Storage of repair history and diagnostic information on a circuit board

摘要

The reliability of a complex electronic system such as a computer interconnect coupler is enhanced by providing diagnostic capabilities in the system so that internal faults will be quickly diagnosed and repaired. To facilitate the repair process and enhance the likelihood that a defective circuit board will be properly repaired before being re-installed, pertinent internal diagnostic information about the defective circuit is stored in a nonvolatile memory on the circuit board for the defective circuit, so that the information will be physically carried to the repair facility along with the defective circuit.