Question
Integrated Circuit
QUESTION: Dear Cleggsan
References
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_integrated_circuit_manufacturers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimeter
http://www.csee.umbc.edu/~cpatel2/links/418/lectures/chap4_lect04_defects_faults
http://www.springer.com/engineering/circuits+%26+systems/book/978-0-387-25742-6
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/login.jsp?tp=&arnumber=1270076&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi
http://www.ijcaonline.org/archives/number27/497-811
Is it possible to design and manufacture Integrated circuit electronic boards or electronic measuring instrument like a multimeter which allows to measure current (DC,AC), voltage (DC,AC), Resistance, diode, transistor and allows us to find faults within these components (i.e. open or short) i.e. Check whether an Integrated Circuit is faulty (open or short).
Example : While testing any electronic circuit, after desoldering an 8, 14, 16, 18, 24 pin IC from the electronic, test the IC kept in a instrument like Multimeter or Electronic Board, the IC Fault finding instrument will tell us whether the component is faulty or not ?.
If yes, are these fault findings boards,instruments available from Motorola, Texas or other leading chip manufacturers ?
if no, what are the Limitations for designing and manufacturing
a Fault finding Integrated Circuit Instrument ?
Awaiting your reply,
Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar
ANSWER: Testing circuits are employed at the factory as part of the operations prior to sending out the IC for sale or distribution into the marketplace.
Since every circuit is uniquely designed for a purpose and the pin configuration is not always the same the testing circuit must be designed uniquely for that IC.
Based on the circuit some technical features can be tested easily with an ohmmeter function or applied voltage to produce a current, etc. But most may require a digital input signal or sine wave test signal in order to check the amplifier or switching functionalities.
There are many test instruments available for such purposes. You can find them by googling around. They range from simple and low cost to very sophisticated and very expensive. The kind mentioned at the beginning for test at the end of the manufacturing processes are usually designed by test engineers and manufactured by the IC company for each product classification.
Hope this helps you.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dear Cleggsan
Thank you.
A. Are these test equipment available in the electronics market ?
B. Can the test equipment test all type of Integrated Circuits ?
C. Who are the major vendors, suppliers of Test Equipment ?
Awaiting your reply,
Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar
AnswerA:
Yes, some are. Here is one for example:
http://www.capetronics.com/ic_testers_handheld_and_compact.htm
and, of course, famous Alibaba can supply almost anything:
http://kitek786.trustpass.alibaba.com/product/225638463-101569477/IC_TESTER_DICT
Tektronix makes very expensive test gear for high level testing; they cost many thousands. Here is an example of one:
http://www.ko4bb.com/Manuals/Tektronix/Tektronix_178_Linear_IC_Test_Fixture_Inst
B:
Test instruments are divided into linear or analog IC testers or digital testers. They are different because of the functionality being completely different technology. There are so many families of products it is difficult to find one tester compatible with all kinds.
C:
You can find equipment rental companies and sales agencies in your country by going to the manufacturers pages and googling for them on the Internet.
You must do some research on your own after determining the type and kind of IC chips you will be testing. The variation of ICs used throughout electronics is so great it is near impossible to build a tester that tests all kinds in one product.
Happy hunting. Hope you can find what you need for your projects.
