METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING AND CONFIRMING TRANSFER OF PREDEFINED DATA TO A DEVICE UNDER TEST (DUT) DURING A TEST SEQUENCE

• US 20130326274A1
• Filed: 06/01/2012
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LitePoint Corporation (Teradyne Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LitePoint Corporation (Teradyne Incorporated)
• Inventors: OLGAARD, Christian Volf, LUKEZ, John Christopher, YIN, Sheguang
• Granted Patent: US 10,296,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/263 Generation of test inputs, e.g. test vectors, patterns or sequences ; with adaptation of the tested hardware for testability with external testers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2733 Test interface between tester and unit under test

Abstract

A method for testing a device under test (DUT) during a test sequence. In accordance with one embodiment, during a regular, pre-defined test sequence, data packets are transferred from a tester to a device under test (DUT) containing data related to at least one of an identification parameter of the DUT, an operational characteristic of the DUT and a request for data. Examples of such transferred data include address data for identifying the DUT (e.g., a unique media access control (MAC) address) and calibration data for controlling an operational characteristic of the DUT (e.g., signal power levels, signal frequencies or signal modulation characteristics). In accordance with another embodiment, the DUT retrieves and transmits data to the tester, either in response to the request for data or as a preprogrammed response to its synchronization with the tester.

Claims

1. A method for testing a device under test (DUT) during a test sequence, comprising:

synchronizing a tester and a DUT; and

responsive to said synchronizing, performing, with said DUT, at least one of

storing data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT,

retrieving data, and

transmitting a data packet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said synchronizing a tester and a DUT comprises:

transmitting, with said tester, a synchronization initiation signal; and

transmitting, with said DUT, a synchronization confirmation signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

following said synchronizing, transmitting, with said tester, a data signal including one or more data packets containing data related to at least one of said identification parameter of said DUT, said operational characteristic of said DUT and a request for data; and

transmitting, with said DUT, a response signal acknowledging receipt of said data signal by said DUT;

wherein said retrieving data comprises retrieving said data in response to said request for data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said transmitting, with said tester, a data signal including one or more data packets containing data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT, an operational characteristic of said DUT and a request for data comprises transmitting, with said tester, at least one of:

address data for identifying said DUT; and

calibration data for controlling an operational characteristic of said DUT.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising activating, with said DUT, said data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said data packet transmitted by said DUT includes data corresponding to said data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT, and further comprising:

decoding, with said tester, said data packet transmitted by said DUT; and

comparing, with said tester, said decoded data packet and said data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT transmitted by said tester as part of said data signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, with said tester, said data packet transmitted by said DUT.

8. A method for operating a tester for testing a device under test (DUT) during a test sequence, comprising:

transmitting, with a tester, a synchronization initiation signal;

receiving, with said tester, a synchronization confirmation signal from a DUT;

transmitting, with said tester, a data signal including one or more data packets containing data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT, an operational characteristic of said DUT and a request for data;

receiving, with said tester from said DUT, a data packet related to said data signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said transmitting, with said tester, a data signal including one or more data packets containing data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT, an operational characteristic of said DUT and a request for data comprises transmitting, with said tester, at least one of:

address data for identifying said DUT; and

calibration data for controlling an operational characteristic of said DUT.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said data packet transmitted by said DUT includes data corresponding to said data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT, and further comprising:

decoding, with said tester, said data packet transmitted by said DUT; and

comparing, with said tester, said decoded data packet and said data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT transmitted by said tester as part of said data signal.

11. A method for operating a device under test (DUT) during a test sequence, comprising:

receiving, with a DUT, a synchronization initiation signal from a tester;

transmitting, with said DUT, a synchronization confirmation signal; and

responsive to said synchronization, performing, with said DUT, at least one of

storing data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT,

retrieving data, and

transmitting a data packet.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, with said DUT from said tester, a data signal including one or more data packets containing data related to at least one of said identification parameter of said DUT, said operational characteristic of said DUT and a request for data; and

transmitting, with said DUT, a response signal acknowledging receipt of said data signal by said DUT;

wherein said retrieving data comprises retrieving said data in response to said request for data.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving, with said DUT from said tester, a data signal including one or more data packets containing data related to at least one of said identification parameter of said DUT, said operational characteristic of said DUT and a request for data comprises receiving, with said DUT from said tester, at least one of:

address data for identifying said DUT; and

calibration data for controlling an operational characteristic of said DUT.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating, with said DUT, said data related to at least one of an identification parameter of said DUT and an operational characteristic of said DUT.