Hello,
I had an idea how electronics might be diagnosed and repaired more quickly.
The idea is to add "debug leds" to electronics, and some kind of "debug circuitry".
The designer knows what kind of inputs and outputs are expected for certain components.
The designer then adds the debug circuitry to be able to measure if the inputs and outputs correspond to what is expected.
The debug circuitry could be attached to special power lines or so to be able to turn them on and off.
So during a repair session an electronics repairman could turn on the "debug circuitry" and quickly get an idea of how many components are potentially dead... because the debug leds don't come on.
All good electronics would have the led on.
All bad electronics would have the led off.
Now the repairman can quickly proceed to the dead electronics and replace them.
However there might be a problem if certain components depend on the inputs and outputs of other electronics.
Then a cascade of "false" failures could happen.
To prevent this all electronics would have to be tested seperatedly by the seperate "debug circuitry"...
As to be able to "debug" all electroncics individually.
So the debug electronics could have two modes:
- "Cascade mode" where the inputs and outputs are compared to values which corresponds with a correctly working circuitry.
- "Individual mode" where the inputs and outputs are compared to individuel values which correspond with a correctly working component when it's individually powered on/tested.
Adding this kind of debug electronics would add to the cost so this should be able to be done cheaply... with some kind of cheap debug electronics.
What do you electronics experts think of this idea, is it feasible or not feasible ;) ? please motivate your answers ! ;) :)
Bye, Skybuck.