Intel Corporation

Chanh Le

Say Cheong Gan

Teik Sean Toh

Thomas A Repko

Douglas P Kreager

Frank W Joyce

Yoong Li Liew

An apparatus and method for automatically testing circuit boards, such as computer system boards and the like. The circuit board device under test (DUT) is loaded into an automated test apparatus (tester), which includes a mechanism for automatically connecting test electronics to various DUT circuitry and I/O ports via corresponding connectors on the DUT. A type of DUT is identified, and a corresponding set of tests are performed to verify the operation of the DUT. Appropriate power signals and sequencing are also applied to the DUT, as defined by it type. Data logging is performed to log the results of the testing. The apparatus includes replaceable probe/connector plates that are DUT-type specific and corresponding universal electronics and cabling to enable a variety of different board types to be tested with the same apparatus.

Universal automated circuit board tester

A USB (universal serial bus) controllable power supply and method for supplying power to a circuit board device under test (DUT) via a controllable power supply. The power supply employs a USB interface to communicate with external devices, such as a host computer. In response to power supply control commands from the host computer, the controllable power supply provides various power outputs at various external connectors, including main power, ATX12V power, and peripheral power to be used for peripheral devices corresponding to a DUT test apparatus. The controllable power supply also provides a built-in short circuit check function, and monitors the voltage levels of its power outputs to ensure they are within predefined limits. The power supply also supports emergency shutdown operations, and provides an EOS (emergency overstress) function. In one embodiment, the power supply includes an integrated USB hub.

USB-controllable power supply

A stacked dual socket system that is interchangeable with and has no larger footprint than a single USB compliant socket and which allows connector access to both USB channels. The stacked socket includes a first USB compliant socket and a second USB compliant socket. The second USB compliant socket is stacked on top of the first socket relative to the mother board so that the stacked has the same footprint on the mother board as a single USB compliant socket. Each socket has a linear array of four conductor pins that project downwardly from the bottom of the first socket within the footprint of the socket and makes contact with two separate arrays of electrical conductors in the mother board. The bottom of the first socket has four spaced apart legs that form the mechanical interface between the stacked socket and the mother board and which provide improved mechanical stability. An electrically conductive cowling encases all sides of both sockets except for the bottom and the front. A bridge section of the cowling passes across the front surface of the stacked socket from one side to the other between the openings into the two sockets. The section of the cowling has one or more finger elements that protrude outwardly from the front surface and make contact with the chassis into which the mother board is assembled. This provides electromagnetic radiation shielding.

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Beaverton, OR, United States of America

Chanh Le