Abstract:
Arrangement of circuit cards and enclosures in a unified video test apparatus wherein the circuit boards may be arranged within a single enclosure, having a size spanning two slots of an instrument chassis wherein each circuit board includes none, some or all of the functional modules of the video test apparatus. Alternatively, the circuit boards are arranged in different enclosures, with each circuit board including some of the functional modules of the video test apparatus, and the different enclosures may be arranged in a common instrument chassis or in different instrument chassis. A single or multiple software interfaces in a host computer can control the functional modules in the different enclosures in the same or different chassis to cause the arrangement to appear as a homogenous instrument regardless of location of the functional modules, and coordinates interaction between the functional modules.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of automatic test equipment for the testing of electronic signals generated by equipment under test including, but not limited to, complex video signals. More specifically, this invention relates to circuit board configuration and enclosure packaging of a video asset or video test instrument and the programming interface to the instrument. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Automatic test equipment for testing standard format video devices is known. It is commonly required to evaluate the performance and functionality of a non-standard video unit under test (UUT) to determine if the UUT is operating within the manufacturer&#39;s specifications. Specifically, the UUT may require special image and scan formats, voltage levels, and timing signals. In addition, fault simulation may be required to verify the UUT&#39;s functionality. 
     Video signals can be generated by a wide variety of instruments employing diverse methods. In most available types, the image format, sync format and timing are limited to a set of known types primarily to support commercial display devices. Also, any UUT specific timing signals, related to the video signal but not part of it, often must be created by the use of ancillary equipment. 
     Due to flexibility of current technology, it is possible, and even advantageous, to separate the functions of a multi-function test instrument onto separate circuit boards or separate enclosures, and even separate chassis&#39; to accommodate the limited availability of empty space inside of a test chassis or test bench. Innovative software techniques make it possible for the separated elements to function, and even appear, as though they were one homogenous instrument. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile video asset or packaging arrangement of functional modules which are used to generate and validate video signals, audio signals or other electrical signals. A versatile packaging arrangement is a highly desirable feature for instances where available chassis space is not consolidated into a single suitable location. 
     In order to achieve this object and possibly others, the functional modules of interest which are part of a comprehensive video test instrument in accordance with the invention include one or more of the following, and any and all combinations thereof: 
     1. Primary Composite Video generation module; 
     2. Digital Video generation module; 
     3. Raster Video generation module; 
     4. Stroke Video generation module; 
     5. Secondary Composite Video generation module; 
     6. Real Time Video Capture module with analysis capabilities; 
     7. Real Time Video Reformat and/or Video Redisplay module; and 
     8. Bus Interface module (including, but not limited to, VXI, MXI-2, LXI, PCI, PXI, PCI-e buses). 
     A video processing arrangement in accordance with the invention includes a computer adapted to connect to a monitor and a video asset coupled to the computer for generating video signals that can be displayed on the monitor when connected to the computer. This video asset comprises at least one enclosure, at least one circuit board arranged in an interior of the enclosure(s), and functional modules or primary elements all arranged on the circuit board(s) in the interior of the enclosure(s). 
     Briefly, the primary composite video generation module produces different types of a primary video signal and outputs the primary video signal via output channels. The stroke video generator module generates a stroke XYZ video signal and outputs the stroke video signal via output channels. The secondary composite video generation module produces a secondary composite video signal and outputs the secondary composite video signal via output channels. The secondary composite video generation module produces the secondary composite video signal in an identical or different format than the primary video signal and different than the primary video signal. The function of the other modules and the interrelation of the modules to on another are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,978,218, assigned to the current assignee, and which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims. 
         FIG. 1A  shows a single enclosure with a single board including modules for conducting electronic signal testing. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a single enclosure with two boards including modules for conducting electronic signal testing. 
         FIG. 2  shows a piece of automatic test equipment with a enclosure spanning a single slot and an enclosure spanning two slots, with the modules for conducting electronic signal testing being arranged in each enclosure. 
         FIG. 3  shows a system in which a single software interface of one computer controls two enclosures separated from one another in a common chassis, with the modules for conducting electronic signal testing being arranged entirely in one of the enclosures or partly in both enclosures. 
         FIG. 4  shows a system in which multiple software interfaces of one computer control two enclosures separated from one another in a common chassis, with the modules for conducting electronic signal testing being arranged entirely in one of the enclosures or partly in both enclosure. 
         FIG. 5  shows a system in which a single software interfaces of one computer control two enclosures separated from one another in separate chassis, with the modules for conducting electronic signal testing being arranged entirely in one of the enclosures or partly in both enclosure. 
         FIG. 6  shows a system in which multiple software interfaces of one computer control two enclosures separated from one another in separate chassis, with the modules for conducting electronic signal testing being arranged entirely in one of the enclosures or partly in both enclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The methods of this invention are generally based on the concepts described in the &#39;218 patent, which describes advantageous combinations of video functional modules that are packaged within a desirable single (enclosure) slot design. The merits of the &#39;218 patent are based upon the improvements of technology used to miniaturize and reduce the space required by electronic circuitry and applied to innovative combinations of video functional modules, further minimized by sharing common functionality, to exist within a minimum amount of space, i.e., a single instrument card slot, enabling a compact fully comprehensive video test instrument. The methods of the present invention detail further innovation by segregating the packaging of the functional modules in instances where the combination of features do not permit the modules to coexist in the same physical space. 
