IEEE STD. 1641 and the DoD Automatic Test System Framework Elements

The paper highlights where IEEE Std 1641-2004 fits into the existing DoD ATS framework elements. It identifies criteria for categorizing the affected elements and shows how the IEEE 1641 signal & test definition standard augments other standards such as ATML to enable an architecture that helps fulfill the ATS framework. The IEEE Std. 1641 is a standard specifically for dealing with signals including sources, conditioning, signal based measurement, events, timing and location. Historically IEEE Std. 1641 came out of the ATLAS2000 development to isolate and use the 'useful' parts of the ATLAS language. This led to the concept of signal modeling to provide a mechanism for describing the properties that made up the nouns and noun modifier components. Signal modeling provides the structures to support signal component usage within a hierarchical signal classification system. By so doing, the signal models provide the basis for reuse that is essential to the evolution of a standardized capabilities vocabulary without a corresponding explosion in nomenclature and complexity. This implies IEEE Std. 1641 is a far reaching standard as it defines several facets to support a wide range of signal applications that cross ATS framework elements. The paper reiterates what is meant by a Signal Layer in this context and considers an ATS set of abstractions used by a test system and associated resource managers as a method of classification within the ATS framework. The use of signals to define both measurement requirement and capability is a key element in any system looking to provide TPS portability across different ATS platforms, and when coupled with the information content of ATML has an impact on several signal and UUT related ATS framework elements, which helps us demonstrate an architecture conforming to the ATS framework using available standard interfaces.