Mechanism for loading a respective fuzz button into each of a high number of button holes within an IC contactor

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6381841
  • Patent Number
    6,381,841
  • Date Filed
    Monday, August 28, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 7, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for efficiently placing a respective fuzz button into each of a high number of button holes on a fuzz button contactor while also efficiently filtering out defectively shaped fuzz buttons. The fuzz buttons are placed into rows of a predetermined number of button holes on the fuzz button contactor. A slot plate has the predetermined number of slots aligned as a row of slots, and fuzz buttons are placed into each of the slots of the slot plate. The present invention also includes a contactor jig having at least one row of the predetermined number of jig holes. These jig holes are disposed on the contactor jig as a mirror image of the at least one row of the predetermined number of button holes on the fuzz button contactor when the contactor jig is properly aligned with the fuzz button contactor. The slots of the slot plate are aligned with a row of jig holes, and the slot plate is tilted such that a respective fuzz button slides from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of the row of jig holes. The transfer of a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of a row of jig holes is repeated for each of the rows of the predetermined number of jig holes on the contactor jig. The contactor jig having completely filled jig holes is properly aligned with the fuzz button contactor having empty button holes. A dummy integrated circuit package is pushed into the contactor jig after the fuzz button contactor has been properly aligned with the contactor jig. The dummy integrated circuit package has a respective pin that pushes out a respective fuzz button within each jig hole on the contactor jig into a respective button hole on the fuzz button contactor such that a respective fuzz button is placed into each of the button holes on the fuzz button contactor.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD




This invention relates to components used in testing systems for integrated circuit packages, and more particularly to a mechanism for efficiently loading a respective fuzz button into each of a high number of button holes within an IC contactor used for testing of integrated circuit packages.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




In a testing system for testing a relatively large integrated circuit, such as a modem microprocessor for example, an integrated circuit contactor (also named a fuzz button contactor) has a respective fuzz button loaded into each of 321 button holes. Each fuzz button is a conductive granule that provides a conductive path from an integrated circuit package testing system to a respective one of 321 pins from the integrated circuit package for holding the relatively large integrated circuit.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, a top view of an example fuzz button contactor


102


shows a plurality of button holes. An example button hole


104


holds an example fuzz button


106


. A fuzz button contactor has at least one row of a predetermined number of button holes. A fuzz button contactor used for testing the integrated circuit package for a modem microprocessor has a total of 321 button holes for example. However, for clarity of illustration, the fuzz button contactor


102


of

FIG. 1

has eight rows of five button holes including a first row


108


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), a second row


110


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), a third row


112


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), a fourth row


114


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), a fifth row


116


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), a sixth row


118


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), a seventh row


120


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


), and an eighth row


122


(shown by a dashed line in FIG.


1


).




In the prior art, a respective fuzz button is manually placed into each of the button holes of the fuzz button contactor


102


. A human operator examines a fuzz button visually to determine that the fuzz button is not defectively shaped such that the fuzz button would fit into a button hole. Then, the human operator manually places the fuzz button into an empty button hole on the fuzz button contactor


102


. However, such manual inspection and placement of a respective fuzz button into each of the button holes of the fuzz button contactor


102


requires much time and labor, especially when the fuzz button contactor is used for testing a relatively large integrated circuit package such as a fuzz button contactor having 321 button holes.




Thus, a mechanism is desired for more efficiently filtering out defectively shaped fuzz buttons and for more efficiently placing a respective fuzz button into each of a high number of button holes on the fuzz button contactor.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Accordingly, the present invention is a method and apparatus for efficiently placing a respective fuzz button into each of a high number of button holes on the fuzz button contactor while also efficiently filtering out defectively shaped fuzz buttons.




Generally, the present invention is a method and apparatus for loading a respective fuzz button into each button hole of at least one row of a predetermined number of button holes within a fuzz button contactor. The present invention includes a slot plate having the predetermined number of slots aligned as a row of slots, and fuzz buttons are placed into each of the slots of the slot plate. The present invention also includes a contactor jig having at least one row of the predetermined number of jig holes. These jig holes are disposed on the contactor jig as a mirror image of the at least one row of the predetermined number of button holes on the fuzz button contactor when the contactor jig is properly aligned with the fuzz button contactor.




A respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate is transferred into each empty jig hole of a row of jig holes of the contactor jig by aligning the row of slots with the row of jig holes such that each slot is aligned with a respective jig hole. The slot plate is then tilted such that a respective fuzz button slides from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of the row of jig holes. The transfer of a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of a row of jig holes is repeated for each of the at least one row of the predetermined number of jig holes on the contactor jig.




The present invention further includes alignment units disposed on the contactor jig and on the fuzz button contactor for properly aligning the contactor jig with the fuzz button contactor such that each jig hole on the contact jig faces a respective button hole on the fuzz button contactor.




In addition, the present invention includes a dummy integrated circuit package that is pushed into the contactor jig after the fuzz button contactor has been properly aligned with the contactor jig. The dummy integrated circuit package has a respective pin that pushes out a respective fuzz button within each jig hole on the contactor jig into a respective button hole on the fuzz button contactor when the dummy integrated circuit package is pushed into the contactor jig.




With the present invention, a defectively shaped fuzz button is trapped within a slot of the slot plate such that the defectively shaped fuzz button does not slide into any jig hole of the contactor jig. Thus, the present invention efficiently filters out any defectively shaped fuzz button from being placed into a button hole of the fuzz button contactor.




The present invention may be used to particular advantage for efficiently loading a respective fuzz button into each of a high number of button holes on a fuzz button contactor used for testing a relatively large integrated circuit package. For example, a modem microprocessor integrated circuit package may have 321 pins which corresponds to a respective fuzz button placed into each of 321 button holes on the fuzz button contactor.




These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by considering the following detailed description of the invention which is presented with the attached drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a top view of an example fuzz button contactor with a respective fuzz button placed into a plurality of rows of a predetermined number of button holes;





FIG. 2

shows a slot plate having the predetermined number of slots for holding fuzz buttons, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

shows components of the present invention for loading the slot plate of

FIG. 2

with fuzz buttons acceding to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 4

shows a top of the slot plate when fuzz buttons are initially poured onto the slot plate and before container holding the slot plate is shaken;





FIG. 5

shows a cross sectional view of the slot plate after fuzz buttons are loaded into each slot of the slot plate and after a cover is placed over the slot plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 6A

shows a top view of the fuzz button contactor of

FIG. 1

with the button holes being empty, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 6B

shows a top view of a contactor jig that corresponds to the fuzz button contactor of FIG.


6


A and with jig holes that are initially empty, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

illustrates placement of a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of a row of jig holes within the contactor jig of

FIG. 6B

, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8

shows alignment holes on the contactor jig of

FIG. 6B

used for aligning the slot plate to each row of jig holes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9

illustrates the filtering of defectively shaped fuzz buttons within the slot plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 10A

shows an filled contactor jig that has a respective fuzz button placed into each of the jig holes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 10B

shows an empty fuzz button contactor without any fuzz buttons placed into each of the button holes, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11

illustrates, with a cross sectional view, alignment of the contactor jig of

FIG. 10A

with the fuzz button contactor of

FIG. 10B

using alignment units, according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 12

, including

FIGS. 12A and 12B

, illustrates use of a dummy integrated circuit package inserted into the jig holes of the jig contactor for transferring fuzz buttons from the contactor jig of

Fig. 10A

to the fuzz button contactor of

Fig. 10B

, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 13

shows the fuzz button contactor of

FIG. 12B

that has a respective fuzz button placed into each of the button holes after removal of the contactor jig of

FIG. 12B

from the fuzz button contactor.











The figures referred to herein are drawn for clarity of illustration and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Moreover, the figures referred to herein show an example of a fuzz button contactor having a relatively low number of button holes for clarity of illustration. Elements having the same reference number in

FIGS. 1

,


2


,


3


,


4


,


5


,


6


A,


6


B,


7


,


8


,


9


,


10


A,


10


B,


11


,


12


A,


12


B, and


13


refer to elements having similar structure and function.




