Waveguide integrated circuit testing

Abstract

A structure and method for providing a housing which includes a high frequency (HF or RF) connection between a device under test (DUT) having a waveguide 22. The waveguide includes a wave insert 22, and a conductive compliant member 40 which maintains bias between the adapter/insert 22 and the DUT HF port 20 while also maintaining an RF shield despite the variable height of the DUT waveport. A passage 50 provides an RF connection between the RF port 62 on the DUT and a RF wave guide horn 54. A plurality of transmitting horns 54 can be arranged to transmit to a single receiving horn 154 so that fewer receivers are required to test multiple DUTs in sequence.

Claims

1. A system for testing multiple integrated circuit devices under test (DUT) having a radio high frequency (RF) wave port located on the DUT, comprising: a. an array of test housings each having a receiver for a DUT, said housing being arranged around a central axis; b. each housing being associated with a RF transmitting horn antenna having narrow proximal central aperture and a wide distal aperture and defining a transmitter horn axis therebetween; c. an interface adapter element having a first end located proximate said DUT RF wave port and a second end; d. a receiving RF horn antenna located generally above said array, adjacent said second end of said interface adapter and proximate said central axis; e. said RF transmitting horn antennas being oriented so that the horn axis generally points to said receiving horn where the transmitting axis intersects said central axis.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said DUT has a RF port having a port central axis and wherein said central aperture on said horn antenna is coaxially aligned with said port central axis.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a waveguide insert supported by a compliant elastic member, said insert being interposed between said DUT RF port and said horn antenna which thereby causes the insert to minimize RF leakage between the DUT RF port and antenna.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said elastic member is at least partially recessed with said housing.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said housing includes a groove sized to receive a portion of said elastic member.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said DUT, housing and transmitting antenna are enclosed in an environmentally controlled enclosure.

7. The system of claim 6 further including at least one receiving antenna and wherein said receiving antenna is located outside said enclosure.

8. The system of claim 1 further including at least one receiving antenna and wherein said receiving antenna is located generally along said central axis spaced from said transmitting antenna.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said transmitting antenna includes a plurality of transmitting antennas, one associated with each DUT and wherein each transmitting antenna is pointed to said receiving antenna.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said receiving antenna sequentially tests a plurality of DUTs.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said transmitting antennas are each angled toward said receiving antenna.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface adapter is biased against said RF port.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface adapter includes vertical pints and is configured to move along said pins.

14. A test apparatus for testing multiple integrated circuit devices under test (DUT) having a radio high frequency (RF) wave port located on the DUT, comprising: f. an array of test housings each having a receiver for a DUT, said housing being arranged around a central axis; g. each housing being associated with a RF transmitting horn antenna having proximal central aperture and a wider distal aperture and defining a transmitter horn axis therebetween; h. a circumferential adapter element size to surround said DUT RF port having a first end located proximate said RF wave port and having a bias element to maintain engagement between said RF port and said adapter; i. a receiving RF horn antenna located generally above said array and proximate said central axis and said adapter; j. said RF transmitting horn antennas being oriented so that the horn axis generally points to said receiving horn where the transmitting axis intersects said central axis.

15. A method of testing a plurality of radio frequency transmitting devices under test (DUT), each DUT having a RF output port, comprising the steps of: a. locating a plurality of DUTs in an array with each RF output port being oriented in the same direction; b. locating a transmitting RF waveguide horn proximate the DUT output port on DUT; c. locating a receiving wave guide horn proximate the array but spaced therefrom and generally central to the array; d. pointing the transmitting RF waveguide horns in the array at an angle toward the receiving horn; e. sequentially testing each of DUTs in the array and sequentially receiving RF signals from each of said DUTs at said receiving horn.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of pointing each of said horns toward said receiving horn.

17. The method of claim 15 further including locating an adapter element between said RF port and said RF waveguide to create an RF shield therebetween.

18. The method of claim 17 further including locating an elastomeric bias member adjacent the adapter element to maintain said element in contact with said RF waveguide and minimize RF crosstalk.

19. The method of claim 15 further including the step of locating the DUT and wave guide horn within an environmentally enclosed chamber and locating said receiving horn outside said chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top perspective exploded view of a manual actuator with a compliant housing.

(2) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the manual actuator with levers.

(4) FIG. 4 a side plan view of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is bottom view of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top perspective exploded view of a wave guide housing system wave guide aligned with the RF port of the IC.

(7) FIG. 7 is a bottom exploded view of FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 6 without portions broken away.

(9) FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the subject matter of FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 9 but exploded.

