Test fixture for assembled wireless devices

1. A test fixture for radio frequency (“RF”) testing of a wireless device having a casing that can be at least partially removed to expose one or more RF spring connectors, the test fixture comprising:

a retainer for mating with the wireless device after a portion of the casing of the wireless device has been removed to provide access to the one or more RF spring connectors; and

an electrical connector mounted to the retainer and adapted to receive an electrical cable for communicating RF test signals to external test equipment.

2. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one electrically conductive probe for contacting at least one of the RF spring connectors of the wireless device.

3. The test fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one electrically conductive probe is mounted to the retainer.

4. The test fixture as claimed in claim 3 comprising a plurality of probes mounted on respective pads for contacting the RF spring connectors for distributing the RF test signals.

5. The test fixture as claimed in claim 2 wherein each probe has a spring-mounted tip for contacting a respective RF spring connector.

6. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical connector is a coaxial connector mounted to the retainer for receiving a coaxial cable for communicating the RF test signals to the external test equipment.

7. The test fixture as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a printed circuit board mounted on an inner side of the retainer, the printed circuit board having one or more pads each for receiving center and shield contacts of the coaxial connector.

8. The test fixture as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pads connected to the shield contact are distributed around the pads connected to the center contact to thereby match the impedance of the coaxial connector.

9. The test fixture as claimed in claim 8 wherein the probes are mounted on pads for receiving a shield contact of a coaxial connector.

10. The test fixture as claimed in claim 6 wherein the coaxial connector is selected from the group consisting of a 50 ohm coaxial connector, a sub-miniature-A (“SMA”) connector, and a jack connector.

11. The test fixture as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a spacer for spacing the circuit board between the inner side of the retainer and the RF spring connectors.

12. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retainer has one or more clips for securely connecting the retainer to the wireless device.

13. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retainer is moulded for hand-gripping by a user.

14. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises memory for storing an interactive test application for directing the wireless device in response to the RF test signals.

15. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a printed circuit board having one or more central metal pads connected to a center contact of a coaxial connector.

16. The test fixture as claimed in claim 15 further comprising on the printed circuit board a plurality of shield metal pads connected to the shield contact of the coaxial connector.

17. The test fixture as claimed in claim 16 wherein the shield metal pads surround the central pads on the printed circuit board.

18. The test fixture as claimed in claim 17 wherein the shield metal pads each comprises a probe having a spring-mounted tip.

19. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 comprising nine probes mounted to respective pads on the retainer.

20. The test fixture as claimed in claim 1 wherein the retainer is moulded to resemble a rear portion of the casing that has been removed from the wireless device.