US3654585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coordinate conversion for the testing of printed circuit boards
Assignee: DIT-MCO INTERNATIONAL Corp A DE CORP
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Filing: 1970-03-11
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Granted: 1972-04-04
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Expires: 1990-03-11
Abstract
Abstract An array of spring pin contact elements are arranged in a matrix on a uniform rectangular grid and, through a coordinate conversion interface, provide access to the random-arranged contact points of a single or multiple layer printed circuit board for the purpose of conducting electrical tests. The interface is a transition plate constructed in accordance with the artwork of a given board and comprises a baseplate provided with contact pads on one side having the same random arrangement as the contact points of the board, and corresponding contact pads on the opposite side each positioned at an individual contact location having the same planar coordinates as a particular one of the spring pin contact elements. The corresponding pads are electrically interconnected through the baseplate. The board and the interface are supported on a shiftable platen with the random-arranged pads engaging the contact points, the platen being spaced from and aligned with the spring pin elements such that, upon movement of the platen toward the spring pin elements, the pads on the opposite side of the interface are brought into engagement with the elements of like coordinates.
Inventors
- 👤 Price D Wickersham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/06; G01R1/067; G01R1/073; G01R1/07307; G01R1/07314; G01R1/07364; G01R1/07378
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
343 words
Apparatus for making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular planar pattern peculiar to a particular type of such boards or the like, said apparatus comprising: a set of contact elements including a number thereof at least as great as said multiplicity but arranged in a fixed, regular, planar, matrix pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set; a coordinate conversion interface comprising a baseplate of insulating material having a pair of opposed sides, a first array of contact pads on one of said sides including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar tO said type, and a second array of contact pads on the other of said sides including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array, each of the contact pads of first array being positioned for conductively engaging a corresponding contact point of said board or the like, each of the contact pads of said second array being positioned for conductively engaging a corresponding contact element; support means spaced from said contact elements and relatively shiftable with respect to the latter for receiving said circuit board or the like and said interface in superimposed relationship to each other with the contact pads of said first array in conductive engagement with corresponding contact points of said circuit board or the like and the contacts of said second array facing said contact elements; and means for relatively shifting said contact elements and said support means to move the contact pads of said second array into conductive engagement with the contact elements of like coordinates, whereby to establish electrical continuity between each of said contact points and an individual contact element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
343 words
Apparatus for making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular planar pattern peculiar to a particular type of such boards or the like, said apparatus comprising: a set of contact elements including a number thereof at least as great as said multiplicity but arranged in a fixed, regular, planar, matrix pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set; a coordinate conversion interface comprising a baseplate of insulating material having a pair of opposed sides, a first array of contact pads on one of said sides including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar tO said type, and a second array of contact pads on the other of said sides including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array, each of the contact pads of first array being positioned for conductively engaging a corresponding contact point of said board or the like, each of the contact pads of said second array being positioned for conductively engaging a corresponding contact element; support means spaced from said contact elements and relatively shiftable with respect to the latter for receiving said circuit board or the like and said interface in superimposed relationship to each other with the contact pads of said first array in conductive engagement with corresponding contact points of said circuit board or the like and the contacts of said second array facing said contact elements; and means for relatively shifting said contact elements and said support means to move the contact pads of said second array into conductive engagement with the contact elements of like coordinates, whereby to establish electrical continuity between each of said contact points and an individual contact element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said interface having means extending through said baseplate thereof electrically interconnecting corresponding contact pads of said first and second arrays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said interconnecting means including a transition land on said other side extending between each interconnected pair of contact pads which are substantially out of alignment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said matrix pattern arrangement disposing said contact elements on the intersections of a uniform rectangular grid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
342 words
A method of making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular planar pattern peculiar to a particular type of such boards or the like, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a set of connection locations including a number thereof at least as great as said multiplicity but arranged in a fixed, regular, planar, matrix pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set; b. disposing said board or the like in spaced relationship to said set of connection locations with the plane of said contact points parallel to the plane of said connection locations; c. interposing between said board or the like and said connection locations a pair of spaced, parallel, relatively fixed, planar arrays of contact pads with the planes of said arrays substantially parallel to the planes of said contact points and said connection locations, the first of said arrays including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar to said type, the second of said arrays of contact pads including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular matrix pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array; d. moving said arrays jointly to align the contact pads of said first array with said contact points and to align the contact pads of said second set with said connection locations; and e. relatively moving said board or the like, said arrays of contact pads and said connection locations in the direction perpendicular to their planes to bring the same together with each contact pad of said first array thereof electrically contacting a corresponding contact point of said board or the like and each contact pad of said second array thereof electrically contacting a corresponding connection location,
Claim 7
Independent Claim
342 words
