Rotary Turret Contact Probe Cleaning and Conductivity Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrical testers require manual maintenance of contact probes, leading to downtime and inefficiency due to the need for frequent cleaning to maintain conductivity, especially during forward voltage testing of LED devices.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of contactor maintenance stands with maintenance components like diagnostic, grinding, and cleaning heads on a rotary turret disk to automatically clean and verify the conductivity of contact probes, allowing for uninterrupted testing operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual cleaning of contact probes is performed to maintain conductivity, then good electrical conductivity is achieved, but production downtime increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidproduction output

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance component performs cleaning and conductivity verification of contact probes in advance, during the rotation cycle between test operations. This preliminary maintenance action ensures that contact probes are cleaned and verified before contamination significantly degrades conductivity, thereby maintaining reliable electrical contact without interrupting production flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-maintenance through the maintenance component that automatically cleans and verifies the contact probes during normal operation cycles. The contactor maintenance stand with its maintenance component enables the testing machine to service its own contact probes without external manual intervention, converting a previously manual task into an automated self-service function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual cleaning of contact probes is performed to maintain conductivity, then good electrical conductivity is achieved, but time consumption increases and operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance component operates continuously during the rotation cycle of the rotary turret, cleaning and verifying contact probes without interrupting the testing workflow. The useful action of maintaining contact probe conductivity continues uninterrupted, as the maintenance operations are integrated into the normal operational cycle rather than being separate downtime events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs maintenance actions in advance during idle rotation time, so that when testing operations resume, the contact probes are already clean and verified. This preliminary maintenance eliminates the need for time-consuming manual cleaning interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If manual monitoring and cleaning of contact probes is performed to ensure test accuracy, then reliable test results are achieved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetest accuracyVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The maintenance component combines multiple functions into a single integrated unit: cleaning the contact probes and verifying their conductivity through electrical contact. This merged functionality simplifies the overall system by consolidating what would otherwise require separate manual operations (visual inspection, cleaning, and conductivity testing) into one automated component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The maintenance component includes conductivity verification that provides feedback on the electrical state of contact probes. This feedback mechanism automatically detects when contact probes require cleaning by monitoring their conductivity, eliminating the need for manual monitoring and decision-making while ensuring test accuracy is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enables automatic maintenance of contact probe conductivity, reducing downtime and manpower requirements, ensuring reliable and consistent test results by continuously monitoring and correcting contact probe conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the electrical contacts of the test contactor are adapted to engage the maintenance component so as to automatically clean the electrical contacts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical cleaning: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

verify the conductivity thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS8933720B2Apparatus for conducting automated maintenance of a test contactor module

Publication Date: 2015.01.13 ASMPT SINGAPORE PTE LTD

AI summary

An apparatus for maintaining a conductivity of electrical contacts of a test contactor for testing electronic devices comprises a rotary turret disk having a plurality of test stands operative to hold respective electronic devices, the electronic devices being rotatable by the rotary turret disk to a position of the test contactor to be contacted by the electrical contacts during testing. At least one contactor maintenance stand comprising a maintenance component is located between adjacent test stands on the rotary turret disk, wherein the electrical contacts of the test contactor are adapted to engage the maintenance component so as to automatically clean the electrical contacts and/or verify the conductivity thereof.