JP2009168714A - Test equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a testing system capable of determining executable tests according to a tester state. <P>SOLUTION: A state information acquisition portion 222 receives state information and outputs it to a tester state table 264. A test item determining portion 226 receives test item information from an operation portion 206 and obtains information about available testers from a Tests and Available Testers table 262. A tester determining portion 228 accesses the tester state table 264 and checks whether the tester selected by the available tester information is available. The test item determining portion 226 determines whether all testers are available for test items. If any of the testers is not available, the display portion 208 displays "Test impossible" or the like. When all testers are available, a testing control portion 230 controls execution of testing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a test apparatus.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a test management system for grasping a measuring instrument necessary for performing a test by storing and holding a measuring instrument having a necessary measuring function and a corresponding measuring function for each test item.
JP 2003-283446 A

  The present invention has been made from the above-described background, and an object thereof is to provide a test apparatus that can determine a test that can be performed based on the state of a measuring instrument.

  In order to achieve the above object, a test apparatus according to the present invention includes a test item receiving unit that receives one or more test items for a test target device, a state acquisition unit that acquires information on the states of a plurality of measuring devices, and Test determination means for determining whether each of the measurement instruments can execute the test of the accepted test item based on the state of the measurement instrument; and display means for displaying a determination result of the test determination means; And a test execution means for executing a test determined to be executable by the test determination means on the device to be tested using one or more measuring instruments capable of executing the test of the test item.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the test apparatus which can judge the test which can be performed based on the state of a measuring device can be provided.

[Background of the present invention]
In order to help understanding of the present invention, first, the background that led to the present invention will be described.
Conventionally, for example, when a test is executed, if the measuring instrument used for the test does not exist due to periodic calibration, or if the measuring instrument is not turned on, the measured value from the measuring instrument is not measured correctly. It will be judged.
For this reason, conventionally, it is determined that the test being performed is not normally performed, and the test item is determined to be defective. Therefore, the operator needs to perform the test again, which increases the test time. End up.
From such a background, a test apparatus capable of determining a test that can be executed based on the state of the measuring instrument is desired.

Embodiment of the present invention
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a test system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the test system 1 includes a test apparatus 2, measuring instruments 120-1 to 120-n, and dedicated testers 130-1 to 130-m (n and m are integers of 1 or more, provided that n and m are not always the same number), and are connected via the network 100.
In addition, the device under test 110 is connected to the test apparatus 2 via the connection unit 102.

In the following drawings, components that are not necessary for the description of the present invention are omitted as appropriate for the illustration and clarification.
Furthermore, in the following, when any of a plurality of components such as the measuring instruments 120-1 to 120-n is indicated without being specified, the measuring instrument 120 may be simply abbreviated.

Also, any two or more of the devices constituting the test system 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be appropriately integrated.
In addition, a plurality of functions realized in a certain apparatus may be realized in separate apparatuses, or may be realized in an apparatus not shown in FIG.
Further, although the number of test apparatuses 2 is one in FIG. 1, there may be a plurality of test apparatuses.

The network 100 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), and a LAN conforming to a standard such as GP-IB (General Purpose Interface Bus) or RS-232C may be used.
The test apparatus 2 performs a predetermined test on the device under test 110 using the measuring device 120 and the dedicated tester 130.
The test apparatus 2 is configured to communicate with the measuring instrument 120 and the dedicated tester 130 via the network 100.

The device under test 110 is a wireless device, for example, and is a target of a test executed by the test apparatus 2.
The measuring device 120 is, for example, a standard signal generator and a phase detector, and is used in a test performed by the test apparatus 2.
The dedicated tester 130 is a dedicated tester used only for a predetermined test executed by the test apparatus 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the test apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the test apparatus 2 includes a communication interface (IF) 202, a device under test IF 204, an operation unit 206, a display unit 208, a measurement processing unit 22, and a database 26.
The measurement processing unit 22 includes a state information acquisition unit 222, a state detection unit 224, a test item determination unit 226, a measuring instrument determination unit 228, a test execution control unit 230, and a test result acquisition unit 232.
The database 26 includes a test-use measuring instrument table 262 and a measuring instrument state table 264.

