Zero force insertion socket for gun mounts

Details Zero force insertion socket for gun mounts Zero force insertion socket for gun mounts

1999-07-30

2001-11-20

Sircus, Brian (Department: 2858)

Electrical connectors

Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...

C439S342000, C439S263000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06319032

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zero insertion force socket apparatus for testing gun mount assemblies, methods for making the apparatus and methods for using the apparatus.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a zero force insertion apparatus for testing gun mount assemblies for electrical and optical performance criteria where the apparatus has an opened or disengaged condition for zero force insertion and removal of a mount into a socket associated with the apparatus and a closed or engaged condition for bringing mount pins into electrical communication with electrically conductive receiving elements of the socket so that the gun assembly can be tested for electrical and optical performance while the socket is in the closed condition and where the apparatus can be operated in non-continuous or continuous manner. The present invention also relates to an automated testing apparatus incorporating the socket apparatus, to methods for making the socket apparatus and to methods for using the socket apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatuses are known for testing devices that have sockets such as gun mount assembly for cathode ray tubes or other similar devices. Moreover, various zero insertion force apparatus for testing such devices are also known. Such apparatuses are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,410,257 to Swaffield and U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,098 to Sano et al., and in several foreign references: Japanese Patent Application No. 6320103, pub. no. 08180810A to Seiichiro, Japanese Patent Application No. 62-241580 to Endou, Japanese Patent Application No. 52-150543 to Shirai and EP98201058.9. However, these apparatuses are not designed to test gun mount assemblies in a zero force insertion manner.
Thus, there is a need in the art for other zero insertion force apparatus for testing gun assemblies either in a non-continuous or continuous manner where the number of moving parts is minimal decreasing breakage and increasing testing efficiency in moving parts is minimal decreasing breakage and increasing testing efficiency in continuous manufacturing facilities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a zero insertion force socket apparatus for testing gun assemblies, where the apparatus includes a socket having a plurality of electrically conductive elements incorporated in an electrically insulating body and a movable member associated with the body designed to cause the elements to change from an opened condition to a closed condition.
The present invention provides a zero insertion force socket apparatus for testing gun assemblies, where the apparatus includes a socket having a plurality of deformable, electrically conductive elements incorporated in an electrically insulating body and a movable member associated with the body designed to engage the deformable elements deforming the elements while engaged by the movable member to change the socket from an opened or disengaged condition to a closed or engaged condition. When a gun mount assembly is inserted into the socket and the deformable elements are deformed, the deformation brings the inner wall of each element into electrical contact with a gun mount assembly pin residing therein.
The present invention also provides an assembly line including a plurality of socket apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of gun assembly insertion apparatus and a plurality of engaging members designed to engage the socket movable member so that the gun assembly pins can be brought into and out of electrical contact with conductive elements of the socket apparatus.
The present invention also provides a method for testing a gun mount assembly involving inserting a gun assembly into a socket of a zero force insertion apparatus of the present invention while in its opened or disengaged condition, engaging a movable member of the apparatus causing the socket to change to its closed or engaged condition which brings the pin of the gun assembly into electrical contact with conductive elements in the socket, testing the gun assembly for electrical and optical performance criteria, disengaging the movable member causing the socket to change back to its opened condition and removing the gun assembly. The method of the present invention can be practiced in a continuous or non-continuous mode.
The present invention further provides a method for making the zero insertion force socket assembly of the present invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4211458 (1980-07-01), Kent
patent: 4376562 (1983-03-01), Kaley
patent: 4381130 (1983-04-01), Sprenkle
patent: 4950980 (1990-08-01), Pfaff
patent: 5252098 (1993-10-01), Sano et al.
patent: 5410257 (1995-04-01), Swaffield
patent: 5833483 (1998-11-01), Lai et al.
patent: 5855489 (1999-01-01), Walker

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