Connector test card
AssigneeEquipe Communications Corporation
InventorsEdward C. Sweeney, Joel M. Appelbaum, Paul C. Naumann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Connector test cards provide for improved printed circuit board (“board”) testability by terminating each etch routed to an unmated connector on the board. With the connector test card mated with the connector on the board under test, the integrity of solder joints between the connector and the board may be tested for opens and shorts on a standard in-circuit or fixtureless tester. In addition, during functional testing, a connector test card may be mated with a connector on the board to prevent the voltage levels on undriven component inputs on the board from floating.
Claims29
A connector test card, comprising:
- a printed circuit board;
- a connector mounted to the printed circuit board, wherein the connector includes a plurality of signal connections;
- and
- a plurality of resistors mounted to the printed circuit board to electrically connect at least a portion of the plurality of signal connections to at least one ground connection.
A method of testing a connector mounted to a printed circuit board, comprising:
- mating a connector test card to the connector;
- attaching a first test probe to a first signal test pad on the printed circuit board;
- attaching a second test probe to a ground test pad on the printed circuit board;
- applying a voltage across the first signal test pad and the ground test pad;
- measuring the resistance across the first signal test pad and the ground test pad;
- and
- detecting an open if the measured resistance across the first signal test pad and the ground test pad is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
A method of testing a connector mounted to a printed circuit board, comprising:
- mating a connector test card to the connector;
- attaching a first test probe to a first signal test pad on the printed circuit board;
- attaching a second test probe to a second signal test pad on the printed circuit board;
- applying a voltage across the first and second signal test pads;
- measuring the resistance across the first and second signal test pads;
- and
- detecting short if the measured resistance across the first and second signal test pads is less than a predetermined threshold value.
A method of functionally testing a printed circuit board including an unmated connector and a plurality of components, comprising:
- mating a connector test card to the connector, wherein the connector test card terminates etch on the printed circuit board connected to the connector and connected to inputs of one or more of the plurality of components;
- and
- applying power to the printed circuit board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.