Abstract: Techniques for automating test pad insertion in a printed circuit board (PCB) design and fixture probes insertion in a PCB tester fixture are presented. A probe location algorithm predictably determines respective preferred probing locations from among respective sets of potential probing locations associated with a number of respective nets in a PCB design. Test pads, preferably in the form of bead probes, are added to the PCB design at the respective preferred probing locations along with, where feasible, one or more alternate probing locations chosen from among remaining ones of the respective sets of potential probing locations. During fixture design, nets with multiple test pads implemented in the PCB design are processed by the same probe location algorithm used during PCB design to determine the associated preferred probing location and any associated alternate probing locations for said respective nets.

Abstract: Techniques for automating test pad insertion in a printed circuit board (PCB) design and fixture probe insertion in a PCB tester fixture are presented. A probe location algorithm predictably determines respective preferred probing locations from among respective sets of potential probing locations associated with a number of respective nets in a PCB design. Test pads, preferably in the form of bead probes, are added to the PCB design at the respective preferred probing locations along with, where feasible, one or more alternate probing locations chosen from among remaining ones of the respective sets of potential probing locations. During fixture design, nets with multiple test pads implemented in the PCB design are processed by the same probe location algorithm used during PCB design to determine the associated preferred and alternate probing locations for said respective nets.