Computer peripheral testing equipment

• US 4,489,414 A
• Filed: 10/28/1981
• Issued: 12/18/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HAL Computers Limited
• Original Assignee: HAL Computers Limited
• Inventors: Titherley, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US06/316,047
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 371/20, 371/15, 324/73 R, 324/73 AT, 179/175, 364/200, 364/900
• US Class Current: 714/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2221 to test input/output devices or peripheral units

Abstract

Equipment for testing computer peripherals is disclosed having a computer, with keyboard and display, for coupling to such peripherals by way of a peripheral connector, the computer being provided with software defining test and exercising routines for operating a peripheral device in a controlled and monitorable manner. The computer has a central processor coupled to a bus system to which is connected a monitor, inter alia defining key functions of the keyboard. The bus system also is connected by way of the peripheral connector to an interface to interface between the computer and various peripheral devices. The computer is a portable microprocessor system provided with plug-in modules containing the software as firmware to define the test and exercising routines required for different peripheral devices. The software defines different peripheral connector configurations applicable to the different peripheral devices concerned and also different key functions for operator control of the test and exercising routines.

Claims

1. Testing equipment for testing computer peripherals, comprising, in combination, a portable case having operator panel means and containing a microprocessor system, a plug-in firmware module for releasable plug-in connection with the system and containing firmware constituting peripheral test and exercising programming routines, and a plug-in input/output module providing an interface circuit including line drivers for releasably coupling a computer peripheral to said system, the system comprising:

a first connector available to the operator at said panel means for receiving said input/output module and said first connector having a plurality of contacts for electrically contacting said input/output module;

a keyboard on said operator panel means;

a monitor in said case storing monitor routines;

a second connector available to the operator at said panel means for releasably receiving and electrically connecting to said plug-in firmware module;

a microprocessor in said case; and

an address, data and control bus also in said case and coupling said microprocessor to said first connector, to said monitor, to said keyboard and to said second connector to enable said microprocessor to read and execute the test and exercising routines from said firmware module under control of said keyboard and microprocessor, and to enable said microprocessor to create output signals for, and read input signals from, the peripheral via said second connector in consequence of the execution of said routines;

said firmware module comprising instructions for assigning functions to a portion of the keyboard for use in the execution of the firmware testing and exercising routines under control of said portion of the keyboard, and said firmware module also providing instructions for configuring contacts of the first connector such that some of said contacts provide for input from and others for output to said bus, the functions of said portion of the keyboard, the configuration of the first connector and the form of testing and exercising being dependent upon said firmware module which can be interchanged, as can said input/output module, to adapt the equipment to a range of computer peripherals.

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said microprocessor system additionally comprises a display at said panel means and coupled to the bus for displaying data under control of the microprocessor and in response to routines of said firmware module.

3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the monitor provides program routines for preparing the microprocessor system for use on applying power to the system, and for preventing further use of the system by an operator until an appropriate plug-in firmware module is connected to the second connector.

4. Equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the firmware module comprises a read-only-memory containing said firmware.

5. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bus is coupled to a configurable input/output port device providing configurable ports connected to the contacts of said first connector.

6. Equipment as claimed in claim 2 and comprising, connected to the input/output module, a power supply unit and disc controller both for operating a Winchester-type disc drive as a computer peripheral under test.

7. Test and exercising equipment for testing and exercising computer peripheral devices, the equipment comprising a portable case having an operator panel and containing:

a microprocessor;

a bus coupled to the microprocessor to provide address and data communication between the bus and microprocessor;

an input/output device coupled to the bus and having configurable ports for receiving and emitting data under microprocessor control;

a first connector at said operator panel and having contacts for releasable connection to an input/output interface for a peripheral device and said contacts being connected to said ports for signal exchange between the peripheral device and the microprocessor by way of the bus;

a second connector at said operator panel for releasably receiving a plug-in firmware module and coupled to the bus in order to couple the module to said microprocessor via said bus;

a keyboard on said operator panel and coupled to said bus;

a display mounted on the operator panel and coupled to said bus; and

a monitor coupled to the bus and containing program routines to cause the microprocessor to act on the application of power to the system for accessing, via said bus and said second connector, software routines of said firmware module for configuring ports of said input/output device, for defining functions for a portion of the keyboard, providing peripheral tests and exercises, and for operating said display to provide an indication of the progress of said tests and exercises;

said equipment further comprising at least one input/output interface for releasable-connection to said first connector and comprising interface means for interfacing a computer peripheral with said bus; and

at least one firmware module for releasable connection to said second connector and comprising Read-Only-Memory containing said software routines.