Optical Interface Test Apparatus for High-Speed Signal Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional test apparatuses using optical interfaces for testing devices under test face challenges with reduced throughput and increased testing costs due to the need for photometers in optical communication, which affects the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the testing process.
Innovation Solution
A test apparatus and method that includes a test signal generator, electric-photo converter, optical interface, photo-electric converter, and signal receiver to transmit and receive optical signals, enabling high-speed testing by converting electrical signals to optical and vice versa, while maintaining electrical signal testing capabilities, thus enhancing throughput and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a photometer is used for optical communication testing, then optical signal detection capability is improved, but throughput is reduced and testing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional photometer-based optical detection system with a photo-electric converter that integrates optical reception and electrical signal conversion in a single component. This substitution eliminates the need for separate photometer equipment, enabling direct electrical signal processing of optical communications, thereby improving throughput while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The photo-electric converter serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an optical receiver, an electrical signal generator, and a data processor. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the system achieves higher throughput and reduces the complexity of the testing apparatus compared to using dedicated photometer equipment
2Measurement precision
If a photometer is used for optical communication testing, then optical signal detection capability is improved, but testing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive photometer equipment with a more cost-effective photo-electric converter that performs the same optical detection function through integrated electronics. This substitution reduces hardware costs while maintaining measurement precision, making the testing system more economically viable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the optical reception function with the electrical signal conversion function into a single photo-electric converter component. This integration eliminates the need for separate photometer equipment, reducing overall system cost while preserving detection capability through the combined functionality of the unified device
3Speed
If optical interface is used for high-speed testing, then actual operation speed testing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex photometer-based optical detection systems with a simplified photo-electric converter that directly converts optical signals to electrical signals. This substitution reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall test apparatus architecture while maintaining the capability to test at actual operation speeds through optical interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The photo-electric converter provides multi-functional capability, handling both optical signal reception and electrical signal generation within a single device. This universality reduces the overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate photometer equipment, while still enabling high-speed optical interface testing
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for high-speed testing of devices under test at actual operation speeds, improving throughput and reducing testing costs by efficiently exchanging optical and electrical signals, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
an electric-photo converter that converts the test signal into an optical test signal
Implementation Method 2
a photo-electric converter that converts the optical response signal output from the optical interface into an electrical response signal
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a test apparatus for testing a device under test, including a test signal generator that generates a test signal to test the device under test, an electric-photo converter that converts the test signal into an optical test signal, an optical interface that (i) transmits the optical test signal generated by the electric-photo converter to an optical receiver of the device under test and (ii) receives and outputs an optical response signal output from the device under test, a photo-electric converter that converts the optical response signal output from the optical interface into an electrical response signal and transmits the electrical response signal, and a signal receiver that receives the response signal transmitted from the photo-electric converter and a test method.