Test Apparatus Dry Air Flow Guide Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Current low temperature testing of IC components is time-consuming due to the need to wait for the test apparatus and objects to reach suitable temperatures, and is prone to dew condensation or icing when temperature adjustments are made, requiring complete isolation and additional equipment for temperature recovery.

Innovation Solution

A test apparatus with a dry environment that includes a test site, buffer carrying device, transport carrying device, handling mechanism, and dry air flow guide mechanism, which performs temperature conditioning and generates a dry environment to prevent condensation and icing, allowing for efficient temperature regulation and recovery without additional equipment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the test apparatus is isolated completely to maintain low temperature, then the temperature stability is improved, but the operation convenience deteriorates because people must wait until the temperature rises above ambient before adjustment or maintenance can be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidoperation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The test apparatus is divided into a test chamber and a control chamber separated by a heat-insulating partition. The control chamber can be independently heated to ambient temperature above the test chamber, allowing operations to be performed in the control chamber without affecting the low-temperature environment of the test chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A heat-insulating partition acts as an intermediary between the test chamber and the control chamber. This partition allows thermal isolation while enabling mechanical and operational access to the control chamber for maintenance and adjustment activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the test apparatus is isolated completely to maintain low temperature, then the temperature stability is improved, but the time consumption increases because people must wait until the temperature rises above ambient before adjustment or maintenance can be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The test apparatus is divided into a test chamber and a control chamber separated by a heat-insulating partition. The control chamber can be independently heated to ambient temperature above the test chamber, allowing operations to be performed in the control chamber without affecting the low-temperature environment of the test chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control chamber is pre-heated to ambient temperature before maintenance or adjustment operations are performed. This preliminary heating action eliminates the need to wait for the entire test apparatus to warm up, reducing time consumption while maintaining test chamber temperature stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If Nitrogen air is filled in the test apparatus to create low temperature environment, then the low temperature testing capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to complete isolation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow temperature capabilityVSAvoidisolation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The test apparatus is divided into a test chamber and a control chamber separated by a heat-insulating partition. The control chamber can be independently heated to ambient temperature above the test chamber, allowing operations to be performed in the control chamber without affecting the low-temperature environment of the test chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control chamber is extracted as a separate functional zone from the test chamber. This extraction allows the control chamber to be independently managed for heating and operational purposes, reducing the complexity of the overall isolation system while maintaining low-temperature testing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the test apparatus is isolated completely to maintain low temperature, then the temperature stability is improved, but the productivity decreases due to waiting time for temperature recovery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature stabilityVSAvoidtesting productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The test apparatus is divided into a test chamber and a control chamber separated by a heat-insulating partition. The control chamber can be independently heated to ambient temperature above the test chamber, allowing operations to be performed in the control chamber without affecting the low-temperature environment of the test chamber.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control chamber is pre-heated to ambient temperature before maintenance or adjustment operations are performed. This preliminary heating action eliminates the need to wait for the entire test apparatus to warm up, reducing time consumption while maintaining test chamber temperature stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution reduces waiting time for temperature stabilization, prevents dew condensation and icing, and integrates heat-up functionality within the apparatus, saving time, space, and costs by eliminating the need for separate heat-up devices.

Implementation Method 1

The dry air flow guide mechanism guides a dry air to surround the test site, the buffer carrying device, the transport carrying device and the handling mechanism and generates a dry environment to prevent dew condensation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDry air flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

The buffer carrying device is disposed close to a side of the test site, holds the objects and performs a temperature conditioning process on the objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature conditioning: Cooling

Implementation Method 3

the transport carrying device transporting the objects into and out of the test site and performing a temperature recovery process on the objects until they reaching an ambient temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature recovery: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9470749B2Test apparatus with dry environment

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 CHROMA ATE INC

AI summary

A test apparatus includes a test site, a buffer carrying device, a transport carrying device, a handling mechanism and a dry air flow guide mechanism. The test site performs a test procedure on the objects. The buffer carrying device is disposed close to a side of the test site, holds the objects and performs a temperature conditioning process. The transport carrying device is disposed close to another side of the test site, moves back and forth along a transporting direction, transports the objects into and out of the test site, and heats up the objects. The handling mechanism carries the objects among the buffer carrying device, the test site and the transport carrying device. The dry air flow guide mechanism guides a dry air to surround the test site, the buffer carrying device, the transport carrying device and the handling mechanism and generates a dry environment to prevent dew condensation.