PCBA testing machine

Abstract

The invention provides a PCBA testing machine which comprises a testing rack, a testing assembly, an electrical assembly, a computer assembly and a power supply assembly, a transmission mechanism is arranged in the middle of the testing rack in a penetrating mode, and the testing assembly is arranged below the transmission mechanism and provided with a probe. The probe is used for being inserted into a test point of the PCBA so as to input a first test signal or output a second test signal; the electrical assembly is connected with the test assembly and is used for driving a probe of the test assembly to be inserted into a test point of the PCBA or pulled out of the test point according to a control instruction of the computer assembly; the computer assembly is used for generating the first test signal and receiving the second test signal to complete on-line test and function test of the PCBA. The power supply assembly supplies power to the test assembly, the electrical assembly and the computer assembly. The PCBA testing machine integrates ICT testing and FCT testing, the testing efficiency is improved, the turnover loss is reduced, and the cost of the testing machine is also saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of PCBA testing equipment, and in particular to a PCBA testing machine. Background Art

[0002] From the automotive industry, communications industry to various information-related industries, production testing is a necessary link that requires huge investment. Testing departments often favor test equipment with flexible configuration, compact design and complete functions, because they can not only cover current tasks, but also face the challenges of technological development to reduce unnecessary huge investments for enterprises. Automotive electronic circuit boards need to undergo two tests: ICT (In-Circuit Test) and FCT (FunctionalCircuit Testing) to meet 100% test coverage and improve product reliability.

[0003] In the context of continuous technological advancement, traditional FCT methods may not keep up with new design and manufacturing requirements, especially when higher levels of test coverage and accuracy are required. To overcome these limitations, other test methods such as ICT are often combined to ensure comprehensive verification of board quality and performance. This comprehensive test strategy can provide higher test coverage and quality control.

[0004] The main disadvantage of the existing technology is that ICT and FCT are tested separately, and there are obvious differences in test methods, purposes and application scenarios, and each has its own limitations.

[0005] For example, the limitation of ICT is that when testing capacitance, for example, when a small capacitor is connected in parallel with a large capacitor, the small capacitor cannot be measured. After the two capacitors C1 and C2 are connected in parallel, the capacitance is C1+C2. Generally speaking, if the capacitance of C2 is more than 10 times that of C1, C1 cannot be measured. Usually, the error range between the actual value and the standard value allowed by ICT testing capacitance is ±20%. When C1=1F and C2=10F, the total capacitive reactance C=C1+C2=11F. When measuring, the lower limit is 8.8F and the upper limit is 13.2F. That is, the capacitive reactance can pass the test when it is between 8.8F and 13.2F. If C1 is missing during the test, C=10F, within the allowable error range, the test can also pass, and the problem of missing C1 will not be found. That is, in the ICT test, the small capacitor connected in parallel with the large capacitor cannot be measured.

[0006] The limitations of FCT are: FCT focuses mainly on functional issues and does not involve the detection of manufacturing defects. FCT test coverage is incomplete and cannot detect certain manufacturing defects, such as welding problems.

[0007] In addition, ICT and FCT need to be tested separately and on two sets of equipment. The PCBA to be tested needs to be transferred between the two sets of equipment, which requires more testing time and higher storage costs, and also increases the risk of damage to the PCBA. Summary of the invention

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a PCBA tester which integrates ICT and FCT, improves PCBA test efficiency and saves test costs.

[0009] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0010] The invention provides a PCBA testing machine, which is used to complete an online test and a functional test of a PCBA, and comprises a test frame and a transmission mechanism, a test assembly, an electrical assembly, a computer assembly and a power supply assembly, all of which are installed on the test frame; the transmission mechanism is arranged through the middle of the test frame, and comprises a transmission belt for supporting and transmitting a PCBA to be tested; the test assembly is arranged below the transmission mechanism, and has a probe that matches a test point of the PCBA to be tested on the transmission belt, and the probe is used to be plugged into the test point of the PCBA to input a first test signal or output a second test signal generated by the PCBA based on the first test signal; the electrical assembly is connected to the test assembly below the test assembly and is electrically connected to the computer assembly, and is used to drive the probe of the test assembly to be inserted into or pulled out of the test point of the PCBA according to a control instruction of the computer assembly; the computer assembly is used to generate the first test signal and receive the second test signal to complete the online test and the functional test of the PCBA; the power supply assembly supplies power to the test assembly, the electrical assembly and the computer assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, the PCBA testing machine also includes a press assembly connected to the electrical assembly, the press assembly is arranged above the transmission mechanism and directly above the test assembly, and the press assembly can be controlled to descend to press the PCBA onto the transmission mechanism.

