Interface Module for Light-Producing Element Testing
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test systems for light-producing elements on printed circuit boards face inefficiencies and inaccuracies due to high optical losses in releasable optical couplers, requiring frequent reconfiguration and leading to suboptimal data collection and analysis.
Innovation Solution
An interface module that converts light signals from light-producing elements into electronic signals within the test fixture, allowing for efficient transmission to a central hub unit via electrical connections, reducing losses and enabling flexible testing configurations without hardware reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If releasable optical couplers are used to connect optical fibres between test fixture and central hub unit, then flexibility in connecting different test fixtures is achieved, but optical signal loss increases significantly (50-80%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical coupling mechanism with an electrical signal transmission system. The test fixture includes electronic circuitry that converts optical signals from light-producing elements into electronic signals, which are then transmitted to the central hub unit via electrical connections. This substitution eliminates the optical coupler interface, thereby eliminating the 50-80% optical signal loss while maintaining the ability to connect different test fixtures through standard electrical interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate conversion stage within the test fixture that transforms optical signals into electronic signals. This intermediary conversion process occurs at the test fixture level before transmission to the central hub unit, allowing for flexible reconfiguration of electrical connections without suffering from optical coupling losses. The intermediary electronic signal conversion acts as a bridge between the optical measurement function and the electrical transmission function.
2Productivity
If optical fibres are used to transmit light signals from test fixture to central hub unit, then direct optical data transmission is achieved, but connection reconfiguration is required when changing test fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical fibre connection system with an electrical signal transmission system. By converting optical signals to electronic signals within the test fixture, the system can use standard electrical connections that can be quickly reconfigured or connected via plug-socket interfaces, eliminating the time-consuming process of releasing and reconnecting optical fibres when switching between different test fixtures.
3Loss of information
If optical couplers are used for signal transmission, then optical data transfer is maintained, but measurement accuracy decreases due to signal losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the optical coupling system with an electrical signal transmission system that converts optical signals to electronic signals within the test fixture. This conversion eliminates the optical coupler interface where 50-80% signal loss occurs, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy by preserving the integrity of the signal from the light-producing elements through to the central hub unit for analysis.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves the accuracy and efficiency of data collection and analysis by minimizing signal loss and allowing for various tests to be performed without reconfiguring the hardware, enabling simultaneous testing of different subsets of light-producing elements.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of light collectors for collecting light from the light producing elements is provided. The light collectors may be optical fibres.
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of converters, arranged to convert the collected light into the electronic signals, is provided in the interface module.
Data Source
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AI summary
An interface module 12 for a test fixture 4 comprises light collectors, such as optical fibres 14, light converters 17 for generating an electronic signal based on light collected by the light collectors for transmission to a hub unit 5 for processing and/or analysis. As the test fixture 4 performs the conversion from an optical signal to an electronic signal, the connection between the test fixture 4 and hub unit 5 is electrical and can be released and re-established relatively easily when the test fixture 4 is changed. Also, signal losses may be reduced, relative to prior test systems. The test fixture 4 may be configured to process and analyse the electronic signals using one of multiple stored software algorithms, so that the output signal represents the result of such analysis. This distribution of the analysis process can reduce the amount of data transmitted between the test fixture 4 and hub unit 5, improve the speed with which the test is performed and/or allow different tests to be performed by changing the software algorithm performed by the test fixture 4.