Method for burning in and diagnostically testing a computer

• US 6,175,774 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micro Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Frank, Jonathan, Johnson, Greg P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US09/245,108
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 364/141, 374/830, 374/73.1, 374/760, 374/765, 700/11, 700/12, 700/21, 700/24, 700/79-80, 700/81, 700/84-86, 716/4, 716/6, 714/2-3, 714/8, 714/9, 714/23, 714/10, 714/14, 714/25, 714/30-37
• US Class Current: 700/79
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/22 Detection or location of defective computer hardware by testing during standby operation or during idle time, e.g. start-up testing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/24 Marginal checking or other specified testing methods not covered by G06F11/26, e.g. race tests

Abstract

An apparatus and method for burning in a computer having a parallel port, includes a diagnostic program, stored in an internal memory of the computer, for running diagnostic tests on at least one component of the computer. The apparatus also includes a power cycling circuit, coupled to the parallel port of the computer, for receiving a power-off signal from the computer, for turning power off to the computer in response to the power-off signal and for automatically turning power back on to the computer after a specified period of time has elapsed.

Claims

1. A method of burning in a computer comprising:

executing a diagnostic program on the computer to test at least one component;

automatically, and independent of user intervention, shutting off power to the computer in response to said program for a specified duration of time;

automatically, and independent of user intervention, turning on power to the computer upon expiration of the specified duration of time; and

automatically repeating the steps of the method until a limit is reached.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said diagnostic program is stored in a memory of the computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acts of shutting off power to the computer for a specified duration of time and turning on power to the computer upon expiration of the specified duration of time are performed by a power cycling circuit coupled to the computer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a trigger signal from the computer, wherein said power cycling circuit turns off power to the computer in response to the trigger signal and turns power back on to the computer after said specified duration of time has elapsed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said trigger signal is sent by a trigger program which is executed as a subroutine of said diagnostic program.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

activating a timing circuit, in response to said trigger signal, for measuring said specified duration of time, wherein, upon expiration of said specified duration of time, the timing circuit activates said power cycling circuit so as to connect power to the computer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the acts of automatically shutting off power to the computer and turning on power to the computer are accomplished by a power cycling circuit coupled to the computer.

8. A method of burning in a computer having a power cycling circuit connected thereto, the power cycling circuit including a timer circuit for measuring a period of time in which power to the computer is disconnected, the method comprising:

running a diagnostic program on the computer to test at least one component in conjunction with power cycling of the computer during a burn-in process, wherein power cycling of the computer comprises;

automatically, and independent of user intervention, sending a trigger signal from the computer to the power cycling circuit;

automatically shutting off power to the computer in response to the trigger signal;

automatically starting operation of the timer circuit in response to the trigger signal;

automatically, and independent of user intervention, turning on power to the computer after the timer circuit has operated for a specified duration of time; and

automatically repeating the steps of the method until a selected limit is reached.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said power cycling circuit is connected to a parallel port of the computer and wherein the step of sending a trigger signal from the computer to the power cycling circuit comprises sending the trigger signal to the power cycling circuit via the parallel port of the computer.

10. A method of burning in a computer, comprising:

automatically, and independent of user intervention, generating a trigger signal;

automatically power-cycling the computer such that power to the computer is turned off in response to the trigger signal and power to the computer is turned back on after a specified period of time has elapsed;

periodically, diagnostically testing the computer in conjunction with power-cycling the computer; and

automatically repeating the steps of the method until a limit is reached.