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

• US 10,491,314 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2015
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• 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): Le, Toan M
• Application Number:
  US14/949,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• 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 coupled to and operable to stress a smart device in an enclosure, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of components, and wherein the system controller comprises: (a) a memory comprising test logic; and (b) a processor configured to automatically control the plurality of components and test the smart device in accordance with the test logic. Further, the plurality of components comprises: (a) a robotic arm comprising a stylus affixed thereto, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the smart device; and (b) a platform comprising a device holder affixed thereto, wherein the device holder is operable to receive the smart device, and wherein the platform and the robotic arm are robotically controlled to move by the processor.

Claims

1. An automatic test system for testing mobile electronic devices, said system comprising:

a system controller operable to be coupled to and operable to stress a mobile electronic device, wherein the system controller comprises;

a memory comprising a test program; and

a processor configured to automatically control a plurality of components and test the mobile electronic device in accordance with the test program;

an enclosure comprising the plurality of components, and wherein the plurality of components comprises;

a robotic arm comprising a stylus, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate the mobile electronic device to simulate human interaction therewith; and

a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the platform is operable to be controlled to move in an x-y direction and to rotate, wherein the device holder is operable to receive the mobile electronic device inserted there into, and wherein the platform and the robotic arm are robotically controlled to move by the processor, and wherein the device holder is customized to fit dimensions and a shape of a mobile electronic device model.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm is operable to be controlled to move in the z-direction, and wherein the device holder is configured to rotate in order to alternate an image on the mobile electronic device between a portrait and landscape orientation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm is controlled by the processor to interface the stylus with soft buttons on a touch screen of the mobile electronic device and physical buttons on the mobile electronic device to perform a plurality of tests on the mobile electronic device in accordance with the test program.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises an audio dampening element, and wherein the plurality of components further comprises:

an audio capture and rendering device, a microphone, and a speaker controlled by the processor and operable to test audio capabilities of the mobile electronic device in conjunction with the audio dampening element.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure further comprises an image plate comprising a fixed reference image, and wherein the plurality of components further comprises an external camera controlled by the processor, and wherein the image plate and external camera are operable to test a camera on the mobile electronic device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of components further comprise an external programmable light source, wherein the external programmable light source is controlled by a processor and operable to test the auto brightness feature of a display of the mobile electronic device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the platform to rotate in multiple degrees of freedom, and wherein the processor is configured to retrieve information from the mobile electronic device while the platform is rotated to test a gravity sensor and a gyroscope of the mobile electronic device.

8. An automated test system for testing mobile electronic devices, said system comprising:

a system controller operable to be coupled to and operable to stress a mobile electronic device in an enclosure to run a plurality of tests, wherein the enclosure comprises a plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components comprises;

a robotic arm comprising a stylus, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate a touch-screen to activate features on the mobile electronic device, and wherein the robotic arm is operable to move in the z-direction; and

a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the device holder is operable to hold the mobile electronic device, and wherein the platform is operable to move in the x-y direction and to rotate in order to alternate an image on the mobile electronic device between a portrait and landscape orientation, and

wherein the system controller is further operable to run tester applications operable to control the robotic arm and the platform to control a relative location of the mobile electronic device, and further wherein the tester applications retrieve information from the mobile electronic device while executing the plurality of tests to determine proper functionality of the mobile electronic device, wherein the device holder is customized to fit dimensions and shape of a specific mobile electronic device mode.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the robot arm is controlled by the tester applications on the system controller to cause the stylus to activate physical buttons on the mobile electronic device, wherein the physical buttons are selected from a group consisting of:

volume up button, volume down button, home button, wake/sleep button and ring silent button.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the device holder is associated with a unique code operable to be communicated to the system controller, wherein the system controller is operable to use the unique code to identify a model type of the mobile electronic device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the enclosure further comprises an audio dampening element, and wherein the plurality of components further comprises:

an audio capture and rendering device, a microphone, and a speaker controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller and operable to test audio capabilities of the mobile electronic device in conjunction with the audio dampening element.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the enclosure further comprises an image plate comprising a fixed reference image, and wherein the plurality of components further comprises an external camera controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller, and wherein the image plate and external camera are operable to test a camera on the mobile electronic device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of components further comprise an external programmable light source, wherein the external programmable light source is controlled by a tester applications running on the system controller and operable to test the auto brightness feature of a display of the mobile electronic device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the tester applications running on the system controller control to rotate the platform in multiple axes, and wherein the tester applications running on the system controller are configured to retrieve information from the mobile electronic device while the platform is rotated to test a gravity sensor and a gyroscope on the mobile electronic device.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of components further comprises an external light sensor operable to be controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller to test a flash on the mobile electronic device.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of components further comprises a Bluetooth access point operable to be controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller to test Bluetooth functionality on the mobile electronic device.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of components further comprises an external accelerometer operable to be controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller to test vibration functionality on the mobile electronic device.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of components further comprises an external fingerprint device operable to be controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller to test a fingerprint sensor on the mobile electronic device.

19. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of components further comprises a Wi-Fi access point operable to be controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller to test Wi-Fi functionality on the mobile electronic device.

20. The system of claim 8, where in the plurality of components further comprise a temperature sensor operable to be controlled by the tester applications running on the system controller to test a temperature tolerance of the mobile electronic device.

21. An automated test system for testing mobile electronic devices, said system comprising:

a system controller operable to be coupled to and operable to stress a plurality of mobile electronic devices, wherein the system controller comprises;

a memory comprising test program; and

a processor configured to automatically control a plurality of components and test the plurality of mobile electronic devices in accordance with the test program;

an enclosure comprising the &

plurality of components, and wherein the plurality of components comprises;

a robotic arm comprising a stylus, wherein the stylus is operable to manipulate one of the plurality of mobile electronic devices; and

a platform comprising a device holder, wherein the platform is operable to be controlled to move in an x-y direction and to rotate, wherein the device holder is operable to receive the plurality of mobile electronic devices, wherein the platform and the robotic arm are robotically controlled to move by the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to retrieve information from the plurality of mobile electronic devices during testing to determine if the plurality of mobile electronic devices are functioning properly, and wherein a size and a shape of the device holder is customized based on a shape and dimensions of a respective mobile electronic device model.