Designing Dynamic Test Sets for Use Optimization

Problems resulting where test sets must be both dynamic (or system exercising), and portable are analyzed and discussed, with a study of maintenance philosophy applicable to the system being tested. Three basic problems are covered, relating to the questions: Is there actually a portability requirement? - What is the optimal component density? - What is the optimal degree of automaticity? This report describes and compares two generations of a representative test set. The pressing need to minimize down-time in electronic systems has increased the use of test sets, test set testers, and even test sets for test set testers. Compared with the older, better-known laboratory and shop testers, these are generally elaborate units, actually diagnostic subsystems, a term especially appropriate for the dynamic or system exercising types. When a tester is required to do both the dynamic (as to test philosophy) and be portable (as to packaging) a challenging set of problems result.