Smart box for automatic feature testing of smart phones and other devices

• US 10,432,328 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2018
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advantest America, Inc. (Advantest Corporation)
• Original Assignee: W2BI, Inc. (Advantest Corporation)
• Inventors: Diperna, Derek, Leventhal, Ira, Schaub, Keith, Kutchuk, Artun
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/955,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20180316443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 700245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1679 characterised by the tasks executed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41875 characterised by quality surveillance of production
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32368 Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37021 Robot controls position of touch probe
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37022 Detector, measuring device incorporated within workpiece holder
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37231 Tool used as touch probe, sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37368 Displacement perpendicular to probe movement
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37388 Acceleration or deceleration, inertial measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37431 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37433 Detected by acoustic emission, microphone
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37634 By measuring vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40041 Robot operates panel like car radio by pushing, turning buttons, knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45089 Testing robot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2221 to test input/output devices or peripheral units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/11 for calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/16 Test equipment located at the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/21 for calibration; for correcting measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/29 : Performance testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 : Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/24 : Arrangements for testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An automatic system level testing (ASLT) system for testing smart devices is disclosed. The system comprises a system controller operable to be coupled with a smart device in an enclosure, wherein the system controller comprises a memory comprising test logic and a processor. The system also comprises the enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising: (i) a robotic arm comprising a stylus, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the smart device to simulate human interaction therewith; and (ii) a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the device holder is operable to receive a smart device inserted there into. The processor is configured to automatically control the smart device and the plurality of components in accordance with the test logic.

Claims

1. An automatic system level testing (ASLT) system for testing smart devices, the system comprising:

a system controller operable to be coupled with a smart device, wherein the system controller comprises a memory comprising test logic and a processor;

an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises an image plate with a fixed reference image, and wherein the enclosure further comprises a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising;

a robotic arm comprising a stylus attached, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the smart device to simulate human interaction therewith;

a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the device holder is operable to receive a smart device inserted there into;

and wherein the processor is configured to automatically and contemporaneously control the smart device and the plurality of components in accordance with the test logic, and wherein further the processor is configured to;

launch a camera application on the smart device;

control the platform to position the smart device in a suitable location relative to the image plate;

control the smart device to capture an image of the fixed reference image on the image plate using a camera on the smart device;

retrieve a captured image from the smart device; and

compare the captured image with a reference image stored in the memory of the system controller to verify proper functionality of the camera on the smart device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera on the smart device is a front facing camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera on the smart device is a back facing camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is controlled to move in the x-y direction.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed reference image is a color chart.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the device holder is customized to fit a specific smart device model.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera application comprises a flash, and wherein the processor is configured to verify proper operation of the flash.

8. An automatic system level testing (ASLT) system for testing smart devices, the system comprising:

a system controller operable to be coupled with a smart device, wherein the system controller comprises a memory comprising test logic and a processor;

an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises an image plate with a fixed reference image, and wherein the enclosure further comprises a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising;

a robotic arm comprising a stylus attached, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the smart device to simulate human interaction therewith;

a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the device holder is operable to receive a smart device inserted there into;

and wherein the processor is configured to automatically and contemporaneously control the smart device and the plurality of components in accordance with the test logic, and wherein further the processor is configured to;

launch a camera application on the smart device;

control the platform to position the smart device in a suitable location relative to the image plate, wherein the image plate is located above the platform;

control the smart device to capture an image of the fixed reference image on the image plate using a front facing camera on the smart device;

retrieve a first captured image from the smart device; and

compare the first captured image with a reference image stored in the memory of the system controller to verify proper functionality of the front facing camera on the smart device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the smart device further comprises a back facing camera and wherein the processor is further configured to:

access the camera application on the smart device to switch to the back facing camera;

control the smart device to capture an image of the fixed reference image on the image plate using the back facing camera on the smart device;

retrieve a second captured image from the smart device; and

compare the second captured image with a reference image stored in the memory of the system controller to verify proper functionality of the back facing camera on the smart device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the platform is controlled to move in the x-y direction.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the fixed reference image is a color chart.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the device holder is customized to fit a specific smart device model.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the camera application comprises a flash, and wherein the processor is configured to verify proper operation of the flash.

14. An automatic system level testing (ASLT) system for testing smart devices, the system comprising:

a system controller operable to be coupled with a smart device, wherein the system controller comprises a memory comprising test logic and a processor;

an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises an image plate with a fixed reference image, and wherein the enclosure further comprises a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising;

a robotic arm comprising a stylus attached, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the smart device to simulate human interaction therewith;

a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the device holder is operable to receive a smart device inserted there into;

a light sensor;

and wherein the processor is configured to automatically and contemporaneously control the smart device and the plurality of components in accordance with the test logic, and wherein further the processor is configured to;

launch a camera application on the smart device, wherein the camera application comprises a flash;

control the platform to position the smart device in a suitable location relative to the image plate;

control the smart device to capture an image of the fixed reference image on the image plate using a camera on the smart device and using the flash;

retrieve a captured image from the smart device;

compare the captured image with a reference image stored in the memory of the system controller to verify proper functionality of the camera on the smart device; and

measure a light intensity of the flash using the light sensor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the camera on the smart device is a front facing camera.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the camera on the smart device is a back facing camera.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the platform is controlled to move in the x-y direction.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the fixed reference image is a color chart.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the device holder is customized to fit a specific smart device model.