Automatic testing equipment and method for thunder and lightning / USB4 interface

Abstract

The invention discloses a lightning / USB4 interface automatic test device and method, and the device comprises a lower computer which supports a lightning / USB4 protocol, is provided with a multi-channel switch module, and can activate a USB channel, a DisplayPort channel and a PCIe channel at the same time; the upper computer runs test software and integrates an EDID analysis module and an NVMe serial number comparison module; the lower computer configures all channels to be in an activated state through a thunder and lightning protocol, and parallel testing of a USB protocol, a DisplayPort protocol and a PCIe protocol is achieved. And the upper computer is bound with the unique serial number of the TBT03 equipment through the EDID name, verifies the relevance of the DisplayPort equipment, and verifies the relevance of the PCIe equipment by comparing the serial number of the NVMe disk. The test time is shortened to be within 30 seconds and is improved by 4 times compared with that of a traditional method. Through dual verification of the EDID name and the NVMe serial number, the problem of confusion of multiple paths of test equipment is solved. According to the invention, thunder / USB4 interfaces are supported, and USB, DisplayPort, PCIe and PD protocol tests are covered.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of electronic equipment testing, and particularly relates to a thunderbolt / USB4 interface automatic testing device and method, which is particularly suitable for testing devices of USB, DisplayPort, PCIe and PD protocols at the same time. BACKGROUND

[0002] The conventional thunderbolt / USB4 interface testing device needs to switch the testing mode (such as USB, DisplayPort, PCIe, etc.) one by one, and the testing efficiency is low. For example, the prior art CN113238979A discloses an automatic detection system with a Type-C / thunderbolt interface, but it can only realize the switching of a single interface and cannot support parallel testing of multiple protocols. In addition, when multiple Type-C interfaces are tested, the device association error problem (such as confusion between PCIe and DisplayPort devices) has not been effectively solved. SUMMARY

[0003] The application aims to provide a thunderbolt / USB4 interface automatic testing device and method, which utilizes the characteristics of the thunderbolt protocol, opens all channels (USB, DisplayPort, PCIe) at the same time through the lower computer configuration, realizes one-time testing, and reduces the testing time.

[0004] The technical scheme of the application is as follows: The thunderbolt / USB4 interface automatic testing device comprises: A lower computer supporting the thunderbolt / USB4 protocol, configured with a multi-channel switch module, which can activate the USB, DisplayPort and PCIe channels at the same time; An upper computer running testing software, integrated with an EDID analysis module and an NVMe serial number comparison module; The lower computer configures all channels to be in the activated state through the thunderbolt protocol, realizing parallel testing of USB, DisplayPort and PCIe protocols; The upper computer binds the EDID name and the unique serial number of the TBT03 device, verifies the association of the DisplayPort device, and verifies the association of the PCIe device by comparing the NVMe disk serial number.

[0005] Preferably, the lower computer adopts an Intel JHL8x40 thunderbolt controller, which supports 4-channel PCIe 4.0 and DisplayPort 1.4a.

[0006] Preferably, the upper computer testing software is developed based on Python, integrated with PyUSB and libedid libraries.

[0007] Preferably, the DisplayPort device generates a unique display name by writing an EDID device name in combination with the unique serial number of the TBT03 device, to realize accurate correspondence between the upper computer and the lower computer.

[0008] Preferably, the PCIe device reads the NVMe disk serial number and writes it to the lower computer, and the upper computer compares the disk information with the serial number read back by the lower computer during testing to solve the device confusion problem.

[0009] The method for automatically testing the Thunderbolt / USB4 interface comprises the following steps: Step 1: The lower computer configures all channels to be in an active state through the Thunderbolt protocol. Step 2: The upper computer initiates a test instruction, and the lower computer executes USB, DisplayPort and PCIe protocol tests in parallel. Step 3: DisplayPort test: The EDID name is bound to the TBT03 serial number to ensure the uniqueness of the device. PCIe test: The upper computer reads the NVMe disk serial number and compares it with the pre-stored serial number of the lower computer to verify the device association. Step 4: Generate a test report containing protocol performance data and device association verification results.

[0010] Preferably, the method configures a multi-channel switch module through the lower computer, simultaneously activates the USB, DisplayPort and PCIe channels, and realizes a test time of less than 30 seconds.

[0011] Preferably, the method is suitable for multi-Type-C interface device scenarios and covers USB, DisplayPort, PCIe and PD protocol tests.

[0012] Preferably, the method solves the multi-channel test device confusion problem through double verification of the EDID name and the NVMe serial number.

[0013] The advantages of the present application are: 1. Efficiency improvement: The test time is shortened to less than 30 seconds, which is 4 times faster than the traditional method.

[0014] 2. Accuracy improvement: Double verification of the EDID name and the NVMe serial number solves the multi-channel test device confusion problem.

[0015] 3. Strong compatibility: Supports Thunderbolt / USB4 interface and covers USB, DisplayPort, PCIe and PD protocol tests. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] The present application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and examples: Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the lightning / USB4 interface automatic test equipment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] As shown in Figure 1 The lightning / USB4 interface automatic test equipment of the present application comprises: The lower computer supports the lightning / USB4 protocol and is configured with a multi-channel switch module, which can activate the USB, DisplayPort and PCIe channels simultaneously; The upper computer runs test software and integrates an EDID analysis module and an NVMe serial number comparison module; The lower computer configures all channels to be in an activated state through the lightning protocol, thereby realizing parallel testing of the USB, DisplayPort and PCIe protocols; The upper computer binds the EDID name and the unique serial number of the TBT03 device, verifies the relevance of the DisplayPort device, and verifies the relevance of the PCIe device by comparing the NVMe disk serial number.

