US4866374A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contactor assembly for testing integrated circuits
Assignee: Daymarc Corp
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Filing: 1987-02-02
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Granted: 1989-09-12
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Expires: 2007-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A contactor assembly interconnects a surface mount integrated circuit device under test (DUT) with a test circuit. The assembly includes a main contact block with a central opening, a plug that mounts in the opening, and contact assemblies carried on the plug that each have contacts, a ground plane, and an insulating layer therebetween. Alignment pins locate the contact assemblies on the plug and other pins locate the plug within the contact block opening. The upper end of the contacts, cooperating with the plug, project freely toward a contact plane where they connect with associated pins of the DUT. The lower end of the plug simulates the DUT for insertion into a socket on the test circuit. Laterally adjustable conductive clips connect each ground plane to a ground member connected to the test circuit and located around the socket. In the preferred form, a rectangular frame of an insulating material surrounds the DUT-simulating portion of the plug and clamps pairs of these adjustable clips, one of which resiliently abuts the lower end of the ground plane of the associated contact assembly, and the other of which resiliently bears against the ground member.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas J. Cedrone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R1/00; G01R1/02; G01R1/04; G01R1/0408; G01R1/0433; H; H05; H05K; H05K13/00; H05K13/08; H05K13/082; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A contactor assembly for electrically connecting pins of an electronic device under test (DUT) at a contact plane to a test circuit separated from the contact plane along a first direction perpendicular to the contact plane when the DUT is positioned over the contactor assembly at the contact plane generally orthogonal to the first direction, the DUT moving under automatic control and at a high rate along said first direction to said contact plane comprising: a block formed of an insulating material that has a central opening and extends in a lateral plane generally orthogonal to the first direction, a plug formed of an insulating material having a first end spaced closely from said DUT, a second end projecting from said block adjacent said circuit, said plug positioned in said central opening of said block, and at least one contact assembly mounted generally in said central opening and comprising a plurality of generally parallel conductive contacts and at least one layer of insulating material, said contacts having (i) a first end projecting above said plug and angled to project toward an associated pin of said DUT and positioned to deflect resiliently generally along said first direction when in connection with an associated pin of said DUT at the contact plane and (ii) a second end in electrical connection with said test circuit at said plug second end, said block and plug being dimensioned and positioned to avoid mechanical interaction with said pins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A contactor assembly for electrically connecting pins of an electronic device under test (DUT) at a contact plane to a test circuit separated from the contact plane along a first direction perpendicular to the contact plane when the DUT is positioned over the contactor assembly at the contact plane generally orthogonal to the first direction, the DUT moving under automatic control and at a high rate along said first direction to said contact plane comprising: a block formed of an insulating material that has a central opening and extends in a lateral plane generally orthogonal to the first direction, a plug formed of an insulating material having a first end spaced closely from said DUT, a second end projecting from said block adjacent said circuit, said plug positioned in said central opening of said block, and at least one contact assembly mounted generally in said central opening and comprising a plurality of generally parallel conductive contacts and at least one layer of insulating material, said contacts having (i) a first end projecting above said plug and angled to project toward an associated pin of said DUT and positioned to deflect resiliently generally along said first direction when in connection with an associated pin of said DUT at the contact plane and (ii) a second end in electrical connection with said test circuit at said plug second end, said block and plug being dimensioned and positioned to avoid mechanical interaction with said pins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The contactor assembly of claim 1 wherein said contact assembly includes a ground plane extending in a parallel spaced relationship with said contacts over a substantial portion of their length to produce a characteristic impedance in said contacts to fast rising signals carried by said contacts between said first and second ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The contactor assembly of claim 1 or 2 further comprising alignment means that mount and locate said contact assembly with respect to said plug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The contactor assembly of claim 1 or 2 wherein said plug second end has a recess, said contact second ends extend into said recess and further comprising a retainer matingly received in said recess overlying at least a portion of said second contact ends and means for replaceably securing said retainer in said recess.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The contactor assembly of claims 1 or 2 wherein said second plug end is configured to simulate the DUT.