COMPUTING DEVICE FOR ENABLING CONCURRENT TESTING

• US 20110099424A1
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advantest Corporation, Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advantest Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Kelly, Rivera Trevino, Gustavo Javier, Back, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,164,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/263 Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences ; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers

Abstract

A method for enabling concurrent testing is described. The method includes generating a plurality of test objects on a computing device. The plurality of test objects is generated using derived classes that are based on a base test class and each of the plurality of test objects corresponds to a separate block in a Device Under Test (DUT). The method also includes adding the plurality of test objects to a queue and sending information based on the plurality of test objects to an Automated Test Equipment (ATE). The method also includes causing the ATE to concurrently test the separate blocks in the DUT using the plurality of test objects.

Claims

1. A method for enabling concurrent testing, comprising:

generating a plurality of test objects on a computing device, wherein;

the plurality of test objects is generated using derived classes that are based on a base test class; and

each of the plurality of test objects corresponds to a separate block in a Device Under Test (DUT);

adding, on the computing device, the plurality of test objects to a queue;

sending information based on the plurality of test objects to an Automated Test Equipment (ATE); and

causing the ATE to concurrently test the separate blocks in the DUT using the plurality of test objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the ATE to concurrently test comprises sending an instruction to begin concurrent testing.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising initializing an ATE instrument.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a compatible execution mode for the plurality of test objects.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing testing cleanup.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving test data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing post-processing, comprising performing calculations using received test data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing datalogging.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing of the plurality of test objects.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the base test class includes initialization, cleanup, post-processing and datalogging functions that are implemented by the derived classes.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing each of the test objects using a separate thread.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the DUT comprises an object to be concurrently tested that comprises one of the group consisting of an integrated circuit and a group of integrated circuits.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of test objects is generated according to a user interface sequence.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving test data using a background process.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating one or more analog sets for use in concurrent testing.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating one or more digital patterns for use in concurrent testing.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate blocks are concurrently tested using any of digital, mixed signal, Radio Frequency (RF) and Direct Current (DC) tests.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the queue is based on a queue class, wherein the queue class includes a function that controls execution of the test objects in the queue.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the test objects in the queue are serially executable without rewriting code.

20. A computing device for enabling concurrent testing, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to;

generate a plurality of test objects, wherein;

the plurality of test objects is generated using derived classes that are based on a base test class; and

each of the plurality of test objects corresponds to a separate block in a Device Under Test (DUT);

add the plurality of test objects to a queue;

send information based on the plurality of test objects to an Automated Test Equipment (ATE); and

cause the ATE to concurrently test the separate blocks in the DUT using the plurality of test objects.

21. The computing device of claim 20, wherein causing the ATE to concurrently test comprises using a function that causes execution of the plurality of test objects in the queue.

22. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to initialize an ATE instrument.

23. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to determine a compatible execution mode for the plurality of test objects.

24. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to perform testing cleanup.

25. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to receive test data.

26. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to perform post-processing, comprising performing calculations using received test data.

27. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to perform datalogging.

28. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to dispose of the plurality of test objects.

29. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the base test class includes initialization, cleanup, post-processing and datalogging functions that are implemented by the derived classes.

30. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to execute each of the test objects using a separate thread.

31. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the DUT comprises an object to be concurrently tested that comprises one of the group consisting of an integrated circuit and a group of integrated circuits.

32. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the plurality of test objects is generated according to a user interface sequence.

33. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to receive test data using a background process.

34. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to generate one or more analog sets for use in concurrent testing.

35. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the instructions are further executable to generate one or more digital patterns for use in concurrent testing.

36. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the separate blocks are concurrently tested using any of digital, mixed signal, Radio Frequency (RF) and Direct Current (DC) tests.

37. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the queue is based on a queue class, wherein the queue class includes a function that controls execution of the test objects in the queue.

38. The computing device of claim 20, wherein the test objects in the queue are serially executable without rewriting code.

39. A computer-program product for enabling concurrent testing comprising a non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for causing a computing device to generate a plurality of test objects, wherein;

the plurality of test objects is generated using derived classes that are based on a base test class; and

each of the plurality of test objects corresponds to a separate block in a Device Under Test (DUT);

code for causing the computing device to add the plurality of test objects to a queue;

code for causing the computing device to send information based on the plurality of test objects to an Automated Test Equipment (ATE); and

code for causing the computing device to cause the ATE to concurrently test the separate blocks in the DUT using the plurality of test objects.

40. The computer-program product of claim 39, wherein the base test class includes initialization, cleanup, post-processing and datalogging functions that are implemented by the derived classes.

41. The computer-program product of claim 39, wherein the queue is based on a queue class.

42. An apparatus for enabling concurrent testing, comprising:

means for generating a plurality of test objects, wherein;

the plurality of test objects is generated using derived classes that are based on a base test class; and

each of the plurality of test objects corresponds to a separate block in a Device Under Test (DUT);

means for adding the plurality of test objects to a queue;

means for sending information based on the plurality of test objects to an Automated Test Equipment (ATE); and

means for causing the ATE to concurrently test the separate blocks in the DUT using the plurality of test objects.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the base test class includes initialization, cleanup, post-processing and datalogging functions that are implemented by the derived classes.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the queue is based on a queue class.