Abstract:
A system for testing a computer includes a single chip microcontroller (SCM), an environmental test chamber, and a control device connected to the SCM and the environmental test chamber. The SCM repeatedly switches the computer on and off and monitors the computer&#39;s response. The environmental test chamber accommodates the computer. The control device receives monitored data from the SCM and controls temperature and humidity in the environmental test chamber.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a computer testing system and method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    After a computer is produced, quality tests are required. One of the tests is for testing stability of the computer when the computer is turned on or turned off. In testing, the computer is powered on and off repeatedly. 
         [0005]    A test device for testing stability of a computer includes a single chip microcontroller (SCM) connected to the computer. The SCM sends control signals to repeatedly switch the computer on and off and detects whether the computer powers on and off according to the control signals. However, the test device cannot test the computer under various environmental conditions, which means problems may go undetected. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary embodiment of a block diagram of a computer testing system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a detailed block diagram of a data gathering card of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a detailed block diagram of a control device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary embodiment of a flow chart of a computer testing method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. In the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
         [0013]    In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may also comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a testing system includes an environmental test chamber  10 , a general purpose interface bus (GPIB) communication card  30 , a control device  40 , a power supply  50 , a single chip microcontroller (SCM)  60 , and a data gathering card  70 . A computer  20  is placed in the environmental test chamber  10 . The computer  20  is connected to the power supply  50  and the SCM  60 . The SCM  60  sends control signals to switch the computer  20  on and off and detects whether the computer  20  responds and powers on and off according to the control signals. The control device  40  is connected to the GPIB communication card  30 . The GPIB communication card  30  is connected to the environmental test chamber  10 , the power supply  50 , and the SCM  60  via the GPIB communication card  30 . The GPIB communication card  30  transmits instructions sent from the control device  40  to the environmental test chamber  10 , the power supply  50 , and the SCM  60 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a temperature sensor  71 , a humidity sensor  72 , and a voltage meter  73  are mounted on the data gathering card  70 . The temperature sensor  71  senses temperature in the environmental test chamber  10 . The humidity sensor  72  senses humidity in the environmental test chamber  10 . The voltage meter  73  measures voltages at predetermined test points of the computer  20 . The data gathering card  70  is connected to the SCM  60  and sends the measured data to the SCM  60 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the control device  40  includes a parameter setting module  41 , a test report generating module  42 , a test process control module  43 , a data receiving module  44 , an environmental test chamber control module  45 , and a power supply control module  46 . The parameter setting module  41  is used to set test parameters including: total test time, sequence of instructions, etc. The test process control module  43  is connected to the parameter setting module  41  and controls test process according to the preset parameters. The data receiving module  44  receives data from the GPIB communication card  30  and sends data to the test process control module  43 . The environmental test chamber control module  45  is connected to the test process control module  43 , and controls the temperature and humidity in the environmental test chamber  10  according to instructions sent from the test process control module  43 . The power supply control module  46  is connected to the test process control module  43  and controls on/off state of the power supply  55  according to instructions sent from the test process control module  43 . The test report generating module  42  is connected to the test process control module  43 . The test process control module  43  controls the test report generating module  42  to generate test reports after the test process control module  43  receives data from the data receiving module  44 . The test reports include on/off frequency of the computer  20 , voltages at the test points, temperature and humidity conditions, etc. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of a computer testing method based upon the computer testing system includes the following blocks. 
         [0018]    In block S 01 , the system is initialized. 
         [0019]    In block S 02 , the control device  40  sends instructions to adjust the temperature and humidity in the environmental test chamber  10  according to the preset parameters. In this block, the test process control module  43  sends instructions to the environmental test chamber control module  45  according to the parameters set by the parameter setting module  41 . The environmental test chamber control module  45  controls the temperature and humidity in the environmental test chamber  10  according to the instructions sent from the test process control module  43 . 
         [0020]    In block S 03 , the temperature sensor  71  and the humidity sensor  72  sense the temperature and the humidity in the environmental test chamber  10  and sends the sensed temperature and humidity to the SCM  60 . The SCM  60  sends the sensed temperature and humidity to the GPIB communication card  30 . The GPIB communication card  30  sends the sensed temperature and humidity to the control device  40 . 
         [0021]    In block S 04 , the control device  40  sends an instruction to switch on the power supply  50  when the temperature and humidity in the environmental test chamber  10  reach predetermined values. In this block, the test process control module  43  sends the instruction to the power supply control module  46 . The power supply control module  46  controls the power supply  50  to be switched on according to the instruction. 
         [0022]    In block  505 , the SCM  60  repeatedly switches the computer  20  on and off according to the predetermined frequency. 
         [0023]    In block S 06 , the voltage meter  73  detects the voltages at the test points of the computer  20  and sends the voltage values to the data receiving module  44 . 
         [0024]    The data receiving module  44  sends the data sent from the data gathering card  70  and the SCM  60  to the test process control module  43 . The test process control module  43  controls the test report generating module  42  to generate test reports. 
         [0025]    While the present disclosure has been illustrated by the description of preferred embodiments thereof, and while the preferred embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. 
         [0026]    Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps of methods described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered. It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn to a method may include some indication in reference to certain steps. However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps.