US5931048A — Manipulator for automatic test equipment test head

Claim 1

Independent Claim 75 words

A manipulator for use in a test system of the type having a tester body, a test head and a cable connecting the tester body to the test head, comprising: a) a telescoping shaft having a distal portion; b) a rotating member attached to the shaft at its distal portion, said rotating member adapted to have a test head coupled thereto; and c) a clamp, adapted to hold the cable, coupled to the rotating member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 75 words

A manipulator for use in a test system of the type having a tester body, a test head and a cable connecting the tester body to the test head, comprising: a) a telescoping shaft having a distal portion; b) a rotating member attached to the shaft at its distal portion, said rotating member adapted to have a test head coupled thereto; and c) a clamp, adapted to hold the cable, coupled to the rotating member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The manipulator of claim 1 wherein the clamp extends from the rotating member a distance sufficient to hold the cable away from the telescoping shaft as the rotating member is rotated through an angle of at least 90°.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The manipulator of claim 1 wherein the clamp extends from the rotating member a distance sufficient to hold the cable away from the telescoping shaft as the rotating member is rotated through an angle of at least 180°.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The manipulator of claim 1 wherein the clamp extends from the rotating member a distance sufficient to hold the cable away from the telescoping shaft as the rotating member is rotated through an angle of at least 270°.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 170 words

A manipulator for a test head which is connected to one end of a cable comprising: a) means for supporting the test head and for allowing fine motion of the test head in at least one direction, the means for supporting comprising i) a pair of arms; ii) a plurality of carriages, each of the carriages slidably attached to one of the arms; and iii) wherein the test head is connected to each of the plurality of carriages; b) a clamp, coupled to the means for supporting the test head, said clamp connected to the cable at a point spaced from the end of the cable connected to the test head by a distance which is greater than the distance between the clamp and the test head; and c) means, coupled to the means for supporting the test head, for allowing coarse motion of the test head in at least one direction; d) wherein the test head is connected to at least one of the carriages with a spherical joint.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 170 words

A manipulator for a test head which is connected to one end of a cable comprising: a) means for supporting the test head and for allowing fine motion of the test head in at least one direction, the means for supporting comprising i) a pair of arms; ii) a plurality of carriages, each of the carriages slidably attached to one of the arms; and iii) wherein the test head is connected to each of the plurality of carriages; b) a clamp, coupled to the means for supporting the test head, said clamp connected to the cable at a point spaced from the end of the cable connected to the test head by a distance which is greater than the distance between the clamp and the test head; and c) means, coupled to the means for supporting the test head, for allowing coarse motion of the test head in at least one direction; d) wherein the test head is connected to at least one of the carriages with a spherical joint.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The manipulator of claim 5 wherein the test head is mounted to at least one of the carriages with a joint which allows rotation of the test head in the plane defined by the arms.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The manipulator of claim 5 additionally comprising means for slidably moving the carriages relative to the arms in the same direction or in opposite directions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The manipulator of claim 5 wherein the means for allowing course motion comprises a) a vertical shaft; and b) a rotating member rotatably attached to the vertical shaft, wherein the means for holding the test head is connected to the rotating member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The manipulator of claim 8 wherein the rotating member rotates about an axis perpendicular to the vertical shaft.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The manipulator of claim 9 wherein the clamp is attached to the rotating member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The manipulator of claim 10 wherein the vertical shaft comprises a telescoping vertical shaft and the clamp extends above the telescoping vertical shaft in at least one position of the rotating member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The manipulator of claim 8 wherein the means for allowing course motion additionally comprises a base, and wherein the vertical shaft is coupled to the base through a rotary joint.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The manipulator of claim 12 wherein the means for allowing course motion additionally comprises a) a support member coupled to the vertical shaft through said rotary joint; and b) a linear bearing coupling the support member to the base.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The manipulator of claim 5 wherein the test head is mounted to the carriages at joints which rotate about the axis defined by the points at which the test head is attached to the carriages.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 100 words

