US4827208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit testers
Assignee: DIAGNOSYS Ltd
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Filing: 1987-02-12
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Granted: 1989-05-02
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Expires: 2007-02-12
Abstract
Abstract In circuit testers, notably automatic test equipment for the in circuit testing of digital devices, overheating damage can result if outputs are repeatedly "overdriven", that is, while applying a test input to a first device, an output of a second connected device is forced into a state contrary to that it would normally adopt. Damage is avoided by enforcing a cooling interval between overdriving tests based upon a list of parameters representative of the overdriven device and its environment. In order to reduce the overall test time, a parameter is based on a measurement derived from a circuit of the type under test. A first test results in device heating to a value. A cooling interval is enforced so that a subsequent test which results in further heating of the device, may be made without exceeding device maximum allowable temperature Tmax.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin J. Oliver
- 👤 Kevin E. Brazier
- 👤 Stephen R. Boote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/22; G06F11/2273; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/28; G01R31/317; G01R31/3181; G01R31/319; G01R31/31903; G01R31/31915
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An improved method of testing devices of a circuit comprising interconnected devices to be tested on a circuit board by a schedule of tests, each test comprising applying a pattern of test signals to the circuit sufficient to test a device, and assessing the response thereto, the improvement comprising the steps of: identifying tests during which an output of an interconnected device is overdriven; enforcing a maximum test duration for such tests such that said interconnected device is not damaged; identifying tests during which an output of an interconnected device is overdriven repeatedly; establishing a list of test parameters for such a test, said parameter list being chosen so that safe limits for overdriving are definable therefrom; performing a measurement on a circuit of the type under test of a characteristic of an interconnected device of that circuit and deriving at least one of the test parameters of said test parameter list therefrom; establishing for said test from said test parameter list in accordance with said safe limits an interval to be applied before a subsequent overdriving test can be safely performed on a previously overdriven device and delaying said subsequent test for at least said interval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
An improved method of testing devices of a circuit comprising interconnected devices to be tested on a circuit board by a schedule of tests, each test comprising applying a pattern of test signals to the circuit sufficient to test a device, and assessing the response thereto, the improvement comprising the steps of: identifying tests during which an output of an interconnected device is overdriven; enforcing a maximum test duration for such tests such that said interconnected device is not damaged; identifying tests during which an output of an interconnected device is overdriven repeatedly; establishing a list of test parameters for such a test, said parameter list being chosen so that safe limits for overdriving are definable therefrom; performing a measurement on a circuit of the type under test of a characteristic of an interconnected device of that circuit and deriving at least one of the test parameters of said test parameter list therefrom; establishing for said test from said test parameter list in accordance with said safe limits an interval to be applied before a subsequent overdriving test can be safely performed on a previously overdriven device and delaying said subsequent test for at least said interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 1 and including the step of performing said measurement of said characteristic on the circuit under test.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 2 and including the step of performing said measurement as part of a preceding test.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said step of performing a measurement comprises measuring a test duration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 1 and including selecting between a first cooling interval and a second cooling interval of different length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 5 and including the step of selecting a predicted cooling interval as said first cooling interval whenever a test duration is less than or equal to a predicted test duration, and an interval being that which said overdriven device requires to cool from its absolute maximum temperature to a temperature within safe limits for said subsequent overdriving test as said second interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of including an overdriving voltage as a test parameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 7 and wherein said step of performing a measurement comprises measuring an overdriving voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 7 and including the steps of establishing said overdriving voltage by reducing said voltage on a known to be good board until a test failure occurs and selecting a minimum test passing voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 9 and including the step of, in the event of failure of an actual test, applying an increased overdriving voltage in a repeat test.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said step of performing a measurement comprises measuring an overdriving current.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of testing devices as claimed in claim 11 and including the step of computing total overdriving current for a device from summation of individually measured overdriving currents for the overdriven outputs of said device.
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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) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-10-31 | 1993-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-01 | 1996-10-31 | 1997-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-01 | 2000-10-31 | 2001-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |