Hybrid cooling system for automatic test equipment
View Patent ↗Automatic test equipment is disclosed including a console and a testhead cooled by a hybrid cooling system. The testhead includes a card cage assembly having a plurality of slots disposed in spaced-apart relationship and adapted for receiving a plurality of electronic board assemblies. The hybrid cooling system includes a first cooling assembly coupled to the card cage assembly for distributing a first cooling medium proximate the electronic board assemblies and a second cooling assembly. The second cooling assembly is disposed proximate the card cage assembly and includes user-activatable cooling ports for selective access to a second cooling medium for the electronic board assemblies.
1. Automatic test equipment including:
a console;
a testhead coupled to the console, the testhead including a card cage assembly having a plurality of slots disposed in spaced-apart relationship, the plurality of slots adapted for receiving a plurality of electronic board assemblies; and
a hybrid cooling system including
a first cooling assembly coupled to the card cage assembly for distributing a first cooling medium proximate the electronic board assemblies; and
a second cooling assembly disposed proximate the card cage assembly and including user-activatable cooling ports for selective access to a second cooling medium for the plurality of electronic board assemblies.
2. Automatic test equipment according to claim 1 wherein:
the first cooling system includes a fan, and the first cooling medium comprises a gas.
3. Automatic test equipment according to claim 2 wherein:
the gas comprises air.
4. Automatic test equipment according to claim 1 wherein:
a portion of the plurality of electronic assemblies include circuit boards requiring liquid cooling.
5. Automatic test equipment according to claim 1 wherein:
a portion of the plurality of electronic assemblies include circuit boards requiring only air cooling.
6. Automatic test equipment according to claim 1 wherein:
the circuit boards requiring liquid cooling are adapted to receive the liquid cooling medium, and include couplers for engaging the access ports.
7. Automatic test equipment according to claim 1 wherein:
the second cooling medium comprises a liquid.
8. Automatic test equipment according to claim 7 wherein:
the liquid comprises HFE.
9. Automatic test equipment according to claim 1 wherein the card cage assembly comprises:
a first card cage; and
a second card cage disposed serially with the first card cage, the first and second card cages cooperating to form a linear coolant path.
10. Automatic test equipment according to claim 9 and further including:
a heat exchanger interposed between the first and second card cages in the linear coolant path.
11. Automatic test equipment including:
a console;
means for housing a plurality of electronic board assemblies; and
means for cooling the plurality of electronic board assemblies with a combination of air and liquid cooling media;
wherein the means for housing a plurality of electronic board assemblies comprises a testhead coupled to the console, the testhead including a card case assembly having a plurality of slots disposed in spaced-apart relationship, the plurality of slots adapted for receiving a plurality of electronic board assemblies.
12. Automatic test equipment including:
a console;
means for housing a plurality of electronic board assemblies; and
means for cooling the plurality of electronic board assemblies with a combination of air and liquid cooling media;
wherein the means for cooling the plurality of electronic board assemblies comprises:
a hybrid cooling system including
a first cooling assembly coupled to the card cage assembly for distributing a first cooling medium proximate the electronic board assemblies; and
a second cooling assembly disposed proximate the card cage assembly and including user-activatable cooling ports for selective access to a second cooling medium for the plurality of electronic board assemblies.