ATLAS 2000 signal and method classification and modeling

Work in the IEEE Standard Coordinating Committee (SCC20) to develop a next revision of the 716 Standard, ATLAS 2000, revealed a need for major restructuring of the ATLAS language concepts. One of the concepts presented by ATLAS 2000 is the reorganization of signals and measurement methods specified by the IEEE 716-95 standard into a hierarchical structure. The structure contains a model capability that allows the user to develop or describe increasing levels of complex test functions built upon lower level components. The model is a major new feature in ATLAS 2000 to foster component reuse and to provide a common description mechanism for expressing test requirements and instrument capability. Signal constructs are defined and expressible in fundamental mathematical or engineering farms and physical units. Signal definitions are traceable to physical or mathematical descriptions/behavior. Development of these models was achieved using a newly developed Signal and Method Modeling Language (SMML) This paper describes the new signal and method hierarchy and implementation of this hierarchy using SMML modeling techniques.