Multipoint intermittent fault detection of electronic interconnections using channel sounding techniques

Abstract

Intermittent faults (IFs) in electrical interconnection are short duration transients. These faults are random, non-predictable and non-stationary in nature making them hard to troubleshoot using traditional equipment. They can be detected only if the test equipment has test coverage both in time and area at that instant. This paper proposes a novel approach of intermittent fault detection by injecting a wideband signal and using channel-sounding techniques. A novel Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DS-SS) technique is presented for multipoint IF detection and health monitoring. Digital communication sounding technology and its methods devised for detection and classification of an IF, and channel characterisation by its transfer function is discussed in detail. A combination of transmitter and receiver provide an effective tool for continuously monitoring of the multi-point interconnect. The proposed method has been tested using a functional prototype having pre-induced IFs. Intermittent signal is generated by applying external vibration on the connector and intermittency is detected by acquiring and processing the propagated signal. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in detection and classification of intermittent interconnections.