Test boards test other circuits more quickly and cheaply than full functional testing.
When a cell phone or computer chip is built, it is placed on a test board to verify that its circuits and software work correctly. Test boards are printed circuit boards used to test completed electronics and circuit cards. Design tools for test boards permit simulations of its electrical properties, programming and intended usage. Manufacturing design tools are used to manufacture test boards.
Design Tools
CAD tools permit 3D designs of circuits that can be imported into simulation tools.
The physical design of a test board, including its outline and location of connectors and ports, is outlined using computer-aided design tools. CAD tools allow engineers to define the dimensions of the circuit board and component locations of the test board. Integrated circuit design and layout tools create an optimum transistor layout to meet the desired test board specifications with a minimum of components. "Fundamentals of Logic Design" by Charles Roth, Jr. states that "the output from the IC design program includes the mask patterns necessary for fabricating the IC."
Simulation Tools
Electronic design automation simulation tools mimic the test board's behavior during standard use. EDA tools simulate the electrical function of the circuit. EDA tools run through simulated functional tests of the test board design. The tools report cross-talk, electrical interference, logical errors and circuit timing. According to "Understanding Signal Integrity" by Stephen Thierauf, "test boards often have connections to visibility points that allow the designer to observe or set logic deep within the ASIC." Synthesis tools imitate digital system behavior of microchips like application-specific integrated circuits. Test board EDA tools communicate with a synthesis tool mimicking the behavior of the device to be tested. These simulations permit analysis of test board designs.
Testing Tools
Logic design tools design the programming logic of the test board. Test generation tools contain a mimic of the test board and the electronics the test board will check. The test generation tool creates sets of test programs for the test board. The test generation tool minimizes the number of testing steps while maximizing the odds that test board defects are found. Register transfer level design tools describe and analyze the logic or data flow within a test board. RTL design tools check for logical conflicts and errors. RTL design tools can be used to test streamlined logical flows within a test board.
Manufacturing Tools
Computer-aided manufacturing tools control the tools used to manufacture test boards. Numerical-controlled tools etch out specified designs in the test board circuit card layer. Computer numeric-controlled tools place electrical components on the test board.
Completed Product Testing Tools
Design verification testing verifies that the test board works as designed. Automatic test equipment verifies the function of a completed test board design. According to "Digital System Test and Testable Design" by Zainalabedin Navabi, "an ATE runs a test program that implements the specific procedure designed for testing the DUT" (Device Under Test). Some test board ATEs are able to perform self-tests.
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