Abstract:
A disconnection-inspecting method for inspecting an electrical disconnection between circuits formed on both surfaces of a board is provided. The method includes the steps of: placing the board on an insulating sheet laid on a reference conductor; measuring a first capacitance between the reference conductor and one of the circuits formed on a surface of both surfaces opposite to the other surface facing the insulating sheet; measuring a second capacitance between the reference conductor and the one of the circuits by changing a first physical quantity of the insulating sheet; calculating a second physical quantity of each of the circuits based on the first capacitance and the second capacitance measured in the steps of measuring; and judging the presence of the electrical disconnection based on the second physical quantity calculated in the step of calculating.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a method for inspecting a disconnection in an electric circuit of a wiring board, more particularly, to a method for inspecting a disconnection in an electric connection between electric circuits formed on both surfaces of a printed wiring board. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, in guaranteeing a quality of a printed wiring board, a probe-moving inspecting method is widely applied, in which method a probe is brought into contact with the printed wiring board so as to inspect a disconnection in an electric wiring one by one. An inspection like this is required to be highly reliable. 
     Other conventional disconnection-inspecting methods include a method of contacting a probe on one surface of a printed wiring board, as follows. That is, in this method, first, a printed wiring board is placed on an insulating sheet laid on a reference conductor, and then a probe is brought into contact with a measurement pad on a circuit formed on the printed wiring board. Next, electric signals are supplied to the reference conductor and the circuit so as to measure an electric voltage and an electric current generated between the reference conductor and the circuit. Thereby such values as a capacitance are obtained so as to judge the presence of a disconnection in the electric circuit. 
     Conventional disconnection-inspecting methods also include, as a method for inspecting a disconnection in electric circuits formed on both (upper and under) surfaces of a printed board and connected to each other, a method of obtaining a capacitance value in the above-mentioned manner for each of a plurality of printed boards having a same circuit, and then estimating a disconnection from a distribution of the capacitance values by a majority method. 
     Conventional disconnection-inspecting methods also include a method of overturning such a printed board as above on a reference conductor so as to obtain capacitance values between each of circuits formed on both surfaces of the printed board and the reference conductor and then judging that a disconnection does not exist if the two obtained capacitance values are substantially equal. 
     However, there are problems that the above-mentioned conventional methods cannot find all-product inferiority in which a plurality of printed boards incur a same defect due to such a cause as a fault of a mask used in forming a circuit, and that the above-mentioned conventional methods cannot judge the presence of a disconnection in a case where there is only one printed board as a target of a disconnection inspection. 
     Additionally, in the above-mentioned methods including obtaining capacitance values as to both surfaces of a printed board, when a thickness of an insulating sheet is made so large that both capacitance values become equivalent, the capacitance measurement is required to be precise. Further, there is a problem in an inspection reliability that, in a case where areas of patterns of circuits on both surfaces are substantially equal, no difference is recognized in capacitance values on the upper and under surfaces, and consequently a disconnection is overlooked. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful disconnection-inspecting method in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated. 
     A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable disconnection-inspecting method for inspecting a disconnection regarding an electric circuit. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to one aspect of the present invention a disconnection-inspecting method for inspecting an electrical disconnection between circuits formed on both surfaces of a board, the method comprising the steps of: 
     placing the board on an insulating sheet laid on a reference conductor; 
     measuring a first capacitance between the reference conductor and one of the circuits formed on a surface of both surfaces opposite to the other surface facing the insulating sheet; 
     measuring a second capacitance between the reference conductor and the one of the circuits by changing a first physical quantity of the insulating sheet; 
     calculating a second physical quantity of each of the circuits based on the first capacitance and the second capacitance measured in the steps of measuring; and 
     judging the presence of the electrical disconnection based on the second physical quantity calculated in the step of calculating. 
     According to the present invention, since an electrical disconnection is judged to be present or not based on the second physical quantity calculated from the measured capacitance values, the presence of an electrical disconnection in electric circuits can easily and surely be inspected. Additionally, since the present disconnection-inspecting method does not use a statistical method, the presence of a disconnection can be judged even in a case where there is only one board as a target of the inspection. 
     More specifically, in the disconnection-inspecting method according to the present invention, the first physical quantity may be a thickness or a dielectric constant of the insulating sheet. Additionally, the second physical quantity may be an area of each of the circuits so that the step of judging includes judging the presence of the electrical disconnection according to whether or not the area is calculated as 0. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is also provided according to another aspect of the present invention a disconnection-inspecting method for inspecting an electrical disconnection between circuits formed on both surfaces of a board, the method comprising: 
     the first step of placing the board on an insulating sheet laid on a reference conductor; 
     the second step of measuring a first capacitance between the reference conductor and one of the circuits formed on a surface of both surfaces opposite to the other surface facing the insulating sheet; 
     the third step of measuring a second capacitance between the reference conductor and the one of the circuits by changing a first physical quantity of the insulating sheet; 
     the fourth step of calculating a second physical quantity of each of the circuits based on the first capacitance and the second capacitance measured in the steps of measuring; 
     the fifth step of overturning the board on the insulating sheet and repeating the second step to the fourth step; and 
     the sixth step of judging the presence of the electrical disconnection according to whether or not the second physical quantity calculated in the fourth step and the second physical quantity calculated in the fifth step are equal. 
     According to the present invention, even in a case where circuits formed on both surfaces of a board are electrically connected by a plurality of leading wires and some of the leading wires have disconnected parts, the presence of the disconnection in the leading wires can surely and easily judged assuming that areas of patterns of circuits are different on both surfaces of the board. 
     More specifically, in the disconnection-inspecting method according to the present invention, the first physical quantity may be a thickness or a dielectric constant of the insulating sheet. Additionally, the second physical quantity may be an area of each of the circuits. 
    
