Adapter arrangement for electrically testing printed circuit boards

US6147505A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hewlett-Packard Company, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Albert Ott · Niedernhausen, DE
• Wilhelm Tamm · Aidlingen, DE
• Steffen Laur · Lörrach, DE
• Volker Harr · Speyer, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 23, 1997
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 23, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R1/07328
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An adapter arrangement for electrically testing printed circuit boards consists of two probe adapters with a uniform grid separation of the probes and two translator foils on whose sides facing the probe adapters there are contact areas with the pitch of the probe adapter. On the sides facing the printed circuit board, the arrangement of the contact areas and the contact points located thereon is the same as the grid on the printed circuit board under test. Between the translator foils a vacuum is generated with the help of rubber seals, a through hole, a valve and a suction hose. This vacuum creates a rigid package which permits good contact with the probes on both sides. The inserted support layers, which can be conventional printed circuit boards, prevent the translator foils from buckling. The various types of extremely complex printed circuit board can be electrically tested rapidly and cheaply using this arrangement. The arrangement can be employed on both double-sided and one-sided electrical test installations.