EP0526996A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Test head manipulator
Assignee: InTest Corp
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Filing: 1992-07-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for positioning an electronic test head with respect to an electronic device handler. The positioner assembly includes separate locks which allow the test head to move vertically while preventing rotation of the test head about the main shaft. Thus, the test head can be aligned with the device handler, moved vertically away from the device handler while adjustments are made, and easily realigned with the device handler after adjustments have been completed. Alternatively, the separate locks allow the test head to rotate about the main shaft while preventing movement along the main shaft. Thus, the test head can be aligned with the device handler, rotated about the main shaft and away from the device handler while adjustments are made, and easily realigned with the device handler after adjustments have been completed. An index pin allows the test head to be rotated from an initial position to a temporary position and then rotated from the temporary position back to the initial position without requiring realignment of the test head relative to the device handler. The system includes a projected cradle assembly which allows the heavy test head to be projected above or below a physically large handler while still pivoting the load of the test head with its cable assembly at its center of gravity.
Inventors
- 👤 Alyn R. Holt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:49
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/2851; G01R31/2886; G01R31/2887; B; B23; B23Q; B23Q1/00; B23Q1/25; B23Q1/44; B23Q1/48; B23Q1/4828; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/10; B25J9/1005; B25J9/101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head for docking and undocking with an electronic device handler comprising: a support column having a main shaft; a tube disposed about the main shaft and movable along the main shaft; tube locking means for releasably preventing movement of the tube along the shaft; an upper arm assembly having a member for pivoting about the tube; stationary support means secured to the tube and having a surface for supporting the upper arm assembly and over which the upper arm assembly slides as it pivots about the tube; and the upper arm assembly having upper arm locking means for releasably locking the upper arm assembly to the support means to prevent pivoting of the upper arm unit about the tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head for docking and undocking with an electronic device handler comprising: a support column having a main shaft; a tube disposed about the main shaft and movable along the main shaft; tube locking means for preventing movement of the tube along the main shaft; an upper arm assembly having a cylindrical member for pivoting about the tube; shoulder means pivotable about the tube and for slidably engaging and supporting the upper arm assembly as the upper arm assembly pivots about the tube; upper arm locking means for releasably locking the upper arm assembly to the shoulder means to prevent pivoting of the upper arm assembly relative to the shoulder means; lower support means secured to the tube and precluded from rotation for slidably engaging and supporting the shoulder means as it pivots about the tube; and shoulder locking means for releasably locking the shoulder means to the lower support means to prevent pivoting of the shoulder means relative to the lower support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising: a retainer ring for supporting said stationary support means; and means for securing said retainer ring to said main shaft at one of a plurality of locations along said main shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said upper arm assembly and stationary support means each include an opening, and wherein said upper arm locking means comprises: a locking member having a first end and a second threaded end, said locking member positioned in said upper arm assembly opening and said stationary support means opening, said locking member extending from above said upper arm assembly to below said shoulder means; a lock pad having a threaded opening and located below said stationary support means; said second locking member end extending into and engaging said lock pad threaded opening; said locking member including a shoulder located above said shoulder means; wherein rotation of said locking member causes said lock pad and said shoulder to be drawn towards said stationary support means, thereby causing friction against said shoulder means and preventing movement of said upper arm assembly relative to said shoulder means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 2, further comprising: a retainer ring for supporting said lower support means; and means for securing said retainer ring to said main shaft at one of a plurality of locations along said main shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said upper arm assembly and said shoulder means each include an opening, and wherein said upper arm locking means comprises: a locking member having a first end and a second threaded end, said locking member positioned in said upper arm assembly opening and said shoulder means opening, said locking member extending from above said upper arm assembly to below said shoulder means; a lock pad having a threaded opening and located below said shoulder means, said second locking member end extending into and engaging said lock pad threaded opening; said locking member including a shoulder located above said shoulder means; wherein rotation of said locking member causes said lock pad and said shoulder to be drawn towards said shoulder means, thereby causing friction against said shoulder means and preventing movement of said upper arm assembly relative to said shoulder means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said shoulder means includes a plurality of openings and said lower support means includes an opening, said locking means comprising: a shaft; means for inserting and maintaining said shaft into one of said plurality of openings in said shoulder means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 7, wherein said shaft is maintained in said opening in said lower support means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
147 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head for docking and undocking with an electronic device handler in accordance with claims 1 or 2, said system including a projected cradle assembly coupled to said upper arm assembly for providing rotation of said electronic test head about a center of gravity, said projected cradle assembly comprising: an outer cradle back having an opening, a first end and a second end; an inner cradle back having a first end and a second end, said inner cradle back extending through said opening and coupled to said outer cradle back; said inner cradle back pivotable about an axis located near the second end of said outer cradle back and the second end of said inner cradle back; and means for coupling said test head to said inner cradle back for pivotable movement of said test head about said center of gravity.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
132 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said main shaft defines a first vertical axis and said upper arm assembly defines a second vertical axis spaced from said first vertical axis, said system further comprising: (a) a forearm: having means for mounting said forearm to said upper arm assembly for pivotal movement about said second vertical axis; defining a third vertical axis; (b) a wrist housing: having means for mounting said wrist housing to said forearm for pivotal movement about said third vertical axis; defining a horizontal axis; (c) a horizontal wrist shaft: having means for mounting said horizontal wrist shaft to said wrist housing for pivotal movement about said horizontal axis; having means for coupling said test head to said horizontal wrist shaft.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
