Method and apparatus for implementing automatic-calibration of TDR probing system

A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program product for implementing automatic-calibration of a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) probing computer test system, said computer-readable medium consisting one of a floppy disk, a high capacity read only memory in the form of an optically read compact disk or CD-ROM, and a tape, said computer program product including instructions stored on said computer-readable medium and wherein said instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

• performing a calibration procedure automatically each time a TDR probe is moved from a device under test (DUT);
• obtaining and comparing a current calibration TDR waveform with a reference calibration TDR waveform including switching from a normal measurement path including a TDR probe tip to a calibration reference path including a reference calibration impedance trace;
• providing an optical sensor for detecting the TDR probe being moved from the device under test (DUT);
• and a relay for switching between said normal measurement path and said calibration reference path;
• checking for deviations between the current calibration TDR waveform and the reference calibration TDR waveform;
• and
• responsive to detecting a deviation, notifying a user of a failed calibration.