Title: Universal platform for functional testing of printed circuit boards

Authors: Marian Serban; Yuriy Vagapov; Reg Holme

Addresses: R&D Department, Control Techniques, Emerson Industrial Automation, Ty Rheoli, 79 Mochdre Industrial Estate, Newtown, SY16 4LE, UK ' Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, Glyndwr University, Plas Coch, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AW, UK ' Department of Engineering and Applied Physics, Glyndwr University, Plas Coch, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AW, UK

Abstract: The paper presents the development of a cost-effective, universal platform for testing of printed circuit boards (PCBs) at the function level. The platform architecture is based on the set of PXI compatible instruments operating under National Instrument software. The system can be easily reconfigured and reprogrammed to minimise the test time and expand test coverage. Comparing to existing functional testing equipment aimed to test one particular PCB only, the proposed platform is universal and designed to test a variety of PCB circuits. This approach reduces the test time and the cost of testing equipment and consequently overall cost of the end product.

Keywords: printed circuit boards; PCB testing; functional testing; LabVIEW; universal platform; PCBs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAD.2014.068296

International Journal of Circuits and Architecture Design, 2014 Vol.1 No.3, pp.222 - 241

Received: 08 Jan 2014
Accepted: 28 Mar 2014
Published online: 08 Apr 2015 *

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