Modular radio test system and method
First Claim
1. A test set for testing multiple types of radios, comprising, a multiport bus, a programmable computer coupled to the bus for controlling operation of the radio test set via operation of the multiport bus, a first group of test elements coupled to the bus and common to all types of radios being tested by the test set and a second group of test elements coupled to the bus and specific to each type of radio to be tested, wherein the second group of test elements are contained within one or more replaceable personality modules which couple to the multiport bus for providing those test elements, the personality module further comprises an identification (ID) unique to each particular type of radio to be tested, and circuits beyond the first group of test elements that are needed to test a particular type of radio.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tester for multiple types of radios has a first group of generic test elements common to all types of radios to be tested and second groups of test elements specific to each one of the multiple types of radios. Each of the second groups of test elements is mounted within a pluggable module for insertion into the tester where it couples to a common bus accessed by all of the other test elements and by the controlling computer. Each pluggable module contains a specific identifier which, when accessed by the controlling computer initiates a stored program which causes the computer, via the bus, to couple the various test elements into a configuration required to test the radio type associated with that identifier. The system is very compact and conveniently uses a lap top computer as the controlling element.
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Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A test set for testing multiple types of radios, comprising, a multiport bus, a programmable computer coupled to the bus for controlling operation of the radio test set via operation of the multiport bus, a first group of test elements coupled to the bus and common to all types of radios being tested by the test set and a second group of test elements coupled to the bus and specific to each type of radio to be tested, wherein the second group of test elements are contained within one or more replaceable personality modules which couple to the multiport bus for providing those test elements, the personality module further comprises an identification (ID) unique to each particular type of radio to be tested, and circuits beyond the first group of test elements that are needed to test a particular type of radio.
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14. A method for operating a computer controlled radio tester able to test multiple types of radios, wherein said tester has a first group of multiple controllable test elements coupled to the computer and to each other by a multiport bus and a second group of multiple test elements able to be coupled to said multiport bus by provision of a personality module containing said second group of test elements, wherein the first group of test elements provides generic test functions and the second group of test elements provides test functions specific to one or more of said multiple types of radios, said method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a first module having test elements specifically for testing a first of said multiple types of radios to said bus; causing said computer to interrogate said first module and determine therefrom an index; retrieving a first test configuration program available to said computer using said index; executing said first test configuration program to cause said computer to couple particular members of said first and second groups of elements into a first test configuration suitable for testing said first of said multiple types of radios; and testing said radio using said first test configuration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 20. A tester for multiple types of radios, said tester comprising, a bus, a first group of generic test elements common to said multiple types of radios to be tested and a second group of test elements mounted within a module which is user insertable into a plug contained within said tester, said second group of test elements being specific to one of said multiple types of radios, said first and second groups of test elements being coupled to said bus in a variable manner determined by means of a radio type identifier contained within the pluggable module.
Specification