Designing for automatic testing: The concept and general approach

Abstract

This paper deals with conceptual aspects of design which influence, and are influenced by, decisions to use automatic testing techniques in the factory and/or in the field. The early phasing of the influencing process is emphasized, and the importance of ‘design-for-autotest’ as a design parameter is discussed in relation to other parameters, and the case is made for its co-ordination into the varied aspects of the design requirements. These imply rationalizing design techniques, signal characteristics, equipment constructional forms and factory test organizations. Optimization of design must place a minimum brake on innovation. The applicability of automatic testing to the various stages of factory assembly, and the need to differentiate between the basic testing task and fault analysis by sub-routine, are established. Optimization of the differing requirements of factory and field call for design compromise.