Eddy-current testing probe with spin-valve type GMR sensor for printed circuit board inspection

This paper proposes an eddy-current testing (ECT) probe composed of a spin-valve giant magnetoresistance (SV-GMR) sensor and a meander coil for the inspection of bare printed circuit board. The SV-GMR sensor serves as a magnetic sensor for the ECT probe to sense the variation of the magnetic field distribution occurred on the printed circuit board. The SV-GMR sensor is used specifically to detect the changing magnetic field distribution occurred at the defect point. The characteristics of the proposed probe are discussed in this paper. The comparisons of signal-to-noise ratios obtained from ECT probe with SV-GMR sensor and with solenoid coil verify that the applying of SV-GMR sensor to the ECT probe can improve the PCB inspection results.