Analog signature analysis is electronic component and circuit board troubleshooting technique which applies a current-limited AC sinewave across two points of an electronic component or circuit.

The resulting current/voltage waveform is shown on a signature display using vertical deflection for current and horizontal deflection for voltage. This unique analog signature represents the overall health of the part being analyzed. By comparing the signatures of known good circuit boards to those of suspect boards, faulty nets and components can be quickly identified.

Analog Signature Analysis relies on a change in electrical characteristics to detect problems on a circuit board.

Other terms

• ATE diagnostics
• Power off nodal impedance test
• Power-off testing
  Power-off testing
  Power-off testing is often necessary to test the printed circuit assembly board due to uncertainty as to the nature of the failure. When the PCA can be further damaged by applying power it is necessary to use power off test techniques to safely examine it. Power off testing includes analog...
  
  
• Tracker signature analysis
• VI testing
• VI curves
• Voltage-versus-current display
• V/I trace test

Typical equipment

• Flying Probe
  Flying probe
  Flying probe test systems are often used for only testing basic production, prototypes, and boards that present accessibility problems. Flying probe testing uses electro-mechanically controlled probes to access components on printed circuit assemblies . Commonly used for test of analog components,...
  
  
• Octopus,
• VI Interceptor
• V/I Curve Tracer
• Voltage/Current Curve Tracer