Thermal Imaging Technology for PCB Inspection: A Comprehensive Guide
- FLaiTek
- Mar 2, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 6
Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a crucial part of modern electronic devices. They are used in a wide range of applications, from smartphones to automobiles. However, faulty PCBs can cause serious problems down the line, and manufacturing defects and design imperfections can lead to such faulty PCBs. Traditional optical methods are not sufficient to track down major faults in PCBs, and alternative inspection methods such as thermal imaging are highly required to spot PCB faults.
Thermal imaging technology is a valuable tool for inspecting printed circuit boards (PCBs) for manufacturing defects and design imperfections. When a PCB is supplied with voltage, electric current flows through the board, which causes it to heat up. By using a thermal camera, PCB thermal fields can be determined and visualized. With adequate knowledge of the thermal field, manufacturing defects can be detected early in the design process.
Thermal cameras can detect slight temperature differences across their view, enabling us to quickly identify any components that are consuming current. Any parts of the board that draw current will generate heat and can be easily detected by a thermal imager.
Optimizing chip routing with thermal imaging technology
Designers can use thermal imagers to optimize the chip routing by identifying the overall allocation of heat and adding coolers and other components accordingly. When compiling the code for an FPGA, chip routing maynot be optimized. FOTRIC AnalyzIR can display temperature evolution in different regions of interest (ROI) to discover excessive loads on some areas of a greater chip.
Saving PCB development time with infrared camera:
Thermal imaging technology can help shorten the PCB development time and improve its design process. If the layout design is defective, a high current would flow through some areas of the PCB and generate excessive heat, which can make the PCB unstable and shorten its service life. However, it is not easy to detect these design defects without a thermal imager. By capturing the heat anomaly of components in the circuit board, the FLaiTek i600 R&D can quickly identify the design defect and record the heat generation process.
Quick mass inspection of mounted PCBs with thermal camera scan:
Thermal imaging technology can be used to inspect a large number of mounted PCBs simultaneously, allowing for the immediate identification of a wide range of issues after PCBs are mounted. The FLaiTek TS series R&D thermal camera test station can inspect large numbers of mounted PCBs simultaneously, which can save time and money.
Finding hotspot due to cold joint with thermal imaging camera:
Cold joints are a common problem in PCB manufacturing. They occur when the soldering process is not done correctly, leading to a weak connection between the components and the PCB. Cold joints can cause the PCB to heat up, which can lead to further problems down the line. Thermal imaging technology can be used to detect cold joints in PCBs, allowing manufacturers to correct the problem before it causes any damage.
In conclusion, thermal imaging technology is a game-changer in PCB inspection. It can help manufacturers detect and correct faults early in the design process, saving time and money. With the right tools and techniques, PCB inspection can be made more efficient and accurate than ever before.
Recommended Thermal Imaging Cameras
FLaiTek TSx Series R&D thermal camera test station can be used to perform high-precision PCB circuit board testing and fault localization with infrared sensor detector with up to 640x480 pixels.
20μm & 50μm macro lens with up to 20μm resolution per pixel
0.03C (30mK) high thermal sensitivity
Full radiometric video streams with up to 30Hz frame rate
Accuracy: ± 2 °C or ± 2 %, whichever is greater
Complementary powerful analysis software on Windows OS
Any Questions?
To learn more about FLaiTek thermal cameras, please visit www.FLaiTek.com or contact info@FLaiTek.com for any inquiries.