DEATAILED DESCRIPTION




Referring to

FIG. 2

, the present invention includes a slot plate


202


having the predetermined number of slots aligned as a row of slots. Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the predetermined number of slots corresponds to the predetermined number of button holes of any row of button holes on the fuzz button contactor


102


. Thus, slot plate


202


corresponding to the fuzz button contactor of

FIG. 1

includes a first slot


203


, a second slot


204


, a third slot


206


, a fourth slot


208


, and a fifth slot


210


.




According to the present invention, fuzz buttons are placed into each slot of the slot plate


202


. Referring to

FIG. 3

, before fuzz buttons are placed into the slots of the slot plate


202


, the slot plate


202


is placed into a container


302


. Once the slot plate


202


is placed into the container


302


, fuzz buttons are poured from a bottle of fuzz buttons


304


onto the slot plate


202


within the container


302


. Referring to

FIG. 4

, fuzz buttons are initially distributed randomly over the slot plate


202


. To place the fuzz buttons within the slots of the slot plate


202


, the container


302


of

FIG. 4

is shaken until the fuzz buttons slip into the slots of the slot plate


202


as shown in FIG.


2


. Referring to

FIG. 5

, once the fuzz buttons slip into the slots of the slot plate


202


, a cover


502


is screwed onto the face of the slot plate


202


and over the row of slots of the slot plate


202


to retain the fuzz buttons within the row of slots when the slot plate


202


is tilted.




Referring to

FIG. 6A

, the fuzz button contactor


102


of

FIG. 1

has the row of button holes that are initially empty. Referring to

FIG. 6B

, a contactor jig


602


corresponds to the fuzz button contactor


102


of FIG.


6


A. The contactor jig


602


has rows of the predetermined number of jig holes that are disposed on the contactor jig


602


as a mirror image of the rows of the predetermined number of buttons holes on the fuzz button contactor


102


when the contactor jig


602


is properly aligned with the fuzz button contactor


102


.




Referring to

FIGS. 6A and 6B

, alignment units are used for properly aligning the contactor jig


602


with the fuzz button contactor


102


. The alignment units of the present invention include a first dowel guide pin


604


and a second dowel guide pin


605


disposed on the fuzz button contactor


102


as shown in FIG.


6


A. The alignment units of the present invention also include a first guide hole


606


and a second guide hole


607


disposed on the contactor jig


602


as shown in FIG.


6


B.




For properly aligning the contactor jig


602


with the fuzz button contactor


102


, the first dowel guide pin


604


on the fuzz button contactor


102


is placed into the first guide hole


606


on the contactor jig


602


, and the second dowel guide pin


605


on the fuzz button contactor


102


is placed into the second guide hole


607


on the contactor jig


602


. With such an alignment, the contactor jig


602


has a first row of jig holes


608


that aligns with the first row of button holes


108


, a second row of jig holes


610


that aligns with the second row of button holes


110


, a third row of jig holes


612


that aligns with the third row of button holes


112


, a fourth row of jig holes


614


that aligns with the fourth row of button holes


114


, a fifth row of jig holes


616


that aligns with the fifth row of button holes


116


, a sixth row of jig holes


618


that aligns with the sixth row of button holes


118


, a seventh row of jig holes


620


that aligns with the seventh row of button holes


120


, and an eighth row of jig holes


622


that aligns with the eighth row of button holes


122


.




For loading a respective fuzz button into each of the button holes of the fuzz button contactor


102


, fuzz buttons are first placed into the jig holes of the contactor jig


602


, according to the present invention. Referring to

FIGS. 5 and 7

, the slots of the slot plate


202


, with fuzz buttons loaded into the slots of the slot plate, are aligned with a row of the jig holes of the contactor jig


602


. In

FIG. 7

, a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is aligned with each of the five jig holes of the first row


608


of jig holes. For such alignment, a first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a first alignment hole


704


disposed to the left of the first row


608


of jig holes, and a second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a second alignment hole


708


disposed to the right of the first row


608


of jig holes.




