Intermittent faults (IFs) in electrical interconnection are short duration transients. These faults are random, non-predictable and non-stationary in nature making them hard to troubleshoot using traditional equipment. They can be detected only if the test equipment has test coverage both in time and area at that instant. This paper proposes a novel approach of intermittent fault detection by injecting a wideband signal and using channel-sounding techniques. A novel Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DS-SS) technique is presented for multipoint IF detection and health monitoring. Digital communication sounding technology and its methods devised for detection and classification of an IF, and channel characterisation by its transfer function is discussed in detail. A combination of transmitter and receiver provide an effective tool for continuously monitoring of the multi-point interconnect. The proposed method has been tested using a functional prototype having pre-induced IFs. Intermittent signal is generated by applying external vibration on the connector and intermittency is detected by acquiring and processing the propagated signal. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in detection and classification of intermittent interconnections.

Abstract-Intermittent faults are completely missed out by traditional monitoring and detection techniques due to nonstationary nature of signals. These are the incipient events of a precursor of permanent faults to come. Intermittent faults in electrical interconnection are short duration transients which could be detected by some specific techniques but these do not provide enough information to understand the root cause of it. Due to random and non-predictable nature, the intermittent faults are the most frustrating, elusive, and expensive faults to detect in interconnection system. The novel approach of the author injects a fixed frequency sinusoidal signal into electronics interconnection system that modulates intermittent fault if persist. Intermittent faults and other channel effects are computed from received signal by demodulation and spectrum analysis. This paper describes technology for intermittent fault detection, and classification of intermittent fault, and channel characterization. The paper also reports the functionally tests of computational system of the proposed methods. This algorithm has been tested using experimental setup. It generate an intermittent signal by external vibration stress on connector and intermittency is detected by acquiring and processing propagating signal. The results demonstrate to detect and classify intermittent interconnection and noise variations due to intermittency. Monitoring the channel in-situ with low amplitude, and narrow band signal over electronics interconnection between a transmitter and a receiver provides the most effective tool for continuously watching the wire system for the random, unpredictable intermittent faults, the precursor of failure.