Gideon Analytical Laboratories received several GE Aviation 144A9284P4 carbon film resistors for failure analysis evaluation. A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. Their purpose is for creating a precise quantity of resistance for insertion into a circuit; they are typically constructed of metal wire or carbon and engineered to maintain a stable resistance value over a wide range of environmental conditions. They are frequently integrated within integrated circuits within the silicon; the resistor changes the voltage or the current in the line.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories was asked specifically to perform Destructive Physical Analysis (DPA) on Spectrum Control and Tusonix Pi filters, respectively, in order to compare performance and reliability. Destructive Physical Analysis includes the dissection of a device to determine construction, assembly, and compliance with certain standards and specifications. DPA on these Pi filters centered around construction and materials analysis.
DPA was performed on the Spectrum Control and Tusonix Pi filters, respectively. Both electronics manufacturers used a ferrite cylinder around a copper lead as the inductor.
Gideon Analytical Labs received four Fairchild 74OL6000 field failed Optocouplers along with three good (virgin green dot) devices in which a comparison could be done. The LSTTL input compatibility is provided by an input integrated circuit, with industry standard logic levels. This input amplifier IC switches a temperature compensated current source driving a high speed 850 nm AlGaAs LED emitter. This integration scheme eliminates CTR degradation over time and temperature. The emitter is optically coupled to an integrated photodetector/high-gain, high-speed output amplifier IC.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received several components for failure analysis: two Fairchild FDC6324L integrated load switches and two Fairchild BAV99 small signal diodes. Integrated load switches are designed for power management to minimize power loss by reducing current leakages; the FDC6324L is ideal for compact computer peripheral switching applications where 3V to 20V input and 0.6A output current capability are needed. Small signal diodes are small non-linear semiconductors that are often used in electronics where high frequencies or small currents are involved.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories received a single failed Spectrum Control Pi filter on which to perform failure analysis. Capacitor-input filters (also known as Pi filters) are a type of electronic filter used to remove unwanted frequencies from a signal. They are called “Pi” filters because of their resemblance to the Greek letter “Pi”. Pi filters are primarily constructed of two capacitors and an inductor and are used in situations where the ripple of a signal or the AC and DC currents within the signal are found to interfere with each other.
Gideon Analytical Labs received one failed relay with one good one for comparison. The failed relay was intermittent @ 2 KHz.
A reed relay is a switch that uses an electromagnet to control the turning off or on within a circuit. The contacts are of magnetic material and the electromagnet acts directly on them without requiring an armature to move them. Sealed in a long, narrow glass tube, the contacts are protected from corrosion and are usually plated with silver, which has very low resistivity but is prone to corrosion when exposed, rather than corrosion-resistant but more resistive gold as used in the exposed contacts of high-quality relays.
Gideon Analytical Labs received two failed RV4140A ground fault interrupter controllers. The devices had far different impedance values than a new one did on several of the input pins. The RV4140A is a low power controller for AC outlet appliance leakage circuit interrupters. These devices detect hazardous current paths to ground such as an appliance falling into the water. The interrupter then opens circuits line before a harmful or lethal shock occurs.
Gideon Analytical Labs received two AD73311L CMOS general purpose analog front end processors. Each device had external thermal damage to the package and solder leads. The intent was to determine whether the failures were thermally or EOS induced. The AD73311L is a front-end processor for applications such as speech and telephony. It has a 16-bit A/D conversion channel and a 16-bit D/A conversion channel. Each channel provides 70 dB signal-to-noise ratio over the voice band signal bandwidth.
Gideon Analytical Labs received two failed RV4141AM ground fault interrupter controllers. The devices had far different impedance values than a new one did on several of the input pins. The RV4141A is a low power controller for AC outlet appliance leakage circuit interrupters. These devices detect hazardous current paths to ground such as an appliance falling into the water. The interrupter then opens the circuit line before a harmful or lethal shock occurs.
Gideon Analytical Laboratories performed failure analysis on several IXYSIGBT IXGH32N60B transistors, encased in TO-247 packages. These transistors are 60 amp 600V 2.3 Rds 200W. The concern was that the devices were not functioning as 600V but topped out at 480V in the application. After failure analysis was performed on the transistors, the company requested that Gideon Analytical Laboratories administer passivation integrity tests on the two good IXYSIGBT IXGH32N60B transistors.
The transistors were prepared for passivation integrity testing.