(11) FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a rectangular waveguide.

(12) FIG. 13 is a bottom exploded view of FIG. 12.

(13) FIG. 14 is a view like FIG. 12 but not exploded.

(14) FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of FIG. 14.

(15) FIG. 16 is a view like FIG. 14 with a rectangular waveguide.

(16) FIG. 17 is an exploded view of FIG. 16.

(17) FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a rectangular wave guide.

(18) FIG. 19 is a side plan view of FIG. 18.

(19) FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a circular/conical wave guide.

(20) FIG. 21 is a side plan view of FIG. 20.

(21) FIG. 22 is a side sectional view of FIG. 19.

(22) FIG. 23 is a side plan view of FIG. 22 with mounting plate and bolts.

(23) FIG. 24 is a side plan view like FIG. 23 with a manual actuator and a wave guide receiver.

(24) FIG. 25 is a view like FIG. 24 with an elongated pair of wave guides.

(25) FIG. 26 is a view like FIG. 17 with a waveguide attached.

(26) FIG. 27 is a perspective view of an array of housings with waveguides directed to a single receiver waveguide.

(27) FIG. 28 is a side plan view of FIG. 27.

(28) FIG. 29 is a top plan view of FIG. 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(29) Integrated circuits operate at different speeds. Some devices which operate at 60+ GHz need to be tested and conventional test systems that use coax, contacts or microstrip or stripline structures to interface to devices under test are extremely lossy at these frequencies. Examples of such devices are chips which have microwave/radar transceivers, such as for automotive auto braking systems. The present disclosure provides a waveguide interface to these devices which can provide a high frequency interface to these devices, may still not be able to provide compliance/solid contact to the chip while still providing a solid RF return path for production testing when accounting for package tolerancing.

(30) In this disclosure a waveguide is shown with properties to interface to these devices by adding compliance/resilience to the housing as shown in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/228,355 filed 4 Aug. 2016 entitled Waveguide Integrated Testing which is incorporated herein by reference.

(31) FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an assembly 10 with compliance and manual actuation. A receiver 24 is situated on the actuator body 20. A waveguide insert/interface adapter/link 22 is supported by a compliant elastic member/spring 40 (also visible in FIGS. 16 and 22) which allows the insert to be compliant to insertion forces when a handler inserts a device under test (not shown) into the insert and it assists in preventing RF leakage or crosstalk between the DUT and the antenna. The adapter may translate vertically along pins 23 in holes 25 (FIG. 1) in response to spring 40.

(32) Springs 44 via pivot pins 36 and handles 46 are used to manually actuate the position of the body 20 during test. Handles 46 have latch hooks 48 to engage with another board. As shown in FIG. 22 the spring 40 is at least partially recessed with said housing and the housing includes an annular groove sized 27 to receive a portion of said elastic member. The insert adapter may also be recessed into the housing so that when it translates along the pins, it will still provide an RF shield because of overlapping parts.

(33) FIGS. 6-26 illustrate various configurations of a compliant waveguide and a structure focusing the RF emitted signal from the DUT to a receiver for testing its output.

(34) FIG. 6 illustrates a compliant housing with a device under test (DUT) 60 having a bottom surface RF output port 62, a waveguide adapter/insert 22, and an aperture 50 in the bottom plate/body 20 which aligned with a horn antenna/RF guide 54. The DUT makes electrical contact with the contactor housing 58 which is in turn connected to a load board, not shown.

(35) The horn antenna is mounted to the body 20 by a plate/flange 56 which is proximate the DUT port element which transmits RF, and maintains the coaxial alignment of the horn with the RF output port 62 of the DUT 60.

(36) In this embodiment, the horn is tapered from a narrow rectangular opening generally the size of the DUT output port to a larger opening at its distal end.

(37) FIGS. 9 and 10 show a similar construction with a conical horn 54 with a proximal aperture near the DUT sized to be equal to or larger than the DUT RF port and at its distal end a larger opening.

(38) FIG. 11 is a top view of the rectangular horn 54 where the proximal and distal openings can be seen.

(39) FIG. 12 shows the connecting aperture 50 which is coaxial with the waveguide insert passage and the horn.

(40) The waveguide insert/adapter provides a close fit to the DUT RF port and to passage 50 so there is minimal leakage or crosstalk. The adapter can be in contact with the RF port on one side and the horn plate 56 on the other and be constructed of an RF shielding material. The adapter 22 can be customized for the DUT so that the entire assembly need not be changed when a DUT has slightly different RF port orientations, locations or dimensions.