With such alignment, each slot of the slot plate


202


is aligned with a respective jig hole of the first row


608


of the jig holes. The slot plate


202


is then tilted such that a respective fuzz button slides from a respective slot into each empty jig hole of the first row


608


of the jig holes. Referring to

FIG. 5

, the cover


502


is preferably clear plastic or glass such that the fuzz buttons within the slots of the slot plate


202


may be visible when the cover


502


is placed over the slots of the slot plate


202


. The slot plate


202


is preferably tilted at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the plane of the contactor jig


602


.




Such alignment and tilting of the slot plate


202


is repeated for each of the rows of jig holes on the contactor jig


602


. Referring to

FIG. 8

, the first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a third alignment hole


803


disposed to the left of the second row


610


of jig holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a fourth alignment hole


804


disposed to the right of the first row


608


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the second row


610


of jig holes.




Similarly, the first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a fifth alignment hole


805


disposed to the left of the third row


612


of jig. holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a sixth alignment hole


806


disposed to the right of the third row


612


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the third row


612


of jig holes. The first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a seventh alignment hole


807


disposed to the left of the fourth row


614


of jig holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into an eighth alignment hole


808


disposed to the right of the fourth row


614


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the fourth row


614


of jig holes.




Additionally, the first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a ninth alignment hole


809


disposed to the top of the fifth row


616


of jig holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into the eighth alignment hole


808


disposed to the bottom of the fifth row


616


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the fifth row


616


of jig holes. The first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a tenth alignment hole


810


disposed to the top of the sixth row


618


of jig holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into an eleventh alignment hole


811


disposed to the bottom of the sixth row


618


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the sixth row


618


of jig holes.




Furthermore, the first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a twelfth alignment hole


812


disposed to the top of the seventh row


620


of jig holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into the thirteenth alignment hole


813


disposed to the bottom of the seventh row


620


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the seventh row


620


of jig holes. The first alignment pin


702


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into the first alignment hole


704


disposed to the top of the eighth row


622


of jig holes, and the second alignment pin


706


on the slot plate


202


is inserted into a fourteenth alignment hole


814


disposed to the bottom of the eighth row


622


of jig holes. With such alignment, a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of the slot plate


202


is then transferred into each empty jig hole of the eighth row


622


of jig holes.




In this manner, a respective fuzz button is loaded into each of the jig holes of the contactor jig


602


. Referring to

FIG. 9

, during transfer of fuzz buttons from the slots of the slot plate


202


into the jig holes of the contactor jig


602


, any defectively shaped fuzz button is efficiently filtered by the slot plate


202


. Referring to

FIG. 9

, each of a first defectively shaped fuzz button


902


and a second defectively shaped fuzz button


904


becomes trapped within a respective slot of the slot plate


202


when the slot plate


202


is tilted such that a defectively shaped fuzz button does not slide into any jig hole of the contactor jig


602


.




Referring to

FIGS. 10A and 10B

, a respective fuzz button is placed into each of the jig holes of the contactor jig


602


, and each button hole of the fuzz button contactor


102


is empty. The contactor jig


602


is then properly aligned with the fuzz button contactor


102


such that each jig hole of the contactor jig


602


faces a respective fuzz button of the fuzz button contactor


102


. Referring to

FIGS. 10A

,


10


B, and


11


, for properly aligning the contactor jig


602


with the fuzz button contactor


102


, the first dowel guide pin


604


on the fuzz button contactor


102


is placed into the first guide hole


606


on the contactor jig


602


, and the second dowel guide pin


605


on the fuzz button contactor


102


is placed into the second guide hole


607


on the contactor jig


602


.




Referring to

FIG. 11

, a cross-sectional view of the contactor jig


602


and the fuzz button contactor


102


after proper alignment is shown for one row of properly aligned jig holes and button holes. The empty fuzz button contactor


102


is placed on top of the filled contactor jig


602


with proper alignment. Referring to

FIG. 12A

, after the empty fuzz button contactor


102


is placed onto the filled contactor jig


602


with proper alignment, the joined fuzz button contactor


102


and the contactor jig


602


are flipped over. In addition, a dummy integrated circuit package


920


is pushed into the contactor jig


602


. Referring to

FIG. 12B

, the dummy integrated circuit package


920


has a respective pin that pushes out a respective fuzz button within each jig hole on the contactor jig


602


into a respective button hole on the fuzz button contactor


102


.