    
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration for explaining principles of a disconnection-inspecting method and a disconnection-inspecting device for an electric circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the disconnection-inspecting device for an electric circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention with a printed wiring board being placed thereon; 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional structure of the printed wiring board and the disconnection-inspecting device shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the disconnection-inspecting method for an electric circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration for explaining principles of a disconnection-inspecting method for an electric circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the disconnection-inspecting method for an electric circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A description will now be given, with reference to the drawings, of embodiments according to the present invention. In the figures, same reference marks refer to identical or equivalent parts. 
     [FIRST EMBODIMENT] 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration for explaining principles of a disconnection-inspecting method and a disconnection-inspecting device for an electric circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the disconnection-inspecting device for an electric circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a reference conductor  1 , an insulating sheet  2 , and a probe  4 . The insulating sheet  2  is placed on the reference conductor  1 . A capacitance-measuring instrument  8  is connected between the reference conductor  1  and the probe  4 . 
     On the insulating sheet  2  of the disconnection-inspecting device having the above-mentioned structure is placed a printed wiring board  3  having an upper surface pattern (circuit)  5 , an under surface pattern  6 , and a via hole  7 . The printed wiring board  3  is a target of a disconnection inspection. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of the disconnection-inspecting device for an electric circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the above-mentioned printed wiring board  3  being placed thereon. As shown in FIG. 2, in the disconnection-inspecting device according to the present embodiment, the reference conductor  1  is placed on a base board  9 , on which a XYZ table  10  is further arranged. The capacitance-measuring instrument  8  is connected between the probe  4  and the reference conductor  1  by a cable  15 . In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, measurement pads  17  are formed on the printed wiring board  3 . 
     In the disconnection-inspecting device having the above-mentioned structure, the XYZ table  10  is moved so as to locate a tip of the probe  4  above the measurement pad  17  on the printed wiring board  3 . Then, the probe  4  is brought down into contact with the measurement pad  17  so as to measure a capacitance regarding each of the measurement pads  17  one by one, the measurement pad  17  being as an electrode on one side. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a cross-sectional structure of the printed wiring board  3  and the disconnection-inspecting device shown in FIG.  2 . Hereinbelow, a description will be given, with the target of a disconnection inspection being the printed wiring board  3  having the measurement pads on both the upper and under surfaces electrically connected by the via holes  7 , as shown in FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 shows an example where measurement pads  17   a  to  17   e  are formed on the upper surface of the printed wiring board  3 , and the measurement pad  17   a  and the measurement pad  17   b , and the measurement pad  17   d  and the measurement pad  17   e  are electrically connected on the under surface, respectively. FIG. 3 further shows a disconnection fault in one of the via holes  7  connected to the measurement pad  17   d.    
     The probe  4  is moved on the printed wiring board  3  having the above-mentioned structure into contact with the measurement pads  17   a  to  17   e  one by one so as to measure capacitances as described later. 
     Next, a description will be given, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 4, of the disconnection-inspecting method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in step S 1 , the printed wiring board  3  as a target of a disconnection inspection is placed on the insulating sheet  2 . 
     Next, as shown in step S 2 , the probe  4  is brought into contact with the upper surface pattern  5  from upward. Then, in step S 3 , a total capacitance between the reference conductor  1  and the upper surface pattern  5  and between the reference conductor  1  and the under surface pattern  6  is measured by the capacitance-measuring instrument  8  with varying the thickness or the dielectric constant of the insulating sheet  2 . 
     At this point, assuming that the area of the upper surface pattern  5  is S 1 , the capacitance between the upper surface pattern  5  and the reference conductor  1  is C 1  as shown in FIG. 1, the area of the under surface pattern  6  is S 2 , the capacitance between the under surface pattern  6  and the reference conductor  1  is C 2 , the thickness of the printed wiring board  3  is d 1 , the dielectric constant thereof is ε1, the thickness of the insulating sheet  2  is d 2 , and the dielectric constant thereof is ε2, the total capacitance C of the entire circuit shown in FIG. 1 is expressed by the following expressions. 
     
