Kingston Technology Company

Steve Si-Yu Chen

Ramon S Co

Thang Nguyen

Fred Kong

A test station for testing memory modules uses multiple personal computer (PC) motherboards for performing functional tests on the modules. The motherboards are mounted upside-down with the solder-side up at the desktop level of the test station frame. One or more of the memory-module sockets on each motherboard is removed. A test adaptor board is plugged into the holes of the removed socket, but mounted on the reverse, solder side of the motherboard rather than the component side. The test adaptor board has a test socket that receives a module being tested. An overhead robotic arm picks up memory modules from an input tray and inserts them into test sockets for testing by the motherboards. Since the cables, components, and expansion boards of the motherboards are hidden below the solder-side surface of the motherboards, while the test adaptor board is above, the overhead robotic arm can easily navigate to the test socket without obstruction. Modules that pass are inspected in transit when the robotic arm holds the module in front of a camera that sends images to an image inspection processor.

Automated multi-PC-motherboard memory-module test system with robotic handler and in-transit visual inspection

Memory modules are tested using a test assembly with a personal computer (PC) motherboard. The motherboard is mounted upside-down with its solder-side up to a metal plate using standoffs. A memory-module socket on the motherboard is removed. An opening is made in the metal plate above the removed socket. A well is attached to the metal plate at the opening. The well supports a test adaptor board below the metal plate so that the test adaptor board has a closer spacing to the motherboard than does the metal plate. The test adaptor board has a test socket that receives a module being tested. Pins from the test adaptor board are plugged into the holes of the removed socket on the motherboard, but mounted on the reverse, solder side of the motherboard rather than the component side. The cables, components, and expansion boards of the motherboards are hidden below the metal plate and motherboard, and can be cooled without cooling the memory module in the test socket. A top plate or air guide can be added above the metal plate to blow hot air on the memory module being tested in the test socket, while the cooling air is blown on the motherboard.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Steve Si-Yu Chen