Method and apparatus for probing
First Claim
1. A probe comprising:
- a probe substrate adapted to be mounted to a circuit-under-test, the probe substrate having a signal pathway adapted to be inserted into a conductor of the circuit-under-test;
a sensing circuit coupled to the signal pathway for sensing a signal-under-test from the conductor; and
a probe socket coupled to the probe substrate adapted for receiving a detachable interconnect to a measurement instrument, the probe socket and interconnect providing an electrical interface between the sensing circuit and the measurement instrument for the signal-under-test.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A probe comprises a small “consumable” probe substrate permanently mounted to a circuit-under-test. The probe substrate includes a high-fidelity signal pathway, which is inserted into a conductor of the circuit-under-test, and a high-bandwidth sensing circuit which senses the signal-under-test as it propagates along the signal pathway. The probe substrate further includes a probe socket for receiving a detachable interconnect to a measurement instrument. Power is alternatively supplied to the probe by the circuit-under-test or the interconnect. When the interconnect is attached, control signals from the measurement instrument are supplied to the sensing circuit and the output of the sensing circuit is supplied to the measurement instrument. In one embodiment, the sensing circuit uses high-breakdown transistors in order to avoid the use of passive attenuation. In a further embodiment, the sensing circuit includes broadband directional sensing circuitry.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A probe comprising:
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a probe substrate adapted to be mounted to a circuit-under-test, the probe substrate having a signal pathway adapted to be inserted into a conductor of the circuit-under-test;
a sensing circuit coupled to the signal pathway for sensing a signal-under-test from the conductor; and
a probe socket coupled to the probe substrate adapted for receiving a detachable interconnect to a measurement instrument, the probe socket and interconnect providing an electrical interface between the sensing circuit and the measurement instrument for the signal-under-test. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of probing comprising the steps of:
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mounting a probe substrate having a sensing circuit and a signal pathway to a circuit-under-test such that the signal pathway is inserted into a conductor of the circuit-under-test;
sensing a signal-under-test from the conductor with the sensing circuit as it propagates across the signal pathway; and
coupling a measurement instrument to the sensing circuit with a detachable interconnect, the interconnect being received by a probe socket coupled to the probe substrate, the interconnect and probe socket providing an electrical interface between the sensing circuit and the measurement instrument. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification