Modular Test Fixture Suspension for Electronic Device Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of test fixtures for electronic chips and devices, particularly due to the need for precision and individualized designs for each product, lead to increased inventory costs and unnecessary duplication of test hardware, as well as challenges in maintaining and replacing components during testing.
Innovation Solution
A modular test fixture design featuring a support frame, substrate, upper support, and suspension elements that allow for adjustable alignment and easy replacement of daughterboard modules, reducing the need for custom fixtures and simplifying maintenance by enabling multiple products to share the same test setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individualized test fixtures are designed for each product, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The test fixture is divided into modular components including a base, substrate, upper support, suspension elements, and daughterboard modules. Each module can be independently configured for different products while sharing common infrastructure, reducing overall complexity while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture employs universal components such as the support frame, suspension elements, and substrate that can accommodate multiple products. Daughterboard modules are designed to be interchangeable, allowing a single fixture platform to serve multiple testing purposes without requiring complete redesign for each product.
2Measurement precision
If test fixtures are designed with high precision requirements, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the fixture into modular components with standardized interfaces, the manufacturing process becomes simpler. Each module can be manufactured independently using standard tolerances, and precision is achieved through the cumulative alignment of modules rather than requiring ultra-precise monolithic manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Suspension elements act as intermediaries between the support frame and upper support, providing both mechanical coupling and alignment tolerance. These elements absorb manufacturing variations while maintaining the required precision for device testing.
3Reliability
If complete disassembly is required for component replacement, then reliability is maintained, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture is designed with modular daughterboard modules that can be independently removed and replaced. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and replace specific components without disassembling the entire fixture, significantly reducing maintenance time while maintaining testing reliability through consistent modular interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension elements provide dynamic adjustment capability, allowing daughterboard modules to be easily installed and secured without rigid fastening requirements. This dynamic design enables quick replacement while maintaining reliable electrical and mechanical connections.
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom test fixtures are built for each product, then adaptability to specific products is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture platform is designed as a universal system with standardized components including the support frame, substrate, suspension elements, and daughterboard modules. This universality allows a single fixture configuration to test multiple products within a product family, eliminating the need for separate custom fixtures for each product and reducing inventory complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular architecture with interchangeable daughterboard modules provides dynamic adaptability. Different modules can be configured on the same fixture platform to accommodate varying test requirements for different products, allowing the system to adapt without requiring complete redesign or additional fixed infrastructure.
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
The modular design reduces costs, increases testing yield, and minimizes downtime for maintenance and replacements, allowing for efficient testing across multiple products within the same family without the need for extensive disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
The suspension elements are configured to compress when a force is applied to the upper support thereby reducing the size of the gap between the support frame and the upper frame.
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, the suspension elements can be springs.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for testing electronic devices. In some embodiments, a fixture for testing an electronic device can include a support frame including a base and a pair of side supports implemented on respective sides of the base, with at least one of the side supports including a plurality of features for mounting of a test hardware, and the base being configured to support a first test board. The fixture can further include an upper support positioned above the support frame and configured to support a second test board. The fixture can further include a suspension mechanism implemented to couple the upper support to the side supports such that the upper support is movable relative to the support frame to accommodate a misalignment between the upper support and the base.