       
           C=C 1+ C 2  Expression (1)  
       
     
     
       
           C 1= S 1/( d 1/ε1+ d 2/ε2)  Expression (2)  
       
     
     
       
           C 2=ε2× S 2/ d 2  Expression (3)  
       
     
     Accordingly, in step S 3 , the capacitance C is measured twice or more with varying d 2  or ε2 of the foregoing expressions. Hereinafter, a description will be given, first, of a case of varying the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2 . It is noted that the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  can be varied easily, for example, by arranging several insulating sheets  2  one upon another, and that the dielectric constant ε2 of the insulating sheet  2  can be varied easily by differentiating the material of the insulating sheet  2 . 
     Next, in step S 4 , using two or more measured values of the capacitance C obtained in step S 3 , the area S 1  of the upper surface pattern  5  and the area S 2  of the under surface pattern  6  are calculated by the foregoing expressions (1) to (3). At this point, the two or more values of the capacitance C measured with varying the thickness d 2  or the dielectric constant ε2 of the insulating sheet  2  are substituted in the foregoing expressions (1) to (3) along with the varied values of the thickness d 2  or the dielectric constant ε2 to make simultaneous equations so that the area S 2  of the upper surface pattern  5  and the area S 2  of the under surface pattern  6  are calculated uniquely, as described later. 
     For example, in a case where the dielectric constant ε1 of the printed wiring board  3  is 0.0425 pF/mm, the dielectric constant ε2 of the insulating sheet  2  is 0.06 pF/mm, and the thickness d 1  of the printed wiring board  3  is 0.8 mm, when a measured value of the capacitance C with the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  being 0.1 mm is 5.0928 pF, and a measured value of the capacitance C with the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  being 0.2 mm is 2.6708 pF, the area S 1  of the upper surface pattern  5  is calculated as 6 mm 2  and the area S 2  of the under surface pattern  6  is calculated as 8 mm 2 , as shown in table 1 below. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Varying the thickness d2 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 d1 
                 (mm) 
                 0.8 
                 0.8 
               
               
                 d2 
                 (mm) 
                 0.1 
                 0.2 
               
               
                 S1 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 6 
                 6 
               
               
                 S2 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 8 
                 8 
               
               
                 ε1 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.0425 
                 0.0425 
               
