connectors to the contactor support structure;
• and
• a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the contacts of the interfaces and the terminals on the contactor support structure to one another.

A contactor assembly, comprising:

• a contactor support structure, wherein the contactor support structure includes a distribution substrate and a circular contactor substrate secured to the distribution substrate;
• a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting respective contacts of a device under test, the terminals held by the contactor support structure being held by the contactor substrate;
• at least first and second interfaces, on the contactor support structure, each having at least one row of contacts for contacting a respective terminal of a connector and the contacts on the contactor support structure being on the distribution substrate, the rows of the contacts of the interfaces being at an angle between 0° and 180° relative to one another;
• and
• a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the contacts of the interfaces and the terminals on the contactor support structure to one another.

A contactor assembly, comprising:

• a contactor support structure;
• a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure, for contacting respective contacts of a device under test;
• at least first, second and third interfaces, on the contactor support structure, each having at least one row of contacts for contacting a respective terminal of a connector, the row of contacts of the second interface being between the row of contacts of the first interface and the terminals held by the contactor support structure, wherein the row of contacts of the second interface is between the row of contacts of the first interface and the terminals held by the contactor support structure;
• and
• a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the contacts of the interfaces and the terminals on the contactor support structure to one another.

A contactor assembly, comprising:

• a contactor support structure wherein the contactor support structure has respective sets of two threaded openings;
• a plurality of terminals, held by the contactor support structure within an inner area of the contactor support structure, for contacting respective contacts of a device under test;
• a plurality of interfaces on the contactor support structure, each interface having at least one row of contacts for contacting a respective terminal of a connector, a combined length of the rows being more than a length of a periphery of the inner area each set of two threaded openings being at opposing ends of each interface for securing respective connectors to the contactor support structure;
• and
• a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the contacts of the interfaces and the terminals on the contactor support structure to one another.

A cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• formations on the cartridge frame for mounting the cartridge frame in a fixed position to an apparatus frame;
• a contactor support structure;
• a contactor interface on the contactor support structure;
• a plurality of terminals held by the contactor support structure;
• a plurality of conductors, held by the contactor support structure, connecting the interface to the terminals;
• and
• an actuator connected between the cartridge frame and the contactor support structure, having first and second portions that are movable relative to one another to move the contactor support structure relative to the cartridge frame.

A cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• a plurality of positioning pins on the cartridge, each being insertable into a respective opening of an apparatus frame, and each having an end with a retaining formation and a recessed formation distant from the end for positioning at an elevation of a locking member on the apparatus frame so that the locking member is engageable with the recessed formation to secure the cartridge frame to the apparatus frame;
• a contactor support structure mounted to the cartridge frame;
• a plurality of terminals on the contactor support structure, each being positioned for contacting a respective contact of a device;
• an interface on the contactor support structure;
• and
• a plurality of conductors interconnecting the terminals with contacts of the interface.

A connector system, comprising:

• a first frame portion;
• a first connector block support piece held by the first frame portion;
• a first connector block held by the connector block support piece;
• a plurality of terminals and contacts held by the first connector block;
• a first engagement component mounted to the connector block support piece;
• a second frame portion;
• a second connector block held by the second frame portion;
• a plurality of terminals and contacts held by the second connector block;
• a second engagement component mounted to the second frame portion, the second engagement component being releasably engageable with the first engagement component;
• and
• a component actuator connected to the second engagement component, the component actuator, upon actuation, causing movement of the second and first engagement components relative to the second frame portion, and movement of the connector block support piece relative to the first frame portion so that the contacts on the first connector block come into contact with the terminals on the second connector block.

A connector system, comprising:

• a first frame portion;
• a second frame portion;
• a plurality of connector sets, each set including a connector block support piece held by the first frame portion, a first connector block held by the connector block support piece, a plurality of terminals and contacts held by the first connector block, a first engagement component mounted to the connector block support piece, a second connector block held by the second frame portion, a plurality of terminals and contacts held by the second connector block, a second engagement component mounted to the second frame portion, the second engagement component being releasably engageable with the first engagement component, and a component actuator connected to the second engagement component;
• and
• an engager which is movable between a disengaging position wherein the first engagement components are disengaged from the second engagement components, and an engaging position wherein the engager has moved the first engagement components into engagement with the second engagement components, the component actuator, upon actuation, causing movement of the second and first engagement components relative to the second frame portion, and movement of the connector block support piece relative to the first frame portion so that the contacts on the first connector block come into contact with the terminals on the second connector block.

An engager comprising:

• first engagement components connected with a first connector block having a plurality of contacts;
• second engagement components connected with a second connector block having a plurality of terminals;
• and
• an actuator to move the first engagement components from a disengaging position, wherein the first engagement components are disengaged from the second engagement components, to an engaging position wherein the first engagement components are engaged with the second engagement components to contact the contacts of the first connector block with the terminals of the second connector block.

A cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• a plurality of first connector modules held by the cartridge frame and located over a first area, each having a body and a plurality of terminals and contacts on the body;
• a contactor support structure mounted to the cartridge frame;
• a plurality of terminals, for contacting contacts on a device, on the contactor support structure and located over a second area, the first area being larger than the second area;
• and
• a plurality of conductors connecting the terminals on the contactor support structure with the terminals of the first connector modules.

A cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• a plurality of first connector modules held by the cartridge frame, each having a body and a plurality of terminals and contacts on the body;
• a contactor support structure mounted to the cartridge frame;
• a plurality of terminals, for contacting contacts on a device, on the contactor support structure;
• and
• a plurality of flexible ribbons, each including a flexible outer layer and a conductor within the flexible outer layer, the conductors connecting the terminals on the contactor support structure with the terminals of the first connector modules.

A cartridge, comprising:

• a cartridge frame;
• a plurality of first connector modules held by the cartridge frame, each having a body and a plurality of terminals and contacts on the body, wherein the body of each respective first connector module has a plurality of gaps formed therein and the contacts of the first connector module are within the gaps;
• a contactor support structure mounted to the cartridge frame;
• a plurality of terminals, for contacting contacts on a device, on the contactor support structure;
• and
• a plurality of conductors connecting the terminals on the contactor support structure with the terminals of the first connector modules.