Method and apparatus for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments
First Claim
1. A method for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, comprising:
- electrically coupling a harness cable to a plurality of test signal ports on the plurality of test system instruments;
initiating a first plurality of test measurements via the harness cable, the first plurality of test measurements being made between two or more sets of test ports that are on three or more of the test system instruments;
capturing the first plurality of test measurements from the test system instruments using a computer; and
indicating to a user, via the computer, whether ones of the first plurality of test measurements are within defined ranges, wherein the harness cable is electrically coupled to a switching network, the method further comprising;
between at least some of the first plurality of test measurements, programming the switching network to couple different ones of the plurality of test system instruments to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, a harness cable is electrically coupled to a plurality of test signal ports on the plurality of test system instruments. A first plurality of test measurements are then initiated via the harness cable, with the first plurality of test measurements being made between two or more sets of test ports that are on three or more of the instruments. The plurality of test measurements are captured from the test system instruments using a computer. The computer then indicates to a user whether ones of the plurality of test measurements are within defined ranges. A second plurality of test measurements, between ones of the plurality of test instruments and a test module, may also be initiated via the harness cable. Exemplary harness cable embodiments are also disclosed.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, comprising:
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electrically coupling a harness cable to a plurality of test signal ports on the plurality of test system instruments; initiating a first plurality of test measurements via the harness cable, the first plurality of test measurements being made between two or more sets of test ports that are on three or more of the test system instruments; capturing the first plurality of test measurements from the test system instruments using a computer; and indicating to a user, via the computer, whether ones of the first plurality of test measurements are within defined ranges, wherein the harness cable is electrically coupled to a switching network, the method further comprising; between at least some of the first plurality of test measurements, programming the switching network to couple different ones of the plurality of test system instruments to each other.
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2. A method for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, comprising:
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electrically coupling a harness cable to a plurality of test signal ports on the plurality of test system instruments; initiating a first plurality of test measurements via the harness cable, the first plurality of test measurements being made between two or more sets of test ports that are on three or more of the test system instruments; capturing the first plurality of test measurements from the test system instruments using a computer; and indicating to a user, via the computer, whether ones of the first plurality of test measurements are within defined ranges, wherein the harness cable is coupled to a test module, the method further comprising; initiating a second plurality of test measurements via the harness cable, the second plurality of test measurements being made as ones of the plurality of test system instruments measure characteristics of the test module; capturing the second plurality of test measurements from the test system instruments using the computer; and indicating to the user, via the computer, whether ones of the second plurality of test measurements are within defined ranges. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, comprising:
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electrically coupling a harness cable to a plurality of test signal ports on the plurality of test system instruments; initiating a first plurality of test measurements via the harness cable, the first plurality of test measurements being made between two or more sets of test ports that are on three or more of the test system instruments; capturing the first plurality of test measurements from the test system instruments using a computer; and indicating to a user, via the computer, whether ones of the first plurality of test measurements are within defined ranges, the method further comprising; after coupling the harness cable, but before initiating test measurements via the harness cable, automatically determining, via the computer, which test system instruments are coupled to the harness cable; and in response to the determination, derive the first plurality of test measurements from a database of test measurements that may possibly be initiated via the harness cable.
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7. Apparatus for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, comprising:
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a test module; and a harness cable having i) a first plurality of signal routes extending between the test module and a switch interface, and ii) a second plurality of signal routes extending between the switch interface and a plurality of electrical connectors, the electrical connectors being configured to mate with a plurality of test signal ports on a plurality of test system instruments, wherein the test module comprises a number of current limiting impedances, the current limiting impedances being connected to limit currents in a number of the second plurality of signal routes. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for verifying the operation of a plurality of test system instruments, comprising:
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a test module; and a harness cable having a plurality of signal routes extending between the test module and a plurality of electrical connectors, the electrical connectors being configured to mate with a plurality of test signal ports on a plurality of test system instruments, wherein the test module comprises a number of current limiting impedances, the current limiting impedances being connected to limit currents in a number of the plurality of signal routes.
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Specification