IEEE 1641 – Original Demonstration
IEEE1641_Original_Demo_Report.pdf
This report details a study and demonstration of a test program written in accordance with IEEE 1641.
It is the first complete use of the standard and covers aspects including signal extraction, test program writing, 1641 runtime system and results logging.
It is important for the reader to understand that none of these items have existed before and represent a significant shift in the profile of automatic test program development.
An IEEE 1641 test program has been written for an in-service LRU (line replaceable unit) by capturing using two COTS (commercial-of-the-shelf) languages (.NET VB and XML).
These same 1641 signals and test programs have been executed on three separate ATEs and three operating environments.
This demonstrates , showing IEEE 1641 to be portable across both hardware and software languages.
Date of Report: May 2005
Authors: Richard Hazlewood, Matt Cornish & Chris Gorringe
Organisation: Racal Instruments Group Limited
Implementing IEEE 1641 – RF Stimulus & Measurement
IEEE1641_RF_Stimulus_&_Measurement_Report.pdf
This project, also sponsored by the MOD, was undertaken to verify that IEEE 1641 had the capability to define RF signals and that these signals could be implemented on modern RF test equipment.
The specific objective was "to demonstrate that IEEE 1641 is capable of defining and measuring complex Radio Frequency (RF) signals."
As part of the proving process, it was decided that these tests would be implemented on a test system that comprised synthetic instruments,
thereby demonstrating that IEEE 1641 is an ideal medium for defining signals and tests for use with any ATS architecture.
In direct correspondence with the principle objective of the project, the demonstration clearly showed that IEEE 1641 is capable of defining and measuring complex RF signals,
applying those signals to a Unit Under Test on commercial microwave Synthetic Instrumentation and producing a set of test results for comparison with test results obtained utilizing native mode test software execution on the test system utilized.
Date of Report: February 2007
Authors: David Poole & Matt Cornish
Organisation: Aeroflex & EADS Test Engineering Services (UK) Ltd.
Development of a complete test program using the IEEE 1641 standard
IEEE1641_Complete_Test_Program.pdf
IEEE 1641 (the Signal and Test Definition Standard) provides a new way to face the development of Test Programs based on the analysis of the signal components involved in the testing of a UUT.
The objective of this project was to produce a test program by applying a test development strategy based on that standard, and compare the results with a traditional approach based on ATLAS*.
This report provides information on the method adopted to develop the program and its implementation on the test platform, comments upon the use of 1641 compared to current traditional methods,
a quantitative assessment of relative costs associated with the 1641 approach compared to the current approach, and any problems or issues encountered with the use of the Standard
* ATLAS – Automatic Test Language for All Systems (IEEE Std 716)
Date of Report: October 2007
Author: José Manuel González Pascual
Organisation: Indra Sistemas S. A.
IEEE 1641 – 1dB Compression Point & Gain – Translation to an IVI Implementation
IEEE1641_Gain_&_Compression_Point_Report.pdf
This project involved the design and implementation of a limited test program in the domain of complex RF modulation, executing on traditional instrumentation.
It comprised signals and tests defined using IEEE 1641 and its signal modelling capabilities.
The purpose was to demonstrate the applicability of IEEE 1641 to complex modulation, demodulation and S-parameter domain measurements and to show the flexibility, diversity, and cost savings that using this standars could bring to TPS development.
This study resulted in a report and presentation in which the findings of the study were described. This was presented to the UK Standards Liaison Group for Automatic Test in April 2009.
Date of Report: April 2009
Authors: Matt Cornish
Organisation: EADS Test Engineering Services (UK) Ltd & Rohde & Schwarz Ltd
Lessons learned
As a result of these projects and other work completed using IEEE 1641, the standard was revised and an updated version was published in 2010.
The major changes were to improve the facilities for expressing digital tests.
Apart from specific changes and improvements to the standard, it was apparent that more detailed explanation was required to enable users to better understand how to apply the standard to test requirements and how to implement the signals and tests.
As a result of these considerations, the User Guide (IEEE Std 1641.1) for the 1641 standard is also in the process of being updated.