118 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said main shaft defines a first vertical axis and said upper arm assembly defines a second vertical axis spaced from said first vertical axis, said system further comprising: (a) a forearm having means for mounting said forearm to said upper arm assembly for pivotal movement about said second vertical axis; defining a horizontal forearm axis; (b) a cradle assembly having means for mounting said cradle assembly to said forearm for pivotal movement about said horizontal forearm axis; having horizontal linear motion guide means for providing horizontal movement of the electronic test head along a first horizontal axis with respect to the main shaft.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head according to claims 1 or 2, said system further comprising: (a) first horizontal linear motion guide means, coupled to said upper arm assembly, for providing horizontal movement of the electronic test head along a second horizontal axis with respect to the main shaft; (b) a cradle assembly, coupled to said first horizontal linear motion guide means, and having second horizontal linear motion guide means for providing horizontal movement of the electronic test head along a third horizontal axis with respect to the first horizontal linear motion guide means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head according to claim 10, further comprising: (a) first locking means for releasably preventing pivotal movement of said forearm about said second vertical axis when said first locking means is locked; (b) second locking means for releasably preventing pivotal movement of said wrist housing about said third vertical axis when said second locking means is locked; (c) third locking means for releasably preventing pivotal movement of said horizontal wrist shaft about said horizontal axis when said third locking means is locked; wherein at least one of said tube locking means, said upper arm locking means, said first locking means, said second locking means and said third locking means are locked when said electronic test head is undocked with said electronic device handler; and wherein at least one of said tube locking means, said upper arm locking means, said first locking means, said second locking means and said third locking means are unlocked when said electronic test head is docked with said electronic device handler.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head according to claim 11, further comprising: (a) first locking means for releasably preventing pivotal movement of said forearm about said second vertical axis when said first locking means is locked; (b) second locking means for releasably preventing pivotable movement of said cradle about said horizontal forearm axis when said first locking means is locked; (c) third locking means for releasably preventing horizontal movement of said electronic test head along said horizontal axis when said third locking means is locked; wherein at least one of said tube locking means, said upper arm locking means, said first locking means, said second locking means, and said third locking means are locked when said electronic test head is undocked with said electronic device handler; and wherein at least one of said tube locking means, said upper arm locking means, said first locking means, said second locking means and said third locking means are unlocked when said electronic test head is docked with said electronic device handler.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
141 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head according to claim 12, further comprising: (a) first locking means for releasably preventing horizontal movement of said electronic test head along said second horizontal axis when said first locking means is locked; (b) second locking means for releasably preventing horizontal movement of said electronic test head along said third horizontal axis when said second locking means is locked; wherein at least one of said tube locking means, said upper arm locking means, said first locking means, and said second locking means are locked when said electronic test head is undocked with said electronic device handler; and wherein at least one of said tube locking means, said upper arm locking means, said first locking means, and said second locking means are unlocked when said electronic test head is docked with said electronic device handler.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
168 words
A system for positioning an electronic test head for docking and undocking with an electronic device handler and for providing rotation of said electronic test head about a center of gravity, said system comprising: a support column; a projected cradle assembly coupled to said support column, said projected cradle assembly comprising: an outer cradle back having a first end and a second end; an inner cradle back having a first end and a second end, said inner cradle back extending through said opening and coupled to said outer cradle back; at least a part of said inner cradle back located within said outer cradle back; said inner cradle back having a first end and a second end; said inner cradle back pivotable about an axis located near the second end of said outer cradle back and the second end of said inner cradle back; and means for coupling said test head to said inner cradle back for pivotable movement of said test head about said center of gravity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said outer cradle back is tapered from said first end to said second end.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said inner cradle back is tapered from said second end to said first end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said projected cradle assembly further comprises means for fixing the position of said inner cradle back about said axis.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 16, wherein a cradle side is interposed between said inner cradle back and said means for coupling said test head to said inner cradle back.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said axis is defined by a shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said cradle side is coupled to said inner cradle back near said first end of said inner cradle back.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 20, wherein said cradle side is coupled to said inner cradle back at a substantially right angle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said support column is housed within an enclosure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said support column has a main shaft, said system further comprising: a tube disposed about the main shaft and movable along the main shaft; tube locking means for releasably preventing movement of the tube along the shaft; an upper arm assembly having a member for pivoting about the tube; stationary support means secured to the tube and having a surface for supporting the upper arm assembly and over which the upper arm assembly slides as it pivots about the tube; and the upper arm assembly having upper arm locking means for releasably locking the upper arm assembly to the support means to prevent pivoting of the upper arm unit about the tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
162 words
The system of claim 16, wherein said support column has a main shaft, said system further comprising: a tube disposed about the main shaft and movable along the main shaft; tube locking means for preventing movement of the tube along the main shaft; an upper arm assembly having a cylindrical member for pivoting about the tube; shoulder means pivotable about the tube and for slidably engaging and supporting the upper arm assembly as the upper arm assembly pivots about the tube; upper arm locking means for releasably locking the upper arm assembly to the shoulder means to prevent pivoting of the upper arm assembly relative to the shoulder means; lower support means secured to the tube and precluded from rotation for slidably engaging and supporting the shoulder means as it pivots about the tube; and shoulder locking means for releasably locking the shoulder means to the lower support means to prevent pivoting of the shoulder means relative to the lower support means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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