JP2001059857A - Circuit board inspecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure reliability in electric connection by providing cable holding means to hold parts of cables to form conducting connection between a probe pin and inspecting means. SOLUTION: Probe pins 12P and 7P are each protruded and formed in the opposite surfaces of an upper-side fixture 12 and lower-side fixture 7 correspondingly to land patterns formed in one and the other surfaces of a circuit board 5. In addition, one ends of flat cables 13 and 14 are connected to one end sides of the upper-side fixture 12 and lower-side fixture 7 each via connectors 70. The flat cables 13 and 14 are connected to a personal computer 4 (inspecting means) via clampers 27 and 28 (cable holding means) as drooping. As a result, it is possible to prevent total self-weights from being loaded by the amount of held parts of the cables 13 and 14, to reduce stress to be exerted on connected parts, and to prevent the breaking of wires.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a circuit board inspection apparatus, for example, an in-circuit tester (ICT).
-Circuit Tester).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a circuit board inspection apparatus of this type, a plurality of electronic components mounted on a circuit wiring board are each measured for electrical characteristic values and inspected for quality. Short circuit and open on circuit board,
It is designed to detect mounting errors of electronic components, missing mounting components, and the like.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional circuit board inspection apparatus 1 in which a board holder 3 and a personal computer 4 are provided on a base 2 and mounted on both sides of a circuit board 5 loaded in the board holder 3. Electronic components (not shown)
The personal computer 4 can judge the connection state of. In this case, the circuit board 5 to be inspected has been subjected to a soldering process in advance corresponding to lands (not shown) of a predetermined pattern formed on one surface and the other surface.

In the substrate holding unit 3, a lower fixture 7 is fixed on a gantry 6, and a pair of support members 8 are planted so as to sandwich the lower fixture 7 from both sides. A lifting drive unit 9 is provided at the upper end of 8.

The lifting drive unit 9 has a built-in cylinder such that a slide shaft 10 of a cylinder (not shown) slides from the lower end side in the direction of the arrow a or in the vertical direction shown in the opposite direction.

A tip of a slide shaft 10 of this cylinder (not shown) is fixed to one surface of a base plate 11, and an upper fixture 12 is provided on the other surface of the base plate 11 at a position facing the lower fixture 7. And fixedly held. This allows the slide shaft 10 to move up and down in the direction of arrow a or in the opposite direction integrally with the base plate 11 and the upper fixture 12 in response to the driving of the cylinder.

[0007] Opposite surfaces of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7 have probe pins corresponding to land patterns (not shown) formed on one surface and the other surface of the circuit board 5, respectively. (Meter reading) 12P and 7P are formed to protrude.

Also, connectors 12C and 7C are provided at one end of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7, respectively.
One ends of the flat cables 13 and 14 are connected to each other via the
The other end is connected to the personal computer 4 while hanging down by the height of the gantry 6.

Each of the flat cables 13 and 14 has a wiring that is conductively connected through connectors 12C and 7C corresponding to each of the probe pins 12P and 7P formed on the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7, respectively. It consists of a bundle covered with an outer skin such as vinyl chloride.

Here, when actually inspecting the circuit board 5,
After positioning and mounting the circuit board 5 such that the tips of the probe pins 7P of the lower fixture 7 are in contact with the corresponding lands (not shown) on the other surface of the circuit board 5, the upper fixture is The tip of each probe pin 12P of the upper fixture 12 is brought into contact with a corresponding land on one surface of the circuit board 5 by moving the chair 12 downward in the direction opposite to the arrow a.

[0011]

The connectors 12C and 7C and the flat cables 13 and 14 provided at one end of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7, respectively.
Are connected to the flat cables 13, 1
When a load is applied by its own weight of No. 4, stress (stress) is generated.

Each of the flat cables 13 and 14 has a structure in which a plurality of wirings are bundled, so that stress applied to the connection between the flat cables 13 and 14 and the connectors 12C and 7C is reduced by the upper fixture 12
And increases in proportion to the distance between the lower fixture 7 and the personal computer 4.

Further, the connecting portion between the connector 12C provided at one end of the upper fixture 12 and the flat cable 13 is moved up and down (in the direction of arrow a or Each time it moves up and down (in the opposite direction), it becomes flexible, so that stress is added to the stress due to the weight of the flat cable 13 and added.

As a result, the connectors 12C provided at one end of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7,
Each connecting portion between the 7C and the flat cables 13 and 14 is
If an excessive stress is applied due to the weight of the flat cables 13 and 14 and the vertical movement of the fixture 12 itself, there is a possibility that the connection may be broken.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to propose a circuit board inspection apparatus capable of ensuring the reliability of electrical connection.

