Patent ID: 7299144

Claim:
A method for implementing automatic-calibration of a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) probing apparatus comprising the steps of: performing a calibration procedure automatically each time a TDR probe is moved from a device under test (DUT); obtaining and comparing a current calibration TDR waveform with a reference calibration TDR waveform including switching from a normal measurement path including a TDR probe tip to a calibration reference path including a reference calibration impedance trace; providing an optical sensor for detecting the TDR probe being moved from the device under test (DUT); and a relay for switching between said normal measurement path and said calibration reference path; checking for deviations between the current calibration TDR waveform and the reference calibration TDR waveform; and responsive to detecting a deviation, notifying a user of a failed calibration.