The measurement processing unit 22 and the database 26 can be realized by configuring with hardware, but when the test apparatus 2 is a computer, it can also be realized by configuring with software incorporated in the computer. It is.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration when the test apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a computer.
As shown in FIG. 3, the test apparatus 2 includes a main body 150 including a CPU 152 and a memory 154, an input / output device 156 including a keyboard and a display device, a communication device 158 for communicating with other devices, a CD device, It comprises a recording device 160 that records and reproduces data to and from the recording medium 162, such as an HDD device.
That is, the test apparatus 2 has a hardware component as a computer capable of information processing and communication with other apparatuses.

For example, the measurement processing unit 22 and the database 26 specify hardware resources of the test apparatus 2 on the OS supplied to the test apparatus 2 via the storage medium 162, loaded into the memory 154, and installed in the test apparatus 2. It is executed by using it.
In this case, the operation unit 206 and the display unit 208 may be realized by the input / output device 156, and the communication IF 202 and the device under test IF 204 may be realized by the communication device 158.

In the test apparatus 2 (FIG. 2), the communication IF 202 performs processing necessary for performing communication between the measuring instrument 120 and the dedicated tester 130 via the network 100.
The device under test 204 performs processing necessary for transmitting / receiving a signal necessary for executing the test to / from the device under test 110 via the connection unit 102.
The operation unit 206 is a keyboard, for example, and accepts the operation of the operator and outputs it to the measurement processing unit 22 and the database 26.
In addition, the operation unit 206 receives information on the measuring instrument 120 used in each test, which is input by an operator's operation, and outputs the information to the test-use measuring instrument table 262.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating information stored in the test-by-test measuring instrument table 262.
In FIG. 4, test # 1 to test #m indicate test items executed on the device under test 110, and measuring instrument # 1 to measuring instrument #n indicate measuring instruments used in each test.
Here, in the example of FIG. 4, the measuring instrument # 1 is used in the test # 1, the measuring instrument # 2 is used in the test # 2, the measuring instrument # 3 is used in the test # 3, and in the test # 4. Measuring instrument # 2 is used, and measuring instrument #n is used in test #m.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the information illustrated in FIG.
In the example shown in FIG. 5, for example, a standard signal generator is used in the transmission power test and the TONE transmission test, and a phase detector is used in the occupied frequency bandwidth test and the transmission spurious test. A power meter is used in the output distortion test.
The test-use measuring instrument table 262 may be provided for each device under test 110.

The operation unit 206 (FIG. 2) receives information (state information) indicating the state of the measuring instrument input by the operator's operation, and outputs the information to the state information acquisition unit 222.
This state information may include information indicating whether or not each measuring instrument 120 is usable, or may include only information indicating that each measuring instrument 120 is unusable.

The state detection unit 224 detects a state of each measuring instrument 120 by transmitting a signal to each measuring instrument 120 via the communication IF 202 and the network 100 and receiving a response of the signal from each measuring instrument 120. .
The state detector 224 may transmit a communication command signal to each measuring instrument 120 to detect the presence / absence of communication, or may detect the power-on state of each measuring instrument 120. Good.
Further, the state detection unit 224 generates state information based on the detected state of each measuring instrument 120 and outputs the state information to the state information acquisition unit 222.
The state information acquisition unit 222 outputs the state information received from the operation unit 206 and the state detection unit 224 to the measuring instrument state table 264.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating information stored in the measuring instrument state table 264.
In the example of FIG. 6, measuring instrument # 1, measuring instrument # 2, and measuring instrument #n are in a usable state, and measuring instrument # 3 is in an unusable state.
Here, the unusable state means that each measuring instrument 120 is in a state where, for example, the power of each measuring instrument 120 is turned off or the connection between the test apparatus 2 and each measuring instrument 120 is broken. It cannot be used for testing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the information illustrated in FIG.
In the specific example shown in FIG. 7, a standard signal generator, a phase detector, a spectrum analyzer, a low frequency analyzer, an error rate measuring device, and a digital voltmeter can be used, and the wattmeter is disabled.
From this meter state table 264, it can be determined whether each meter 120 can be used, and therefore whether each test can be performed can be determined.

