Abstract: A stopping device for an automation module for a printed circuit board (PCB) wherein the PCB is stopped in a stopping position and then removed from the stopping position. A stopping means serves to stop in the stopping position a PCB which is fed on a conveyor of the automation module that can impart an acceleration to the PCB. A pressure means is provided to apply pressure on the PCB when it arrives in the vicinity of the stopping position so as to impart a deceleration to the PCB and avoid rebound thereof against the stopping means. The pressure means also applies pressure on the PCB when it is removed from the stopping position by the conveyor to enable the conveyor to impart an acceleration to the PCB.

Abstract: A testing method and machine for automatic adjustment of the conveying means for printed circuit boards (20) in a test machine of modular type, comprising a test module (1), a loading module (2), and an unloading module (3), wherein respective moveable rails (110, 111; 210, 211; 310, 311)are provided to support the rails (110, 111) are moved toward each other, with an independent movement, and temporarily stopped on detection of corresponding stops (26) indicative of the width of the printed circuit board (20) to be tested, then withdrawn by a fixed, pre-established distance, so as to be disposed in the correct conveying position, the rails (210, 211; 310, 311) of the other modules (2, 3) being brought toward each other and stopped on detection of fixed stops in the test module (1), so as to be disposed in perfect alignment with the rails (110, 111).

Abstract: A stopping device (30) for automation modules of printed circuit boards (PCB) comprises stopping means (31) to stop a PCB (1) advancing on a conveyor (20) of an automation module in a stop position and pressure means (36) to apply pressure on the PCB (1) when it arrives in the vicinity of the stopping position, so as to avoid rebound of the PCB (1) against the stopping means (31) and impart pressure on the PCB (1) when it must be removed from the stopping position, so as to give the PCB a high acceleration.

Abstract: A method and a device for automatic adjustment of the conveying means for printed circuits (20) in a test machine of modular type, comprising a test module (1), a loading module (2), and an unloading module (3), wherein respective moveable rails (110, 111; 210, 2111; 310, 311) are provided to support said means for conveying the printed circuit (20), advantageously in the form of belts (10, 119), wherein said rails (110, 111) are moved toward each other, with an independent movement, and temporarily stopped on detection of corresponding stops (26) indicative of the width of the printed circuit (20) to be tested, then withdrawn by a fixed, pre-established distance, so as to be disposed in the correct conveying position, the rails (210, 211; 310, 311) of the other modules (2, 3) being brought toward each other and stopped on detection of fixed stops in the test module (1), so as to be disposed in perfect alignment with said rails (110, 111).

Abstract: Method and apparatus for setting the contact elements (test pins) of a printed circuit board test device, which are accommodated in one or two test adapters, to the contact points, provided on one or both sides, of a printed circuit board (series) to be tested, wherein said printed circuit board (series) comprises various subsets of contact points and suitable alignment means with respect to the adapters, in particular two reference holes or reference edges. The new and inventive feature is considered to consist in the fact that at least one subset of the contact elements (S) of one or both adapters (BF, BA; TF, TA), independently of at least one further subset of the contact elements (H), and the alignment means (T) of one or both adapters are set relative to one another.

Abstract: An adapter for adapting a uniform contact grid of an electrical testing device for testing printed circuit boards to an irregular contact configuration of connection points on a printed circuit board to be tested includes upper and lower pin retention plates respectively defining a cover surface to lie against a surface of the printed circuit board to be tested and a base surface to lie on a contact field of the testing device. Substantially an entire space between the upper and lower pin retention plates are filled with a substantially incompressible solid body of low density and high surface pressure resistance. Needle-like test pins are positioned in test pin channels extending through the solid body.

Abstract: Printed circuit board testing device includes contacts arranged in a pre-determined basic grid pattern, and a pressure device for urging a printed circuit board into engagement with an adapter arrangement for electrically connecting test specimen-specific test points of the printed circuit board to be tested to grid-oriented contacts of the basic grid pattern of the printed circuit board testing device. The adapter arrangement includes a flexible adapter foil that carries on the side facing the basic grid pattern preferably regularly-arranged lands and on the side facing the test specimen test specimen-specific lands that are in direct contact with the test points of the printed circuit board to be tested. The mutually-assigned lands are electrically interconnected on both sides of the adapter foil by plated-through holes and, if necessary, associated printed conductors.

Abstract: A device for electrically connecting contact points of a test specimen (circuit board) to the electrical contact points of a testing device includes an adapter board having a plurality of contacts arranged on each side thereof. Cushion-like plugs made from an electrically conductive resilient material are provided on each of the contact points to equalize the height variations of the contact points of the test specimen. An adapter board is also provided made of a film-like material having inherent flexibility to equalize the height variations of the contact points of the test specimen. Furthermore, an adapter board is provided for cooperating with a grid made of an electrically insulated resilient material and having a plurality of plugs made from an electrically conductive resilient material extending therethrough.

Abstract: A device for electrically connecting contact points of a test specimen (circuit board) to the electrical contact points of a testing device includes an adapter board having a plurality of contacts arranged on each side thereof. Cushion-like plugs made from an electrically conductive resilient material are provided on each of the contact points to equalize the height variations of the contact points of the test specimen. An adapter board is also provided made of a film-like material having inherent flexibility to equalize the height variations of the contact points of the test specimen. Furthermore, an adapter board is provided for cooperating with a grid made of an electrically insulated resilient material and having a plurality of plugs made from an electrically conductive resilient material extending therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the resistance of a test specimen includes an insulated-gate-bipolar-transistor (IGBT transistor) which is provided for applying a test current to the test specimen. A voltage measuring unit is provided including a serial connection of a voltage measuring device and an MOS transistor. A current measuring device is provided for measuring the test flowing through the test specimen. The voltage measured by the voltage measuring unit is used to compensate for the voltage drop across the IGBT transistor when calculating the resistance of the test specimen.

