Pylon Company, Inc.

Augat Inc.

Mount Hope Machinery Company

Robert E Staples

Joseph A Ierardi

Willis E Golder

Michael C Boyle

A high speed edge connector tester having plural edge connector contacting is so movable as to plug and unplug the edge connector contacting probe contacts into and out of the edge connector of a unit under test. Plural automatic testing equipment (ATE) contacting probe contacts mounted to the carriage are individually connected to corresponding edge connector contacting contacts via non-flexing, minimum length electrically conductive wires. The linearly movable carriage, the edge contacting probe-contacts, and the automatic testing equipment contacting probe contacts, are mounted to a test fixture so movable as to electrically connect the ATE contacting probe contacts with the automatic testing equipment. A minimum path length electrical interconnection is established between the automatic testing equipment and the edge connector of the unit under test via the several probes and interconnecting wires.

High-speed side access edge connector testing assembly

A test fixture for selectively electrically connecting an electronic circuit device for in-circuit and functional testing by automatic testing equipment. First and second pluralities of spring-loaded probes are fastened to the test fixture for respectively providing an in-circuit contact array on a first level and a functional contact array on a second level. An electronic cicuit device receiving face is mounted to the test fixture for movement to the first level for electrically connecting the electronic circuit device to the in-circuit contact array, and for movement to the second level for electrically connecting the electronic circuit device to the functional contact array. Means including a bi-level vacuum controller are disclosed for selectively moving the electronic circuit device receiving face to the first and second levels. Means coupled to the bi-level vacuum controller are disclosed for venting the test fixture to ambient during transitions from higher to lower vacuum pressures and to the unactuated condition. The bi-level vacuum controller may be locally actuated by a system operator or remotely actuated by the automatic testing equipment.

Vacuum actuated bi-level test fixture

An automated tester for a wired PC board is adapted to receive a wired PC board and secure it in a predetermined position by vacuum pressure. After the board is fully secured in position, the vacuum pressure applied to a fixture having an array of electrical contacts forces the contacts into position on the contact fingers of the PC board to provide electrical connection through the tester to connectors whereby the board can be tested. The contact array is controlled in position to make contact with the board fingers only after all board motion induced by the vacuum pressure pulldown has ceased, thereby minimizing scraping action between array contacts and PC board fingers. The fixture further includes a linkage arm arrangement which increases the contacting force of the array at the point of making connection to the PC board fingers to augment the reliability of contact.

Printed circuit board tester having a flex and wiping action free vacuum

An adjustable-bow bar or roll axle, useful for spreading slit sheets of paper and for other purposes, includes a hollow cylindrical shell. Two tension bolts extend along axes parallel to the centerline of the shell, and interconnect the ends of the bar or axle. One of the bolts lies in a plane of desired curvature of the bar and applies a bending moment to curve the bar in this plane; this bolt may be located inside or outside the shell, depending on the required bending moment. The second bolt may be inside the shell; its angular position is adjustable with respect to that of the first. This bolt is set in the plane of a resultant force applied to the bar by the tension in the sheet, and applies a bending moment to offset this force and prevent curvature of the bar in this plane. A third bolt may be located in a vertical plane to apply a bending moment to prevent curvature of the bar by its weight; or the second bolt may serve this purpose also.

Growing community of inventors

Lakeville, MA, United States of America

Robert E Staples