Fracture ring sensor

• US 10,408,691 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bradbury, Jonathan D., Fry, Jonathan R., Kane, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max H
• Application Number:
  US15/808,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20190107446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 73775
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/06 by measuring the permanent deformation of gauges, e.g. of compressed bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/007 by applying a load, e.g. for resistance or wear testing G01M99/001 takes precedence; testing the elasticity of structures G01M5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a fracture ring sensor and a method of using the same to detect out of tolerance forces. Aspects of the invention include a product having a defined an out of tolerance force, a fracture ring sensor, and a mounting assembly coupling the fracture ring sensor to the product. The fracture ring sensor is patterned with a conductive trace and is manufactured to break when subjected to a predetermined amount of force. The predetermined amount of force is substantially equal to a percentage of the out of tolerance force of the product.

Claims

1. A method for detecting out of tolerance forces applied to a printed circuit board, the method comprising:

providing a fracture ring sensor comprising a conductive trace, the fracture ring sensor manufactured to break when subjected to a predetermined amount of force, the predetermined amount of force substantially equal to a percentage of an out of tolerance force of the printed circuit board;

mounting the fracture ring sensor to the printed circuit board;

measuring electrical continuity along the conductive trace; and

determining that electrical continuity along the conductive trace has been terminated.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording a time at which electrical continuity terminated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein electrical continuity along the conductive trace is measured by a power interlock unit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the power interlock unit prevents power to the printed circuit board based on a determination that electrical continuity along the conductive trace has been terminated.