Patent classifications
G01R31/31908
Controller structural testing with automated test vectors
A system comprises a memory sub-system controller mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) and an in-circuit test (ICT) device. The memory sub-system controller has test points on the PCB comprising stimulus points and observation points. The ICT device connects to the test points of the controller. The ICT device converts automated test pattern generation (ATPG) input test vectors to test signals. A first set of pin drivers of the ICT device applies the test signals to the stimulus points of the controller and a second set of pin drivers of the ICT device read output signals output at the observation points of the controller. A comparator of the ICT device compares the output signals with output test vectors. The comparator provides test result data comprising a result of the comparison.
USE OF HOST BUS ADAPTER TO PROVIDE PROTOCOL FLEXIBILITY IN AUTOMATED TEST EQUIPMENT
An automated test equipment (ATE) system comprises a system controller communicatively coupled to a tester processor, where the system controller is operable to transmit instructions to the tester processor, and where the tester processor is operable to generate commands and data from the instructions for coordinating testing of a plurality of devices under test (DUTs). The apparatus also comprises an FPGA programmed to support a first protocol communicatively coupled to the tester processor comprising at least one hardware accelerator circuit operable to internally generate commands and data transparently from the tester processor for testing a DUT of the plurality of DUTs. Further, the apparatus comprises a bus adapter comprising a protocol converter module operable to convert signals associated with the first protocol received from the FPGA to signals associated with a second protocol prior to transmitting the signals to the DUT, wherein the DUT communicates using the second protocol.
SOFTWARE DIRECTED FIRMWARE ACCELERATION
A method for testing using an automated test equipment (ATE) comprises transmitting instructions for executing tests on a device under test (DUT) from a tester processor to a queue communicatively coupled with the tester processor and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), wherein the tester processor is configured to determine a hardware acceleration mode from a plurality of hardware acceleration modes for executing tests on the DUT. Further, the hardware acceleration mode is configured to distribute functionality for generating commands and data between the tester processor and the FPGA, wherein in at least one hardware acceleration mode the tester processor is configured to generate commands for testing the DUT and the FPGA is configured to generate data for testing the DUT. The method also comprises accessing the instructions in the queue, translating the instructions into commands associated with testing the DUT and transmitting the commands to the DUT.
Self-contained reconfigurable personal laboratory
A personal laboratory includes a self-contained, miniaturized, portable kit that provides for design, testing, and automated assembling, dissembling, and reassembling of a physical system (rather than a simulation) with flexibility as to the variety of configurations of components that may be designed and assembled, and easy integration of complex components. The personal laboratory includes a reconfigurable system, the reconfigurable system includes a plurality of functional components, and a plurality of connectors configured for operatively connect respective functional components to other functional components; a stimulus generator configured to apply a stimulus to the reconfigurable system; and a measurement system configured to measure a response to the applied stimulus generated by the reconfigurable system. In the context of electronic circuits, the reconfigurable system is a reconfigurable circuit, the functional components are circuit elements and the connectors are electrical connectors.
AUTOMATED TEST EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING ONE OR MORE DEVICES UNDER TEST, METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TESTING OF ONE OR MORE DEVICES UNDER TEST, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM USING A BUFFER MEMORY
An automated test equipment for testing one or more devices under test comprising a plurality of port processing units, comprising at least a respective buffer memory, and a respective high-speed-input-output, HSIO, interface for connecting with at least one of the devices under test. The port processing units are configured to receive data, store the received data in the respective buffer memory, and provide the data stored in the respective buffer memory to one or more of the connected devices under test via the respective HSIO interface for testing the one or more connected devices under test. A method and computer program for automated testing of one or more devices under test are also described.
AUTOMATED TEST EQUIPMENT FOR TESTING ONE OR MORE DEVICES UNDER TEST, METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TESTING OF ONE OR MORE DEVICES UNDER TEST, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR HANDLING COMMAND ERRORS
An automated test equipment for testing one or more devices under test, comprises at least one port processing unit, comprising a high-speed-input-output interface, HSIO, for connecting with at least one of the devices under test, a memory for storing data received by the port processing unit from one or more connected devices under test, and a streaming error detection block, configured to detect a command error in the received data, wherein the port processing unit is configured to, in response to detection of the command error, limit the storing in the memory of data following, in the received data, after the command which is detected to be erroneous. A method and computer program for automated testing of one or more devices under test are also described.
Smart and efficient protocol logic analyzer configured within automated test equipment (ATE) hardware
A method for monitoring a communication link between a device under test (DUT) and automated test equipment is disclosed. The method comprises monitoring data traffic associated with testing a DUT using a protocol analyzer module, wherein the data traffic comprises a flow of traffic between the DUT and a protocol core of a programmable logic device, wherein the protocol analyzer module is integrated within the programmable logic device, wherein the programmable logic device is controlled by a system controller and is operable to generate commands and data to test the DUT, and wherein the protocol core is operable to generate signals to communicate with the DUT using a protocol associated with the DUT. The method further comprises saving results associated with the monitoring in a memory associated with the protocol analyzer module and transmitting the results upon request to an application program executing on the system controller.
DATA CHANNEL OPTIMIZATION WITH SMART BLACK BOX ALGORITHMS
A system includes a host configured to communicate with a device under test. The host is configured to write test data to the device under test. An optimization engine is configured to optimize a plurality of parameters associated with a magnetic recording channel associated with the device under test. The optimization engine is configured to select a first set of parameters for the plurality of parameters and the host is configured to set the magnetic recording channel based on the first set of parameters. The host then measures the performance of the magnetic recording channel based on the first set of parameters. Based on the measured performance, the optimization engine then selects new parameter values for the plurality of parameters. Until the measured performance is within an acceptable threshold, the optimization engine will iteratively update the plurality of parameters based on the measured performance.
DIGITAL CIRCUIT ROBUSTNESS VERIFICATION METHOD AND SYSTEM
A digital circuit robustness verification method is provided that includes the following steps. An internal storage circuit and an external storage circuit corresponding to a circuit under test are set to store a plurality of random values and a configuration of the circuit under test for performing a predetermined function is set by a processing circuit. A driving signal corresponding to the predetermined function is transmitted to the circuit under test by a previous stage circuit, such that the circuit under test executes the predetermined function to further generate an output signal. The determination as to whether the output signal is correct or not is made by a next stage circuit, and the circuit under test is determined to pass a robustness verification when the output signal is correct.
Data channel optimization with smart black box algorithms
A system includes a host configured to communicate with a device under test. The host is configured to write test data to the device under test. An optimization engine is configured to optimize a plurality of parameters associated with a magnetic recording channel associated with the device under test. The optimization engine is configured to select a first set of parameters for the plurality of parameters and the host is configured to set the magnetic recording channel based on the first set of parameters. The host then measures the performance of the magnetic recording channel based on the first set of parameters. Based on the measured performance, the optimization engine then selects new parameter values for the plurality of parameters. Until the measured performance is within an acceptable threshold, the optimization engine will iteratively update the plurality of parameters based on the measured performance.