IP Library Granted Patent US 8,303,008
Granted Patent B2
US 8,303,008 · App. 12/671,118 · Granted Nov 6, 2012

Plunger for holding and moving electrical components

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,303,008
App. No.
12/671,118
Granted
Nov 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plunger for holding and moving electronic components in particular for introduction and removal of IC's to and from a contacting device connected to a test bed comprises a plunger head with at least one suction head for sectional contact with a component. A heat-conducting body, temperature-controlled by means of a fluid, is arranged such that the suction-contacted component is in contact with the heat-conducting body. The suction head passes through the heat-conducting body.

Claims (21)

1. A plunger for moving electronic components towards and away from a testing position, the plunger having a plunger head which comprises at least one suction head connected to a vacuum line for applying suction to suck a component into contact with the plunger head, and a heat conducting body comprising a heat conducting material, the heat conducting body having a large surface area in thermal contact with a fluid and being arranged in such a way that the heat conducting surrounds the suction head so that the sucked-in component rests on the heat conducting body when the suction head sucks the component into contact with the plunger head, the heat conducting body being adapted for being temperature-controlled by the fluid, to temperature-control the sucked-in component contact in contact with the heat conducting body.

2. The plunger according to claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting body completely circumferentially surrounds the suction head and comprises a central axial through-opening, through which the suction head extends.

3. The plunger according to claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting body comprises a plurality of through-openings, through which said suction head is guided.

4. The plunger according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger head comprises a retaining base supporting the sucked-in component and has an axial passage, in which the heat conducting body is arranged around the suction head.

5. The plunger according to claim 4 , wherein the heat conducting body is arranged resiliently relative to the retaining base.

6. The plunger according to claim 5 , wherein the heat conducting body is displaceably guided by bolts extending in an axial direction and at their front end having a bolt head with a front face, which forms an axial stop for the component, and having a rear face which forms an axial stop for the heat conducting body.

7. The plunger according to claim 6 , wherein the heat conducting body is pushed forward by springs which are arranged around the bolts.

8. The plunger according to claim 4 , wherein the heat conducting body is tiltably arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the plunger.

9. The plunger according to claim 4 , wherein the retaining base comprises fluid guide recesses in its rear side which open into the axial passage in the retaining base so at the rear side of the retaining base conveyed fluid can be guided towards the heat conducting body arranged in the axial passage in a targeted manner.

10. The plunger according to claim 1 , wherein the plunger head comprises a retaining base which is configured as a heat conducting body.

11. The plunger according to claim 10 , wherein the retaining base has fins on its rear side which enlarge its surface area and thus improve the transfer of heat from the fluid to the retaining base.

12. The plunger of claim 1 , wherein the heat conducting body has fins in contact with the fluid which enlarge the surface area to improve the thermal transfer between the fluid and the heat conducting body.

13. A plunger for holding and moving electronic components for testing, the plunger having a plunger head which comprises at least one suction head for sucking in a component and a heat conducting body which can be temperature-controlled by a fluid and is arranged in such a way that the sucked-in component rests on the heat conducting body, wherein the suction head is guided through the heat conducting body,

wherein the heat conducting body consists of a disc-shaped body and fins projecting beyond the disc-shaped body, the disc-shaped body comprising a flat front end face which can be contacted with the component, and the fins projecting rearwards beyond the disc-shaped body.

14. A plunger for moving electronic components towards and away from a testing position, the plunger comprising:

a suction head connected to a vacuum line and configured to apply suction to hold an electronic component; and

a heat conducting body surrounding the suction head, the heat conducting body comprising a heat conductive material, said heat conducting body being arranged with respect to the suction head so that the electronic component rests on the heat conducting body while the suction head uses suction to hold the electronic component, the heat conducting body thereby controlling the temperature of the electronic component; and

a fluid feed line associated with the heat conducting body, the fluid feed line providing a fluid contacting the heat conducting body to control the temperature of the heat conducting body and the electronic component resting thereon.

15. The plunger according to claim 14 , wherein the heat conducting body completely circumferentially surrounds the suction head and comprises a central axial through-opening, through which the suction head extends.

16. The plunger of claim 14 , wherein the heat conducting body is structured so that an opposing surface of the electronic component can completely contact the heat conducting body when the suction head sucks in and retains the component.

17. The plunger of claim 14 , wherein the heat conducting body has fins in contact with the fluid, the fins providing an enlarged surface area in contact with the fluid to improve thermal transfer between the fluid and the heat conducting body.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT PATENT NUMBER 7261561 AND REPLACE WITH PATENT NUMBER 7231561 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034660 FRAME 0188. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 037824/0372 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034660/0188 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded Dec 18, 2014
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: XCERRA CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 034660/0394 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 27, 2014
From: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION
To: XCERRA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033032/0768 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 17, 2014
From: LTX-CREDENCE CORPORATION; EVERETT CHARLES TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 032086/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2010
From: JESERER, GUNTHER; VAROL, EFE
To: MULTITEST ELEKTRONISCHE SYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 023865/0816 →