Input Testing Tool

• US 20140111485A1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Welch, Steven Andrew, Shigemitsu, Takahiro, Wright, Timothy Allen, Vance, Mark D., Wittenberg, Steven E.
• Application Number:
  US13/664,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20140111485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2221 to test input/output devices or peripheral units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details

Abstract

Various embodiments provide an input test tool that promotes precision testing, flexibility and repeatability over a wide variety of functionality tests that are utilized in both touch and near-touch input scenarios. The input test tool enables a variety of degrees of motion, including both linear and rotational motion, so that a device under test can be tested utilizing a number of different linear and/or rotational input scenarios.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

moving an actuator assembly of an input testing tool, including one or more actuators, into an operative testing position with respect to a display device of a device under test, the operative testing position enabling testing of inputs to the display device; and

testing the display device of the device under test by moving the one or more actuators relative to the display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said testing position comprises a touch-position in which the one or more actuators physically engage the display device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said testing position comprises a near-touch-position in which the one or more actuators do not physically engage the display device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said testing comprises moving the actuator assembly in one of an X-axis or Y-axis direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said testing comprises rotationally moving the actuator assembly relative to the display device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said moving the actuator assembly into the operative testing position comprises:

moving the actuator assembly in one or more of an X-axis direction or a Y-axis direction; and

moving the actuator assembly in a Z-axis direction into the operative testing position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said testing comprises moving a plurality of actuators relative to one another.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said moving the actuator assembly and said moving the one or more actuators are performed under the influence of one or more motors.

9. A method comprising:

using an input testing tool to test a display device of a device under test, the input testing tool comprising;

a movable carriage supporting an actuator assembly having one or more actuators removably mounted thereon, the movable carriage being movable in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction, the actuator assembly being movable in a Z-axis direction;

said using comprising;

moving the movable carriage to a position relative to the display device;

moving the actuator assembly in the Z-axis direction into an operative testing position; and

moving the one or more actuators relative to the display device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said testing position comprises a touch-position in which the one or more actuators physically engage the display device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said testing position comprises a near-touch-position in which the one or more actuators do not physically engage the display device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said moving the one or more actuators comprises moving the one or more actuators in an X-axis direction.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said moving the one or more actuators comprises moving the one or more actuators in a Y-axis direction.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein said moving the one or more actuators comprises moving the actuator assembly to move at least one actuator around a rotation axis relative to the display device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said moving the one or more actuators comprises moving a plurality of actuators effective to conduct a pinch test.

16. One or more computer-readable storage media embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

acquiring, from one or more cameras, a test pattern on a display device of a device under test;

moving an actuator assembly of an input testing tool, including one or more actuators, into an operative testing position with respect to a display device of a device under test, the operative testing position enabling testing of touch inputs to the display device relative to the test pattern; and

testing the display device of the device under test by moving the one or more actuators relative to the test pattern on the display device.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein said testing comprises moving the actuator assembly in one of an X-axis or Y-axis direction.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein said testing comprises rotationally moving the actuator assembly relative to the display device.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein said moving the actuator assembly into the operative testing position comprises:

moving the actuator assembly in one or more of an X-axis direction or a Y-axis direction; and

moving the actuator assembly in a Z-axis direction into the operative testing position.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein said testing comprises moving a plurality of actuators relative to one another.