Hardware and Software

A lot of possibilities are open when considering how to test PCBs.

Hardware
Connecting test probes to connectors or test equipment can some times be a major task because of all the wiring. And in certain cases the wiring is not compatible with signal speed, impedances or noise protection. In those cases it might be an advantage to design a PCB which can be soldered to the test probe sockets.

 The PCB may have holes for solder cup or wire-wrap sockets. Wire-wrap pins require small holes leaving room for more routing and components on the board.

The PCB can be configured in two major ways. In one configuration the PCB simply connects the test probes to one or more connectors. In the other the test probes are connected to all the necessary test on board.

Advantage:

  • no wiring of test probes
  • improved signal transmission
  • dedicated on board test electronic
  • good documentation
  • less time consumption
  • compact test

Disadvantage:

  • time for design and manufacture of PCB
  • cost of PCB
  • difficult to add new test points and make changes to the test details

 

Software
Engineers developing software for test of DUT (Device Under Test) are very often doing this task as one of many other tasks. This means developing software is on and off. Under those circumstances your skills are often forgotten.

If you chose a visual programming language like e.g. LabVIEW it is less challenging to handle data types and parameter transfer during call of procedures.Programming is very much like soldering wires connecting different signals. I.e. the programming is more intuitive and you have advantage of using a 'passive vocabulary' by selecting graphical symbols.

The visual programming might have a tendency to be voluminous and difficult to overview. Torolex has no economic or other  agreement with National Instruments (LabVIEW).