Computer-based instrument system

• US 4,707,834 A
• Filed: 09/17/1985
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Tektronix Incorporated (Fortive Corp.)
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Larry L., Frisch, Arnold M., Hollister, Allen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US06/777,104
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 371/16, 371/20, 371/25, 371/18, 371/21, 371/27, 324/73 R, 324/73 AT, 364/200, 364/900
• US Class Current: 714/31
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31907 Modular tester, e.g. controlling and coordinating instruments in a bus based architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31908 Tester set-up, e.g. configuring the tester to the device under test [DUT], down loading test patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31922 Timing generation or clock distribution G01R31/3191 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A computer-based instrument system is provided for progammably configuring a variety of computer-based test instruments for performing a variety of tests and permitting high speed execution of tests through concurrent operation of individual test instruments. The instruments are implemented on circuit boards and mounted in a chassis including permanent backplane wiring interconnecting the instruments and a timing and triggering control unit. The backplane wiring includes a conventional computer bus for carrying instructions from a master controller to each instrument and lines for a common system clock signal, protocol signals, and trigger signals between selected instruments and the timing and triggering control unit for synchronizing the operation of the instruments when performing a test. The timing and triggering control unit is adapted to programmably control instrument triggering according to individual test requirements without modification of backplane wiring. The backplane wiring further includes a high speed data bus for rapidly transferring data between instruments in the course of a test.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling and coordinating operations of a plurality of instruments in cooperative performance of a procedure, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure by an associated instrument computer in accordance with a set of configuration instructions and to generate first control signals and to respond to second control signals, said first and second control signals coordinating operations of said instruments in the course of performing said procedure, the apparatus comprising:

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer;

timing controller means responsive to said first control signals for generating said second control signals;

a first bus, interconnecting the instrument computer associated with each said instrument to said master controller means, for carrying said configuration instructions to each said instrument computer; and

a second bus, connecting each said instrument to said timing controller means, for carrying said first and second control signals between each said instrument and said timing controller means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second control signals include a stop/reconfigure signal indicating when the instrument computer associated with each instrument is to configure the instrument to perform its portion of said procedure according to said configuration instructions.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first control signals include a signal continuously asserted by each said instrument following receipt of said stop/reconfigure signal until the instrument has been configured according to said configuration instructions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second control signals include a signal for clocking the performance of said procedure by each instrument.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second control signals include a signal for starting the performance of said procedure by every instrument.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first control signals include a busy signal asserted by each instrument when said instrument is performing its portion of said procedure.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said instruments may be configured to generate test data and at least one other of said instruments may be configured to receive and process said test data, said apparatus further comprising:

a third bus, connected in parallel to each said instrument, for conveying said test data between said at least one instrument and said at least one other instrument.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and second control signals comprise signals for arbitrating conveyance of data on said third bus by said instruments.

9. An apparatus for controlling and coordinating operations of a plurality of instruments in cooperative performance of a procedure, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure by an associated instrument computer in accordance with a set of configuration instructions and to generate first control signals and to respond to second control signals, said first and second control signals coordinating operations of said instruments in the course of performing said procedure, the apparatus comprising:

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer;

timing controller means responsive to said first control signals for generating said second control signals;

a first bus, interconnecting the instrument computer associated with each said instrument to said master controller means, for carrying said configuration instructions to each said instrument computer; and

a second bus, connecting each said instrument to said timing controller means, for carrying said first and second control signals between each said instrument and said timing controller means, said first and second control control signals comprising a stop/reconfigure signal indicating when the instrument computer associated with each instrument is to configure the instrument to perform its portion of said procedure according to said configuration instructions, a not ready signal continuously asserted by each said instrument following receipt of said stop/reconfigure signal until the instrument has been configured according to said configuration instructions, a signal for clocking the operation of each instrument, a signal for starting the performance of said procedure portion by every instrument, and a busy signal asserted by each instrument when said instrument is performing its portion of said procedure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said timing controller means comprises:

means for monitoring said busy and said not ready signals and for transmitting said stop/reconfigure signal, said starting signal, and said clocking signal on said second bus in response to said busy and said stop/reconfigure signals.

11. An apparatus for controlling and coordinating operations of a plurality of instruments in cooperative performance of a procedure, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure by an associated instrument computer in accordance with a set of configuration instructions and to generate first control signals and to respond to second control signals, said first and second control signals coordinating operations of said instruments in the course of performing said said procedure, the apparatus comprising:

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer;

timing controller means responsive to said first control signals for generating said second control signals;

a first bus, interconnecting the instrument computer associated with each said instrument to said master controller means, for carrying said configuration instructions to each said instrument computer; and

a second bus comprising two lines associated with each instrument connected between said instrument and said timing controller means, one of said two lines carrying one of said first control signals generated by the instrument to said timing controller means and the other of said lines carrying one of said second control signals generated by said timing controller means to said instrument.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:

a third bus connecting said instruments in parallel to said timing controller means, for conveying a portion of said first and said second control signals between said instruments and said timing controller means.

