Patent ID: 7239152

Claim:
A method of characterizing a BGA component, the BGA component comprising a substrate and a plurality of leads formed on the substrate, each lead of the plurality of leads at least including a conductive trace formed on an upper surface of the substrate, a conductive via extending through the substrate and having one end electrically connected to the conductive trace, and a ball lead formed on an opposing surface of the substrate and in electrical communication with an opposing end of the conductive via, the method comprising: configuring each lead of the plurality of leads so as to be electrically open; contacting a signal conductor of a coaxial probe against a ball lead of one lead of the plurality of leads, the coaxial probe in electrical communication with one port of a network analyzer; contacting a ground conductor of the coaxial probe against an adjacent ball lead of another lead of the plurality of leads; forcing the another lead of the plurality of leads to a ground potential provided by the network analyzer; sending at least one test signal from the network analyzer and through the signal conductor of the coaxial probe to the one lead of the plurality of leads; and directly measuring at least one reflected signal from the BGA component with the network analyzer and indicating a parasitic capacitance of the one lead of the plurality of leads with the network analyzer.