Circuit Board Strain Fuses for Solder Crack Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circuit boards experience invisible solder cracks due to excessive strain during manufacturing or handling, leading to potential information handling system failures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of strain force fuses on circuit boards that experience impedance discontinuity under mechanical stress, detected by a management controller to identify strain-induced open circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain force fuses are added to detect mechanical strain, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strain force fuse detection circuit is merged with the existing management controller by utilizing its general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. The management controller integrates both the detection capability and the processing logic in a single component, eliminating the need for separate detection hardware and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Reliability
If strain force fuses are used to detect solder cracks, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Strain force fuses are installed during the manufacturing process before the product reaches the customer. This preliminary action allows detection capabilities to be built into the product during manufacturing, enabling early detection of strain-induced issues and improving reliability without requiring additional precision during later handling or operation.
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 detection of both permanent and intermittent fuse failures, allowing for timely notification and remediation of strain-induced damage, preventing system failures.
Implementation Method 1
the strain force fuse configured to experience an impedance discontinuity in response to a mechanical force applied to the circuit board at or proximate to the strain force fuse
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system may include a strain force fuse formed on a circuit board of the information handling system, the strain force fuse configured to experience an impedance discontinuity in response to a mechanical force applied to the circuit board at or proximate to the strain force fuse and a management controller electrically coupled to the strain force fuse and configured to provide out-of-band management facilities for management of the information handling system, the management controller further configured to detect whether the impedance discontinuity has occurred.