               
                 ε2 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.06 
                 0.06 
               
               
                 C1 
                 (pF) 
                 0.2928 
                 0.2708 
               
               
                 C2 
                 (pF) 
                 4.8 
                 2.4 
               
               
                 C 
                 (pF) 
                 5.0928 
                 2.6708 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It is noted that, as shown in table 1, when the area S 1  and the area S 2  are obtained, the capacitance C 1  and the capacitance C 2  can also be calculated. 
     Here, a description will be given of a process of calculating the area S 1  as 6 mm 2  and the area S 2  as 8 mm 2  as above. When the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  is 0.1 mm, the capacitance C is represented by the following expression.                      C        (     d2   =   0.1     )       =                C1   +   C2                 =                  S1   /     (       0.8   /   0.0425     +     0.1   /   0.06       )       +                              0.06   ×     S2   /   0.1                   =                  0.0488   ×   S1     +     0.6   ×   S2                     Expression                   (   4   )                                  
     On the other hand, when the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  is 0.2 mm, the capacitance C is represented by the following expression.                      C        (     d2   =   0.2     )       =                C1   +   C2                 =                  S1   /     (       0.8   /   0.0425     +     0.2   /   0.06       )       +                              0.06   ×     S2   /   0.2                   =                  0.0451   ×   S1     +     0.3   ×   S2                     Expression                   (   5   )                                  
     In the above expressions (4) and (5), when a measured value of the capacitance C is 5.0928 pF with the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  being 0.1 mm, and a measured value of the capacitance C is 2.6708 pF with the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  being 0.2 mm, the simultaneous equations consisting of the expressions (4) and (5) can be solved so as to obtain the area S 1  and the area S 2  as shown in table 1 above. 
     On the other hand, with the same conditions as above except that a measured value of the capacitance C with the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  being 0.1 mm is 0.2928 pF, and a measured value of the capacitance C with the thickness d 2  of the insulating sheet  2  being 0.2 mm is 0.2708 pF, the area S 1  of the upper surface pattern  5  is calculated as 6 mm 2  and the area S 2  of the under surface pattern  6  is calculated as 0 mm 2  as shown in table 2 below, in the same process as above. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Varying the thickness d2 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 d1 
                 (mm) 
                 0.8 
                 0.8 
               
               
                 d2 
                 (mm) 
                 0.1 
                 0.2 
               
               
                 S1 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 6 
                 6 
               
               
                 S2 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 ε1 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.0425 
                 0.0425 
               
               
                 ε2 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.06 
                 0.06 
               
               
                 C1 
                 (pF) 
                 0.2928 
                 0.2708 
               
               
                 C2 
                 (pF) 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 C 
                 (pF) 
                 0.2928 
                 0.2708 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Next, in step S 5 , the area S 2  of the under surface pattern  6  obtained in step S 4  is judged to be 0 or not. Then, in a case of 0, step S 6   a  is performed next, and in a case of not 0, step S 6   b  is performed next. At this point, the area S 2  being obtained as 0 means that the via hole  7  shown in FIG. 1 has a disconnected part, and consequently even when an electric current is provided between the upper surface pattern  5  and the reference conductor  1  by contacting the probe  4  with the upper surface pattern  5 , an electric charge is not accumulated in the under surface pattern  6 , as a result of which the capacitance C 2  is not produced. 
     Thus, in the case of the area S 2  being obtained as 0, step S 6   a  is performed next, in which it is judged that an electrical disconnection exists between the upper surface pattern  5  and the under surface pattern  6  of the printed wiring board  3 . On the other hand, in the case of the area S 2  being obtained as not 0, step S 6   b  is performed next, in which it is judged that an electrical disconnection does not exist between the upper surface pattern  5  and the under surface pattern  6  of the printed wiring board  3 . 
     Besides, in each of a case where the insulating sheet  2  is a paper (the dielectric constant ε2 being 0.06) and a case where the insulating sheet  2  is a resin (the dielectric constant ε2 being 0.04), the capacitance C is measured as above so as to calculate the area S 1  and the area S 2  based on the measured values of the capacitance C, as shown in table 3 below. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Varying the dielectric 
                   
