Test Instrument Software | Screen shots of Equipment and Analyzer

Qualify Your Electronic Systems Reliably With Test Instrument Software

Key takeaways:

Expert-level instrument and domain knowledge must be programmed into test instrument software to make it truly effective.
Automation and analysis features differentiate good test instrument software from mediocre software.
Interoperability and compatibility with other test instrument software and a variety of measurement equipment are a definite plus.

Test instrument software helps you translate your test goals and requirements into appropriate configurations and instructions for the measurement and test instruments throughout your product lifecycle. If it excels at translating your intentions, your testing stages will be reliable and rapid.

In our earlier blog on measurement software, we explained the high-level principles and its importance. In this blog, we show how Keysight's test instrument software enables higher test productivity and efficiency with concrete examples.

What is the role of test instrument software in the field of electronic testing and measurement?

Test instrument software is the key bridge between the powerful capabilities of measurement equipment and the use cases and goals you have in mind.

Test instrument software enables your testers to record and analyze measurements without having to grapple with prerequisites, installations, or programming knowledge.

In addition, test instrument software streamlines testing by standardizing and automating most parts of it.

Some key benefits of using test instrument software include:

simultaneous measurements from multiple instruments
comprehensive analysis of measurement data
improved efficiency and productivity in all stages of testing
faster time to market
more collaboration across multiple teams

How does test instrument software facilitate communication between instruments and computers?

Pathwave vsa With Multi-Vendor Hardware Connectivity and Interoperability | vsa Software Communication to Computers and Instruments

Fig 1. PathWave VSA with multi-vendor hardware connectivity and interoperability

Test instrument software facilitates communication between instruments and computers by relying on several standardized hardware and software interfaces. These interfaces for instrument control include:

hardware interfaces like the universal serial bus (USB), Ethernet, general purpose interface bus (GPIB), peripheral component interconnect express (PCIe), and PCI extensions for instrumentation (PXIe)
software interfaces like the standard commands for programmable instruments (SCPI), the virtual instrument software architecture (VISA), and other higher-level application programming interfaces (APIs)

These interfaces, along with on-board performance optimization techniques like caching and multicore processing, facilitate efficient measurements and transfer of data from instruments to connected computers in real time.

Some examples of communication in Keysight test instrument software include:

the PathWave vector signal analysis software, which supports multiple Keysight and third-party instruments by communicating through standard interfaces like SCPI and VISA and offers detailed graphical data analysis capabilities for any signal analyzer instrument
the CX3300APPC current waveform analytics software for post-measurement power analysis tasks, which uses efficient data transfer and caching mechanisms to reduce data transfer overheads

What features and functionalities are essential in effective test instrument software?

Onboard Test Instrument Software | Remote Test Instrument Software - Features and Functionalities Graph

Good test instrument software must have the following key features and capabilities:

In-depth domain knowledge: Test instrument software must be programmed with in-depth knowledge of the industry it's being used in, the instruments it'll connect to, and the devices under test (DUTs).
Extensive configuration: Test instrument software must be highly configurable to cater to a wide set of test requirements.
Seamless integration: The steps expected by the test instrument software must integrate smoothly into existing lab and product floor test workflows and test protocols followed in different industries.
Powerful automation: Test instrument software must facilitate end-to-end test automation over manual testing as much as possible so that the tests are repeatable and reliable over time and across test sites.
Robust performance: The software data collection and processing must keep up with the performance of the test instruments it's controlling and not become a bottleneck for them.
Wide interoperability: Test instrument software must work with standardized hardware and software interfaces to operate with a variety of test instruments from different vendors.
Convenient usability: Since electronic testing and measurement is complex but critical in many industries, test instrument software must focus on usability aspects, implement intuitive graphical user interfaces (GUIs), and provide good user experiences to the engineers who use them.

How does test instrument software contribute to the automation of testing processes?

N4980A Multi-Instrument BERT Software for concurrent bit error rate measurement | automation of testing processes

Fig 2. N4980A Multi-Instrument BERT Software for concurrent bit error rate measurement

Streamlined automation is possible when test instrument software is programmed with in-depth knowledge of the domain, test workflows, and instruments.

This is evident from the following automation case studies:

Concurrent multi-signal testing: Good test instrument software provides simultaneous multi-signal automated analysis. For example, the N4980A Multi-Instrument BERT Software provides simultaneous multi-signal analysis and parallel jitter tolerance testing, increasing the overall throughput and efficiency of complex testing scenarios.
Automated signal generation: The PathWave Signal Generation applications provide automated capture and playback of signals and ensure that generated signals are compliant with the latest standards.
Automated calibration: Test instrument software like the Signal Optimizer Software K3101A is capable of built-in task-based calibration of 5G and wideband radio frequency (RF) receivers.
Test and data management automation: Test instrument software for bit error rate testing (BERT) works with higher-level orchestration platforms like the receiver compliance test automation platform to facilitate automated testing of digital and optical interfaces as well as data collection, storage, export, and analysis.

How does test instrument software handle data acquisition, analysis, and reporting?