[0012] In one embodiment, the press assembly includes a mounting plate having a plurality of mounting holes, wherein the mounting holes are used to detachably set a pressing rod for flattening the PCBA; a positioning pin is provided at a corner end of the press assembly, and the positioning pin is used to be inserted into a preset positioning hole on the test assembly.

[0013] In one embodiment, the test component further includes a color sensor and a brightness sensor, which are fixed to the transmission mechanism and electrically connected to the computer component for correspondingly detecting the color difference and brightness of the LED lights on the PCBA to be tested.

[0014] In one embodiment, the transmission mechanism includes a docking section and a testing section, each of which is provided with a pair of guide rails, the docking section is used to dock with an upper plate machine or a lower plate machine, the testing section is arranged in the testing machine, and the transmission belt is arranged between the pair of guide rails; the testing machine also includes a spacing adjustment mechanism, and the spacing adjustment mechanism includes an automatic spacing adjustment mechanism and a manual spacing adjustment mechanism; the manual spacing adjustment mechanism is connected to the guide rails of the docking section for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails of the docking section, and the automatic spacing adjustment mechanism is connected to the testing section for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails of the testing section.

[0015] In one embodiment, the automatic spacing adjustment mechanism includes a motor fixed to one of the guide rails, a first screw rod spanning between the pair of guide rails and connected to the output shaft of the motor, and a first nut member sleeved on the first screw rod and fixed to the other guide rail; the manual spacing adjustment mechanism includes a second screw rod spanning between the pair of guide rails, a second nut member sleeved on the second screw rod and fixed to the guide rail, and a handle connected to one end of the second screw rod and arranged on one side of the docking section.

[0016] In one embodiment, the testing machine further includes a height adjustment mechanism, which is connected to the guide rail of the testing section below the guide rail of the testing section and is electrically connected to the computer component.

[0017] In one embodiment, the computer component, the test rack and the power supply component are arranged along the extension direction of the transmission mechanism, and the computer component and the power supply component are fixed on two opposite sides of the test rack.

[0018] In one embodiment, a barcode scanner electrically connected to the computer component is also fixed on the test rack. The barcode scanner is located above the transmission mechanism and is used to scan the identity code of the PCBA to be tested.

[0019] The technical solution provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects: the PCBA tester of the present invention controls the lifting of the test component and the plugging and unplugging of the test points of the PCBA to be tested on the transmission mechanism through the electrical component, generates a test signal through the computer component and sends it to the PCBA to be tested through the test component, and receives the result of the test by the test component to complete the online test and functional test of the PCBA. The online test and functional test of the PCBA are completed by one device, and there is no need to circulate the PCBA between two sets of test machines, thereby improving the test efficiency, reducing the turnover loss, and saving the cost of the test equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for describing the embodiments of the present invention are briefly introduced below.

[0021] Figure 1A schematic diagram of the structure of a PCBA testing machine provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the test machine from another perspective is shown;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of part A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein, which are instead provided for a more thorough and complete understanding of the present invention. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present invention are only for exemplary purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] It should be understood that the various steps described in the method embodiments of the present invention may be performed in different orders and / or in parallel. In addition, the method embodiments may include additional steps and / or omit the steps shown. The scope of the present invention is not limited in this respect.

[0026] The term "including" and its variations used herein are open inclusions, i.e., "including but not limited to". The term "connected" may be directly connected or indirectly connected through intermediate components (elements). The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one other embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments". The relevant definitions of other terms will be given in the following description.

[0027] It should be noted that the concepts such as "first" and "second" mentioned in the present invention are only used to distinguish between devices, modules or units, and are not used to limit these devices, modules or units to be different devices, modules or units, nor are they used to limit the order or interdependence of the functions performed by these devices, modules or units.

[0028] See also Figures 1 to 3 The present invention relates to a PCBA testing machine, which is used to connect with a board loading machine and a board unloading machine to form a PCBA automatic testing system, automatically complete the online test and functional test of PCBA 500, solve various problems caused by the detection of PCBA 500 between the two test systems of ICT test system and FCT test system, improve the test efficiency, reduce the turnover loss, and save the cost of the test system.

[0029] The test machine 100 includes a test rack 110 and a transmission mechanism 170, a test assembly, an electrical assembly 140, a computer assembly 160 and a power assembly 150, all of which are installed on the test rack 110. The test rack 110 is used to provide a mounting structure for other assemblies and support other assemblies, the test assembly is used to connect with the PCBA 500 to be tested to complete the online test and functional test of the board of the PCBA 500 to be tested, the electrical assembly 140 is used to control the plug-in connection between the test assembly and the PCBA 500 to be tested, the computer assembly 160 is used to generate a test signal to provide to the test assembly and receive the test result of the test assembly to complete the two tests of the PCBA 500, and the power assembly 150 is used to supply power to the test assembly, the electrical assembly 140 and the computer assembly 160.

