Composite electro-optical testing of surface-mount device boards-one manufacturer's experience

The use of surface-mount devices (SMDs) in the US manufacture of high-quality switchboards presented the need to reduce cost, while maintaining traditional quality and reliability, and without decreasing throughput or adding process steps. Further, the complexity of the display panels demanded a completely automatic test solution without the operator in the loop. The authors describe the use of automatic optical inspection in conjunction with electrical testing for a medium-volume manufacturing situation. The effectiveness of this test solution in meeting the needs of a major change in device technology is quantified from measurement accuracy and consistency viewpoints. Increased production efficiency as compared with previous tests strategies is indicated.<>