Signal Validator for Automated Electronic Device Testing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Designers and maintenance personnel face laborious and time-consuming processes when measuring and validating signals in electronic devices, particularly during updates or revisions, as they often require professional instruments and dismantling of the device to ensure critical signals meet design requirements.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a signal validator that records voltage levels and delay times of signals as sequence codes, comparing them to prearranged codes and times to determine if they meet validation criteria, allowing for automated validation without the need for professional instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If professional instruments (such as oscilloscope) are used to measure signals, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device performs self-validation of its own signals through the signal validator module, which automatically monitors and validates critical signals without requiring external professional instruments. The validator compares signal characteristics (voltage levels, pulse widths, timing relationships) against pre-stored reference values to determine signal normality, enabling the system to validate itself efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal validator acts as an intermediary component between the circuit board signals and the validation process. It captures signals from specific pins, processes them through the controller, and provides validation results, thereby eliminating the need for direct connection to external oscilloscopes and reducing validation time.
2Measurement precision
If professional instruments are used for signal measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device performs self-validation of its own signals through the signal validator module, which automatically monitors and validates critical signals without requiring external professional instruments. The validator compares signal characteristics (voltage levels, pulse widths, timing relationships) against pre-stored reference values to determine signal normality, enabling the system to validate itself efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal validator acts as an intermediary component between the circuit board signals and the validation process. It captures signals from specific pins, processes them through the controller, and provides validation results, thereby eliminating the need for direct connection to external oscilloscopes and reducing validation time.
3Reliability
If signals are measured during each revision, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reference validation data (standard voltage levels, pulse widths, and timing relationships) are pre-stored in the validator's memory during the design phase. This preliminary preparation allows the device to perform rapid comparisons during subsequent revisions without requiring time-consuming manual measurement procedures, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing validation time.
4Measurement precision
If manual measurement procedures are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal validation functionality is merged into the electronic device itself through the signal validator module integrated on the circuit board. The validator combines signal capture, processing, comparison, and judgment functions in a single integrated system, eliminating the need for separate external measurement equipment and complex manual procedures while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, a signal validator, and a method for signal validation are provided. The electronic device includes a circuit board generating a plurality of signals and a signal validator. The signal validator records a current voltage level of each signal as a sequence code and records a time interval between the sequence code and a previous sequence code as a delay time corresponding to the sequence code when a voltage level of one of the plurality of signals changes. The signal validator sequentially determines whether the sequence code matches with a prearranged sequence code. When the sequence code matches with the prearranged sequence code, the signal validator determines whether each delay time corresponding to each sequence code exceeds a predetermined delay time. When the delay time is less than the predetermined delay time, the signal validator determines that the plurality of signals passes signal validation.