Liquid temperature controlled test chamber and transport apparatus for electrical circuit assemblies

Abstract

Abstract AN ENVIRONMENTAL TEST CHAMBER AND TRANSPORT APPARATUS IS DISCLOSED FOR AUTOMATICALLY TESTING A PLURALITY OF PACKAGE INTEGRATED CIRCUITS. A PLURALITY OF PACKAGED NTEGRATED CIRCUITS ARE FED FROM A LOADED INPUT MAGAZINE ONTO A TRANSPORT TAPE WHICH MOVES INTO A NON-CONDUCTIVE, TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED, LIQUID BATH AND THEN INTO A TEST ASSEMBLY WHICH IS SUBMERGED IN THE BATH. AS EACH PACKAGED INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MOVES INTO THE TEST ASSEMBLY, ITS PRESENCE IS DETECTED AND, WHEN IT IS PROPERLY POSITIONED, MOVEMENT OF THE TRANSPORT TAPE STOPPED. NEXT, THE PARTICULAR PACKAGED INTEGRATED CIRCUIT IN THE TEST ASSEMBLY IS REMOVED FROM THE TRANSPORT TAPE AND PRESSED AGAINST A TEST SOCKET HAVING A PLURALITY OF PROTRUDING CONTACTS WHICH ENGAGE THE EXPOSED TERMINALS OF THE PACKAGED INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WHEREUPON A SERIES OF PROGRAMMED TESTS ARE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE THE ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PACKAGED INTEGRATED CIRCUITS. WHEN THE TESTS ARE COMPLETED, THE PACKAGED INTEGRATED CIRCUIT IS PLACED BACK ON THE TRANSPORT TAPE WHEREUPON MOVEMENT OF THE TRANSPORT TAPE AGAIN COMMENCES WHICH CARRIES THE PACKAGED INTEGRATED CIRCUITS OUT OF THE BATH AND FEEDS THEM INTO AN OUTPUT MAGAZINE.

Inventors

• 👤 Robert B Ryan
• 👤 August A Zachmeier
• 👤 Hans D Heyck
• 👤 Robert E Garman

Bibliographic Details