Weld check stations

A method of testing a portable computing device comprising:

• generating one of a time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement of a weld joint on a gold unit using a vector network analyzer (VNA) wherein the TDR measurements is performed at a plurality of different frequencies;
• generating one of a TDR measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement of a weld joint between two components of a device under test using a probe coupled to the vector network analyzer wherein the vector network analyzer sends a signal to the probe that is transmitted through the weld joint at each of the plurality of different frequencies;
• comparing the TDR measurement of the weld joint on the gold unit to the TDR measurement of the weld joint on the device under test on a frequency by frequency basis or the swept frequency impedance measurement of the weld joint on the gold unit to the swept frequency impedance measurement of the weld joint on the device under test on a frequency by frequency basis;
• and
• based upon the comparison at each of the plurality of frequencies, accepting or rejecting the weld joint on the device under test.

A weld check station comprising:

• a vector network analyzer (VNA);
• at least two pins coupled to the VNA;
• an assembly configured to 1) hold a device under test including at least one weld joint and 2) position a first pin on a first component of the weld joint and a second pin on a second component of the weld joint wherein the first component and the second component are joined via the weld joint;
• wherein the VNA is configured to send test signals and receives response from the at least two pins as part of one of a time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement generated for the weld joint;
• and
• a process and memory configured to receive data associated with the TDR measurement or the swept frequency impedance measurement and to determine whether the weld joint is acceptable based upon the TDR measurement or the swept frequency impedance measurement.

A method of calibrating a weld check station including a vector network analyzer comprising:

• generating one of a time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement of a weld joint on a first gold unit using the vector network analyzer;
• generating one of a time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement of a weld joint on a second gold unit using the vector network analyzer;
• comparing the TDR measurement of the weld joint on the first gold unit to the TDR measurement of the weld joint on the second gold unit or the swept frequency impedance measurement of the weld joint on the first gold unit to the swept frequency impedance measurement of the weld joint on the second gold unit on a frequency by frequency basis;
• based upon said comparison, determining whether the weld joint on the second gold unit meets a pass-fail criteria for the weld joint;
• and
• when the second gold unit meets the pass criteria, indicating the weld check station is calibrated.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing computer code executed by a processor in a computer aided manufacturing process comprising:

• computer code for generating one of a time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement of a weld joint on a gold unit using a vector network analyzer (VNA);
• computer code for generating one of a TDR measurement or a swept frequency impedance measurement of a weld joint between two components of a device under test using a probe coupled to the vector network analyzer wherein the vector network analyzer sends a signal to the probe that is transmitted through the weld joint;
• computer code for comparing the TDR measurement of the weld joint on the gold unit to the TDR measurement of the weld joint on the device under test or the swept frequency impedance measurement on the gold unit to the swept frequency impedance measurement of the weld joint on the device under test;
• and
• computer code for, based upon the comparison, accepting or rejecting the weld joint on the device under test.