A method of making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular planar pattern peculiar to a particular type of such boards or the like, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a set of connection locations including a number thereof at least as great as said multiplicity but arranged in a fixed, regular, planar, matrix pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set; b. disposing said board or the like in spaced relationship to said set of connection locations with the plane of said contact points parallel to the plane of said connection locations; c. interposing between said board or the like and said connection locations a pair of spaced, parallel, relatively fixed, planar arrays of contact pads with the planes of said arrays substantially parallel to the planes of said contact points and said connection locations, the first of said arrays including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar to said type, the second of said arrays of contact pads including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular matrix pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array; d. moving said arrays jointly to align the contact pads of said first array with said contact points and to align the contact pads of said second set with said connection locations; and e. relatively moving said board or the like, said arrays of contact pads and said connection locations in the direction perpendicular to their planes to bring the same together with each contact pad of said first array thereof electrically contacting a corresponding contact point of said board or the like and each contact pad of said second array thereof electrically contacting a corresponding connection location,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
303 words
A coordinate conversion interFace for use in making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular pattern peculiar to a particular type of such board or the like from a set of contact elements arranged in a fixed, regular, planar pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set, said interface comprising: a baseplate of insulating material having a pair of opposed, substantially parallel sides and adapted to be interposed between said board or the like and said set of contact elements, said baseplate having openings therein communicating said sides of the baseplate and extending through the contact pads of said first array; a first array of electrically conductive contact pads on one of said sides of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar to said type; a second array of electrically conductive contact pads on the other side of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array, the contact pads of said first array each being adapted to conductively engage a corresponding one of said contact points while each of the contact pads of said second array is conductively engaging a corresponding contact element; and means extending through said baseplate electrically interconnecting corresponding contact pads of said first and second arrays, said interconnecting means including an electrically conductive plating on the baseplate within said openings and electrically connected to respective contact pads of said first array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
303 words
A coordinate conversion interFace for use in making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular pattern peculiar to a particular type of such board or the like from a set of contact elements arranged in a fixed, regular, planar pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set, said interface comprising: a baseplate of insulating material having a pair of opposed, substantially parallel sides and adapted to be interposed between said board or the like and said set of contact elements, said baseplate having openings therein communicating said sides of the baseplate and extending through the contact pads of said first array; a first array of electrically conductive contact pads on one of said sides of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar to said type; a second array of electrically conductive contact pads on the other side of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array, the contact pads of said first array each being adapted to conductively engage a corresponding one of said contact points while each of the contact pads of said second array is conductively engaging a corresponding contact element; and means extending through said baseplate electrically interconnecting corresponding contact pads of said first and second arrays, said interconnecting means including an electrically conductive plating on the baseplate within said openings and electrically connected to respective contact pads of said first array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
287 words
A coordinate conversion interface for use in making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular pattern peculiar to a particular type of such board or the like from a set of contact elements arranged in a fixed, regular, planar pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set, said interface comprising: a baseplate of insulating material having a pair of opposed, substantially parallel sides and adapted to be interposed between said board or the like and said set of contact elements; a first array of electrically conductive contact pads on one of said sides of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar to said type; and a second array of electrically conductive contact pads on the other side of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array, said contact elements and conductive pads of said second array both being arranged in the same matrix pattern disposing said elements at the intersections of a uniform rectangular grid and the contact pads of said second array at the intersections of a similar uniform rectangular grid, the contact pads of said first array each being adapted to conductively engage a corresponding one of said contact points while each of the contact pads of said second array is conductively engaging a corresponding contact element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
287 words
A coordinate conversion interface for use in making temporary electrical connections to a multiplicity of electrical contact points on a printed circuit board or the like having said contact points arranged in an irregular pattern peculiar to a particular type of such board or the like from a set of contact elements arranged in a fixed, regular, planar pattern different from said pattern of said contact points and having predetermined coordinates in the plane of said set, said interface comprising: a baseplate of insulating material having a pair of opposed, substantially parallel sides and adapted to be interposed between said board or the like and said set of contact elements; a first array of electrically conductive contact pads on one of said sides of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of said contact points respectively and arranged in said irregular pattern peculiar to said type; and a second array of electrically conductive contact pads on the other side of said baseplate including a contact pad for each of the contact pads of said first array but arranged in said regular pattern, each of said contact pads of said first array being electrically coupled with a corresponding contact pad of said second array, said contact elements and conductive pads of said second array both being arranged in the same matrix pattern disposing said elements at the intersections of a uniform rectangular grid and the contact pads of said second array at the intersections of a similar uniform rectangular grid, the contact pads of said first array each being adapted to conductively engage a corresponding one of said contact points while each of the contact pads of said second array is conductively engaging a corresponding contact element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |