Universal automated circuit board tester

US7110905B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intel Corporation · US

Inventors

• Chanh Le · Beaverton, US
• Say Cheong Gan · Melaka City, MY
• Thomas A. Repko · Dallas, US
• Frank Joyce · Portland, US
• Teik Sean Toh · Jeniang, MY
• Douglas Kreager · Lake Oswego, US
• Yoong Li Liew · Kulim, MY

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 9, 2004
• Grant date: Sep 19, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R31/2808
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus and method for automatically testing circuit boards, such as computer system boards and the like. The circuit board device under test (DUT) is loaded into an automated test apparatus (tester), which includes a mechanism for automatically connecting test electronics to various DUT circuitry and I/O ports via corresponding connectors on the DUT. A type of DUT is identified, and a corresponding set of tests are performed to verify the operation of the DUT. Appropriate power signals and sequencing are also applied to the DUT, as defined by it type. Data logging is performed to log the results of the testing. The apparatus includes replaceable probe/connector plates that are DUT-type specific and corresponding universal electronics and cabling to enable a variety of different board types to be tested with the same apparatus.