Job Manager Synchronization for Test Instruments

Solution Overview

Problem

Inconsistent implementations of SCPI commands in test and measurement instruments lead to unpredictable and unreliable synchronization, necessitating unnecessary delays and timeouts in automated test systems, reducing throughput.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a Job Manager system that uses jobs and milestones to provide better notification of completion through programmatic interface commands, eliminating the need for delays, timeouts, or sleeps by synchronizing operations across multiple instruments and a device controller.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If delays and timeouts are inserted into test programs to compensate for inconsistent instrument responses, then synchronization reliability is improved, but system throughput deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidsystem throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device controller sends operation complete queries (*OPC?) to instruments and receives responses to determine actual completion status. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to varying instrument response times dynamically, eliminating the need for fixed delays while ensuring reliable synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows instruments to self-manage their operation completion status by implementing consistent *OPC and *OPC? command handling. Each instrument independently tracks its own operational state and provides accurate completion notifications, removing the need for external delays or timeouts to ensure proper synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If delays and timeouts are inserted into test programs to compensate for inconsistent instrument responses, then synchronization reliability is improved, but test execution time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidtest execution time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device controller sends operation complete queries (*OPC?) to instruments and receives responses to determine actual completion status. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to varying instrument response times dynamically, eliminating the need for fixed delays while ensuring reliable synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration of the synchronization protocol by establishing consistent *OPC and *OPC? command implementations across all instruments before test execution begins. This preliminary standardization ensures that subsequent operations can proceed without requiring compensatory delays or timeouts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If extraneous delays are removed from automated test systems, then system throughput is improved, but synchronization reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidsynchronization reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device controller sends operation complete queries (*OPC?) to instruments and receives responses to determine actual completion status. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to varying instrument response times dynamically, eliminating the need for fixed delays while ensuring reliable synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a universal synchronization protocol based on standard SCPI commands (*OPC, *OPC?, *WAI) that works consistently across all test and measurement instruments. This universal approach allows different instruments to be synchronized through a common interface, improving throughput without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11797356B2Multi-instrument behavior synchronization using jobs and milestones

Publication Date: 2023.10.24 TEKTRONIX INC

AI summary

A method of synchronizing tasks in a test and measurement system, includes receiving, at a client in the system, a task input, receiving, at a job manager running on a first device processor in the system, a call from the client to create a job associated with the task, returning to the client an action containing at least one job code block associated with the job, receiving a call for the action, executing the at least one job code block by at least one processor in the system, determining that the job has completed, and completing the task. A system of devices including at least one test and measurement device and a device controller, the device controller having at least one user input, a device controller processor configured to execute instructions, and at least one memory to store the data and to store instructions in the form of executable code, wherein the code causes the device controller processor to receive an input from a client, the input identifying a task, create a job associated with the task, return to the client an action containing at least one job code block associated with the task, receive a call for the action, determine that the job has completed, and notify the client that the job has completed.