Referring to

FIG. 13

, once the fuzz buttons have been transferred from the jig holes of the contactor jig


602


to the button holes of the fuzz button contactor


102


, the dummy integrated circuit package


920


and the contactor jig


602


are removed from the fuzz button contactor


102


. As a result, the fuzz button contactor


102


is left with a respective fuzz button placed into each of the button holes of the fuzz button contactor


102


, as shown in FIG.


1


.




In this manner, a slot plate is used to place fuzz buttons into rows of jig holes within a contactor jig. The jig holes within a contactor jig are loaded with the fuzz buttons from the slot plate a row at a time. Then, all of the fuzz buttons within the jig holes of the contactor jig are transferred to the button holes of the fuzz button contactor all at once.




Such a handling of fuzz buttons is more efficient than the manual placement of fuzz buttons into the button holes of a fuzz button contactor one fuzz button at a time. In addition, the slot plate efficiently filters out any defectively shaped fuzz button from being placed into any jig hole of the contactor jig. Such a filtering mechanism is more efficient than the visual inspection of each fuzz button. With such an efficient mechanism for placing fuzz buttons into button holes of a fuzz button contactor, a respective fuzz button may be placed into each of a large number of button holes on a fuzz button contactor. For example, the present invention may be used to particular advantage for placing fuzz buttons into button holes of a fuzz button contactor used for testing a relatively large integrated circuit package such as for a modem microprocessor integrated circuit. In that case, the integrated circuit package having the modem microprocessor has 321 pins which corresponds to a respective fuzz button placed into each of 321 button holes on the fuzz button contactor.




The foregoing is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the present invention has been described for an example fuzz button contactor having a relatively small number of button holes for clarity of illustration. However, the present invention may be used for a larger number of button holes on a fuzz button contactor having a larger number of rows of a larger number of button holes, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. In addition, the configuration of the alignment holes on the outside of the rows of jig holes as illustrated in

FIG. 8

are by way of example only. Any configuration of the alignments holes that is amenable for aligning the slots of the slot plate


202


with the jig holes of a row of jig holes on a contactor jig


602


may be used with the present invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. Furthermore, the use of the dowel guide pins


604


and


605


on the fuzz button contactor


102


and the guide holes


606


and


607


on the contactor jig


602


are by way of example only. Any other mechanism for properly aligning the fuzz button contactor


102


with the contactor jig


602


may be used with the present invention, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein.




The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and equivalents thereof.



