Method and apparatus for handling a user-defined event that is generated during test of a device

• US 7,421,360 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verigy Limited (Advantest Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Verigy Limited (Advantest Corporation)
• Inventors: Hayhow, Reid, Kolman, Robert Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/345,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20070179732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 702/108, 702/127, 702/188, 702/189, 707/1, 707/7, 707/101, 707/102, 715/505, 715/507, 715/508
• US Class Current: 702/108
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31718 Logistic aspects, e.g. binning, selection, sorting of devices under test, tester/handler interaction networks, Test management software, e.g. software for test statistics or test evaluation, yield analysis mechanical aspects G01R31/2808, G01R31/2851
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/318314 Tools, e.g. program interfaces, test suite, test bench, simulation hardware, test compiler, test program languages simulation software G01R31/318357; emulators G06F11/261
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

In one embodiment, and in response to an ordered sequence of events corresponding to execution of a plurality of tests on at least one device under test (DUT), 1) a plurality of data objects are created, the data objects including A) some data objects that correspond to logical groupings of test results implied by ones of the events, and B) a generic data object that corresponds to a user-defined one of the events; 2) ones of the data objects are related to others of the data objects in a hierarchical tree structure, with the generic data object being related to others of the data objects based on the position of the user-defined event in the ordered sequence of events; and 3) data corresponding to ones of the events is related to ones of the data objects in the hierarchical tree structure. A number of data formatters are provided access to the plurality of data objects and data associated with the hierarchical tree structure. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus, comprising:

a data populator configured to i) receive an ordered sequence of events corresponding to execution of a plurality of tests on at least one device under test (DUT), ii) create a plurality of data objects, including some data objects that correspond to logical groupings of test results implied by ones of the events, and a generic data object that corresponds to an user-defined event of the sequence of events, iii) relate ones of the data objects to others of the data objects in a hierarchical tree structure, with the generic data object being related to others of the data objects based on the position of the user-defined event in the ordered sequence of events, and iv) relate data corresponding to ones of the events to ones of the data objects in the hierarchical tree structure; and

a data formatter configured to retrieve and format data associated with the hierarchical tree structure, the data formatter i) retrieving data associated with the generic data object, and ii) formatting the data associated with the generic data object, to generate formatted data that is readable by a user or downstream analysis software.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data formatter is configured to format data associated with the generic data object in accord with a generic record type.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data formatter is configured to format data associated with the generic data object in accord with an user-defined data record type corresponding to the user-defined event.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generic data object further includes a label associated therewith, and wherein the data formatter reads the label associated with the generic data object to determine what kind of format to use when formatting data associated with the generic data object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generic data object further includes a label associated therewith, and wherein the data formatter reads the label associated with the generic data object to determine whether data associated with the generic data object is debug data.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generic data object further includes a label associated therewith, and wherein the data formatter reads the label associated with the generic data object to determine whether data associated with the generic data object is related to data associated with other generic data objects.

7. A method, comprising:

in response to an ordered sequence of events corresponding to execution of a plurality of tests on at least one device under test (DUT),

creating a plurality of data objects, including i) some data objects that correspond to logical groupings of test results implied by ones of the events, and

ii) a generic data object that corresponds to an user-defined one of the events;

relating ones of the data objects to others of the data objects in a hierarchical tree structure, with the generic data object being related to others of the data objects based on the position of the user-defined event in the ordered sequence of events; and

relating data corresponding to ones of the events to ones of the data objects in the hierarchical tree structure;

providing a number of data formatters access to the plurality of data objects and data associated with the hierarchical tree structure; and

formatting the plurality of data objects and data associated with the hierarchical tree structure into formatted data with at least one of the number of data formatters, including, formatting the data associated with the generic data object, to generate formatted data that is readable by a user or downstream analysis software.

8. Apparatus, comprising:

computer readable media; and

computer readable code, stored on the computer readable media, including code, when executed by the apparatus, to,

in response to receiving an ordered sequence of events corresponding to execution of a plurality of tests on at least one device under test (DUT),

create a plurality of data objects, including i) some data objects that correspond to logical groupings of test results implied by ones of the events, and ii) a generic data object that corresponds to an user-defined one of the events;

relate ones of the data objects to others of the data objects in a hierarchical tree structure, with the generic data object being related to others of the data objects based on the position of the user-defined event in the ordered sequence of events; and

relate data corresponding to ones of the events to ones of the data objects in the hierarchical tree structure;

provide a number of data formatters access to the plurality of data objects and data associated with the hierarchical tree structure; and

format the plurality of data objects and data associated with the hierarchical tree structure into formatted data with at least one of the number of data formatters, including, formatting the data associated with the generic data object, to generate formatted data that is readable by a user or downstream analysis software.