13. An apparatus for controlling and coordinating operations of a plurality of instruments in cooperative performance of a procedure, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure by an associated instrument computer in accordance with a set of configuration instructions and to generate first control signals and to respond to second control signals, said first and second control signals coordinating operations of said instruments in the course of performing said procedure, wherein at least one of said instruments may be configured to generate test data and at least one other of said instruments may be configured to receive and process said test data, said apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer;

timing controller means responsive to said first control signals for generating said second control signals;

a first bus, interconnecting the instrument computer associated with each said instrument to said master controller means, for carrying said configuration instructions to each said instrument computer; and

a second bus comprising two lines associated with each instrument connected between said instrument and said timing controller means, one of said two lines carrying one of said first control signals generated by the instrument to said timing controller means and the other of said lines carrying one of said second control signals generated by said timing controller means to said instrument;

a third bus connecting said instruments in parallel to said timing controller means, for conveying a portion of said first and said second control signals between said instruments and said timing controller means; and

a fourth bus, connected in parallel to each said instrument, for conveying said test data between said at least one instrument and said at least one other instrument.

14. An apparatus for performing a procedure comprising:

a plurality of instruments, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure and to generate first control signals and to respond to second control signals, said first and second control signals coordinating operations of said instruments in the course of performing said procedure;

a plurality of instrument computers, one instrument computer being associated with each instrument, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure by its associated instrument computer in accordance with a set of configuration instructions, each said instrument and its associated instrument computer being mounted on a common circuit board;

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer;

timing controller means responsive to said first control signals for generating said second control signals;

a chassis having means for mounting each said circuit board and having a set backplane conductors for interconnecting the circuit boards, said backplane conductors comprising a first bus for carrying configuration instructions generated by said master controller means to each said instrument and a second bus, including lines separately connecting each said instrument to said timing controller means, for carrying a first portion of said first and second control signals between each said instrument and said timing controller means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said backplane conductors further comprise:

a third bus connecting said instruments to said timing controller means, for conveying a second portion of said first and said second control signals between said instruments and said timing controller means.

16. An apparatus for performing a test procedure comprising:

a plurality of instrument computers;

a plurality of test instruments for cooperatively performing said test procedure, each test instrument being configured to perform an operation comprising a separate portion of said procedure by an associated one of said instrument computers in accordance with a set of configuration instructions provided to the associated instrument computer, said test instruments being configurable to generate first control signals when performing said operations, operations of said test instruments being coordinated by second control signals transmitted to each of said test instruments;

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer prior to performance of said procedure;

timing controller means for receiving said first control signals and for generating said second control control signals in response to said first control signals during performance of said test procedure;

a first bus, connecting instrument computers associated with each said test instrument to said master controller means, said first bus carrying said configuration instructions to each said instrument computer; and

a second bus, connecting each said instrument in parallel to said timing controller means, for carrying said first and second control signals between said timing controller means and each said instrument.

17. An apparatus for performing a test procedure comprising:

a plurality of instruments, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure and to generate first control signals and to respond to second control signals, said first and second control signals coordinating operations of said instruments in the course of performing said procedure, wherein at least one of said instruments is configured to generate test data and at least one other of said instruments is configured to receive and process said test data;

a plurality of instrument computers, one instrument computer being associated with each instrument, each instrument being configured to perform a portion of said procedure by its associated instrument computer in accordance with a set of configuration instructions, each said instrument and its associated instrument computer being mounted on a common circuit board;

master controller means for generating configuration instructions for each instrument computer;

timing controller means responsive to said first control signals for generating said second control signals;

a chassis having means for mounting each said circuit board and having a set backplane conductors for interconnecting said circuit boards, said backplane conductors comprising a first bus for carrying configuration instructions generated by said master controller means to each said instrument computer and a second bus, including lines separately connecting each said instrument to said timing controller means, for carrying a first portion of said first and second control signals between each said instrument and said timing controller means, a third bus connecting said instruments in parallel to said timing controller means, for conveying a second portion of said first and said second control signals between said instruments and said timing controller means, and a fourth bus, connected in parallel to each said instrument, for conveying said test data between said at least one instrument and said at least one other instrument.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said first and second control signals comprise:

a stop/reconfigure signal indicating when the instrument computer associated with each instrument is to configure the instrument to perform its portion of said procedure according to said configuration instructions,

a signal continuously asserted by each said instrument following receipt of said stop/reconfigure signal until the instrument has been configured according to said instructions,

a signal for clocking the operation of each instrument,

a signal for starting the performance of said procedure portion by every instrument,

and a busy signal asserted by each instrument when said instrument is performing its portion of said procedure.