Locate faulty components by IR based Direct Current Injection method with Analog Signature Analysis

This article describes a method to integrate Analog Signature Analysis (ASA) into IR based Direct Current Inject method (IRDCI) for Printed Circuit Board Assembly failure analysis, which extends IRDCI application from diagnostic shorted power rails to any measurement locations that show signature differences. Also, it extends the application of component failure modes from electrical short to breakdown or degradation that can be identified by signature comparison and still keep high efficiency to eliminate the needs to guess and remove suspected faulty components one by one from the board to validate.