               
               
                   
                 constant ε2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 d1 
                 (mm) 
                 0.8 
                 0.8 
               
               
                 d2 
                 (mm) 
                 0.1 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 S1 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 6 
                 6 
               
               
                 S2 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 8 
                 8 
               
               
                 ε1 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.0425 
                 0.0425 
               
               
                 ε2 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.06 
                 0.04 
               
               
                 C1 
                 (pF) 
                 0.2928 
                 0.2814 
               
               
                 C2 
                 (pF) 
                 4.8 
                 3.2 
               
               
                 C 
                 (pF) 
                 5.0928 
                 3.4814 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Likewise, as in table 2, table 4 below shows a case where the area S 2  is calculated as 0 based on measured values of the capacitance C. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Varying the dielectric 
                   
               
               
                   
                 constant ε2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 d1 
                 (mm) 
                 0.8 
                 0.8 
               
               
                 d2 
                 (mm) 
                 0.1 
                 0.1 
               
               
                 S1 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 6 
                 6 
               
               
                 S2 
                 (mm 2 ) 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 ε1 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.0425 
                 0.0425 
               
               
                 ε2 
                 (pF/mm) 
                 0.06 
                 0.04 
               
               
                 C1 
                 (pF) 
                 0.2928 
                 0.2814 
               
               
                 C2 
                 (pF) 
                 0 
                 0 
               
               
                 C 
                 (pF) 
                 0.2928 
                 0.2814 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     As described above, with the disconnection-inspecting device and the disconnection-inspecting method according to the first embodiment, the probe  4  does not have to be contacted with the under surface of the printed wiring board  3 , but only needs to be contacted with the upper surface thereof so as to measure capacitances. Such a simple method as this enables a precise inspection for the presence of a disconnection in an electric circuit. 
     Additionally, since the disconnection-inspecting device and the disconnection-inspecting method according to the first embodiment do not judge the presence of a disconnection by a statistical method, the presence of a disconnection can surely be inspected even in a case where there is only one printed wiring board  3  as a target of the inspection. 
     [SECOND EMBODIMENT] 
     FIG. 5 is an illustration for explaining principles of a disconnection-inspecting method for an electric circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the printed wiring board  3  used as a target of a disconnection inspection has a first upper surface pattern SA 1  and a second upper surface pattern SA 2  formed on the upper surface, a first under surface pattern SB 1  and a second under surface pattern SB 2  formed on the under surface, and the via holes  7  formed between the first upper surface pattern SA 1  and the first under surface pattern SB 1 , between the second upper surface pattern SA 2  and the second under surface pattern SB 1 , and between the second upper surface pattern SA 2  and the second under surface pattern SB 2 . 
     Hereinbelow, a description will be given of a case where a disconnected part  18  is present in the via hole  7  formed between the second upper surface pattern SA 2  and the second under surface pattern SB 1 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     Additionally, for convenience&#39; sake in explanation, it is assumed that, in the printed wiring board  3  shown in FIG. 5, although the sum of areas of the first upper surface pattern SA 1  and the second upper surface pattern SA 2  is equal to the sum of areas of the first under surface pattern SB 1  and the second under surface pattern SB 2 , allocations of areas to the first pattern and the second pattern are different between the upper surface and the under surface, in other words, the area of the first upper surface pattern SA 1  is not equal to the area of the first under surface pattern SB 1 , and the area of the second upper surface pattern SA 2  is not equal to the area of the second under surface pattern SB 2 . 
     Accordingly, FIG. 5 shows the area of the first upper surface pattern SA 1  being smaller than the area of the first under surface pattern SB 1 , as an example. 
