Testing machine and communication device thereof

Abstract

The utility model relates to a test machine and a communication device thereof, a main communication module in the communication device comprises a main controller, a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the main controller is connected with the first communication interface, the second communication interface and a corresponding resource board card, the first communication interface is connected with an industrial personal computer, and the second communication interface is connected with a sub-communication module. And the sub-communication modules are connected with the corresponding resource board cards. The industrial personal computer can communicate with the resource board card connected with the main controller through the main controller and can also communicate with the resource board card connected with the sub-communication module through the main controller, all communication modules do not need to be connected with the industrial personal computer, the number of communication adapter cards needed by the industrial personal computer is reduced, and the communication cost of the whole machine is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of test communication control, and in particular to a test machine and a communication device thereof. Background Art

[0002] In the field of digital testing, especially high-speed digital testing, the communication technology used by the tester often plays a decisive role in the chip testing efficiency. In the tester communication, for the form of multiple test heads merged into one, a one-to-one communication form is adopted between the main control and the industrial computer. The industrial computer itself does not have a communication interface, and a communication adapter card is required to implement the communication interface required for protocol conversion. Multiple communication adapter cards require the industrial computer to have multiple slots to meet the demand. The more test heads are merged, the more industrial computer communication adapter cards are required, which increases the communication cost of the whole machine. Utility Model Content

[0003] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a test machine and a communication device thereof that can reduce the communication cost of the entire test machine in order to address the above-mentioned problem.

[0004] The first aspect of the present application provides a communication device of a test machine, including a main communication module and a sub-communication module, the main communication module includes a main controller, a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the main controller is connected to the first communication interface, the second communication interface and a corresponding resource board, the first communication interface is connected to an industrial computer, the second communication interface is connected to the sub-communication module, and the sub-communication module is connected to the corresponding resource board.

[0005] In one of the embodiments, the main communication module further includes a main backplane, and the main controller is connected to the corresponding resource board via the main backplane.

[0006] In one of the embodiments, the first communication interface is a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface, and the second communication interface is a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface.

[0007] In one of the embodiments, a communication adapter card is provided in the industrial computer, and the first communication interface is connected to the communication interface of the communication adapter card.

[0008] In one of the embodiments, the sub-communication module includes a sub-controller and a sub-communication interface, the sub-controller is connected to the sub-communication interface and a corresponding resource board, and the sub-communication interface is connected to the second communication interface.

[0009] In one of the embodiments, the sub-communication interface is a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface.

[0010] In one of the embodiments, the sub-communication module further includes a sub-backplane, and the sub-controller is connected to the corresponding resource board through the sub-backplane.

[0011] In one embodiment, the main controller is an FPGA, and / or the sub-controller is an FPGA.

[0012] In one embodiment, the number of the sub-communication modules is more than two.

[0013] The second aspect of the present application provides a testing machine, including an industrial computer, a main device, a sub-device and the above-mentioned communication device, the main device and the sub-device both include a resource board, the main communication module is arranged in the main device, and is connected to the industrial computer and the resource board of the main device; the sub-communication module is arranged in the sub-device, and is connected to the main communication module and the resource board of the sub-device.

[0014] The above-mentioned test machine and its communication device, the main communication module includes a main controller, a first communication interface and a second communication interface, the main controller is connected to the first communication interface, the second communication interface and the corresponding resource board, the first communication interface is connected to the industrial computer, the second communication interface is connected to the sub-communication module, and the sub-communication module is connected to the corresponding resource board. The industrial computer can communicate with the resource board connected to the main controller through the main controller, and can also communicate with the resource board connected to the sub-communication module through the main controller. There is no need to connect all communication modules to the industrial computer, which reduces the number of communication adapter cards required for the industrial computer and reduces the communication cost of the whole machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a structural diagram of a communication device of a test machine in one embodiment;

[0016] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a communication device of a test machine in another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not used to limit the present application.

[0018] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application.

[0019] It is understood that the terms "first", "second", etc. used in this application can be used to describe various elements in this article, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish a first element from another element. The "connection" in the following embodiments should be understood as "electrical connection", "communication connection", etc. if the connected circuits, modules, units, etc. have transmission of electrical signals or data with each other.

[0020] When used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" may also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "include / comprise" or "have" and the like specify the presence of stated features, wholes, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. At the same time, the term "and / or" used in this specification includes any and all combinations of the relevant listed items.

