Patent ID: 7616004
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: G01R,G06F

Abstract:
1. A test device for use in testing a backplane, said test device comprising: a card form factor; a testing means, operationally attached to said card form factor, wherein said backplane has at least one slot and said card form factor being capable of being operationally inserted into said at least one slot, wherein said testing means comprises: a power supply test means for measuring the magnitude of at least one power supply voltage; a card detection means for determining if said at least one backplane slot is being used by devices that are in electrical communication with said test device or other backplane devices; a backplane bus locking means for providing an electrical signal to said backplane, said electrical signal adapted for dedicating said backplane to said test device during testing; an intrusive voltage test means for measuring backplane voltages and for terminating testing of said backplane when the magnitude of any of said backplane voltages exceeds a predetermined value; a short test means for determining whether any measured short-circuit conditions exist on said backplane; an open test means for determining whether any measured open-circuit conditions exist on said backplane and for measuring the network termination resistance of said backplane; an impedance test means for measuring the electrical resistance of transmission lines on said backplane; and at least one means for displaying information.