Brian J Bosy

6551122, Apr 22, 2003

Feb 7, 2001

09/778694

Brian J. Bosy - Framingham MA
David W. Lewinnek - Somerville MA

Teradyne, Inc. - Boston MA

H01R 450

439348

A docking mechanism for docking a test head with a peripheral includes a latching mechanism that extends from a pneumatically actuated piston. The latching mechanism includes a latch barrel, a latchpin, and a biasing spring. The latchpin moves within the latch barrel for establishing latched and unlatched positions. An application of fluid pressure to the latchpin via a first fluid path causes the latchpin to advance to the latched position. A release of fluid pressure from the first path causes the latchpin to retract, in compliance with the biasing spring, to the unlatched position. An application of fluid pressure via a second fluid path to a surface of the piston causes the latching mechanism as a whole to retract. When the test head and peripheral are latched together, this retraction causes the peripheral to be pulled down against the test head, and thus causes electrical connections to be formed between the test head and a device under test. Because the docking mechanism is actuated by fluid pressure, it can be constructed with a very low profile, to have a relatively small impact on the placement of other equipment in its area.

6828774, Dec 7, 2004

Jun 28, 2002

10/184488

Brian J. Bosy - Framingham MA
David F. High - Belmont MA
David W. Lewinnek - Cambridge MA
Vladimir Vayner - Needham MA

Teradyne, Inc. - Boston MA

G01R 3126

3241581, 324765

A manipulator for supporting heavy as well as lighter test heads in a small footprint includes a body and an interface for supporting a test head from behind. The interface includes a first portion fixedly attached to the body and a second portion fixedly attached to the rear of the test head. The first and second portions of the interface are rotatably coupled together to allow rotation of the test head about its approximate center of mass. Although the weight of the test head is entirely borne from the rear, the test head can still be moved with relatively little applied force, thereby satisfying the requirements for compliant docking.

6838868, Jan 4, 2005

Nov 7, 2000

09/707764

Brian J. Bosy - Framingham MA, US

Teradyne, Inc. - Boston MA

G01R 1900

3241581

A system for positioning a test head for compliantly docking the test head with a prober, handler, or other peripheral for automatically testing electronic components. The system includes a plurality of backdrivable linear actuators. Each actuator has a first end mechanically coupled to the test head and a second end mechanically coupled to a support for holding the test head, for example, a manipulator. In a first mode, a control system applies inputs to the actuators for variably extending the actuators to establish a desired position of the test head relative to the support. The desired position is generally a centered position of the test head within a compliance range; however, it may also be a non-centered position that tends to align the test head with the peripheral. In a second mode, the control system stops varying the input to the actuator. The actuator tends to maintain its position, but complies with external forces applied to the test head.

7598725, Oct 6, 2009

Dec 30, 2005

11/323557

Brian J. Bosy - Framingham MA, US
Craig A. DiPalo - Acton MA, US
Seth E. Mann - Reading MA, US
David W. Lewinnek - Somerville MA, US
Michael A. Chiu - Somerville MA, US

Teradyne, Inc. - North Reading MA

G01R 31/02

3241581, 324758

An apparatus and method are provided for the automatic operation of a manipulator to move a test head or peripheral into position for proper alignment and docking of the test head with the peripheral. Examples of peripherals include a handler and a prober. Sensors are provided to obtain relative positional information of the test head in the relation to the peripheral, allowing a controller to issue instructions to the manipulator to correct differences in each of the six degrees of freedom between the mating surfaces of the test head and the manipulator.

20050127897, Jun 16, 2005

Dec 7, 2004

11/006490

Brian Bosy - Framingham MA, US
David High - Belmont MA, US
David Lewinnek - Cambridge MA, US
Vladimir Vayner - Needham MA, US

Teradyne, Inc. - Boston MA

G01R001/00

324158100

A manipulator for supporting heavy as well as lighter test heads in a small footprint includes a body and an interface for supporting a test head from behind. The interface includes a first portion fixedly attached to the body and a second portion fixedly attached to the rear of the test head. The first and second portions of the interface are rotatably coupled together to allow rotation of the test head about its approximate center of mass. Although the weight of the test head is entirely borne from the rear, the test head can still be moved with relatively little applied force, thereby satisfying the requirements for compliant docking.

61553123, Dec 5, 2000

May 12, 1999

9/310816

Brian J. Bosy - Framingham MA

The Gillette Company - Boston MA

B65B 104
B65B 304

141 2

Methods and devices for dispensing fluids are provided, including a method of dispensing a fluid into an elongated chamber having a bottom that is at least partially closed. The method includes (a) inserting a dispensing tube into the chamber until a delivery end of the tube is adjacent the bottom of the chamber; (b) dispensing a predetermined quantity of the fluid through the delivery end into the chamber; and (c) moving the delivery end away from the bottom of the chamber, during dispensing, at a rate that maintains the delivery end on the surface of the fluid in the chamber throughout dispensing.

53830016, Jan 17, 1995

Feb 22, 1993

8/023780

Brian Bosy - Framingham MA

Intergraph Corporation - Huntsville AL

G03B 2760

355 73

A rotatable drum for use in a plotter, or similar device, that provides vacuum for holding the film or other media to the drum's surface, so as to easily accommodate films of various sizes. The drum includes first and second journals and a plate mounted on the circumference of the first and second journals. At least one of the journals has defined on its circumference circumferential channels. The plate has interior and exterior sides, and the first and second journals and a portion of the plate's interior side define a chamber. The plate's exterior side has defined thereon a plurality of grooves. In one embodiment, at least one of the grooves, associated with a first film size, is in fluid communication with the chamber, and some of the remaining grooves, associated with the larger film sizes, are in fluid communication with the channels. A vacuum is supplied to the chamber, and a valve is provided for controlling fluid communication between the channels and the chamber.

53350464, Aug 2, 1994

Mar 18, 1993

8/033387

Brian Bosy - Framingham MA

Intergraph Corporation - Huntsville AL

G03B 2760
B41F 128
B41F 2100
B41L 2100

355 73

A mechanism for clamping a flexible metal printing plate to the circumferential surface of a rotatable plotter drum is provided. The clamping mechanism includes a mounting member affixed to the drum's surface. The mounting member has a passage aligned radially with respect to the drum. A slidable member extends through the passage and past the drum's axis of rotation. The slidable member has, at one end, a head and, at the other end, a weight. The clamp head is disposed further from the axis of rotation than the mounting member and adjacent the drum surface so as to permit clamping between the head and the drum surface. The slidable member is disposed so that its center of mass is opposite the drum's axis of rotation from the head. A mechanism, such as a compressed spring mounted between the weight and the mounting member, is provided for urging the slidable member so as to force the head towards the drum surface. An actuator having two modes is also provided.