[0030] The test rack 110 is constructed of multiple columns and beams, providing a stable physical structure to ensure stable installation and operation of other components. The transmission mechanism 170 is provided in the middle of the test rack 110. The transmission mechanism 170 includes a guide rail and a transmission belt 1711, and the transmission belt 1711 is used to support and transmit the PCBA 500 to be tested.

[0031] The test assembly is arranged below the transmission mechanism 170, and has a probe that matches the test point of the PCBA 500 to be tested on the transmission mechanism 170. The probe is used to be plugged into the test point of the PCBA 500 to input a first test signal to the PCBA 500 or output a second test signal generated by the PCBA 500 based on the first test signal. It should be noted that the test assembly includes a test fixture 121 and a probe. The test fixture 121 is a contoured fixture that is customized to be suitable for the specific shape of the PCBA 500 to be tested and the position of the test point. The probe is installed on the test fixture 121 and can be accurately aligned with the preset test point on the circuit board. As the test fixture 121 rises and nests the PCBA 500 to be tested, it is plugged into the test point.

[0032] The electrical component 140 is connected to the test fixture 121 below the test fixture 121 and is electrically connected to the computer component 160, and is used to drive the probe of the test component to insert or remove the probe from the test point of the PCBA 500 according to the control instruction of the computer component 160. Optionally, the electrical component 140 includes a sensor, a cylinder, a relay, a switch, a power supply, a gas circuit pipe and a terminal block, etc. These components are responsible for transmitting and processing electrical signals and performing mechanical actions.

[0033] The computer component 160 is used to generate the first test signal and receive the second test signal to complete the online test and functional test of PCBA 500. The first test signal generated by the computer component 160 will be introduced into the circuit of PCBA 500 through the probe, so as to detect the electrical connection and electrical performance between the components, thereby completing the voltage and current detection of PCBA 500 to ensure that the basic electrical parameters of the circuit meet the design requirements. Among them, the test signal is used to complete the communication detection (such as infrared, RS485, RS232 and other communication modules) and functional detection (such as pulse, relay, etc.) of PCBA 500 to ensure that various communication functions are normal. It should be understood that for different communication detection or functional detection, the first test signal generated by the computer component 160 is different.

[0034] In one embodiment, the computer component 160 includes a computer, a motion control card, a signal adapter board and a signal line, etc. It is the core control part of the test machine and is responsible for running the test software, processing the test data, and controlling the operation of other components, displaying the test results and uploading the data to facilitate subsequent data analysis and archiving.

[0035] Furthermore, the testing machine 100 also includes a press assembly 130 connected to the electrical assembly 140. The press assembly 130 is disposed above the transmission mechanism 170 and is located directly above the testing assembly. The press assembly 130 can be lowered driven by the electrical assembly 140 to press the PCBA 500 onto the transmission mechanism 170.

[0036] In one embodiment, the press assembly 130 includes a mounting plate, and the mounting plate is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, and the mounting holes are used to detachably set a pressing rod for flattening the PCBA 500. By providing a plurality of mounting holes, the pressing rod can be inserted into the mounting hole as needed, and the PCBA 500 is pressed against the test fixture 121 by the pressing rod, so as to ensure the stability of the circuit board during the test process, so that the probe can fully cooperate with the test point of the PCBA 500, avoid the situation of poor contact, ensure the accurate transmission of the test signal, and improve the accuracy of the test result.

[0037] In addition, a positioning pin 131 extending downward is provided at the corner end of the press assembly 130, and the positioning pin is used to be inserted into a preset positioning hole on the test assembly to avoid displacement between the press assembly 130 and the test assembly, which may cause the probe to be unable to be accurately plugged into the test point.

[0038] In one embodiment, the test component also includes an optical detection sensor 122, specifically including a color sensor and a brightness sensor, which are fixed on the transmission mechanism 170 and are both electrically connected to the computer component 160, and are used to detect the color difference and brightness of the LED lights on the PCBA 500 to be tested.

[0039] Among them, a brightness sensor is used to directly measure the brightness of the LED. The brightness sensor can accurately sense the light intensity and convert it into an electrical signal. During the FCT function test, the computer component 160 obtains the actual brightness value of the LED by collecting and processing the electrical signal, and then compares it with the set brightness standard to determine whether the brightness of the LED meets the standard.