     As video technology further evolves, more video formats and functions are added to the existing testing repertoire for video formats. The physical space required by these additional functional modules may exceed that which is available in the individual spaces of the encompassing system. In some embodiments disclosed in the &#39;218 patent, individual designs of listed functional modules may exceed available system space due to the implementation or the skill of the designer. It becomes an identified need to identify innovative alternate packaging arrangements of the video functional modules. 
     In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the arrangement of video functional modules is altered from that suggested in the &#39;218 patent. The present invention specifies four degrees of functional module separation that are incorporated as required by the amount of increased space required. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1B , a first degree of separation is for instances where the physical space required by the desired functional modules (those listed above and described more fully in the &#39;218 patent) is slightly larger than the available real estate on a single circuit board  8  within a single enclosure  16  (the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  and disclosed in the &#39;218 patent). Thus, in a basic embodiment of a video asset in accordance with the invention, there are two printed circuit boards  10 ,  12  and functional modules  14  separated and placed upon one or both circuit board  10 ,  12 . Each of the two circuit boards  10 ,  12  may be either full-size or partial-size and exist within an interior of the same single enclosure  16  in a stacked-style arrangement. Other embodiments of the video asset in accordance with the invention are described below. 
     The functional modules  14  may be entirely placed on one of the circuit boards  10 ,  12 , with no functional modules  14  on the other circuit board  10 ,  12  (which would then be considered a dummy circuit board), or different parts of the functional modules  14  may be placed on each circuit board  10 ,  12 . The functional modules  14  are also considered primary elements as this term is used herein and include those mentioned above, e.g., a primary composite video generation module, a digital video generation module, a raster video generation module, a stroke video generation module, a secondary composite video generation module, a real time video capture module with analysis capabilities, a real time video reformat and/or video redisplay module, and a bus interface module (including, but not limited to, VXI, MXI-2, LXI, PCI, PXI, PCI-e). These primary elements or functional modules  14  are described in the &#39;218 patent or any patent applications incorporated by reference therein, all of which are incorporated by reference into the present application. 
     Remaining structure of the circuit boards  10 ,  12  is as disclosed in the &#39;218 patent, e.g., the electronic connections and couplings, the interfaces to external components, etc. The circuit boards  10 ,  12  are used in all of the embodiments described herein, i.e., placed into the interior of the enclosures described below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a second degree of separation defines that the multiple circuit board arrangement from the first degree of separation, shown in  FIG. 1B , is modified to be enclosed within an interior of a two or more slot single enclosure. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a chassis  18  includes an aperture  24  with enclosure-receiving structure known to those skilled in the automatic test equipment field. Enclosure  20  is a single slot enclosure, i.e., the enclosure is dimensioned to extend across only a single slot of the chassis  18 , whereas enclosure  22  is a two slot enclosure, i.e., the enclosure is dimensioned to extend across two slots of the chassis  18 . Selection of the single slot enclosure  20  or the two slot enclosure  22  may be based on the available space in the chassis  18 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a third degree of separation incorporates a separation of the multiple slot single enclosure (enclosure  22  in  FIG. 2 ) into two or more enclosures of appropriate size.  FIGS. 3 and 4  show two enclosures  28 ,  30  in the aperture  24  of the chassis  18  and a computer  26  coupled to the enclosures  28 ,  30 , directly or indirectly through the chassis  24 . Computer  26  is adapted, in any manner, to be connected to a monitor (not shown) and to one or more user interfaces (not shown). It is understood though that the depiction of two enclosures  28 , is for sake of illustration only and three or more enclosures may be provided. Further, the computer  26  is depicted like a desktop but any processor or processing unit may be used as or instead of the computer  26 . Functional modules  14  are thus each arranged on one or more printed circuit boards in an interior of one of the enclosures  28 ,  30 . 
     In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the separate enclosures  28 ,  30  are all controlled by a single software interface  32  in the computer  26  that creates the appearance of working with a homogenous video instrument despite the distribution of its functional modules into a plurality of enclosures  28 ,  30 . In yet another embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the separate enclosures  28 ,  30  are controlled by individual software interfaces  32 ,  34 , respectively, in the computer  26 . When the software interfaces  32 ,  34  are combined together, they provide the services of a homogenous video instrument. Combining the software interfaces  32 ,  34  together means that the processor in the computer  26  interacts with both software interfaces  32 ,  34  in order to generate commands for the two enclosures  28 ,  30  to effect the electronic signal testing. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a fourth degree of separation incorporates a separation of the two or more separate enclosures and locates them into separate interconnected instrument chassis. This method is intended for instances where the instrument space is available but distributed over many instrument chassis. Thus, in addition to chassis  18  with aperture  24  and enclosure-receiving structure known to those skilled in the automatic test equipment field, these embodiments also include an additional chassis  36  with aperture  38  and enclosure-receiving structure. Enclosure  28  is arranged in chassis  18  and enclosure  30  is arranged in chassis  36 . Functional modules  14  are thus each arranged on one or more printed circuit boards in an interior of one of the enclosures  28 ,  30 . 