The operation unit 206 (FIG. 2) receives information (test item information) related to the test item input by the operation of the operator, and outputs it to the test item determination unit 226.
The test item information input by the operator's operation is information related to the test item selected to execute the test.
The test item determination unit 226 accepts test item information from the operation unit 206.
In addition, the test item determination unit 226 acquires information on measuring devices (used measuring device information) used for each test item indicated in the test item information from the test-specific used measuring device table 262.
Further, the test item determination unit 226 outputs the acquired use measuring device information to the measuring device determination unit 228 for each test item.

The measuring device determination unit 228 accesses the measuring device state table 264, determines whether or not the measuring device corresponding to the used measuring device information is usable, and outputs the determination result to the test item determination unit 226.
The test item determination unit 226 determines whether or not all the measuring instruments used for each test item can be used. If all the measurement devices are usable, the test item determination unit 226 outputs the test item information to the test execution control unit 230 and outputs one test item. However, if there is a measuring instrument that cannot be used, the test item information is output to the display unit 208.

The test apparatus 2 cannot properly execute the test unless all the measuring instruments used in each test are usable.
Accordingly, when the display unit 208 accepts the test item information, the display unit 208 performs a display such as “test cannot be executed”.
For example, in the example of FIGS. 4 and 6, since the measuring instrument # 3 cannot be used, a display indicating that the test # 3 using the measuring instrument # 3 cannot be performed is displayed.
The display on the display unit 208 allows the operator to grasp the test that cannot be executed.

When the test execution control unit 230 receives the test item information, the test execution control unit 230 performs control for executing a test corresponding to the information.
Specifically, the test execution control unit 230 transmits a control signal for executing a test to the measuring instrument 120 and the dedicated tester 130 used in the test.
Further, the test execution control unit 230 transmits a test signal for executing a test to the device under test 110.
By this control, the measuring instrument 120 and the dedicated tester 130 can execute a test on the device under test 110.

Further, the test execution control unit 230 receives response signals from the measuring instrument 120, the dedicated tester 130, and the device under test 110, and generates information (test result information) indicating test results based on the response signals.
In addition, the test execution control unit 230 outputs the generated test result information to the test result acquisition unit 232.
Note that the test execution control unit 230 may perform test execution control with reference to the test-specific use measuring device table 262.

The test result acquisition unit 232 outputs the received test result information to the display unit 208.
The display unit 208 displays each test result based on the test result information.
By the display on the display unit 208, the operator can grasp the result of the executed test.

8A and 8B are flowcharts showing the process (S10) of the measurement processing unit 22.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, in step 100 (S100), the measurement processing unit 22 acquires information on the measuring instrument 120 that is not used from the operation unit 206, and displays “unusable” in the measuring instrument state table 264. Process as follows.
In step 102 (S102), the measurement processing unit 22 acquires the selected test item information from the operation unit 206.
In step 104 (S104), the measurement processing unit 22 acquires information on the measuring instrument 120 used in each selected test from the test-by-test measuring instrument table 262.
In step 106 (S106), the measurement processing unit 22 acquires the status information of the measuring instrument 120 to be used from the measuring instrument status table 264.

In step 108 (S108), the measurement processing unit 22 determines whether or not all the measuring instruments 120 used in each test are usable. If all the measuring instruments 120 are usable, the process proceeds to S112, and if not, the process proceeds to S110. .
In step 110 (S110), the measurement processing unit 22 performs a process so as to display “test is not possible” on the display unit 208, and proceeds to step S112.
In step 112 (S112), the measurement processing unit 22 determines whether or not execution of all the selected tests has been determined. If so, the process proceeds to S114, otherwise returns to S104.