[0040] The color sensor is used to detect the color of the LED. It can identify light of different wavelengths and effectively distinguish tiny color differences, thereby determining the color characteristics of the light emitted by the LED. The computer component 160 can detect the color difference of the LED by comparing the collected electrical signal with the electrical signal corresponding to the standard color value.

[0041] In one embodiment, the transmission mechanism 170 includes a docking section 171 and a testing section 172, each of which is provided with a pair of guide rails. The docking section 171 is used to dock with the upper plate machine and the lower plate machine to realize upper or lower plate, and the testing section 172 is arranged in the testing machine 100.

[0042] The test machine 100 further includes a spacing adjustment mechanism 180 and a height adjustment mechanism 190. The spacing adjustment mechanism includes an automatic spacing adjustment mechanism 181 and a manual spacing adjustment mechanism 182. The manual spacing adjustment mechanism is connected to the guide rail of the docking section 171 for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails of the docking section 171, and the automatic spacing adjustment mechanism is connected to the test section 172 for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails of the test section 172; the height adjustment mechanism is connected to the guide rail of the test section 172 below the guide rail of the test section 172 and is electrically connected to the computer component 160.

[0043] In one embodiment, the automatic spacing adjustment mechanism 181 includes a motor fixed to one of the guide rails, a screw rod 1811 spanning between the pair of guide rails and connected to the motor, and a nut member sleeved on the screw rod and fixed to the guide rail.

[0044] The manual spacing adjustment mechanism 182 includes a screw rod, a nut sleeved on the screw rod and fixed to the guide rail, and a handle connected to one end of the screw rod and disposed on one side of the docking section 171 .

[0045] Therefore, the width of the test section 172 and the docking section 171 is adjusted through the spacing adjustment mechanism, the spacing of the transmission belt is adjusted, and the height of the guide rail is adjusted through the height adjustment device, thereby adjusting the spacing between the transmission belt and the test assembly to adapt to the testing of PCBA 500 panels of different specifications.

[0046] In one embodiment, the computer component 160, the test rack 110 and the power supply component 150 are arranged along the extension direction of the transmission mechanism 170, and the computer component 160 and the power supply component 150 are fixed on opposite sides of the test rack 110 and are located below the docking section 171. By arranging the computer component 160 and the power supply component 150 on both sides of the test rack 110, the weight distribution can be more balanced and the stability of the test machine can be improved; in addition, by arranging the computer component 160 and the power supply component 150 below the docking section 171, the installation space of the test machine can be fully utilized and the floor space can be reduced.

[0047] In addition, a barcode scanner (not shown) is fixed on the side of the test rack 110 facing the board loading machine. The barcode scanner is electrically connected to the computer component 160 and is located above the transmission belt 1711 for scanning the identification code (eg, barcode) on the PCBA.

[0048] In summary, in the test machine 100, the test assembly accurately connects the probe to the test point reserved on the PCBA 500 board through mechanical action or automated equipment, and the test fixture 121 communicates and transmits signals through the connection with the test point. This method allows the test machine to simulate various input signals and transmit these signals to the PCBA 500, while receiving and analyzing the output signals returned from the PCBA 500, so as to fully verify the functions and performance of the PCBA 500. During the test process, the test machine 100 will detect the basic electrical parameters of the PCBA 500, such as voltage, current, and resistance, and simulate the input signal of the product to verify the function and performance of the product.

[0049] Compared with the existing technology, the present invention has the following advantages

[0050] The tester combines ICT (in-circuit test) and FCT (functional test) functions to ensure the quality and performance of automotive electronic circuit control boards on the production line. Through automated testing, the tester can fully cover the electrical characteristics and functional requirements of the circuit board, significantly improving test efficiency and accuracy. The following are the advantages of the tester that is easy to upgrade and ready for potential needs:

[0051] 1. Modular architecture design:

[0052] (1) The test machine adopts a modular architecture design, which means that it can be flexibly configured and adjusted according to the real-time testing requirements of the production line.

[0053] (2) It has a variety of ICT / FCT boards that can support different test tasks and meet diverse test needs.

[0054] 2. Multiple mixed testing methods:

[0055] (1) Supports mixed testing methods of ICT, boundary scanner and FCT boards, and can flexibly adjust the configuration according to product characteristics and test requirements.

[0056] (2) This hybrid testing method can provide more comprehensive and accurate test results to ensure product quality.

[0057] 3. Development based on matrix relay modules and instruments:

[0058] (1) The test machine is developed based on advanced matrix relay modules and instruments to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the test.

