Function-Board Tester Co-Processing for Faster Multi-Device Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficiency of testing integrated circuits decreases as the number of devices under test increases due to increased data processing and transmission times in existing automatic test equipment (ATE) systems.
Innovation Solution
A tester with multiple function boards, a main control module, and a co-processing module processes test data internally, reducing data transmission and processing times by sending test results directly to the host instead of raw data, thereby improving testing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If test data is transmitted from the tester to the host for processing, then the host can process the test data to obtain test results, but the data transmission time and processing time increase as the number of devices under test increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data processing function from the host and relocates it to a co-processing module within the tester. This allows the tester to independently process test data and generate test results, eliminating the need to transmit large volumes of raw test data to the host and significantly reducing data transmission time while maintaining test result accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the testing system into distinct functional modules: the tester handles data acquisition and processing, while the host handles test sequence generation and result analysis. This segmentation allows parallel processing and reduces the communication overhead between components, improving overall testing efficiency
2Measurement precision
If test data is transmitted from the tester to the host, then the host can process the data, but the processing load on the host increases with the number of devices under test
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data processing function from the host and relocates it to a co-processing module within the tester. This reduces the processing load on the host by having the tester independently process test data and generate test results, which are then transmitted to the host for analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The co-processing module acts as an intermediary between the tester and the host. It processes test data locally and transmits only the essential test results to the host, reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed by the host and thereby reducing the host's processing load
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a tester, a test system, and a test method. The tester comprises a plurality of function boards, a main control module, and a co-processing module. The function boards implement different functions. The main control module is connected to the function boards and the host respectively and is configured to receive test item(s) sent by the host and send test sequences in the test item(s) to the function boards. The plurality of function boards is connected to at least one device under test, and is configured to send excitation signals to the at least one device under test according to the received test sequences, and receive response signals fed back by the at least one device under test based on the excitation signals, obtain test data, and send the test data to the co-processing module. The co-processing module is connected to the plurality of function boards respectively, and is configured to process the test data obtained by the function boards to obtain test result(s), and send them to the host. The present disclosure can improve the testing efficiency.