Patent ID: 6636825
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: G01R,G11C

Abstract:
A method for testing a computer system, the method comprising:providing a plurality of N associated computer components, numbered 1, . . . , N, with N a selected integer that is at least 2; providing a plurality of at least N+1 electrical sub-system tests, numbered n=0, 1, 2, . . . , N, and initializing the count index n to n=0, where, for at least one sub-system, numbered nâ€² (0&lE;nâ€²&lE;Nâˆ’1), sub-system test number nâ€² must be performed before at least one sub-system test number nâ€³, with nâ€³>nâ€²; electrically connecting a selected microprocessor and an integrated semiconductor substrate together to form a sub-system number 0 and performing the sub-system number 0 test on the sub-system number 0; (A) when sub-system number n passes the sub-system number n test, incrementing n by 1, electrically connecting sub-system number nâˆ’1 and the computer component number n to form a subsystem number n, and performing at least one sub-system number n test on the sub-system number n; (B) when the sub-system number n fails to pass the at least one sub-system number n test, indicating that the sub-system number n has failed; (C) when the sub-system number n passes the at least one sub-system number n test, determining whether the integer n satisfies n&gE;N; (D) when the integer n does not satisfy n&gE;N, repeating steps (A), (B) and (C) at least once; and (E) for at least one integer value of the count index, n=nâ€²â€³, satisfying ( )&lE;nâ€²â€³&lE;Nâˆ’1: receiving at least one sub-system, number nâ€²â€³, that has failed to pass the sub-system number nâ€²â€³ test; examining the received sub-system number nâ€²â€³ and identifying at least one defect that caused the received sub-system number nâ€²â€³ to fail the sub-system number nâ€²â€³ test, before performing the sub-system number nâ€²â€³+1 test; and modifying the received sub-system number nâ€²â€³ to remove the at least one defect that is identified in the sub-system number nâ€²â€³.