Claims
  • 1. A method for loading a respective fuzz button into each button hole of at least one row of a predetermined number of button holes within a fuzz button contactor, the method including the steps of:A. placing fuzz buttons into each slot within a slot plate, said slot plate having said predetermined number of slots aligned as a row of slots; B. transferring a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of said slot plate into each empty jig hole of a row of jig holes of a contactor jig, wherein said contactor jig has at least one row of said predetermined number of jig holes that are disposed on said contactor jig as a mirror image of said at least one row of said predetermined number of button holes on said fuzz button contactor when said contactor jig is properly aligned with said fuzz button contactor; C. repeating said step B for each of said at least one row of said predetermined number of jig holes on said contactor jig; D. properly aligning said contactor jig with said fuzz button contactor such that each jig hole on said contact jig faces a respective button hole on said fuzz button contactor; and E. pushing a dummy integrated circuit package into said contactor jig after said step D, said dummy integrated circuit package having a respective pin that pushes out a respective fuzz button within each jig hole on said contactor jig into a respective button hole on said fuzz button contactor.
  • 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step A further includes the steps of:placing said slot plate into a container; pouring fuzz buttons onto said slot plate within said container; and shaking said container such that said fuzz buttons slip into each slot of said slot plate.
  • 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step B further includes the steps of:placing a cover over said row of slots of said slot plate to retain said fuzz buttons within said row of slots when said slot plate is tilted; aligning said row of slots with said row of jig holes of said contactor jig such that each slot is aligned with a respective jig hole; and tilting said slot plate such that a respective fuzz button slides from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of said row of jig holes.
  • 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said slot plate is tilted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to a plane of said contactor jig, such that a respective fuzz button slides into each empty jig hole of said row of jig holes.
  • 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step D further includes the step of:placing a first dowel guide pin disposed on the fuzz button contactor into a first guide hole disposed on the contactor jig, and placing a second dowel guide pin disposed on the fuzz button contactor into a second guide hole disposed on the contactor jig.
  • 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a defectively shaped fuzz button is trapped within a slot of the slot plate such that said defectively shaped fuzz button does not slide into any jig hole of said contactor jig.
  • 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said fuzz button contactor is used for testing an integrated circuit package with 321 pins that correspond to 321 fuzz buttons placed into 321 button holes on said fuzz button contactor.
  • 8. A method for loading a respective fuzz button into each button hole of at least one row of a predetermined number of button holes within a fuzz button contactor, the method including the steps of:A. placing fuzz buttons into each slot within a slot plate, said slot plate having said predetermined number of slots aligned as a row of slots, said step A further including the steps of: placing said slot plate into a container; pouring fuzz buttons onto said slot plate within said container; and shaking said container such that said fuzz buttons slip into each slot of said slot plate; B. transferring a respective fuzz button from a respective slot of said slot plate into each empty jig hole of a row of jig holes of a contactor jig, wherein said contactor jig has at least one row of said predetermined number of jig holes that are disposed on said contactor jig as a mirror image of said at least one row of said predetermined number of button holes on said fuzz button contactor when said contactor jig is properly aligned with said fuzz button contactor; and wherein said step B further includes the steps of: placing a cover over said row of slots of said slot plate to retain said fuzz buttons within said row of slots when said slot plate is tilted; aligning said row of slots with said row of jig holes of said contactor jig such that each slot is aligned with a respective jig hole; and tilting said slot plate, at an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to a plane of said contactor jig, such that a respective fuzz button slides from a respective slot of the slot plate into each empty jig hole of said row of jig holes; and wherein a defectively shaped fuzz button is trapped within a slot of the slot plate such that said defectively shaped fuzz button does not slide into any jig hole of said contactor jig; C. repeating said step B for each of said at least one row of said predetermined number of jig holes on said contactor jig; D. properly aligning said contactor jig with said fuzz button contactor such that each jig hole on said contact jig faces a respective button hole on said fuzz button contactor, by placing a first dowel guide pin disposed on the fuzz button contactor into a first guide hole disposed on the contactor jig, and placing a second dowel guide pin disposed on the fuzz button contactor into a second guide hole disposed on the contactor jig; and E. pushing a dummy integrated circuit package into said contactor jig after said step D, said dummy integrated circuit package having a respective pin that pushes out the respective fuzz button within each jig hole on said contactor jig into a respective button hole on said fuzz button contactor; and wherein said fuzz button contactor is used for testing an integrated circuit package with 321 pins that correspond to 321 fuzz buttons placed into 321 button holes on said fuzz button contactor.
Parent Case Info

This is a divisional of an earlier filed copending patent application with Ser. No. 09 /333,428 filed on Jun. 15, 1999, for which priority is claimed now U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,576. This earlier filed copending patent application with Ser. No. 09/333,428 is in its entirety incorporated herewith by reference.

US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
4395184 Braden Jul 1983 A
4459743 Watanabe et al. Jul 1984 A
4586251 Kimoshita et al. May 1986 A
4637134 Tomita Jan 1987 A
4995157 Hall Feb 1991 A
5218753 Suzuki et al. Jun 1993 A
5337465 Tamaki et al. Aug 1994 A
5828310 Foo et al. Oct 1998 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
2076709 May 1981 GB
60189291 Sep 1985 JP