Universal chip tester interface device

Abstract

In a robotic test machine for testing chips, often referred to as automatic chip test equipment, a novel interface between the chips being tested and the test head loadboard, allowing rapid changes of products being tested, includes a docking plate with vertical supports, a housing mounted above the docking plate on the vertical supports and having actuators associated therewith and an array of male header pin assemblies mounted on its surface, plus a socket plate with apertures therein adapted to receive the array of header assemblies along with means for connecting it to the actuators whereby the female pin connectors on multiple chip test boards mounted on the socket plate can be connected to an individual header assembly in the array when the socket plate is mated with the housing plate by the actuators. Further, the novel interface can be connected to a mainframe computer for testing the chips with shorter leads than in prior art devices by placing a mainframe computer on a mobile cart, cooperating with the movable interface and connecting the computer to an electrical power source and cooling medium through a rolling or tractor conduit whereby the mainframe computer moves toward and away from the chip handler with the interface.