Systems and methods for testing a peripheral interfacing with a processor according to a high-speed serial interface protocol

• US 8,294,482 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gettemy, Shawn, Yao, Wei, Al-Dahle, Ahmad
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Trung Q
• Application Number:
  US12/283,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20090235120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,498 Days
• Field of Search: 324/158.1, 324/770, 324/537, 345 87-104, 345/204, 345/690
• US Class Current: 324/760.02
• 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: G06F 11/2733 Test interface between tester and unit under test
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing a peripheral in accordance with a high-speed serial interface protocol are provided. A test system can test a peripheral by providing user-specified control over a test processor (which is substantially the same processor the peripheral will interface with when installed) to test, calibrate, or both test and calibrate the peripheral. The test processor can communicate with the peripheral according to the high-speed serial interface protocol, thereby effectively providing an actual “in-device” environment for testing and/or calibrating the peripheral.

Claims

1. A system for testing a peripheral, comprising:

a test computer; and

a test module comprising;

a test processor electrically coupled to a test computer interface and a peripheral interface, the test processor operative to communicate with the peripheral according to a high-speed serial interface protocol, and the test processor responsive to commands provided by the test computer;

wherein the test module further comprises;

a dock electrically coupled to the test processor; and

memory for storing firmware, the memory electrically coupled to the test processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the test computer comprises a control application operative to perform at least one test on the peripheral using the test processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the test computer comprises a control application operative to adjust at least one parameter of the peripheral using the test processor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control application is operative to store at least one parameter on a memory of the peripheral.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the test processor is the same make and model of a processor the peripheral will interface with when installed in an end-use electronic device.

6. A method for testing a peripheral, the method implemented in a system comprising a test processor operative to communicate with the peripheral according to a high-speed serial interface protocol and controlled by a test computer, the method comprising:

controlling the test processor, which communicates with the peripheral according to the MIhigh-speed serial interface protocol, the controlling comprising;

testing the peripheral;

adjusting at least one parameter of the peripheral; and

saving at least one adjusted parameter setting on a memory of the peripheral.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising using the test computer to control the test processor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the peripheral is a camera.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the peripheral is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter of the LCD is a flicker parameter.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter of the LCD is a gamma parameter.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one adjusted parameter setting is saved on a memory of the LCD.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a display; and

a processor operative to communicate with the display according to a high-speed serial interface protocol, wherein the display was calibrated with a test system using a test processor of the same make and model of the processor used in the electronic device in order to (1) adjust at least one parameter of the display, and (2) save at least one adjusted parameter setting in a memory of the display, and wherein the test processor communicated with the display according to the high-speed serial interface protocol.