Automated Test Engineering

Types of tests, Types of PCB

 Types of Tests

• Parametric – measures electrical properties of pin

electronics – delay, voltages, currents, etc. – fast and
cheap

• Functional – used to cover very high % of modeled faults –

test every transistor and wire in digital circuits – long and
expensive – the focus of this course

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 Parametric Testing

Typical tests
DC parametric test
Probe test (wafer sort) – catches gross defects
Contact, power, open, short tests
Functional & layout-related test

AC parametric test
• Unacceptable voltage/current/delay at pin
• Unacceptable device operation limits

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 Threshold Test
1. For each I/P pin, write logic 0 followed by propagation
pattern to output. Read output. Increase input voltage
in 0.1 V steps until output value is wrong

2. Repeat process, but stepping down from logic 1 by 0.1 V

until output value fails
– Wrong output when 0 input > 0.8 V £ (ok)
– Wrong output when 0 input 0.8 V (fails)
– Wrong output when 1 input < 2.0 V (ok)
– Wrong output when 1 input 2.0 V ³ (fails)

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 Types of Resistors
• Types of Resistors
– Wire-wound resistors
– Carbon-composition resistors
– Film-type resistors
• Carbon film
• Metal film
– Surface-mount resistors (chip resistors)
– Fusible resistors
– Thermistors
 Types of Resistors
• Carbon Composition Resistors
– Made of carbon or graphite
mixed with a powdered
insulating material.
– Metal caps with tinned copper
wire (called axial leads) are
joined to the ends of the carbon
resistance element. They are
used for soldering the
connections into a circuit.
– Becoming obsolete because of
the development of carbon-film Carbon resistors with the same physical size but
resistors. different resistance values. The physical size
indicates a power rating of ½ W.
 Types of Resistors
Carbon Film Resistors
– Compared to carbon
composition resistors,
carbon-film resistors have
tighter tolerances, are less
sensitive to temperature
changes and aging, and
generate less noise.

carbon film resistor.

 Types of Resistors
• Metal Film Resistors
– Metal film resistors have
very tight tolerances, are
less sensitive to
temperature changes and
aging, and generate less
noise.

metal film resistor.

 Types of Resistors
• Wire Wound Resistor
– Special resistance wire is
wrapped around an insulating
core, typically porcelain, cement,
or pressed paper.
– These resistors are typically used
for high-current applications with
low resistance and appreciable
power.

Large wire-wound resistors with 50-W power ratings. (a)

Fixed R, length of 5 in. (b) Variable R, diameter of 3 in.
 Types of Resistors
• Thermistors:
– Thermistors are temperature-
sensitive resistors whose
resistance value changes with
changes in operating temperature.
– Used in electronic circuits where
temperature measurement,
control, and compensation are
desired.

thermistor
 Rheostats and Potentiometers
• Rheostats and potentiometers are variable resistances used to
vary the amount of current or voltage in a circuit.
– Rheostats:
• Two terminals.
• Connected in series with the load and the voltage source.
• Varies the current.
Two wire resistance measurement