UUT Explorer: Shop Replaceable Unit (SRU) graphical display application

This paper provides an overview of the requirements and capabilities of the UUT Explorer Test Program Set (TPS) utility application designed for use when testing Shop Replaceable Units (SRUs) on the Versatile Depot Automatic Test Station (VDATS). The requirement for creation of the UUT Explorer application was driven by a need to standardize the interface for the VDATS operators while simplifying the process of TPS development and SRU testing. During SRU testing, the UUT Explorer application allows the TPS developer to dynamically display a graphical representation of the board with graphic information that correlates to the current test activity and physical view of the SRU. The graphical representation supports highlighting a particular component in several useful ways. In a ldquozoomed-outrdquo view, the operator is provided with component location information relative to other SRU components. In a ldquozoomed-inrdquo view, the operator is provided with component orientation and pin location information. UUT Explorer is written using National Instruments LabWindows / CVI and consists of three utilities: a board layout application, a custom component creation application, and the TPS Dynamic Link Library (DLL). The board layout utility is used by the TPS developer to create the board display file. The custom component creation utility is used by the TPS developer to generate any components that are not available in the standard libraries. The TPS DLL is used by the TPS developer to display the SRU graphically on the screen. By using UUT Explorer, the VDATS is better able to capitalize on the core tester concept by increasing the quality of the common tools available to the TPS developers and by creating a common interface for SRU component and pin location for the test station operators.