[0021] In the current test machine communication scheme, the more test heads are combined, the more communication adapter cards of the industrial computer are required. In the test machine system, the industrial computer not only controls the test machine, but also needs to control the external instruments and meters when the test machine is calibrated and verified, and also needs communication adapter cards. In this case, the number of slots required for the industrial computer will increase. Based on this, the present application provides a communication device for a test machine, including a main communication module and a sub-communication module. In the main communication module, the main controller is connected to the first communication interface, the second communication interface and the corresponding resource board card, the first communication interface is connected to the industrial computer, the second communication interface is connected to the sub-communication module, and the sub-communication module is connected to the corresponding resource board card. The industrial computer can communicate with the resource board card connected to the main controller through the main controller, and can also communicate with the resource board card connected to the sub-communication module through the main controller. There is no need to connect all communication modules to the industrial computer, thereby reducing the number of communication adapter cards required for the industrial computer.

[0022] In one embodiment, Figure 1 As shown, a communication device of a test machine is provided, including a main communication module (not shown) and a sub-communication module 120, the main communication module includes a main controller 112, a first communication interface 114 and a second communication interface 116, the main controller 112 is connected to the first communication interface 114, the second communication interface 116 and a corresponding resource board 220, the first communication interface 114 is connected to an industrial computer 210, the second communication interface 116 is connected to the sub-communication module 120, and the sub-communication module 120 is connected to the corresponding resource board 220. Further, the main communication module also includes a main backplane 118, and the main controller 112 is connected to the corresponding resource board 220 through the main backplane 118.

[0023] The industrial computer 210 may be various personal computers, laptops, smart phones, tablet computers and portable wearable devices, and the portable wearable devices may be smart watches, smart bracelets, head-mounted devices, etc. A communication adapter card 212 is provided in the industrial computer 210, the first communication interface 114 is connected to the communication interface of the communication adapter card 212 in the industrial computer 210, the resource board card 220 connected to the main controller 112, and the resource board card 220 connected to the sub-communication module 120, all perform data transmission with the industrial computer 210 through the main controller 112, thereby reducing the number of communication adapter cards 212 required for the industrial computer 210. The number of the sub-communication modules 120 may be one or more. When the number of the sub-communication modules 120 is more than two, all the sub-communication modules 120 may be connected to the second communication interface 116. In this case, the number of the second communication interfaces 116 is more than two, and they are respectively connected to all the sub-communication modules 120. Alternatively, each sub-communication module 120 may be cascaded in sequence through its own communication interface, and then the sub-communication module 120 at the head end is connected to the second communication interface 116. The connection relationship between each sub-communication module 120 is not unique, as long as the resource board 220 connected to each sub-communication module 120 can be realized to transmit data with the industrial computer 210 through the main controller 112.

[0024] It can be understood that the specific types of the main controller 112, the first communication interface 114 and the second communication interface 116 are not unique. The main controller 112 can be FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), CPU (Central Processing Unit), MCU (Microcontroller Unit), etc. In this embodiment, the main controller 112 adopts FPGA. The first communication interface 114 can be a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface, and the second communication interface 116 can also be a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface. The Ethernet interface can include a 10GBASE-R Ethernet interface, a 40GBASE-R Ethernet interface, etc.

[0025] The specific structure of the sub-communication module 120 is not unique. In one embodiment, Figure 2As shown, the sub-communication module 120 includes a sub-controller 122 and a sub-communication interface 124, the sub-controller 122 connects the sub-communication interface 124 and the corresponding resource board 220, and the sub-communication interface 124 connects the second communication interface 116. Further, the sub-communication module 120 also includes a sub-backplane 126, and the sub-controller 122 is connected to the corresponding resource board 220 through the sub-backplane 126. Similarly, the sub-controller 122 can be an FPGA, a CPU, an MCU, etc. In this embodiment, the sub-controller 122 adopts an FPGA. The sub-communication interface 124 can be a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface, and the Ethernet interface can include a 10GBASE-R Ethernet interface, a 40GBASE-R Ethernet interface, etc.

[0026] In one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, a test machine is also provided, including an industrial computer 210, a main device, a sub-device and the above-mentioned communication device, the main device and the sub-device both include a resource board 220, the main communication module is arranged in the main device, and is connected to the industrial computer 210 and the resource board 220 of the main device, and the sub-communication module is arranged in the sub-device, and is connected to the resource board 220 of the main communication module and the sub-device. Among them, the number of sub-devices can be one or more. When the number of sub-devices is more than two, the sub-communication modules in each sub-device can be connected to the main communication module in the main device, or the sub-communication modules in each sub-device can be cascaded in sequence and then connected to the main communication module in the main device. For example, the sub-communication modules of each sub-device include two sub-communication interfaces 124, one sub-communication interface 124 in the sub-device at the head end is connected to the second communication interface 116, and the other sub-communication interface 124 is connected to the sub-communication module in the next sub-device, and the sub-communication modules in the remaining sub-devices are cascaded in sequence.

