Patent ID: 8060333

Claim:
A test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising: a pattern list storage section that stores a plurality of pattern lists that each designate, in a prescribed order, the test patterns to be output by the device under test; and a pattern list processing section that (i) sequentially outputs the test patterns by sequentially executing the pattern lists according to test results of the device under test and, (ii) when transitioning from a current pattern list to a subsequent pattern list, repeatedly outputs a prescribed idle pattern until execution of the subsequent pattern list is begun, wherein each pattern list includes: a wait instruction for repeatedly outputting a prescribed idle pattern until a prescribed condition is fulfilled; and a jump instruction for designating the subsequent pattern list to be executed after the current pattern list, after the wait instruction has ended, and the test apparatus further includes a control section that designates a jump destination indicated by the jump instruction included in each pattern list, after execution of the pattern list has begun.