Testing a circuit board

A system for testing an electrical connection in a circuit board, the circuit board comprising a first electrically-conductive structure for receiving test signals, second electrically-conductive structures for mounting components, and electrically-conductive traces between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structures, the system comprising:

• a pin assembly comprising an electrically-conductive pin that is configured to physically contact the first electrically-conductive structure to apply an electrical signal to the first electrically-conductive structure;
• and
• a sensor configured to wirelessly couple to a second electrically-conductive structure of the second electrically-conductive structures, the sensor being configured to receive, through the wireless coupling, an electrical response that is based on the electrical signal through an electrically-conductive trace of the electrically-conductive traces on the circuit board;
• wherein the pin assembly comprises an outer enclosure, the outer enclosure comprising an electrically-insulating ring, the outer enclosure being configured to move relative to the electrically-conductive pin so that the outer enclosure encloses the electrically-conductive pin when the electrically-conductive pin is in physical contact with the first electrically-conductive structure, the outer enclosure comprising metal.

A system for testing an electrical connection in a circuit board, the circuit board comprising a first electrically-conductive structure for receiving test signals, second electrically-conductive structures for mounting components, and electrically-conductive traces between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structures, the system comprising:

• a pin assembly comprising an electrically-conductive pin that is configured to physically contact the first electrically-conductive structure to apply an electrical signal to the first electrically-conductive structure;
• a sensor configured to wirelessly couple to a second electrically-conductive structure of the second electrically-conductive structures, the sensor being configured to receive, through the wireless coupling, an electrical response that is based on the electrical signal through an electrically-conductive trace of the electrically-conductive traces on the circuit board;
• circuitry configured to receive a signal based on the electrical response from the sensor and to amplify the signal based on the electrical response to produce an amplified electrical signal;
• and
• a detector configured to compare a signal based on the amplified electrical signal to a first threshold to test the electrically-conductive trace;
• wherein, if the signal based on the amplified electrical signal exceeds the first threshold but not a second threshold, then an electrical path including the electrically-conductive trace has passed testing;
• and
• wherein if the signal based on the amplified electrical signal exceeds the second threshold, then there is a short circuit to a second electrically-conductive structure.

A system for testing an electrical connection in a circuit board, the circuit board comprising a first electrically-conductive structure for receiving test signals, second electrically-conductive structures for mounting components, and electrically-conductive traces between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structures, the system comprising:

• a pin assembly comprising an electrically-conductive pin that is configured to physically contact the first electrically-conductive structure to apply an electrical signal to the first electrically-conductive structure;
• and
• a sensor configured to wirelessly couple to a second electrically-conductive structure of the second electrically-conductive structures, the sensor being configured to receive, through the wireless coupling, an electrical response that is based on the electrical signal through an electrically-conductive trace of the electrically-conductive traces on the circuit board;
• wherein the circuit board comprises multiple instances of the first electrically-conductive structure, and wherein the circuit board comprises multiple sets of second electrically-conductive structures, each set of second electrically-conductive structures being electrically connected to a respective instance of the first electrically-conductive structure through electrically-conductive traces;
• and
• wherein the system comprises:
• multiple instances of the sensor, each instance of the sensor being configured to wirelessly couple to a second electrically-conductive structure in a different set of the second electrically-conductive structures;
• a multiplexer to select an output of one of the instances of the sensor;
• and
• a detector to receive a signal that is based on the output of the one of the instances of the sensor.

A method of testing an electrical connection in a circuit board, the circuit board comprising a first electrically-conductive structure for receiving test signals, second electrically-conductive structures for mounting components, and electrically-conductive traces between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structures, the method comprising:

• causing an electrically-conductive pin to physically contact the first electrically-conductive structures;
• wirelessly coupling a sensor to a second electrically-conductive structure of the second electrically-conductive structures;
• applying an electrical signal to the first electrically-conductive structure;
• and
• receiving, at the sensor through the wireless coupling, an electrical response that is based on the electrical signal through an electrically-conductive trace of the electrically-conductive traces on the circuit board between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structure;
• wherein the first electrically conductive structure is different from the second electrically conductive structure and wherein the electrically conductive trace electrically connects the first electrically conductive structure and the second electrically conductive structure.

A method of testing an electrical connection in a circuit board, the circuit board comprising a first electrically-conductive structure for receiving test signals, second electrically-conductive structures for mounting components, and electrically-conductive traces between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structures, the method comprising:

• causing an electrically-conductive pin to physically contact the first electrically-conductive structure;
• wirelessly coupling a sensor to a second electrically-conductive structure of the second electrically-conductive structures;
• applying an electrical signal to the first electrically-conductive structure;
• receiving, at the sensor through the wireless coupling, an electrical response that is based on the electrical signal through an electrically-conductive trace of the electrically-conductive traces on the circuit board between the first electrically-conductive structure and the second electrically-conductive structure, selecting an output of the sensor that is based on the electrical response;
• processing the output to produce a signal that is based on the electrical response;
• comparing the signal that is based on the electrical response to a first threshold;
• and
• comparing the signal that is based on the electrical response to a second threshold;
• wherein, if the signal exceeds the first threshold but not the second threshold, then an electrical path including the electrically-conductive trace has passed testing;
• and
• wherein if the signal exceeds the second threshold, then it is determined that there is a short circuit to a second electrically-conductive structure.