[0027] Both the main device and the sub-device may include 1 to 8 resource boards 220. For example, if the number of sub-devices is 1 and both the main device and the sub-device include 8 resource boards 220, the main controller 112 in the main device is connected to the 8 resource boards 220 via the main backplane 118, and the sub-controller 122 in the sub-device is connected to the 8 resource boards 220 via the sub-backplane 126. By forming a 16-slot test machine with an 8-slot main device and an 8-slot sub-device, the resource board slots are expanded, and more devices under test can be tested. The data frame transmitted between the resource board 220 and the industrial computer 210 contains backplane identification information, which is used to distinguish whether the data comes from the main backplane 118 or the sub-backplane 126.

[0028] When downlinking, the industrial computer 210 sends data to the test machine. The data sent by the industrial computer 210 first reaches the main controller 112, and the main controller 112 forwards the data according to the backplane identification information contained in the data frame. If it is data from the main backplane 118, the main controller 112 forwards the data to the resource board 220 of the corresponding slot according to the slot information in the data frame; if it is data from the sub-backplane 126, it is forwarded to the sub-controller 122 through the second communication interface 116, and the sub-controller 122 then forwards the data to the resource board 220 of the corresponding slot according to the slot information in the data frame.

[0029] When uplinking, the test machine sends data to the industrial computer 210, and the sub-controller 122 forwards the data carrying the backplane identification information to the second communication interface 116 through the sub-communication interface 124. The main controller 112 distinguishes whether the data comes from the sub-controller 122 or the main backplane 118 according to the backplane identification information in the data frame, and then forwards it according to the preset priority strategy and sends it to the industrial computer 210 for processing. The industrial computer 210 only needs to receive the data without performing data priority processing, which can reduce the occupation of the processor resources of the industrial computer 210 and improve the test efficiency.

[0030] In the above-mentioned test machine and its communication device, the main communication module and the sub-communication module communicate through cascade, and then communicate with the industrial computer 210 through the main communication module. The industrial computer 210 only needs one communication adapter card, which reduces the cost of the communication system. The industrial computer 210 can adapt to the dual-control communication system test machine, and the industrial computer 210 does not need to re-select a model with a larger number of slots, which reduces the cost of the communication system and normalizes the industrial computer. The dual-control communication system is cascaded, and the priority queue for data transmission processing inside the test machine can be defined inside the main controller 112 of the main communication module. Through hardware implementation, the overhead of the upper-layer software of the industrial computer 210 can be reduced, and the test efficiency can be improved.

[0031] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0032] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present application, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be pointed out that, for a person of ordinary skill in the art, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present application, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present application shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A communication device for a test machine, characterized in that: It includes a main communication module and a sub-communication module. The main communication module includes a main controller, a first communication interface and a second communication interface. The main controller is connected to the first communication interface, the second communication interface and a corresponding resource board. The first communication interface is connected to an industrial computer, the second communication interface is connected to the sub-communication module, and the sub-communication module is connected to the corresponding resource board.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that The main communication module also includes a main backplane, and the main controller is connected to the corresponding resource board through the main backplane.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that The first communication interface is a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface, and the second communication interface is a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A communication adapter card is arranged in the industrial computer, and the first communication interface is connected to the communication interface of the communication adapter card.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sub-communication module includes a sub-controller and a sub-communication interface, the sub-controller is connected to the sub-communication interface and a corresponding resource board, and the sub-communication interface is connected to the second communication interface.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sub-communication interface is a PCIE protocol interface or an Ethernet interface.

7. The communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sub-communication module also includes a sub-backplane, and the sub-controller is connected to the corresponding resource board through the sub-backplane.

8. The communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The main controller is an FPGA, and / or the sub-controller is an FPGA.

9. The communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The number of the sub-communication modules is more than two.

10. A testing machine, characterized in that: It includes an industrial computer, a main device, a sub-device and a communication device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the main device and the sub-device both include a resource board card, the main communication module is arranged in the main device, and is connected to the industrial computer and the resource board card of the main device; the sub-communication module is arranged in the sub-device, and is connected to the main communication module and the resource board card of the sub-device.

Images