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The contactor assembly of claim 1 or 2 further comprising means for aligning said plug with respect to said block when said plug is inserted into said central opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The contactor assembly of claims 1 or 2 further comprising means for resiliently mounting an electronic device in electrical connection with said DUT at one or more selected pins where said electronic device is in close physical proximity to said DUT during testing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The contactor assembly of claim 7 wherein said resilient mounting means comprises at least two arms formed of a conductive material, each arm having a first portion in electrical connection with a selected one of said pins and a second portion in electrical connection with said electronic device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The contactor assembly of claim 8 wherein said second arm portion has a width greater than said first arm portion to reduce the inductive reactance of said arm to high frequency components of an electrical signal carried by said arm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The contactor assembly of claim 2 further comprising an electronic device mounted between said first angled end of one of said contacts and said ground plane to de-couple said pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The contactor assembly of claim 2 further comprising solderless means for adjustably connecting said ground plane to a ground member on said test circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The contactor assembly of claim 11 wherein said adjustable connecting means comprises conductive clip means moveable generally parallel to said block and providing a conductive path between said ground plane and said ground member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The contactor assembly of claim 12 wherein said clip means comprises a first clip that has a first edge resiliently biased by said first clip into electrical connection with said ground plane and a second clip in a generally parallel mating relationship with said first clip and having a first edge resiliently biased into electrical connection with said ground member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The contactor assembly of claim 11 or 13 wherein said ground member is a conductive strip mounted on said test circuit about said socket and in electrical connection with ground for said circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The contactor assembly of claim 12 or 13 further comprising an insulating frame that surrounds said second plug end and overlies a central portion of said clip means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The contactor assembly of claim 15 further comprising means for securing said frame to said block to clamp said clip means in a preselected position with respect to said ground plane and said ground member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a contactor assembly for electrically connecting pins of an electronic device under test (DUT) to a test circuit separated from a contact plane along a first direction, the contactor assembly having a plurality of conductive contacts that flex resiliently between a first position where said contacts are clear of said pins and a second position where said contacts are in electrical connection with an associated one of said pins at a free end of said contact, the improvement comprising means for mounting an electronic circuit device in a closely spaced relationship to the DUT when it is at the contact plane during test and in electrical connection with at least a pair of selected pins of the DUT, comprising: at least two arms formed of conductive, resilient sheet material each having (i) a relatively narrow arm portion secured continuously at a point adjacent said free contact end to one of the contacts when the contact is in both said first and said second positions and (ii) a broad arm portion extending away from the contact, said broad arm portions being continuously electrically connected to said electronic device, the resilience of said arms accommodating the flexural movement of said contacts between said first and second positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a contactor assembly for electrically connecting pins of an electronic device under test (DUT) to a test circuit separated from a contact plane along a first direction, the contactor assembly having a plurality of conductive contacts that flex resiliently between a first position where said contacts are clear of said pins and a second position where said contacts are in electrical connection with an associated one of said pins at a free end of said contact, the improvement comprising means for mounting an electronic circuit device in a closely spaced relationship to the DUT when it is at the contact plane during test and in electrical connection with at least a pair of selected pins of the DUT, comprising: at least two arms formed of conductive, resilient sheet material each having (i) a relatively narrow arm portion secured continuously at a point adjacent said free contact end to one of the contacts when the contact is in both said first and said second positions and (ii) a broad arm portion extending away from the contact, said broad arm portions being continuously electrically connected to said electronic device, the resilience of said arms accommodating the flexural movement of said contacts between said first and second positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The mounting means of claim 17 wherein said broad arm portion widens rapidly from said narrow arm portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The mounting means of claim 17 wherein said narrow arm portion is angled with respect to said broad arm portion to position the electronic device close to the DUT throughout a flexure of the contacts along the first direction.
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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) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |