Test System With Test Trays and Automated Test Tray Flipper

Abstract

A test system may be provided in which devices under test (DUTs) are loaded into test trays. Test trays may be moved between test stations using a conveyor belt. The test system may include loading equipment for placing test trays on the conveyor belt at desired intervals. Each test tray may be tested using test stations positioned along the conveyor belt. A first group of test stations may be configured to test DUTs in their upright orientation, whereas a second group of test stations may be configured to test DUTs in their inverted orientation. Test tray flipping equipment may be interposed between the first and second groups of test stations. The flipping equipment may include a movable arm configured to receive an incoming tray, grab the tray, lift the tray from the conveyor belt, rotate the tray, and drop off the tray back onto the conveyor belt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using a test system to test a device under test, wherein the test system includes a conveyor belt, the method comprising:
 with a flipper arm, picking up the device under test from the conveyor belt;   while the flipper arm is holding the device under test, inverting device under test by rotating the flipper arm; and   with the flipper arm, dropping off the inverted device under test onto the conveyor belt.   
     
     
         2 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the device under test comprises a handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         3 . The method defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 while the flipper arm is holding the device under test, raising the device under test to a predetermined height above the conveyor belt before inverting the device under test.   
     
     
         4 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the device under test is placed within a test tray, and wherein picking up the device under test comprises picking up the test tray from the conveyor belt with the flipper arm. 
     
     
         5 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the device under test is placed within a test tray having test tray engagement features, wherein the flipper arm includes flipper arm engagement features, and wherein picking up the device under test comprises mating the flipper arm engagement features with the test tray engagement features to hold the test tray within the flipper arm. 
     
     
         6 . The method defined in  claim 5 , wherein the flipper arm engagement features comprises pins, wherein the test tray engagement features comprise holes, and wherein mating the flipper arm engagement features with the test tray engagement features comprises inserting the pins in the flipper arm into corresponding holes in the test tray. 
     
     
         7 . The method defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting the device under test on the conveyor belt with a sensor, wherein picking up the device under test from the conveyor belt comprises lowering the flipper arm to receive the device under test in response to detection of the device under test using the sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The method defined in  claim 7 , wherein the device under test is placed within a test tray, wherein the sensor comprises a radio-frequency identification sensor, and wherein detecting the incoming device under test on the conveyor belt comprises identifying a serial number associated with the test tray with the radio-frequency identification sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the device under test is placed within a test tray, wherein the flipper arm includes flipper arm engagement features, and wherein the test tray includes test tray engagement features, the method comprising:
 detecting whether the device under test has been successfully received by the flipper arm with a sensor, wherein picking up the device under test from the conveyor belt comprises engaging the flipper arm engagement features with the test tray engagement features in response to detecting that the device under test has been successfully received by the flipper arm.   
     
     
         10 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein the test system further includes a computer-controlled actuator, and wherein inverting device under test comprises rotating the flipper arm with the computer-controlled actuator while the flipper arm is holding the device under test. 
     
     
         11 . A method for using a test system to test a device under test, wherein the test system includes a conveyor belt, the method comprising:
 with a first group of test equipment stationed along the conveyor belt, testing the device under test when the device under test is oriented in an upright position on the conveyor belt;   with a second group of test equipment stationed along the conveyor belt, testing the device under test when the device under test is oriented in an inverted position on the conveyor belt; and   with flipper equipment interposed between the first and second groups of test equipment along the conveyor belt, flipping the device under test from the upright position to the inverted position.   
     
     
         12 . The method defined in  claim 11 , wherein the device under test comprises a handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . The method defined in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 installing the device under test within a test tray.   
     
     
         14 . The method defined in  claim 13 , wherein the flipper equipment includes a flipper arm, and wherein flipping the device under test comprises:
 with the flipper arm, receiving the test tray;   with the flipper arm, latching onto the received test tray; and   while the test tray is latched to the flipper arm, inverting the test tray by rotating the flipper arm so that the device is under test is flipped from its upright position to its inverted position.   
     
     
         15 . The method defined in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 with a first sensor associated with the flipper equipment, detecting the test tray on the conveyor belt;   in response to detection of the test tray with the first sensor, lowering the flipper arm to receive the test tray; and   with a second sensor associated with the flipper equipment, detecting whether the device under test has been successfully received by the flipper arm, wherein latching onto the received test tray comprises latching onto the received test tray in response to detecting that the test tray has been successfully received by the flipper arm.   
     
     
         16 . Apparatus configured to flip a test tray containing a device under test on a conveyor belt, comprising:
 a flipper arm configured to pick up the test tray from the conveyor belt;   a pivot about which the flipper arm is configured to rotate and invert the test tray; and   an actuator configured to lower the flipper arm and the inverted test tray to the conveyor belt.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus defined in  claim 16 , wherein the device under test comprises a handheld electronic device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus defined in  claim 16 , wherein the test tray includes test tray engagement features, and wherein the flipper arm includes flipper arm engagements features configured to mate with test tray engagement features. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a radio-frequency identification sensor configured to identify a serial number associated with the test tray.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus defined in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an optical sensor configured to detect whether the device under test has been successfully received by the flipper arm.