Testing system for performing an operation of an application which controls testing equipment for testing a device under test and method for controlling the same

• US 6,418,391 B1
• Filed: 10/05/1998
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advantest Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advantest Corporation
• Inventors: Miyajima, Jun, Yamaguchi, Takahiro, Umezu, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal
• Application Number:
  US09/166,297
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 702/117-123, 702/67, 702/68, 702/108, 702/182-185, 702/188, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.131, 702/FOR.134, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR.171, 700/83-87, 700/79, 700/81, 345/965, 345/962, 345/969, 345/970, 345/326, 345/348, 345/349, 345/339
• US Class Current: 702/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2516 Modular arrangements for computer based systems; using personal computers (PC's), e.g. "virtual instruments"
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2834 Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2839 using signal generators, power supplies or circuit analysers G01R31/2879 takes precedence; multimeters G01R15/12, network analysers G01R27/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2846 using hard- or software simulation or using knowledge-based systems, e.g. expert systems, artificial intelligence or interactive algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31912 Tester/user interface

Abstract

There is disclosed a testing system for performing an operation of an application which controls testing equipment for testing a device under test by displaying images such as icons or buttons on a screen, and selecting these images with use of a pointing device, and a method for controlling the testing system. An icon corresponding to the device under test and an icon corresponding to a test element are displayed, and then connected and displayed. In addition, a test parameter is generated corresponding to each test element, a test is conducted by setting respective test parameters, and obtained test data is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a testing system for performing an operation of an application which controls testing equipment for testing a device under test by displaying images on a screen, and selecting said images with the use of a pointing device, said method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying a first icon representing the device under test on a first display region contained in a display screen;

b) displaying a second icon representing a selected test element on said first display region;

c) connecting and displaying said first icon and said second icon on said first display region;

d) generating a test parameter for said selected test element;

e) conducting a predetermined test by setting said test parameter generated in said step d, and acquiring test data from said selected test element; and

f) displaying said test data acquired in said step e on said first display region; and

, further comprising, after or in parallel to said step b;

g) displaying a third icon on said first display region, said third icon corresponding to said selected test element, and being identifiable from said second icon;

wherein

said second icon and said third icon are used as an icon representing said selected test element corresponding to either of a high speed test or a high accuracy test.

2. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising, before said step c:

a step of displaying one or more of a test item icon on said first display region, said one or more test item icon representing one or more test items corresponding to said selected test element; and

a step of selecting any one of said one or more test item icons displayed in said step of displaying a one or more test item icon on said first display region, thereby effecting selection of a test item.

3. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising, between said step of selecting any one of said one or more test item icons displayed in said step of displaying a test item icon on said first display region and said step c:

a step of displaying a test condition icon on said first display region, said test condition icon representing a test condition previously prepared in correspondence to said selected test item; and

a step of selecting said test condition icon displayed in said step of displaying a test condition icon on said first display region, thereby effecting selection of a test condition.

4. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 1, comprising, in place of said step f, a step of displaying test data corresponding to said high speed test or said high accuracy test on said first display region.

5. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein display of said test data on said first display region is attained by a graph representation in a predetermined form;

and further comprising

when a range is selected on the graph representation of said test data displayed on said first display region, a step of overlapping and displaying an outer frame of said selected range on said graph representation.

6. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, after said step of overlapping and displaying an outer frame:

a step of displaying one or more predetermined services icons on said first display region, said predetermined services icons representing predetermined services which can be implemented on said graph representation; and

a step of, when any one of said predetermined services icons is selected, performing a corresponding one of said predetermined services, and displaying a result of said performed corresponding one of said predetermined services on said first display region.

7. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising, after said step of overlapping and displaying an outer frame:

a step of displaying one or more implementable test element icons on said first display region, said implementable test element icons representing one or more test elements which can be implemented on said graph representation;

a step of selecting one of said implementable test element icons displayed in said step of displaying one or more implementable test element icons on said first display region, thereby selecting a test element;

a step of setting a test range out of said obtained measurement data based on positional coordinates of said selected range on the graph representation;

a step of generating a test parameter for said test element selected in said step of selecting one of said implementable test element icons;

a step of setting said test parameter generated in said step of generating a test parameter for said test element selected in said step of selecting one of said implementable test element icons in said selected test element to conduct a predetermined test, and to acquire new test data; and

a step of displaying said test data acquired in said step of setting said test parameter generated in said step of generating a test parameter for said test element selected in said step of selecting one of said implementable test element icons on said first display region.

8. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising, after said step of displaying one or more implementable test element icons on said first display region:

a step of displaying one or more test item icons on said first display region, said test item icons representing one or more test items corresponding to said selected test element; and

a step of selecting one of said test item icons displayed in said step of displaying one or more test item icons on said first display region, thereby selecting a test item; and

further comprising, in place of said step of generating a test parameter for said test element selected in said step of selecting one of said implementable test element icons, a step of generating a test parameter for said test element selected in said step of selecting one of said implementable test element icons displayed in said step of displaying one or more implementable test element icons on said first display region based on said test item selected in said step of selecting one of said test item icons displayed in said step of displaying said one or more test item icons on said first display region and said test range set in said step of setting a test range out of said obtained measurement data based on positional coordinates of said selected range on the graph representation.

9. A method for controlling a testing system for performing an operation of an application which controls testing equipment for testing a device under test by displaying images en a screen, and selecting these images with use of a pointing device, said method comprising;

a first step of displaying a first icon representing the device under test on a first display region contained in a display screen;

a second step of displaying a second icon representing a selected test element on said first display region;

a third step of connecting and displaying said first icon and said second icon on said first display region;

a fourth step of generating a test parameter for said selected test element;

a fifth step of conducting a predetermined test by setting said test parameter generated in said fourth step, and acquiring test data from said test element;

a sixth step of displaying said test data acquired in said fifth step on said first display region;

a seventh step of displaying one or more program element icons representing one or more program elements on a second display region contained in said display screen or said first display region;

an eighth step of displaying a start of test icon representing start of a test and an end of test icon representing end of the test on said second display region, and connecting and displaying said start of test and end of test icons on said second display region;

a ninth step of selecting one of said program element icons displayed on said second display region or said first display region, thereby selecting a program element;

a tenth step of selecting a position for displaying one or mare of a selected program element icon between said start of test and end of test icons, said selected program element icon corresponding to said program element selected in said ninth step;

an eleventh step of deleting the connection attained in said eighth step between said start of test and end of test icons;

a twelfth step of displaying said selected program element icon at the selected position on said second display region selected in said tenth step;

a thirteenth step of aligning said start of test and end of test icons and said one or more selected program element icons after said twelfth step, said one or more selected program element icons being between said start of test and end of test icons; and

a fourteenth step of connecting and displaying connections between said start of test, end of test and selected program element icons in a predetermined order after said thirteenth step.

10. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the order of said one or more selected program element icon between said start of test icon representing start of the test and said end of test icon representing end of the test can be changed.

11. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein at least one of said one or more program elements contains a composite program element.

12. The method for controlling the testing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein, when said start of test icon representing start of a test is selected, said program elements to which said one or more selected program element icons correspond are executed in an order from the nearest one to said start of test icon.