Transceiver Bus-Hold Data Bus Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data bus testing methods are prone to unpredictable outcomes due to floating output values and require external pull-up or pull-down resistors, and often necessitate additional memory devices for testing, which can be costly and increase failure points.
Innovation Solution
A data bus testing system utilizing a transceiver with a bus-hold feature that can hold and transmit test data, eliminating the need for external resistors and dedicated memory devices by using soft hold values and acting as its own memory unit for testing, allowing for fault detection without additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pull-up or pull-down resistors are used for data bus testing, then floating output values can be stabilized, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver performs testing of the data bus using its own internal resources. The bus-hold feature maintains test data on the bus without external resistors, and the transceiver reads back the test data itself, eliminating the need for external pull-up/pull-down resistors and dedicated memory devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The transceiver is designed to perform multiple functions: normal data transmission and data bus testing. The bus-hold feature, originally designed to maintain data levels during idle periods, is utilized to maintain test data during testing operations, allowing the same hardware to serve dual purposes.
2Reliability
If dedicated memory devices are used for data bus testing, then test data can be stored and read back, but cost and failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver acts as its own memory unit for testing by utilizing the bus-hold feature to retain test data on the data bus. This eliminates the need for separate memory devices, reducing component quantity and potential failure points while maintaining full testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing function is merged with the transceiver's normal operation. The bus-hold feature, which is part of the transceiver's standard functionality, is combined with the testing operation to store and retrieve test data, consolidating multiple functions into a single device.
3Reliability
If traditional testing methods are used, then external components provide stable reference levels, but unpredictable output values occur during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver's bus-hold feature automatically maintains stable output levels during idle periods without requiring external resistors. This self-service mechanism provides stable reference levels inherently, eliminating unpredictable floating outputs while simplifying the testing operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example data bus and testing system includes a data bus (18), first device (12), and second device (26). The first device is configured to transmit test data on the data bus, hold the transmitted test data on the data bus using a bus-hold feature, and read back the test data from the data bus during application of the bus-hold feature. The second device is configured to determine whether a fault condition exists on the data bus based on whether the read back test data differs from the transmitted test data. A method of testing a data bus is also disclosed.