Patent · US Expired

System and method for testing and fault isolation of high density passive boards and substrates

US5621327A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
16References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 24, 1995
Grant dateApr 15, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 24, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/2805
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus and method are disclosed for performing testing and fault isolation of high density passive boards and substrates. Using a small number of moving probes, simultaneous network resistance and network capacitance measurements may be performed. Thus, test time is minimized by eliminating the need for electrical switching and/or excessive probe movement during the test of a normal circuit board network. Simultaneous network capacitance and network leakage measurement are also achieved using phase-sensitive detection. Dual-frequency measurement techniques allow the measurement of both the capacitance value and resistance value of a leakage path between a network being measured and an unknown network. Any leakage resistance between a network under test and ground or power planes within the circuit board may also be determined from the measurements. Simultaneous independent net-to-plane capacitance characterization is also achieved using signals of mutually independent frequencies accompanied by minimal signal processing. Thus, improved defect detection capabilities are obtained.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.