[0016]

According to the present invention, there is provided a circuit board inspection apparatus for inspecting whether or not a connection state of a circuit board positioned in a predetermined state is normal. Probe pin holding means having a plurality of probe pins which collectively contact respective predetermined positions in a wiring pattern formed on one surface of a circuit board, inspection means for checking electrical characteristics of the circuit board, and probe pin holding means And a cable for conducting connection between the plurality of probe pins and the inspection means via the cable, and a cable holding means provided at a predetermined height and holding a part of the cable.

As a result, in this circuit board inspection apparatus, the total weight of the cable is directly applied to the connection between the probe pin holding means and the cable by the amount of the cable held by the cable holding means. Can be avoided, and thus the stress applied to the connection portion can be reduced, thereby preventing the occurrence of disconnection.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Configuration of a Circuit Board Inspection Apparatus According to the Present Embodiment In FIG. 1 in which the same reference numerals are assigned to parts corresponding to FIG. 6, reference numeral 20 denotes a circuit board inspection apparatus to which the present invention is applied as a whole. On the base 2, a substrate holding unit 21 and a personal computer 4 are provided.

In the substrate holding portion 21, the lower fixture 7 is fixed on the gantry 6, and a pair of support members 8 are erected so as to sandwich the lower fixture 7 from both sides. A lifting drive unit 22 is provided at the upper end of 8.

The vertical drive unit 22 is provided with a cylinder 2 so that the slide shaft 23A of the cylinder 23 slides from the lower end side in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow a or in the opposite direction.
3 is built-in. The distal end of the slide shaft 23A of the cylinder 23 is fixed to one surface of the base plate 11, and the lower end of the positioning guide shaft 24 is fixed to the one surface so as to be parallel to the slide shaft 23A. The guide shaft 24 is slidably inserted into a bearing member 25 built in the lifting drive unit 22 so that the levelness of the base plate 11 can be ensured.

On the other surface of the base plate 11, an upper fixture 12 is fixedly held in a state where it is positioned at a position facing the lower fixture 7. As a result, the slide shaft 23A and the guide shaft 24 are moved by the driving of the cylinder 23 to the base plate 11 and the upper fixture 1.
2 so that it can move up and down in the direction of arrow a or in the direction opposite thereto.

The opposing surfaces of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7 have probe pins corresponding to land patterns (not shown) formed on one surface and the other surface of the circuit board 5, respectively. (Meter reading) 12P and 7P are formed to protrude.

In addition to the above configuration, the elevation drive unit 22
Is formed integrally with a clamper support plate 26 extending outward from the side end, and a lower surface 26A of the clamper support plate 26 is formed.
, Two clampers 27 and 28 are fixedly held so as to maintain a predetermined positional relationship.

Connectors 12C and 7C are provided on one end of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7, respectively.
The flat cables 13 and 14 are connected to the personal computer 4 at one end while hanging down via the corresponding clampers 27 and 28 respectively.

Here, when actually inspecting the circuit board 5,
After positioning and mounting the circuit board 5 such that the tips of the probe pins 7P of the lower fixture 7 are in contact with the corresponding lands (not shown) on the other surface of the circuit board 5, the upper fixture is The tip of each probe pin 12P of the upper fixture 12 is brought into contact with a corresponding land on one surface of the circuit board 5 by moving the chair 12 downward in the direction opposite to the arrow a.

At this time, the personal computer 4 measures the electrical resistance between the probe pins 12P, 7P of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7, respectively, to thereby determine the wiring pattern for connecting the lands. The presence or absence of disconnection (open) or short-circuit (short) of the electronic component, and mounting errors and omissions of electronic components are detected.

In practice, first, the personal computer 4
2 to be conducted from among a plurality of probe pins 12P and 7P
By applying a constant current (or constant voltage) between the probe pins, the resistance value (or capacitance value) between the probe pins
Is measured, it is determined whether or not the resistance value (or capacitance value) is within an allowable range of a reference resistance value (or capacitance value). Subsequently, the personal computer 4 can inspect the circuit board 5 by sequentially measuring the two probe pins over all of the plurality of probe pins 12P and 7P.

(2) Structure of the clamper according to the present embodiment As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the clampers 27 and 28 each have an upper clamper 27A fixedly held on a clamper support plate 26, 28A and lower clampers 27B, 28 slidably held while being urged in a direction approaching the upper clampers 27A, 28A.
B.

The upper clampers 27A and 28A have screw holes 27AH ₁ , 28AH ₁ and 27AH at the lower ends.
_2, 28 Ah ₂ is formed, the flange portion 29T at one end, 30T
Screw holes _{27AH 1, 28AH 1, 27AH 2} , 28 respectively corresponding to the other end of the mounting screws 29, 30 but are formed
The respective mounting screws 29 and 30 by screwing the AH ₂
It is made to screw. The lower clamper 27B, 28B become substantially concave shape, each through hole 27BH ₁ at its two ends, 28BH _1, 27BH _{2, 2}
8BH ₂ is formed.

