US 8,751,183 B2 · Tester having system maintenance compliance tool

Abstract

A tester module for automatic test equipment (ATE) includes test instruments for testing an integrated circuit device under test (DUT). A plurality of sensors include sensors coupled to or proximate to the test instruments for detecting a plurality of different maintenance triggers associated with the test instruments. A memory stores code including operating system code for controlling the test instruments and for implementing a system maintenance compliance tool. A processor is coupled to the test instruments the sensors and the memory. The processor runs the operating system code including the system maintenance compliance tool. The system maintenance compliance tool upon receiving notification of at least a first maintenance trigger automatically blocks the ATE being used for the testing. The system maintenance compliance tool can include a listing of needed maintenance actions associated with the maintenance triggers that when completed automatically releases the ATE to allow resumption of testing.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Automatic test equipment (ATE) for testing integrated circuit (IC) devices, comprising:

a load board attached to a test head for mounting at least one IC device under test (DUT) via a socket on said load board;
a tester module including:
test instruments operable for testing said DUT including communicating test signals to said DUT and receiving test data signals generated by said DUT responsive to said test signals through said test head via one or more electrical couplers;
a plurality of sensors including sensors coupled to or proximate to said test instruments for detecting a plurality of different maintenance triggers associated with one or more of said test instruments;
a memory that stores code including operating system code for controlling said test instruments and for implementing a system maintenance compliance tool, and
a processor coupled to said test instruments, said plurality of sensors, and said memory, wherein said processor runs said operating system code including said system maintenance compliance tool;
wherein said system maintenance compliance tool upon receiving notification of at least a first of said plurality of maintenance triggers automatically blocks said ATE being used for said testing.

4 more elements

A tester module for automatic test equipment (ATE) including a load board attached to a test head for mounting at least one integrated circuit device under test (DUT) via a socket on said load board, said tester module comprising:

test instruments operable for testing said DUT including communicating test signals to said DUT and receiving test data signals generated by said DUT responsive to said test signals through said test head via one or more electrical couplers;
a plurality of sensors including sensors coupled to or proximate to said test instruments for detecting a plurality of different maintenance triggers associated with one or more of said test instruments;
a memory that stores code including operating system code for controlling said test instruments and for implementing a system maintenance compliance tool, and
a processor coupled to said test instruments, said plurality of sensors and said memory, wherein said processor runs said operating system code including said system maintenance compliance tool;
wherein said system maintenance compliance tool upon receiving notification of at least a first of said plurality of maintenance triggers automatically blocks said ATE being used for said testing.

2 more elements

A method of testing at least one integrated circuit device under test (DUT) using automatic test equipment (ATE) including a tester module having test instruments operable for testing said DUT, comprising:

automatically sensing for a presence of at least a first maintenance trigger from a plurality of different maintenance triggers stored in a memory that stores code including operating system code associated with said ATE for controlling said test instruments and for implementing a system maintenance compliance tool,
receiving notification of at least a first of said plurality of maintenance triggers, and
automatically blocking said ATE being used for said testing responsive to said system maintenance compliance tool receiving said notification.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tester having system maintenance compliance tool

Life of this patent

Tester having system maintenance compliance tool

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15