     Hereinafter, a description will be given, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 6, of the disconnection-inspecting method according to the second embodiment of the present invention. First, as shown in step S 1 , the printed wiring board  3  as a target of a disconnection inspection is placed on the insulating sheet  2 . 
     Next, as shown in step S 2 , the probe  4  is brought into contact with an upper surface pattern from upward, the upper surface pattern being formed by the first upper surface pattern SA 1  and the second upper surface pattern SA 2 . Then, in step S 3 , a total capacitance between the reference conductor  1  and the upper surface pattern and between the reference conductor  1  and an under surface pattern formed by the first under surface pattern SB 1  and the second under surface pattern SB 2  is measured by the capacitance-measuring instrument  8  twice or more with varying the thickness or the dielectric constant of the insulating sheet  2 . 
     Then, in step S 4 , assuming that an area of the upper surface pattern is S 1 , and an area of the under surface pattern is S 2 , the area S 1  and the area S 2  are calculated by using the above-described expressions (1) to (3), as in the above-described first embodiment. 
     Next, in step S 5 , it is judged whether or not the capacitances are measured by arranging each of the patterns on both surfaces of the printed wiring board  3  to face upward and bringing the probe  4  into contact with the patterns on both surfaces in the same manner. Then, in a case that the capacitances are already measured as to the patterns on both surfaces of the printed wiring board  3 , step S 6   a  is performed next, and in a case that the capacitances are not yet measured as to the patterns on both surfaces of the printed wiring board  3 , step S 6   b  is performed next. 
     In step S 6   b,  the printed wiring board  3  is overturned so as to bring the probe  4  into contact with the under surface pattern (now facing upward) from upward. Then, returning to step S 3 , step S 3  and step S 4  are repeated as to the patterns on both surfaces of the printed wiring board  3 . 
     On the other hand, in step S 6   a,  it is judged whether or not the areas S 1  and the areas S 2  calculated in step S 4  by measuring the capacitances as to both surfaces are respectively equal. Then, in a case of being equal, step S 7   a  is performed next, and in a case of being not equal, step S 7   b  is performed next. 
     At this point, in a case where none of the via holes  7  is not disconnected in the printed wiring board  3 , the area S 1  becomes the sum of the areas of the first upper surface pattern SA 1  and the second upper surface pattern SA 2  formed on the upper surface of the printed wiring board  3 , and the area S 2  becomes the sum of the areas of the first under surface pattern SB 1  and the second under surface pattern SB 2  formed on the under surface of the printed wiring board  3 . Accordingly, when the sum of the areas of the first and second upper surface patterns is equal to the sum of the areas of the first and second under surface patterns as assumed above, two sets of the area S 1  and the area S 2  calculated by measuring the capacitances as to both surfaces become equal. 
     On the other hand, in the case where the disconnected part  18  is present in the via hole  7  as shown in FIG. 5, and when the probe  4  is contacted with the first upper surface pattern SA 1  in measuring capacitances, the area S 1  becomes the area of the first upper surface pattern SA 1 , and the area S 2  becomes the area of the first under surface pattern SB 1 . At this point, since the area of the first upper surface pattern SA 1  is different from the area of the first under surface pattern SB 1 , when the disconnected part  18  exists, the two sets of the area S 1  and the area S 2  calculated by measuring the capacitances as to both surfaces become different. 
     Thus, in step S 7   a,  it is judged that an electrical disconnection does not exist between the upper surface pattern and the under surface pattern of the printed wiring board  3 . On the other hand, in step S 7   b,  it is judged that an electrical disconnection exists between the upper surface pattern and the under surface pattern of the printed wiring board  3 . 
     As described above, with the disconnection-inspecting device according to the second embodiment and the disconnection-inspecting method using the device, in a case where the printed wiring board  3  as a target of an disconnection inspection has circuit patterns formed on both surfaces, each of the circuit patterns comprises a plurality of regions, and the circuit patterns on different surfaces are electrically connected by the via holes  7 , in which, although an area of the circuit pattern on the upper surface is equal to an area of the circuit pattern on the under surface, an area of each of the regions on the upper surface is different from an area of each of the regions on the under surface, the presence of a disconnection in the via holes  7  electrically connecting the upper and under surfaces can be surely and easily inspected. 
     The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present application is based on Japanese priority application No.2000-331346 filed on Oct. 30, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.