A manipulator for a test head comprising: a) a base; b) a vertical shaft mounted to the base; c) a horizontal member extending from the vertical shaft, the horizontal member being movable relative to the base, the horizontal member adapted for supporting the test head; and d) at least one means for allowing compliant motion of the test head e) means for driving the test head in a vertical direction and wherein the means for allowing compliant motion comprises a compliant mounting between the means for driving and the base; and f) wherein the compliant mount comprises an air cylinder.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 100 words

A manipulator for a test head comprising: a) a base; b) a vertical shaft mounted to the base; c) a horizontal member extending from the vertical shaft, the horizontal member being movable relative to the base, the horizontal member adapted for supporting the test head; and d) at least one means for allowing compliant motion of the test head e) means for driving the test head in a vertical direction and wherein the means for allowing compliant motion comprises a compliant mounting between the means for driving and the base; and f) wherein the compliant mount comprises an air cylinder.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 85 words

A manipulator for a test head comprising: a) a telescoping vertical shaft; b) a support member; c) a rotary bearing connected to the telescoping vertical shaft and the support member; and d) a cradle assembly comprising means for supporting the test head at two points, which points can be moved in the same direction to allow translation of the test head in a plane including the two points and can be moved in opposite directions to allow rotation in the plane including the two points.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 85 words

A manipulator for a test head comprising: a) a telescoping vertical shaft; b) a support member; c) a rotary bearing connected to the telescoping vertical shaft and the support member; and d) a cradle assembly comprising means for supporting the test head at two points, which points can be moved in the same direction to allow translation of the test head in a plane including the two points and can be moved in opposite directions to allow rotation in the plane including the two points.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

The manipulator of claim 16 wherein the means for supporting the test head at two point comprises: a) two spherical joints, each slidably mounted to the cradle assembly; and b) two shafts, each extending from the test head at one of the two points and engaging one of the spherical joints.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The manipulator of claim 17 wherein the means for supporting additionally comprises two motors mounted to the cradle assembly and coupled to the spherical joints.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 11 words

The manipulator of claim 18 wherein the motors comprise stepper motors.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

A manipulator for a test head comprising: a) a base; b) a vertical shaft mounted to the base; c) a horizontal member extending from the vertical shaft, the horizontal member being movable relative to the base, the horizontal member adapted for supporting the test head; and d) a compliant member disposed between the base and the vertical shaft.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 58 words

A manipulator for a test head comprising: a) a base; b) a vertical shaft mounted to the base; c) a horizontal member extending from the vertical shaft, the horizontal member being movable relative to the base, the horizontal member adapted for supporting the test head; and d) a compliant member disposed between the base and the vertical shaft.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The manipulator of claim 20 additionally comprising means for driving the test head in a vertical direction and wherein the compliant member comprises a compliant mounting between the means for driving and the base.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The manipulator of claim 20 wherein the means for compliant motion comprises a compliant rotary joint between the horizontal member and the vertical shaft.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 65 words

The manipulator of claim 22 wherein the compliant member comprises: a) a first geared segment mounted to the vertical shaft; b) a second geared segment engaging the first geared segment; c) a shaft holding the second geared element; and d) a member fixedly attached to the shaft and projecting perpendicular to the shaft; and e) a spring mounting the perpendicular member to the horizontal member.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The manipulator of claim 23 wherein the spring mounting the perpendicular member allows movement of the vertical member through an arc about the shaft.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 22 words

The manipulator of claim 23 wherein the first gear segment has a perimeter larger than the perimeter of the second gear segment.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The manipulator of claim 23 wherein gear ratio of the first gear segment to the second gear segment is in excess of 5 to 1.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-08-02	2003-02-01	2003-08-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-08-02	2007-02-01	2007-08-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-08-02	2011-02-01	2011-08-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Manipulator for automatic test equipment test head

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