In step 114 (S114), the measurement processing unit 22 selects a test item to be executed.
In step 116 (S116), the measurement processing unit 22 detects the state of the measuring device 120 via the network 100.
In step 118 (S118), the measurement processing unit 22 determines whether or not the measuring instrument 120 is in a usable state, and if it is in a usable state, the process proceeds to S112. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S120.
In step 120 (S120), the measurement processing unit 22 performs processing so as to set “unusable” in the measuring instrument state table 264, and proceeds to S122.
In step 122 (S122), the measurement processing unit 22 determines whether or not all the measuring devices 120 have been detected. If so, the process proceeds to S124, otherwise returns to S116.

In step 124 (S124), the measurement processing unit 22 refers to the measuring instrument state table 264 to determine whether or not all the measuring instruments 120 used in the test are usable. If so, the process proceeds to S128. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S126.
In step 126 (S126), the measurement processing unit 22 performs processing so as to display “test execution impossible” on the display unit 208, and proceeds to S130.
In step 128 (S128), the measurement processing unit 22 executes a test.
In step 130 (S130), the measurement processing unit 22 determines whether or not all tests have been completed. If not, the process proceeds to S132, and if so, the process ends.
In step 132 (S132), the measurement processing unit 22 prepares for the next test, and returns to S114.

Note that the order of the processes shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B may be changed as appropriate.
For example, the processing of S116 to S122 may be performed between S102 and S104, or may be performed during S128.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second test system 3 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 9, the second test system 3 includes control PCs 4-1 to 4-X (X is an integer equal to or greater than 1), measuring devices 120-1 to 120-n, and a dedicated tester 130-1. ... To 130 -m are connected via the network 100.
Further, the control PCs 4-1 to 4-X are connected via a network 300 such as a LAN.
Further, the device under test 110 is connected to the control PC 4-1 via the connection unit 102.
Note that, in the second test system 3 shown in FIG. 9, components that are substantially the same as the components of the test system 1 shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The control PC 4 is a computer having a processing device such as a CPU, a memory, and a hard disk as shown in FIG.
In addition, the control PC 4 realizes the functions of the test apparatus 2 described above by a program incorporated in the control PC 4 itself.
Note that the device under test 110 may be connected to a control PC 4 other than the control PC 4-1.
As described above, by providing a plurality of control PCs 4-1 to 4-X, a plurality of tests can be executed simultaneously, so that the efficiency of the tests can be further improved.

  As described above, in the system according to the present embodiment, the test items that cannot be performed due to the state of the measuring instrument among the test items selected by the operator are excluded from the target of the test in advance. Time can be shortened and work efficiency can be improved.

  The present invention is applicable to a test system.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the test system concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the test apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration when the test apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is a computer. It is a figure which illustrates the information stored in the use measuring device table classified by test. It is a figure which illustrates the specific example of the information shown in FIG. It is a figure which illustrates the information stored in a measuring device state table. It is a figure which illustrates the specific example of the information shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a measurement process part. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a measurement process part. It is a figure which shows the structure of the 2nd test system 3 concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Test system,
100 ... Network,
102 ... connection part,
110: device under test,
120 ... measuring instrument,
130 ... dedicated tester,
2 ... Test equipment,
202 ... Communication IF,
204... Device under test IF,
206 ... operation unit,
208 ... display section,
22: Measurement processing unit,
222 ... Status information acquisition unit,
224 ... a state detection unit,
226 ... Test item judgment section,
228 ... Measuring device judgment unit,
230 ... test execution control unit,
232 ... Test result acquisition unit,
26 ... Database,
262 ... Measuring instrument table used by test,
264 ... Measuring instrument state table,
3 ... second test system,
300 ... Network,
4 ... Control PC,

Claims (1)

A test item receiving means for receiving one or more test items for the device under test;
Status acquisition means for acquiring information on the status of a plurality of measuring instruments;
A test judging means for judging whether or not each of the measuring instruments can execute the test of the accepted test item, based on the state of the measuring instrument;
Display means for displaying the judgment result of the test judgment means;
A test execution means for executing a test determined to be executable by the test determination means on the device to be tested using one or more measuring instruments capable of executing the test of the test item. apparatus.

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