Testing of switched-mode power supply

This thesis work comes from the collaboration between the Polytechnic of Turin and Spea, global leader in test equipment for electronics, semiconductor, MEMS and sensor industries. Its focus is the test of a switched-mode power supply. The motivations on which this thesis path finds its roots are the importance of testing electronic boards and the inevitable significance of power supplies in nowadays electronic. The test of an electronic board is essential for its proper and safe fabrication. No matter how careful the design and fabrication process of an electronic board could be; there will always be the possibility of defects, failures, and faults in it. The electronic test presents than itself as the ultimate qualifier step of this complex process. Power supplies have played an important role in the history of electronics and have therefore been protagonists of constant improvement and innovation through time. Often forgotten, power supplies are instead essential for the correct operation of any kind of electronic component. The main aim of this thesis work is, therefore, to analyze, study and put into practice the testing of a switched-mode Power Supply; to highlight its intrinsic meaning with a closer look at the state-of-the-art techniques created and used in Spea. The test of the power supply has been carried out using Spea ATE (Automatic Test Equipment). First step of the work was the evaluation and understanding of the DUT (Device Under Test) customer’s requirement. The analysis of the tests to be performed on the DUT sets the starting point for the writing of the Test Program which is a visual basic based project that defines the sequence and operating condition of the electronic board test. Once the Test Program was complete the actual test of the power supply was performed. The thesis project ended with the installation of the implemented test application in loco to the client’s company. The application is to date used by the customer proving its correct implementation.