Pressure-based tester for a platform assembly

US7984640B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd · AU

Inventors

• Stephen John Sleijpen · Sydney, AU
• Joseph Tharion · Sydney, AU
• Jan Waszczuk · Sydney, AU
• Eric Patrick O'Donnell · Sydney, AU
• William Granger · Sydney, AU
• David Bernardi · Chatswood, AU
• Stephen Richard O'Farrell · Sydney, AU
• Jason Mark Thelander · Chatswood, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 19, 2008
• Grant date: Jul 26, 2011
• Expiry date: Oct 28, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M3/26
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention provides for a pressure-based tester for testing integrity of a platform assembly. The platform assembly includes a pair of assembled platform components fastened together and a fluid path extending into both components, the platform assembly suitable for supporting printhead integrated circuits to be tested. The tester includes a housing assembly, a regulated gas supply arranged in the housing assembly, and a retaining mechanism in fluid communication with the gas supply and configured to retain the platform assembly in fluid communication with the gas supply during testing of the platform assembly. The tester also includes a pressure measuring apparatus operatively connected to the gas supply and configured to generate a signal corresponding to a pressure value applied to the retaining mechanism, and a control system configured to control operation of the regulated gas supply, the retaining mechanism and configured to receive the signal from the pressure measuring apparatus and to detect decay in the pressure value.