Abstract: A printed circuit board having thereon a plurality of conductors including onnection points is tested for insulation resistance between the conductors by measuring current flowing between one conductor and the other conductors in an arrangement whereby each connection point is connectable to a first potential through a first transistor and to a second potential through a second transistor and a current measuring device. During testing, only a single connection point of each conductor is connected to the second potential, and all other transistors of that conductor are mechanically isolated from electrical connection with respective connection points. This prevents leakage current through the transistors associated with the other connection points of a given conductor.

Abstract: A circuit board testing apparatus includes a plurality of contact elements located in a contact array plane. The contact elements are connected to an electronic control and test structure and during testing are connected through longitudinally rigid test pins to contact portions of a connection carrier or circuit board to be tested. The contact elements are mounted to yield resiliently and are supported against the contact pressure applied during testing. The contact elements are in the form of electrically conductive compression springs located and guided directly in bores in a spring array body formed of an electrically insulating material. The rigid test pins seat directly on the compression springs.

Abstract: A circuit board testing apparatus includes a plurality of contact elements located in a contact array plane. The contact elements are connected to an electronic control and test structure and during testing are connected through longitudinally rigid test pins to contact portions of a connection carrier or circuit board to be tested. The contact elements are mounted to yield resiliently and are supported against the contact pressure applied during testing. The contact elements are in the form of electrically conductive compression springs located and guided directly in bores in a spring contact array body formed of an electrically insulating material. The rigid test pins seat directly on the compression springs.

Abstract: An adaptor for adapting the uniform contact element array in an electronic apparatus for testing printed circuit boards to the non-uniform distribution of connection points on a circuit board to be tested includes at least one adaptor plate having therethrough bores in accordance with the facing pattern of the connection points on the circuit board. A spacer of resilient construction forms a compressible spacing element equally suited for one- and two-sided testing of circuit boards. For two-sided testing, an outer adaptor plate, on which the circuit board is directly placed, is supported additionally, when needed, by supporting posts.

Abstract: A circuit board having conductor tracks is optically tested for functional aults by use of a computer controlled testing apparatus including at least one camera. The surface of the circuit board is scanned in a point-by-point manner by the camera to establish for each point scanned an image respresentative indicative of a conductor track area or a non-conductor track area. The surface of the circuit board is divided into a predetermined plurality of windows of predetermined size, and the image representations are associated with respective windows. For each window a determination is made of the sum of only the points of the window corresponding to a conductor track area or the sum of only the points of the window corresponding to a non-conductor track area. This establishes an identification value descriptive of the particular window. The identification values of the windows of the circuit board being tested are compared with predetermined values of corresponding respective windows of a reference master.

Abstract: An apparatus for electronically testing printed circuit boards or the like includes a plurality of substantially parallel test pins for making electrical contact between resilient contact elements in an array plate or the like and contact areas on a printed circuit board. A mask plate extends at right angles to the test pins and has through-bores through which the test pins extend in a manner such that one end of each test pin projects therethrough to engage a respective contact area of a circuit board placed in a testing position. Spaced from the mask plate is an elastic plate which is substantially parallel to the mask plate and which receives test pins, which are non-yielding or rigid longitudinally, in a manner such that such pins are retained in the elastic plate due to the elasticity of the material thereof.

Abstract: A contact array assembly for use with a computer-controlled printed circuit oard testing apparatus includes an array of contacts into segments individually and releasably supported by supporting rods resting in a base plate. The space so created is utilized for accommodating the electronic circuitry components associated with these contact array segments and connected through plug-type connectors to a two-dimensional addressing and control logic on the base plate. These constructional units, referred to as modules or driver plates, are identical and may replace each other in any of the positions on the base plate. The invention results in a printed circuit board testing apparatus which may be designed for a very large number of contacts, but can be operated initially with a reduced amount of electronic circuitry and may be expanded later on, as desired.

Abstract: A mechanically operable suction device for lifting and holding objects indes a housing having therein an intake chamber adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, an intake orifice opening into the intake chamber from the surrounding atmosphere, and a cylinder chamber. A valve member within the intake chamber is movable between a ready position sealing the intake orifice and a suction position spaced from and opening the intake orifice. A plunger is connected to the valve member and extends therefrom through the orifice. Abutting the plunger on an object to be lifted moves the valve member from the ready position to the suction position. A control piston connected to the valve member extends into and seals the cylinder chamber from the intake chamber. The control piston is movable with the valve member between first and second positions when the valve member is in the ready and suction positions thereof, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for changing the contact pitch of a contact array of a first density to a contact array of a second density includes first and second pluralities of cards, with the cards having a first row of contacts disposed along one edge thereof having a mutual spacing therebetween equal to the pitch of one of the arrays and a second row of contacts along another edge having a mutual spacing equal to the pitch of the other one of the arrays. The cards in their respective pluralities are arranged parallel with one another with the two pluralities of cards facing each other and disposed at a right angle to each other. The first rows of contacts of the first plurality of cards provide a contact array having the first density while the second rows of contacts of the second plurality of cards define a contact array of the second density.

Abstract: A contact array assembly for use with a computer-controlled printed circuit oard testing apparatus includes an array of contacts into segments individually and releasably supported by supporting rods resting in a base plate. The space so created is utilized for accommodating the electronic circuitry components associated with these contact array segments and connected through plug-type connectors to a two-dimensional addressing and control logic on the base plate. These constructional units, referred to as modules or driver plates, are identical and may replace each other in any of the positions on the base plate. The invention results in a printed circuit board testing apparatus which may be designed for a very large number of contacts, but can be operated initially with a reduced amount of electronic circuitry and may be expanded later on, as desired.