Patent ID: 7209850

Claim:
A tester for testing a circuit including a first device, a second device and a conductor external to the first device and the second device, attaching to the first device and the second device at separated points, the tester comprising: a first set of terminals and a second set of terminals; a signal source for generating a dynamic signal; a first set of leads connectable at respective first ends to the separated points of the circuit and connectable at respective second ends to the first set of terminals; a second set of leads connectable at respective first ends to the separated points of the circuit and connectable at respective second ends to the second set of terminals; a data storage device for storing at least one test parameter; and a data processor, coupled to the data storage device and the signal source, configured to perform the steps of: controlling application of the dynamic signal to the separated points of the circuit via the first set of terminals; obtaining a response signal from the second set of terminals representing a response of the circuit between the separated points to the applied dynamic signal; determining a dynamic parameter of the circuit between the separated points as a function of the dynamic signal; accessing the at least one test parameter stored in the data storage device; calculating a value related to the characteristics of the conductor between the separated points, wherein the calculated value is a function of the at least one test parameter and the determined dynamic parameter; and generating a result related to the characteristics of the conductor according to the calculated value.