Electronic test head manipulator

Claim 2

A positioner for docking and undocking an electronic test head with a device handler comprising: head rotation means for rotating said electronic test head about a first axis; cradle back means, coupled to said head rotation means, for rotating said electronic test head about a second axis orthogonal to said first axis; and vertical motion means, including a plurality of linkage arm structures coupled to and situated above said cradle back means; a first one of said plurality of linkage arm structures coupled to a second one of said plurality of linkage arm structures to form a scissor shaped member of increasable and decreasable length for moving said electronic test head up and down along said second axis.

Claim 3

A positioner according to claim 1, further comprising first horizontal motion means, coupled to the head rotation means, for moving said electronic test head along said first axis.

Claim 4

A positioner according to claim 3, wherein said first horizontal motion means includes: a) a carriage base coupled to said head rotation means, said carriage base including a first bearing block having a first opening and a second bearing block having a second opening; b) a first shaft and a second shaft, said first shaft and said second shaft each coupled to said vertical motion means; c) said first shaft extending through said first opening of said first bearing block and said second shaft extending through said second opening of said second bearing block so that said electronic test head moves along said first axis by said carriage base sliding along said first shaft and said second shaft.

Claim 5

A positioner according to claim 1, further including horizontal motion means for moving said electronic test head along a third axis orthogonal to both said first axis and said second axis, said horizontal motion means comprising: a) a wrist block coupled to said head rotation means; b) a carriage base coupled to said vertical motion means, said carriage base including a first carriage wall having a third opening and a second carriage wall having a fourth opening; c) shaft means including at least one shaft extending from said wrist block at opposite ends thereof, said shaft means extending through said third opening of said first carriage wall and through said fourth opening of said second carriage wall; d) locking means, coupled to said carriage base, for selectively preventing movement of said electronic test head along said third axis.

Claim 6

A positioner according to claim 1, further including horizontal motion means for moving said electronic test head about a third axis orthogonal to both said first axis and said second axis, said horizontal motion means comprising: a) a wrist block coupled to said head rotation means; b) a carriage base coupled to said vertical motion means, said carriage base including a first carriage wall having a third opening and a second carriage wall having a fourth opening; c) shaft means including at least one shaft extending from said wrist block at opposite ends thereof, said shaft means extending through said third opening of said first carriage wall and through said fourth opening of said second carriage wall; d) locking means, coupled to said carriage basem for selectively preventing movement of said electronic test head about said third axis.

Claim 7

A positioner according to claim 2, further compising first horizontal motion means, coupled to the head rotation means, for moving said electronic test head along said first axis.

Claim 8

A postioner according to claim 7, wherein said first horizontal motion means includes: a) a carriage base coupled to said head rotation means, said carriage base including a first bearing block having a first opening and a second bearing block having a second opening; b) a first shaft and a second shaft, said first shaft and said second shaft each coupled to said vertical motion means; c) said first shaft extending through said first opening of said first bearing block and said second shaft extending through said second opening of said second bearing block so that said electronic test head moves along said first axis by said carriage base sliding along said first shaft and said second shaft.

Claim 9

A positioner according to claim 2, further including horizontal motion means for moving said electronic test head along a third axis orthogonal to both said first axis and said second axis, said horizontal motion means comprising: a) a wrist block coupled to said head rotation means; b) a carriage base coupled to said vertical motion means, said carriage base including a first carriage wall having a third opening and a second carriage wall having a fourth opening; c) shaft means including at least one shaft extending from said wrist block at opposite ends thereof, said shaft means extending through said third opening of said first carriage wall and through said fourth opening of said second carriage wall; d) locking means, coupled to said carriage base, for selectively preventing movement of said electronic test head along said third axis.

Claim 10

A positioner according to claim 2, further including horizontal motion means for moving said electronic test head about a third axis orthogonal to both said first axis and said second axis, said horizontal motion means comprising: a) a wrist block coupled to said head rotation means; b) a carriage base coupled to said vertical motion means, said carriage base including a first carriage wall having a third opening and a second carriage wall having a fourth opening; c) shaft means including at least one shaft extending from said wrist block at opposite ends thereof, said shaft means extending through said third opening of said first carriage wall and through said fourth opening of said second carriage wall; d) locking means, coupled to said carriage base, for selectively preventing movement of said electronic test head along said third axis.