Magnetic Field Sensor Triage for Electronic Circuit Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing issues in electronic devices are inefficient, as they require complex testing equipment and skilled technicians, and often cannot accurately determine the condition of electronic circuits without physically disassembling the device.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses magnetic field sensors to measure and compare the magnetic field patterns of electronic devices to reference patterns, allowing for non-invasive triage and diagnosis of device conditions, including battery charge status and charging circuit functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex testing equipment and physical disassembly are used for diagnosis, then measurement precision may be improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoidtesting equipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical testing equipment and physical disassembly procedures with a magnetic field sensing system. Magnetic sensors detect electromagnetic fields generated by circuit operations, enabling non-invasive diagnosis without physical contact or disassembly, thus substituting mechanical complexity with electromagnetic field detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces magnetic field patterns as an intermediary medium between the electronic device and the diagnosis system. Instead of directly testing circuits, the system detects magnetic field patterns generated by circuit operations, using these patterns as mediators to infer device condition without direct mechanical intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If skilled technicians perform manual diagnosis, then measurement precision may be improved, but ease of operation and productivity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis accuracyVSAvoidtechnician skill requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the electronic device to essentially diagnose itself by generating magnetic field patterns that automatically reveal its operational state. The device's own circuits generate the magnetic fields during normal operation, and the sensing system captures these self-generated signals, eliminating the need for external skilled intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where magnetic field patterns generated by device operation are continuously monitored and compared against reference patterns. This automated feedback mechanism provides real-time diagnosis without requiring technician interpretation, making the process easier to operate while maintaining high accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If traditional testing methods are used, then reliability may be maintained, but loss of time and productivity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis reliabilityVSAvoidrepair time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary diagnosis actions by detecting magnetic field patterns immediately upon device connection, before any physical disassembly or complex testing begins. The system quickly captures magnetic field signatures during normal device operation to identify issues early in the repair process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent skips time-consuming intermediate steps such as physical disassembly, manual circuit tracing, and progressive testing. By directly detecting magnetic field patterns from operating circuits, the system rushes through the diagnosis process in a single step while maintaining reliable detection through pattern comparison

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid and accurate diagnosis of electronic device issues, reducing repair time and costs by providing a user-friendly interface for technicians to identify faults without disassembling the device, thus improving efficiency and user experience.

Implementation Method 1

operation (or non-operation) of circuitry of an electronic product can be detected by magnetic fields emitted from the product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS11287484B2Method and apparatus for triage of electronic items using magnetic field detection

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 INNOVAURA CORPORATION

AI summary

An electronic circuit triage device diagnoses functionality of various electronic circuits of an electronic device. The electronic circuit triage device detects whether an electronic circuit is functioning properly by measuring a magnetic field pattern associated with the electronic circuit and comparing the magnetic field pattern to an expected magnetic field pattern.A magnetic sensor array includes non-packaged magnetic sensors disposed on a substrate. The non-packaged magnetic sensors can include bare dice, in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the magnetic sensors are formed directly on the substrate, such as by printing conductive traces on the substrate. In another embodiment, a magnetic sensor array includes a magnetic field converter configured to launch received magnetic fields along an axis corresponding to a magnetic sensor maximum sensitivity.