MAGNETIC CURRENT SENSING AND SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTION IN PLATE STRUCTURE

摘要

A device (16) for sensing current flowing in a generally flat plate structure (10) contains a magnetic head (18) and signal processing circuitry (20). The magnetic head (a) senses changes in current-induced magnetic flux as the head is positioned over the plate structure and (b) provides a head output signal. The signal processing circuitry processes the head output signal to produce a data signal indicative of how much current appears to flow in the plate structure below the head. A driving voltage, which typically varies in a periodic manner to produce a characteristic signature, is applied to a primary conductor in the plate structure. When the plate structure contains a group of first electrical conductors (32) that are nominally electrically insulated from and cross a group of second electrical conductors (48), a probability analysis technique is typically performed on magnetically obtained current data to detect short circuit defects in the plate structure.