A new unique electrostatic imager for nondestructive evaluation of printed circuit boards

George Zentai; Larry D. Partain; Cesar Proano; Syuji Yamaoka

doi:10.1117/12.484062

1 August 2003 A new unique electrostatic imager for nondestructive evaluation of printed circuit boards

George Zentai, Larry D. Partain, Cesar Proano, Syuji Yamaoka

Proceedings Volume 5047, Smart Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems II; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484062
Event: NDE for Health Monitoring and Diagnostics, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A new method (patent pending) was developed at Varian Medical Systems and OHT Inc. for non-destructive evaluation of printed circuit boards (PCB’s). The electrostatic imager uses a TFT array, where each pixel has a small storage capacitor connected to it and a separate top electrode. An insulator layer covers these top electrodes. When we place a PCB on top of this insulator layer and activate a trace of the PCB by an electrical pulse, that trace induces charges in all of the underlying pixels. By reading out the image of the charges with electronics, similar to ones used for digital x-ray imaging, we can reconstruct the image of the electrical trace. Using the above technique we can test and detect defects in PCB’s such as shorted traces, broken traces, etc. This method is also applicable to test other electrical and electronic circuits and components with electrical pulses. The paper gives a detailed descripton of this new imaging technique illustrated by real applications.

Citation Download Citation

George Zentai, Larry D. Partain, Cesar Proano, and Syuji Yamaoka "A new unique electrostatic imager for nondestructive evaluation of printed circuit boards", Proc. SPIE 5047, Smart Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring of Structural and Biological Systems II, (1 August 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484062

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