(41) FIGS. 18, 19, 20 and 21 show top views of both rectangular and circular (conical) RF antennas.

(42) FIG. 24 illustrates a configuration where the RF horn antenna 54 is coaxially aligned with receiving horn antenna 154. In the preferred embedment, the horns are coaxially aligned along axis 64 which aligns directly with the DUT RF port 62. Horn 154 is then connected to an RF received for testing the signal out of horn 54. FIG. 25 is a similar view for a different horn shape.

(43) FIGS. 27, 28, 29 illustrate how an array of separate DUT tests can be conducted with a single RF receiving horn 154. The array of testing stations 70 are preferably mounting in a circle with the transmitting horn 54 aimed/angled toward receiving horn 154 which is pointed downward. It is also possible to use other configurations such as a single or two opposing spaced apart lines of transmitting horns all pointed toward the receiving horn. Multiple receiving horns are also possible. By sequencing which testing station 70 is active, the receiving horn connected to test equipment (not shown) can associate the test result with the appropriate station. This will reduce the cost of test equipment and the size of the testing array. At least one receiving antenna generally along the central axis spaced from said transmitting antenna. The transmitting antenna may include a plurality of transmitting antennas, one associated with each DUT and wherein each transmitting antenna is pointed to a receiving antenna. The receiving antenna(s) may sequentially test a plurality of DUTs by electronic switching each of the DUTs on an off in any sequence and recording the associated DUT for test data purposes. By this method, multiple RF DUTs can be tested sequentially after inserter of the DUTs in their test housings. The transmitting antennas can each be angled toward the receiving antenna.

(44) This disclosure is for packages that have I/O either on top of package or on both top and bottom of package.

(45) FIG. 1 shows an interconnection with the device under test that has a waveguide opening on top. This opening could be rectangular or could have a circular opening. The compliant waveguide portion that would interface to a waveguide piece/flange and provide some compliance to mating output of device.

(46) In manual test, the device would be inserted into the contactor and manual actuator with built in compliant waveguide would be attached over device using aligning features on manual actuator part to align device waveguide opening to waveguide portion of manual actuator.

(47) In automation mode the manual actuator would be moved aside so device could be placed into contactor and the manual actuator would be moved into place either laterally, vertically or combination of laterally and vertically to align device opening.

(48) This could be done using motor, track or robotic feature. This is important as manually screwing antenna onto manual actuator will degrade that interface causing expensive waveguide pieces to have to be replaced.

(49) In production, the goal is to start test as fast as possible after the device is inserted into the contactor. The waveguide band or opening could be converted to microstrip, coaxial, or use a horn antenna as shown.

(50) Using a horn antenna or running microstrip, coplanar waveguide or coaxial output to antenna would allow test signal to be propagated thru area removing the need for signal to be routed from device to another spot on tester thru a hard connection.

(51) The antenna could be mechanically or electrically pointed in any direction to ease in measurements and sending signal from DUT to tester. Because high frequency signals can propagate thru glass or other materials in the handler It would be a very convenient way to transmit data from within an environmentally (temperature, humidity, pressure, etc) controlled test chamber (enclosure) to test r on outside by using a directional antenna.

(52) Also a switch in waveguide or measurement system on test side could rout signals to just one analyzer for measurements from multiple sites inside production handler to reduce test system costs.

(53) The horn antennas could be made from a plated plastic or other compound using an additive (3D Printing) or subtractive process (machining). Variances in these parts could be calibrated out of system if the antennas could be precisely located during testing.

(54) The antenna on manual actuator side could be calibrated with antenna on receiver side to calibrate any losses between the two antennas.

(55) To make the system operate best the antennas need to be precisely located to provide robustness of the measurement system.

(56) The compliant waveguide section of the manual actuator provides alignment to waveguide opening of device either through precisely aligning package edge or using some feature on device such as a hole or bump that is precisely aligned to waveguide opening.

(57) The horn antennas can be designed to be very directional and as small or large as necessary to adequately and reliably transmit RF power from device opening into waveguide horn at receiver.

(58) If other I/Os are on top of device the I/O could be contacted using standard contacts in contactor and routed to board system similar to method currently being used.

(59) Once established and calibrated the distance between antennas on manual actuator and receiver should be the same distance apart for all testing. Using point to point antenna methods the higher frequency signal can be sent directly to antenna on tester without need for expensive interconnects.

(60) The description of the invention and its applications as set forth herein is illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein are possible and practical alternatives to and equivalents of the various elements of the embodiments would be understood to those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this patent document. These and other variations and modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.