Patents by Inventor Andre Chouinard

Andre Chouinard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7696770
    Abstract: The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a self-centering nest for testing of microprocessor chip modules. The self-centering nest includes two slideable jaws disposed on a base diagonally opposite each other. Each jaw includes a jaw pin that is receptive in a carrier, such that when the jaw pins are received in the carrier, the jaws are in an open position. The self-centering nest includes a transfer mechanism for urging a microprocessor chip module from the carrier into the self-centering nest. The self-centering nest includes a plurality of springs, each spring having a first end connected to the first slideable jaw and a second end connected to the second slideable jaw. The springs cause the jaws to move toward each other capturing and centering the microprocessor chip module when the jaws are pulled away from the carrier releasing the jaw pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corportion
    Inventors: Francois Binette, Jerome Bougie, Andre Chouinard
  • Publication number: 20080180128
    Abstract: The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a self-centering nest for testing of microprocessor chip modules. The self-centering nest includes two slideable jaws disposed on a base diagonally opposite each other. Each jaw includes a jaw pin that is receptive in a carrier, such that when the jaw pins are received in the carrier, the jaws are in an open position. The self-centering nest includes a transfer mechanism for urging a microprocessor chip module from the carrier into the self-centering nest. The self-centering nest includes a plurality of springs, each spring having a first end connected to the first slideable jaw and a second end connected to the second slideable jaw. The springs cause the jaws to move toward each other capturing and centering the microprocessor chip module when the jaws are pulled away from the carrier releasing the jaw pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: IBM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francois Binette, Jerome Bougie, Andre Chouinard