Application of the eddy current method for flaw detection of conductive tracks of printed circuit boards

Abstract

The article discusses the creation and testing of a hardware-software complex aimed at examining the conductive paths on printed circuit boards. The complex includes a tiny eddy current transducer and a measuring system specifically designed to work with the transducer. The proposed system, which combines software and hardware components, allows for the examination of small sections of metal objects. It enables the monitoring of electrical conductivity and the determination of conductivity distribution across the object’s surface and depth. The article provides detailed explanations of the key features of the measuring system and presents the experimental findings obtained by testing different printed circuit boards. These boards were examined under various conditions, including defect-free ones and those intentionally modified to simulate defects. Dependences between the eddy current transducer signal and the different conductive tracks were established, elucidating the relationship between the transducer’s response and the properties of the tracks.