Welcome to the VI Technology Multimedia Test System (MMTS) tutorial. This guide will explore techniques VI Technology's engineering team used to create a system that maximizes system performance to reduce test time and increase throughput for testing multimedia devices. The main benefits of the all-in-one system include: increased test speed, scalability for future testing needs, reduced cost, and increased throughput. Out of the box, users can test for composite, S-Video, HD (component) and HDMI signals including NTSC-M, NTSC-4.43, PAL-M, PAL-N, RGB, and YUV. Audio test capabilities include S/PDIF, PCM, Raw Dolby Digital, and DTS. In addition, the system includes the ability to make power measurements, as well as Ethernet, USB, and modem connectivity. The MMTS is based on National Instruments PXI, LabVIEW, and TestStand solutions.

Table of Contents

1. About the Multimedia Test System (MMTS)

2. Utilizing Dual-Core Processors

3. Implementing a Parallel Test Architecture

4. Conclusion

5. Related Links

About the Multimedia Test System (MMTS)

The VI Technology Multimedia Test System (MMTS) is a fully-integrated measurement system that delievers the fastest path to analog & digital audio and video measurements for multimedia devices. This automated test system significantly reduces testing time for multimedia-capable devices such as DVD players, set-top boxes, smart phones, mobile devices, computers, and video game consoles. The MMTS can test analog video, digital video, analog audio, digital audio (S/PDIF), power measurements, as well as USB, modem, and Ethernet connectivity.

Utilizing Dual-Core Processors

The MMTS utilizes dual-core processors which contain two cores, or computing engines, that allow execution of two computing tasks. A dual-core processor contains the ability to separate tasks into individual threads known as multithreading. Multithreading allows the MMTS to reduce test time by separating tasks such as instrument vitalization for the four UUTS into multiple independent threads. In addition, choosing National Instruments LabVIEW allowed VI Technology engineers to take advantage of multithreading technology without additional development time reducing overall cost. LabVIEW minimizes the need for additional code for multithreading by scheduling separate processor cores to run as a built in feature.

Implementing a Parallel Test Architecture

The MMTS uses NI TestStand and PXI to take full advantage of having a parallel test architecture. VI Technology engineers chose to implement a parallel process model to allow flexible testing on any of the four UUTS. Specifically, the auto-schedule feature inherent to TestStand provides the ability to automatically schedule the order of tests to execute to reduce test time and to reuse resources. UUTS can be configured for test while other UUTS are already executing tests. This minimizes unit idle time and ultimately increases throughput. Selecting the modular PXI hardware has allowed the MMTS to be an all-in-one system that has a reduced foot print on the production floor. Having the ability to connect hardware for parallel testing in one platform eliminates the need for stand-alone measurement devices.

Conclusion

VI Technology has developed the MMTS using a dual-core processor with a parallel process model achieving optimal system performance. Using features like multithreading and auto-scheduling, the MMTS is able to efficiently test up to four UUTS in parallel. These techniques take full advantage of features found in PXI, LabVIEW, and TestStand reducing development costs while increasing throughput and test speed.

Related Links

1. Multimedia Test System

2. VI Technology

3. Automated Test Services