Credence Systems Corporation

William Devey

Will A Miller

Anthony Delucco

A switching converter produces an output signal transmitted to a variable load impedance to produce a load voltage Vacross the load impedance and holds Vclose to a set point voltage Vselected by control data Dto compensate for variations in the load impedance which tend to drive Vaway from V. The switching converter includes a pulse-width modulated power converter for producing the output signal of voltage Vin response to an input signal of voltage V, wherein a ratio V/Vis a function of a duty cycle Dof a pulse-width modulated signal V. A pulse-width modulation circuit generates the Vsignal of duty cycle Dcontrolled by a control signal, and a feedback control circuit monitoring the load voltage Vadjusts Dto keep the load voltage as close as possible to V. A power source supplies the input signal of voltage Vto the power converter. Second control data supplied to the power source separately selects the value of Vfor each possible set point voltage Vsuch that that the pulse-width modulate signal's duty cycle Dremains as close a possible to a value for which circuit performance is substantially optimal with respect to a selected combination of performance criteria.

D-optimized switching converter

A power supply assembly includes a dielectric substrate and a power supply circuit supported by the dielectric substrate. A conductive connection block is attached to the dielectric substrate at a main surface thereof and is connected to a power supply terminal of the power supply circuit. A spring probe pin is fitted in a bore formed in the connection block and includes a conductive sleeve and a conductive plunger fitted in the sleeve. The conductive sleeve is in electrically conductive contact with the connection block.

Power supply assembly for a semiconductor circuit tester

A test head for a semiconductor integrated circuit tester, the test head includes a power supply board mounted to a power distribution board and positioned between the power distribution board and a device interface board. The power supply board includes a power supply circuit having power supply input terminals for receiving electrical power at a voltage Vand force and return terminals for supplying regulated electrical power at a voltage V. The power supply board further includes a power connector for connecting the force and return terminals of the power supply circuit to power supply contact elements of the device interface board.

Power supply arrangement for integrated circuit tester

An integrated circuit (IC) tester includes a set of power modules mounted in a test head, each contacting a device interface board (DIB). The DIB provides power paths for delivering an output current generate by each power module to a power input terminals of one or more IC devices under test (DUTs). Power modules that supply current to the same set of DUTs communicate with one another though conductive paths provided by the DIB to ensure that all power modules begin supplying load current to that set of DUTs at the same time and to ensure that all power modules supply substantially the same amount of load current to those DUTs.

Growing community of inventors

Beaverton, OR, United States of America

William Devey