Non-contact plasma probe for testing electrical continuity of printed wire boards
AssigneeProbot Incorporated
InventorsRonald W. Parker, James W. Grace, Gerald W. Siter, Eli K. Dabora, John T. Bahns, Baki Cetegen
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Abstract
A system for testing the electrical conductivity of printed traces, on multiple surfaces, of a printed wiring board using non-contacting probes. The non-contact probes generate a plasma in a plasma generating chamber that is used to apply a voltage to the printed wiring board. A measurement circuit determines the magnitude of the voltage on the printed wiring board.
Claims18
An apparatus for testing the electrical continuity between a first trace and a second trace on a printed wire board, comprising:
- a first probe in electrical and mechanical contact with said first trace on said printed wire board;
- a second probe comprising a plasma, said plasma in electrical and non-mechanical contact with said second trace on said printed wire board;
- a current sensing circuit comprising a current source and a measurement circuit, said current sensing circuit in electrical communication with said first probe and said second probe;
- and
- a voltage-producing circuit for supplying voltage to said second probe to generate said plasma;
- wherein said current source of said current sensing circuit establishes a current between said first probe, said first trace, said second trace, and said plasma of said second probe, and said current measurement circuit determines the electrical continuity of said circuit.
An apparatus for testing the electrical continuity between traces on a printed wire board, comprising:
- a plurality of probes, each of said probes comprising a plasma, said plasma in electrical and non-mechanical contact with one of said traces on said printed wire board;
- a current sensing circuit comprising a current source and a measurement circuit, said current sensing circuit in electrical communication with at least two of said probes;
- and
- a voltage-producing circuit for supplying voltage to one of said plurality of probes to generate said plasma;
- wherein said current source of said current sensing circuit establishes a current between said probes and said traces, and said current measurement circuit determines the electrical continuity of said circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.