[0031] Thus the clamper 27 and 28, the mounting screws 29 and 30 respectively coil springs 31, 32 and the lower clamper 27B, 28B of the through hole 27BH _1, 28B
H _1, 27BH _2, the upper clamper 2 via 28BH ₂
7A, screw holes 27AH ₁ of 28A, 28AH _1, 27A
By screwing in H _2, 28AH _2, configured so as to be able to hold the lower clamper 27B, and 28B upper clamper 27A, while having a biasing force of each coil spring 31 against 28A slidably I have.

As a result, the clampers 27 and 28 are normally operated so that the lower clampers 27B and 28B
The flat cables 13 and 1 are held in contact with the upper clampers 27A and 28A in accordance with the urging of the flat cables 13 and 32.
4, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,
Even when the lower clampers 27B, 28B are pulled by the user in a direction in which the lower clampers 27B, 28B are separated from the upper clampers 27A, 28A (the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow a), when the pulling force is released, the lower clampers 27B are released. ,
28B is pulled back in a direction approaching the upper clampers 27A, 28A in accordance with the bias of the coil springs 31, 32.

Further, a non-slip member (hereinafter, referred to as an upper non-slip member) 33 made of a plate-like rubber material is formed at the lower center of the upper clampers 27A and 28A, and the lower clampers 27B and 28B are formed. A non-slip member (hereinafter, referred to as a lower anti-slip member) 34 made of a plate-like rubber material is also formed in the concave portion, and the upper fixtures 27A and 28A and the lower clampers 27B and 28B abut against each other. When in contact with each other, a predetermined gap g is formed between the upper non-slip member 33 and the lower non-slip member 34.

(3) Operation and Effect of the Present Embodiment In the above configuration, the circuit board inspection apparatus 20
The flat cables 12 and 14 pulled out from the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7 via the connectors 12C and 7C, respectively, are fixed and held on a clamper support plate 26 formed at the side end of the lifting drive unit 22. The personal computer 4 is connected via the two clampers 27 and 28.

At this time, the clampers 27 and 28
As shown in (A) and (B), the upper clamper 27A,
The flat cables 13 and 14 inserted between the lower clamper 28A and the lower clampers 27B and 28B
A, 28A and the lower clampers 27B, 28B, respectively, come into contact with the upper non-slip member 33 and the lower non-slip member 34 made of rubber material, so that the upper and the lower non-slip members 34 and 34 are brought into contact with each other. The flat cables 13 and 14 are held at the contact positions by the frictional force of

Thus, the connectors 12C provided at one end of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7,
The connection portion between the 7C and the flat cables 13 and 14 receives a load obtained by subtracting the load corresponding to the frictional force of the clampers 27 and 28 from the load of the own weight of the flat cables 13 and 14, respectively. Only the stress generated in the connection portion can be reduced.

Here, when actually inspecting the circuit board 5,
When the upper fixture 12 is moved up and down with respect to the circuit board 5 placed on the lower fixture 7 in the direction of arrow a or in the direction opposite thereto in accordance with the driving of the cylinder 23,
The flat cable 13 pulled out from the upper fixture 12 via the connector 12C is moved in response to the upward and downward movement of the upper fixture 12, and the corresponding clamper 27 is moved.
Slidably contact the upper non-slip member 33 and the lower anti-slip member 34.

As a result, the connection between the connector 12C provided at one end of the upper fixture 12 and the flat cable 13 is not flexible irrespective of the vertical movement of the upper fixture 12, so that the connection is applied to the connection. Stress can be reduced.

According to the above configuration, in the circuit board inspection apparatus 20, the respective clampers 27 and 28 are provided on the lower surface 26A of the clamper support plate 26 provided at the side end of the lifting drive unit 22 of the board holding unit 21. By holding the flat cables 13 and 14 pulled out from one end of the upper fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7 via the connectors 12C and 7C via the corresponding clampers 27 and 28, respectively, Connectors 12C and 7 provided at one end of the fixture 12 and the lower fixture 7
A circuit board detecting device 20 which can reduce the stress applied to the connection portion between the C and the flat cables 13 and 14 and prevent the disconnection at the connection portion, thereby ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection. Can be realized.

(4) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the circuit board inspection apparatus according to the present invention inspects whether the connection state of the circuit board 5 positioned in a predetermined state is normal. Although the case where the circuit board inspection apparatus 20 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to circuit board inspection apparatuses using various other cables.