[0059] (2) The matrix relay module can realize efficient and accurate signal switching and transmission, thus improving test efficiency.

[0060] 4. Equipped with workbench and replaceable automatic fixture:

[0061] (1) The testing machine is equipped with a workbench and replaceable automatic fixtures to facilitate operation and maintenance by operators.

[0062] (2) Interchangeable automated fixtures can adapt to circuit boards of different sizes and types, improving the versatility and flexibility of the tester.

[0063] 5. Easy to upgrade:

[0064] (1) The test machine design takes into account future upgrade needs and can easily add new test boards, functional modules or software updates.

[0065] (2) This easy-to-upgrade feature enables the tester to keep pace with technological development and meet ever-changing testing needs.

[0066] 6. High scalability:

[0067] (1) One module supports up to 990 test points, and two modules support a maximum of 2430 test points, fully meeting the needs of large-scale, high-density testing.

[0068] (2) As the production line expands and testing needs increase, the test machine can be easily expanded to ensure the continuity and stability of the test.

[0069] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and an explanation of the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of the invention involved in the present invention is not limited to the technical solution formed by a specific combination of the above technical features, but should also cover other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the above inventive concept. For example, the above features are replaced with the technical features with similar functions invented in the present invention (but not limited to) to form a technical solution.

[0070] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological logical actions, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. On the contrary, the specific features and actions described above are merely example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A PCBA testing machine, used to complete the online test and functional test of PCBA, characterized in that: It includes a test rack and a transmission mechanism, a test assembly, an electrical assembly, a computer assembly and a power supply assembly all mounted on the test rack; The transmission mechanism is arranged in the middle of the test frame, and includes a transmission belt for supporting and transmitting the PCBA to be tested; The test assembly is arranged below the transmission mechanism, and has a probe that matches a test point of the PCBA to be tested on the transmission belt, and the probe is used to be plugged into the test point of the PCBA to input a first test signal or output a second test signal generated by the PCBA based on the first test signal; The electrical component is connected to the test component below the test component and is electrically connected to the computer component, and is used to drive the probe of the test component to insert into or pull out from the test point of the PCBA according to the control instruction of the computer component; The computer component is used to generate the first test signal and receive the second test signal to complete the online test and functional test of the PCBA; The power supply component provides power to the test component, the electrical component and the computer component.

2. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a press assembly connected to the electrical assembly, the press assembly is arranged above the transmission mechanism and is located directly above the test assembly, and the press assembly can be controlled to descend to press the PCBA onto the transmission mechanism.

3. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The press assembly includes a mounting plate, the mounting plate is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, and the mounting holes are used for detachably arranging a pressing rod for flattening the PCBA.

4. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: A positioning pin is provided at the corner end of the press assembly, and the positioning pin is used to be inserted into a positioning hole preset on the test assembly.

5. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The test component also includes a color sensor and a brightness sensor, which are fixed on the transmission mechanism and electrically connected to the computer component for correspondingly detecting the color difference and brightness of the LED lamp on the PCBA to be tested.

6. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism comprises a docking section and a testing section, each of which is provided with a pair of guide rails, the docking section is used to dock with the upper plate machine or the lower plate machine, the testing section is arranged in the testing machine, and the transmission belt is arranged between the pair of guide rails; The testing machine also includes a spacing adjustment mechanism, which includes an automatic spacing adjustment mechanism and a manual spacing adjustment mechanism; The manual spacing adjustment mechanism is connected to the guide rails of the docking section for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails of the docking section, and the automatic spacing adjustment mechanism is connected to the test section for adjusting the spacing of the guide rails of the test section.

7. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The automatic spacing adjustment mechanism comprises a motor fixed to one of the guide rails, a first screw rod spanning between the pair of guide rails and connected to the output shaft of the motor, and a first nut member sleeved on the first screw rod and fixed to the other guide rail; The manual spacing adjustment mechanism includes a second screw rod spanning between the pair of guide rails, a second nut member sleeved on the second screw rod and fixed to the guide rail, and a handle connected to one end of the second screw rod and arranged on one side of the docking section.

8. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The testing machine also includes a height adjustment mechanism, which is connected to the guide rail of the testing section below the guide rail of the testing section and is electrically connected to the computer component.

9. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The computer assembly, the test rack and the power supply assembly are arranged along the extending direction of the transmission mechanism, and the computer assembly and the power supply assembly are fixed on two opposite sides of the test rack.

10. The PCBA testing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A barcode scanner electrically connected to the computer component is also fixed on the test rack. The barcode scanner is located above the transmission mechanism and is used to scan the identity code of the PCBA to be tested.

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