Method and apparatus for triage of electronic items using magnetic field detection

An electronic circuit triage system, comprising:

• a test platform configured to receive an electronic device;
• one or more arrays of magnetic sensors collectively positioned and configured to sense magnetic field characteristics indicative of a magnetic field pattern from the electronic device when the electronic device is positioned on the test platform;
• and
• a microprocessor coupled to the magnetic sensor and configured to compare the magnetic field pattern to one or more reference magnetic field patterns and to diagnose a condition of the electronic device based on a comparison of the magnetic field pattern to the one or more reference magnetic field patterns.

A method for performing triage on an electronic device, comprising:

• receiving into a test system from an interface a model designator for an electronic device;
• fetching one or more reference magnetic field patterns corresponding to the electronic device;
• receiving the electronic device on a test platform;
• measuring a magnetic field pattern proximate to and relative to the electronic device;
• comparing the measured magnetic field pattern to the one or more reference magnetic field patterns;
• inferring a condition of the electronic device as a function of a correspondence of the measured magnetic field pattern to the one or more reference magnetic field patterns;
• and
• outputting the inferred condition to a user.