In the above-described embodiment, the probe pin holding means having the plurality of probe pins 12P and 7P collectively making contact with respective predetermined positions in the wiring pattern formed on one surface of the positioned circuit board 5 at a time. The upper fixture 12 in the substrate holding unit 21
And the lower fixture 7 are respectively applied, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that the flat cable 1 has a plurality of probe pins 12P and 7P.
As long as it has three or four drawers, it can be widely applied to various other probe pin holding means.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the personal computer 4 is applied as the inspection means for inspecting the electrical characteristics of the circuit board 5 has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this. In short, the present invention is widely applicable to various other inspection means as long as the conduction state between wiring patterns and the electrical characteristics of various electronic components mounted on the circuit board 5 can be inspected. can do.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of probe pins 12P,
Flat cables 13 and 1 are used as cables for electrically connecting between 7P and personal computer (inspection means) 4.
4 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be widely applied to various other cables.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the board holding portion 2 is provided at a predetermined height position and serves as a cable holding means for holding a part of the flat cables 13 and 14.
1. A clamper support plate 26 integrally formed with the lifting drive unit 22
Although the case where the clampers 27 and 28 fixed and held are applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the point is that if a part of the flat cables 13 and 14 can be held, various other cable holding It can be widely applied to means.

In this case, the upper clampers 27A, 28A and the lower clampers 27B, which form the clampers 27, 28,
Non-slip members 33, 3 made of rubber material on opposite surfaces of 28B
4 has been described so as to give a predetermined coefficient of friction to the contact portions with the flat cables 13 and 14, but the flat cable 1 is used as a non-slip member.
As long as the members 3 and 14 are made of a material having a coefficient of friction such that they do not slide down and are not fixed, they can be widely applied to various members.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, as a cable holding means, an S-shaped fitting 41 is fixed to a support member 40 provided at a predetermined height position, and the S-shaped fitting 4 is fixed.
1 is suspended such that one end of the chain 42 is hooked by a desired length, and a track-shaped annular holding member 44 made of a rubber material is hooked on the other end of the chain 42 via an S-shaped bracket 43. You may do it. In this case, a part of the flat cables 13 and 14 can be held in the annular holding member 44 as described above. Further, in this case, by using the chain 42, the flat cables 13 and 14 can be held at a desired height position, and as a result, the upper fixture and the lower fixture (both are fixed) according to the height position. The stress applied to the connection between the probe pin holding means) and the flat cables 13 and 14 can be further reduced.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the circuit board inspection apparatus, the cable holding means is provided at a predetermined height position, and the plurality of probe pins and the inspection means are electrically connected via the probe pin holding means. By holding a part of the cable to be connected using the cable holding means, it is possible to reduce the stress applied to the connecting portion between the probe pin holding means and the cable, thereby preventing the occurrence of disconnection. Thus, it is possible to realize a circuit board inspection device capable of ensuring the reliability of the electrical connection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a circuit board inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view and a side view showing a configuration of a clamper according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view and a side view showing a configuration of a clamper according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a holding state of a flat cable.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a cable holding unit according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a conventional circuit board inspection apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 20 ... circuit board inspection device, 2 ... base, 3, 21
... board holding part, 4 ... personal computer, 5 ...
... circuit board, 7 ... lower fixture, 7C, 12C ...
... Connectors, 7P, 12P ... Probe pins, 9, 22
... Elevating drive unit, 10, 23A ... Slide shaft,
13, 14 ... flat cable, 23 ... cylinder,
24 ... guide shaft, 25 ... bearing member, 26 ...
Clamper support plate, 27, 28 ... clamper, 27A, 2
8A Upper clamper, 27B, 28B Lower clamper, 29, 30 Mounting screw, 31, 32 Coil spring, 33 Upper non-slip member, 34 Lower anti-slip member, 40 ... Support members, 41, 43 ... S-shaped fittings, 4
2... A chain, 44... An annular holding member.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A circuit board inspection apparatus for inspecting whether a connection state of a circuit board positioned in a predetermined state is normal or not, wherein each predetermined pattern in a wiring pattern formed on one surface of the circuit board positioned in the predetermined state. A probe pin holding means having a plurality of probe pins each of which comes into contact with a position collectively; an inspection means for inspecting electrical characteristics of the circuit board; a plurality of the probe pins and the inspection via the probe pin holding means A circuit board inspection apparatus, comprising: a cable for electrically connecting between means; and a cable holding means provided at a predetermined height and holding a part of the cable. 2. The circuit board inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cable holding means includes a non-slip material having a predetermined coefficient of friction at a contact portion with the cable. 3. The circuit board inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cable holding means is suspended from said height position and holds a part of said cable at a desired height position.