     In a preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the separate enclosures  28 ,  30  are all controlled by a single software interface  32  in the computer  26  that creates the appearance of working with a homogenous video instrument despite the distribution of its functional modules into a plurality of enclosures  28 ,  30  each of which is situated in a different chassis  18 ,  36 , respectively. In yet another embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the separate enclosures  28 ,  30  are controlled by individual software interfaces  32 ,  34 , respectively, in the computer  26 . When the software interfaces  32 ,  34  are combined together, they provide the services of a homogenous video instrument. Combining the software interfaces  32 ,  34  together means that the processor in the computer  26  interacts with both software interfaces  32 ,  34  in order to generate commands for the two enclosures  28 ,  30  to effect the electronic signal testing. 
     It is considered part of the invention that the functional modules  14  may be distributed over two or more enclosures, with the enclosures being situated in a common chassis, or in different chassis. The depiction of two enclosures in a common chassis or in two different chassis is for illustration only and it is possible to distribute the functional modules over, for example, three enclosures, which are arranged all in a common chassis, in two chassis with one chassis having one enclosure and the other chassis having two enclosures, or in three chassis with each chassis including a single enclosure. As the functional modules are distributed onto more than three enclosures, the possible arrangement of the enclosures and number of chassis varies. 
     Furthermore, the number of software interfaces may vary, from a single software interface controlling all of the functional modules (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ), whether situated on a single enclosure or plurality of enclosures and in the latter case whether situated in a single chassis ( FIG. 3 ) or multiple chassis ( FIG. 5 ), to a plurality of software interfaces controlling the functional modules (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ), whether situated on a plurality of enclosures in a single chassis ( FIG. 4 ) or multiple chassis ( FIG. 6 ). These software interfaces  32 ,  34  may be situated in a common computer  26  as shown, or possibly in different computer or in different processing units if so desired. 
     Disclosed above is therefore a video processing arrangement including a computer adapted to connect to a monitor and a video asset coupled to the computer for generating video signals that can be displayed on the monitor when connected to the computer. The video asset includes at least one enclosure, e.g., enclosures  16 ,  20 ,  22 ,  28 ,  30 , at least one circuit board  10 ,  12  arranged in an interior of the enclosure(s)  16 ,  20 ,  22 ,  28 ,  30 . A plurality of primary elements, functional modules  14 , are all arranged on the circuit board(s)  10 ,  12  in the interior of the enclosure(s)  16 ,  20 ,  22 ,  28 ,  30 . The primary elements includes a primary composite video module for producing different types of a primary video signal and outputting the primary video signal via output channels and a secondary video source module for producing a secondary composite video signal and outputting the secondary composite video signal via output channels, wherein the secondary video source module produces the secondary composite video signal in an identical or different format than the primary video signal and different than the primary video signal. Alternative combinations of primary elements are possible, including one in which the primary elements includes a primary composite video module for producing different types of a primary video signal and outputting the primary video signal via output channels, and a real time capture module for capturing video signals in a plurality of different modes and that includes a plurality of identical input channels, each input channel being arranged to receive and format a respective input component of the same video signals. 
     Various of the arrangement are envisioned, and considered part of the invention. For example, there may be only a single circuit board, in an enclosure that spans two slots (see enclosure  22  in  FIG. 2 ). There may be two circuit boards in an enclosure spanning a single slot (see enclosure  20  in  FIG. 2 ) or in an enclosure that spans two slots (see enclosure  22  in  FIG. 2 ). There may be multiple circuit boards in multiple enclosures wherein each enclosure includes at least one circuit board (see enclosures  28 ,  30  in  FIGS. 3-6 ). These enclosures may span a single slot and be arranged in a common chassis (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ), or be arranged in different chassis (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). In either case, a common software interface in the computer  26  communicates with and controls the enclosures  28 ,  30 , i.e., the functional modules  14  therein, to enable the functional modules  14  on the circuit boards  10 ,  12  to function together as the video asset (see software interface  32  in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). Alternatively, a plurality of software interfaces in the computer  26  communicate with and control the enclosures  28 ,  30  (on a one-to-one basis or otherwise) to enable the functional modules  14  on the circuit boards  10 ,  12  to function together as the video asset (see software interfaces  32 ,  34  in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ). 
     The functional elements  14  on the circuit boards  10 ,  12  may include a real time capture module for capturing video signals in a plurality of different modes and that is optionally arranged to read back a captured, fully formatted image for analysis or redisplay. Another primary element is a stroke generator module for generating a stroke XYZ video signal and outputting the stroke video signal via output channels. 
     Having thus described a few particular embodiments of the invention, various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. For instance, the invention can be adapted to instrumentation other than for video testing. Furthermore, the invention may be modified by changing the number of circuit cards contained within the enclosures. Such alterations, modifications and improvements as are made obvious by this disclosure are intended to be part of this description though not expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the claims and equivalents thereto.