Resource Constraint Management for ATE Test Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated test systems (ATEs) face challenges in achieving compatibility between different hardware configurations, requiring test programs developed on high-end machines to run seamlessly on less advanced systems, while ensuring feature compatibility and resource constraints are met.
Innovation Solution
A resource constraint management unit and set-up environment that allows users to specify pin configurations, feature specifications, and test set-ups, enabling adaptation of test programs to various target test systems by determining compatible features and restricting parameters to match system capabilities, ensuring tests are executable on a wide range of hardware configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If test programs are developed on high-end ATEs with advanced features, then test functionality and measurement precision are improved, but compatibility with less advanced test systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The test program is segmented into individual tests, each with associated feature specifications. This allows the test suite to be selectively executed on different ATE hardware configurations based on their capabilities. The resource constraint manager divides the test program into executable and non-executable portions, enabling partial test execution on less advanced systems while maintaining full functionality on high-end systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Feature specifications act as parameters that define the minimum hardware requirements for each test. By changing these parameter thresholds, the same test program can adapt to different ATE capabilities. The system modifies which tests are executed based on the detected hardware configuration, allowing advanced features on capable systems while ensuring compatibility on less advanced systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple test programs are developed for different ATE hardware configurations, then compatibility with specific systems is improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal test program structure is created that can function on multiple ATE hardware configurations. The test program includes a standardized header with resource constraint manager that automatically adapts to different systems. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for maintaining separate test programs for different ATE types, reducing complexity while ensuring broad compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The resource constraint manager acts as an intermediary between the test program and the ATE hardware. It detects the target system's capabilities and mediates the execution by selecting appropriate tests to run. This intermediary layer abstracts the hardware differences away from the test program, simplifying management while maintaining system-specific optimization.
3Productivity
If all tests in a test program are executed on target ATEs, then test coverage and productivity are improved, but system resource consumption and execution time increase when hardware capabilities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to execute all tests on every ATE, the system performs partial action by selectively executing only the tests that match the hardware capabilities. The resource constraint manager evaluates each test's feature specifications against the target ATE's capabilities and executes only the appropriate subset, improving productivity by avoiding unnecessary resource consumption on unsupported tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary evaluation of test feature specifications against available hardware capabilities before execution begins. The resource constraint manager pre-determines which tests can be executed and which should be skipped or executed offline, optimizing resource allocation and execution time by avoiding attempts to run incompatible tests.
Data Source
AI summary
A resource constraint management unit for a target test system is described. The resource constraint management unit has an interface adapted for receiving, together with a test program, feature specifications for at least one test of the test program, said feature specifications indicating test system capabilities required for performing a certain test. The resource constraint management unit further has a feature specification evaluator adapted for comparing, on a per-test basis, feature specifications for a respective test with the capabilities of the target test system, for determining, for each of the tests, whether the target test system is capable of performing the respective test or not; and for initiating test execution in case the capabilities of the target test system allow for performing said test.