Universal Test Cell With Modular Interface Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing companies face the burden of maintaining and managing multiple test platforms for various product lines with different physical and electrical characteristics, leading to inefficiencies in testing and management.
Innovation Solution
A universal test platform that uses standardized universal test containers with a common external electrical interface and customizable internal interfaces, allowing for the testing of diverse devices within a single system, regardless of their physical and electrical differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate test platform is developed for each product line, then testing capability for specific devices is improved, but system complexity and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The test container is designed with a universal external electrical interface that can accommodate multiple device types through interchangeable internal interface boards. Each interface board is configured for a specific device type, allowing a single test container to support various product lines by swapping the internal board rather than requiring separate test platforms for each device
Solution Approach 2:
The test system is divided into modular components: the test container, internal interface boards, and external electrical interfaces. This segmentation allows the internal interface board to be independently replaced to match different device requirements, while the main test container and external interface remain standardized and reusable across multiple product lines
2Reliability
If multiple test platforms are maintained for different product lines, then device-specific testing requirements are met, but maintenance and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single test platform with universal external electrical interfaces can handle multiple device types by changing the internal interface board configuration. This eliminates the need to maintain separate test platforms for different product lines, significantly reducing maintenance and management overhead while still meeting device-specific testing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The internal interface board acts as an intermediary between the universal test container and device-specific requirements. By replacing this intermediate component, the system adapts to different device types without requiring changes to the main test platform, simplifying maintenance and management
3Device complexity
If standardized test containers are used for all devices, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different device interfaces decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The internal interface board is designed to be dynamically replaceable within the test container. This allows the system to adapt its electrical interface configuration to match different device types while maintaining a standardized external container form factor, thus preserving both simplicity and versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The interface board is nested within the test container, with the board's electrical contacts aligning with the container's external electrical interfaces. This nested configuration allows the smaller, device-specific interface board to be housed within the larger, universal container, combining standardization with adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a universal test cell includes a plurality of test slots configured to receive a plurality of universal test containers each including similar dimensions. Each universal test container is configured to enclose each of a plurality of different devices to test. Each universal test container includes an external electrical interface configured to couple to each of the plurality of different devices to test. The universal test cell is configured to test the plurality of different devices while each is located within a universal test container of the plurality of universal test containers. The universal test cell includes a plurality of universal electrical interfaces that are each configured to couple with the external electrical interface of each universal test container.