Patent ID: 7187165
Filing Date: 2007-03-06
Classification: G01R,H05K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining fixture probe locations in a printed circuit board tester fixture based on a printed circuit board (PCB) design, said PCB design comprising one or more nets respectively having an associated preferred test pad implemented along said respective net at an associated preferred probing location and associated one or more alternate test pads implemented along said respective net at associated one or more alternate probing locations as determined by execution of a probe location algorithm that receives respective lists of potential test pad locations for said respective nets and respectively predictably determines said associated preferred probing location and said associated one or more alternate probing locations for said respective nets, comprising: a PCB design test pad location extraction function which respectively generates for one or more nets of said PCB design an associated test pad list comprising locations of said preferred test pad and said one or more alternate test pads associated with said respective net; and a processor which executes said probe location algorithm to determine said respective preferred probing locations associated with said one or more nets, using said respective test pad lists associated with said one or more nets as said respective lists of potential test pad locations.