Five points to let you quickly understand the RF chip test holder

First, the definition of RF test sockets

RF RF test sockets are composed of several parts, including test socket shell, test socket conventional probe and RF coaxial connector.

In RF RF test sockets, most of the structure and ordinary test sockets are similar, except for the coaxial connector part.

Regarding the part of the test holder, the design ideas have been mentioned earlier.

Now mainly talk about RF connectors.

RF connectors that is, radio frequency coaxial connectors, mainly used for communication radio frequency signal transmission.probe test system Through the joint efforts of the global communications industry, RF connectors have formed a professional system as well as international standards, but also an essential part of the connector.

Second, the working principle of RF radio frequency test holder

RF radio frequency test holder of the conventional pin pin using the corresponding pogo pin probe, but due to radio frequency transmission signals require a special medium, so the corresponding connector part is also very special. Our common RF coaxial connector (RF COAXIAL CONNECTOR) is one of them, this part will be embedded in the test holder for testing RF conduction.

When selecting the RF connector in the corresponding test holder, you can refer to the following interfaces (not limited to the following interfaces), and when customizing the test holder to the supplier to put forward their own chip insertion loss and return loss requirements (i.e., S12/S21 and S11), but also need to put forward their own contact impedance requirements:

BNC is bayonet type, mostly used for RF connection below 4GHz,RF probes widely used for instrumentation and computer interconnection.

TNC is a threaded connection, similar in size and other aspects to BNC, with an operating frequency of up to 11 GHz, threaded for vibration environments.

SMA is a threaded connection, the most widely used, impedance of 50 and 75 ohms two kinds of, 50 ohms with flexible cable frequency below 12.4Ghz, with semi-rigid cable up to 26.5GHz.

SMB volume is smaller than SMA, for the insertion of self-locking structure, for fast connection, commonly used in digital communications, is the replacement of L9, 50 ohms to 4GHz, 75 ohms to 2GHz.

SMC for threaded connection, other similar to SMB, have a wider frequency range, commonly used in military or high vibration environment.

N-type connectors are threaded, with air as the insulating material, low cost, frequencies up to 11GHz, commonly used on test instruments, available in 50 and 75 ohms.

MCX and MMCX connectors are small and are used for dense connections.

BMA is used for frequencies up to 18GHz of low-power microwave systems blind plug connection.

Third, the application of RF radio frequency test base

With the upgrading of 5G and high-speed communication standards such as WIFI6, new RF chips are widely used in mobile devices such as cell phones, tablet PCs, and communication platforms such as communication base stations. Therefore, the demand for RF test stands is increasing and higher.probe card Currently the main RF chip will be aging test, function test and special test under extreme environment, so the RF test bench puts forward higher test demand.

Fourth, the production method of RF radio frequency test stand:

Product design needs to rely on data, including the size of the chip (length, width and thickness), chip spacing, the shape of the chip, the chip test chip needs to run the frequency and the corresponding insertion loss, return loss and other data. Some RF chips have higher power and may need to provide overcurrent requirements. As we all know, the test base pogo pin overcurrent capability is less than 1A, so the chip's power pin overcurrent capability also needs to be taken into account, otherwise it will affect the chip's firepower test data.

Production method: Socket + RF coaxial connector (also need to take into account the isolation).

Fifth, the maintenance of RF radio frequency test socket:

RF test socket requires regular maintenance, it is best to use every 5000 times with a microscope to check the contact probe or RF RF connector, to see whether the top of the needle is dirt and needle wear and tear to ensure that the test socket is always in a good state of testing. If there is any dirt, it is recommended to use ultrasonic cleaning equipment to put in high purity alcohol for ultrasonic cleaning, and then use an air gun to do the final cleaning to ensure that the test holder is in a dry state, in order to ensure that the service life of the product as well as the test performance. If there is slight wear and tear and does not affect the test (i.e., the test data does not have a large error), you can continue to use after cleaning. If there is serious damage, the probe and RF connector will need to be replaced before continued use.

RF radio frequency production test sockets

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