[0018] In implementation, the lower computer uses an Intel JHL8x40 lightning controller as the main control chip, supports the lightning 4 / USB4 protocol specification, and has the following characteristics: Multi-protocol support: supports USB 3.2, DisplayPort 1.4a and PCIe 4.0 x4 channels; Channel control: through the internally integrated multi-channel switch module, the USB, DisplayPort and PCIe channels are activated in parallel; Serial number reading: supports reading the serial number of the NVMe solid state disk connected on the PCIe channel through the NVMe protocol; EDID writing: supports writing EDID data to the display device through the DisplayPort channel, including customizing the display name; Communication interface: communicates with the upper computer through the lightning protocol, supports high-speed data transmission and control instruction interaction.

[0019] The lower computer is configured through firmware to activate all channels simultaneously at the beginning of testing, thereby avoiding the delay caused by switching protocols one by one in the traditional method.

[0020] The upper computer is a PC running the Windows or Linux operating system, and the test software is developed based on Python, and the main modules include: PyUSB module: used for identification and communication of USB devices; libedid module: used for analyzing and modifying the EDID information of DisplayPort devices; Test scheduling module: control test flow, collect and compare data, generate test report; Communication module: communicate with lower computer through thunder protocol, send test instruction and receive result.

[0021] The upper computer software interface supports test project selection, real-time log display, test result export and other functions.

[0022] The thunder / USB4 interface automatic test method comprises the following steps: Step 1: The lower computer configures all channels to be activated state through thunder protocol; Step 2: The upper computer initiates test instruction, and the lower computer executes USB, DisplayPort and PCIe protocol test in parallel; Step 3: DisplayPort test: through EDID name and TBT03 serial number binding, ensure the uniqueness of the device; PCIe test: the upper computer reads NVMe disk serial number, compares with the pre-stored serial number of the lower computer, and verifies the device association; Step 4: generate test report, including protocol performance data and device association verification result.

[0023] A typical thunder hard disk box test method comprises: The device to be tested is a thunder hard disk box integrating NVMe disk and DisplayPort output; The lower computer activates PCIe and DP channels at the same time; The upper computer reads NVMe serial number (such as S44NSD0K123456), and compares with the lower computer to ensure consistency; At the same time, identify the DP output device, and verify through EDID name and TBT03 serial number binding; The total test time is 28 seconds, all protocol tests are passed, and the device association verification is correct.

[0024] The above examples are only for illustrating the technical concept and characteristics of the present application, the purpose is to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present application and implement it, and cannot limit the protection scope of the present application. Any modification made according to the spirit and essence of the main technical solution of the present application should be covered in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An automated testing device for Thunderbolt / USB4 interfaces, characterized in that, include: The lower-level device supports Thunderbolt / USB4 protocols and is equipped with a multi-channel switch module, which can simultaneously activate USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe channels; The host computer runs test software and integrates an EDID parsing module and an NVMe serial number comparison module; The lower-level machine configures all channels to be active via the Thunderbolt protocol, enabling parallel testing of USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe protocols; The host computer verifies the DisplayPort device association by binding the EDID name with the unique serial number of the TBT03 device, and verifies the PCIe device association by comparing the NVMe disk serial number.

2. The automated testing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower-level machine uses an Intel JHL8x40 Thunderbolt controller, which supports 4-channel PCIe 4.0 and DisplayPort 1.4a.

3. The automated testing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The host computer testing software is developed based on Python and integrates the PyUSB and libedid libraries.

4. The automated testing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The DisplayPort device generates a unique display name by writing the EDID device name and combining it with the unique serial number of the TBT03 device, thereby achieving a precise correspondence between the host computer and the slave computer.

5. The automated testing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The PCIe device reads the NVMe disk serial number and writes it to the lower-level machine. During testing, the upper-level machine resolves the device confusion problem by comparing the disk information with the serial number read back by the lower-level machine.

6. An automated testing method for Thunderbolt / USB4 interfaces, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: The lower-level machine configures all channels to be active via the Thunderbolt protocol; Step 2: The host computer initiates a test command, and the slave computer executes USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe protocol tests in parallel; Step 3: DisplayPort testing: The device's uniqueness is ensured by binding the EDID name with the TBT03 serial number; PCIe test: The host computer reads the NVMe disk serial number and compares it with the serial number pre-stored on the slave computer to verify the device association; Step 4: Generate a test report, which includes performance data for each protocol and verification results of device correlation.

7. The automated testing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method configures a multi-channel switch module through a lower-level machine, simultaneously activating USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe channels, thereby reducing the test time to within 30 seconds.

8. The automated testing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method is applicable to scenarios with multiple Type-C interface devices and covers testing of USB, DisplayPort, PCIe, and PD protocols.

9. The automated testing method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method solves the problem of confusion among multiple test devices by using dual verification of EDID name and NVMe serial number.

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