Infiniium MultiScope software — 40 channels from 10 oscilloscopes on one screen | Combination of 10 Scopes and 40 Channels Graph Daisychained

Fig 3. Infiniium MultiScope software — 40 channels from 10 oscilloscopes on one screen

You can begin to understand the various dimensions of data acquisition, analysis, and reporting by test instrument software through the following examples:

Integration with specialized measurement instruments: The N4391SALC Optical Modulation Analyzer for photonic applications can acquire complex optical signals by driving specialized instruments like the Keysight UXR-series real-time oscilloscopes.
Integration with specialized generator instruments: Along the same lines, the N7617EMBC PathWave Signal Generation software can synthesize Wi-Fi signals with a variety of particular modulation schemes in concert with various RF vector signal generators and PXI vector transceivers.
Signal decoding capabilities: The embedded test instrument software on devices like the InfiniiVision oscilloscopes integrates with digital serial buses for real-time waveform capture and signal decoding.
Data-logging features: Many test instrument software provides real-time data-logging features.
Real-time acquisition and processing: Test instrument software like PathWave Measurements streamlines data acquisition and processing through synchronous acquisition and parallel processing.
Sophisticated data analysis: Software like the PathWave Vector Signal Analysis provides high-resolution fast Fourier Transform (FFT), error vector magnitude (EVM), and modulation analysis tailored for various communication standards. Similarly, the Current Waveform Analytics Software provides anomaly detection in waveforms.
Useful visualizations and reporting: Test instrument software generates domain-specific visualizations, test reports, and compliance reports to help engineers. For example, the N4391SALC Optical Modulation Analyzer provides extensive visualizations like eye diagrams and constellation diagrams to facilitate thorough diagnosis.

How is user interface design crucial for user experience in test instrument software?

A test instrument software with a helpful graphical user interface | User Interface design

Fig 4. A test instrument software with a helpful graphical user interface

The user interface (UI) design of test instrument software plays a critical role in enhancing user experience by improving usability, efficiency, and functionality. Some of the user-friendly UI features include:

Multi-touch interfaces: Most modern test instrument software — both embedded (that runs on the instruments) as well as remote (that runs on connected computers) — supports conveniences like touch user interfaces and multi-touch gestures. These greatly enhance the productivity of engineers, especially for quality assurance on production floors where efficiency is key. For example, the Keysight N9093 radio test software supports multi-touch screen operations on touch-screen monitors.
One-touch actions: Software like the N5991 Receiver Compliance Test A utomation Platform offers one-click measurement capabilities, simplifying complex test procedures into single actions.
Integrated capabilities: Many test instrument software aim for unified interfaces that consolidate multiple functionalities like signal generation, data acquisition, and analysis into a single platform. This integration reduces the need to switch between different screens or tools, enhancing workflow efficiency.
Graphical workflows and visualizations: Test instrument software like PathWave Vector Signal Analysis and Signal Optimizer provide excellent visualizations that facilitate rapid interpretation of complex data and quick decision-making.
Guided setups: Good test instrument software offers automated calibrations and guided setup wizards, reducing manual effort and ensuring accuracy.

What role does open-source software play in the development of test instrument applications?

Open-source software and libraries are extensively used in the development and software testing of these applications as outlined below:

Test automation engines: Instrument workflow software like PathWave Test Automation uses the OpenTAP open-source sequencing and orchestration engine for implementing cross-platform test workflows and functional testing of the instrument integrations.
Integration testing on various platforms: Test instrument software is generally built for cross-platform deployment. Most run on the Windows and Linux operating systems as they are common in electronic-related industries. In addition, some applications implement mobile testing and measurements on Android, iOS, and Windows Internet of things (IoT) platforms.
Test coverage tools: Open-source tools help you ensure maximum test coverage of all code paths of your embedded and remote test instrument software.
Emulators for testing functionality: Since repeatedly connecting and disconnecting physical instruments can be cumbersome, application testing is done using realistic instrument emulators during the unit testing and integration testing phases. Emulators also help with the API testing and debugging of the various software layers sitting between the instrument and the computer.
Performance testing: Open-source load testing tools are used on test instrument software to ensure that their performance can keep up with the instruments, which often run at very high speeds in many industries.
UI testing: Tools like Selenium and Appium are extensively used for automating web testing and user acceptance testing of test instrument software.
Test management: Open-source tools like Jenkins and JIRA are used for test case recording, preparing test plans, test management, regression testing, and continuous testing of the electronic systems as well as the instrument software itself.

How does test instrument software address security and calibration concerns in electronic testing environments?

Since test instrument software is widely used in critical industries like defense and semiconductors, its security protections must be of a high grade.

In electronic testing environments, test instrument software addresses security concerns by implementing various mechanisms and features designed to ensure data integrity and controlled access. Some of these features include:

Flexible licensing options: Secure test instrument software provides multiple licensing options like node-locked, transportable, portable, and floating licenses. These mechanisms restrict the use of the software only to authorized devices or users, ensuring controlled access.
Authentication mechanisms: To prevent data theft and manipulation, secure test instrument software implements robust authentication mechanisms like two-factor authentication with secure keys.
Data security: To reduce the possibilities of data breaches, data leaks, and malicious modification of the measurement and test data, standard data integrity mechanisms like encryption, secure data transfers, and non-repudiation are implemented by secure test instrument software.

Convenient instrument calibration and maintenance is another aspect that differentiates good test instrument software. Some examples of these aspects are outlined below:

Comprehensive calibration support: Software like the N4980A Multi-Instrument BERT Software and N4391SALC Optical Modulation Analyzer offer automated calibration routines and guided setups that ensure consistent and accurate test results. These tools simplify the calibration process by guiding users through the necessary steps and automating signal adjustments.
Real-time parameter adjustments: Software like the C8714000A UXM 5G RF allows users to modify test parameters during live connections, ensuring ongoing accuracy without manual recalibration interruptions.
Batch calibration and validation graphs: Tools like the Signal Optimizer K3101A provide detailed batch calibration capabilities and post-calibration validation graphs, verifying the accuracy of calibration across different operational conditions.

Keysight Test Instrument Software Prioritizes Your Productivity

In this article, we showed various considerations of test instrument software to keep in mind and the benefits of using them.

Keysight's test instrument software applications are designed carefully in close collaboration with our expert electronic engineers to maximize the productivity and efficiency of engineers in optical, RF, digital, and analog domains. Additionally, applications are programmed with in-depth knowledge of workflows and concepts prevalent in many industries like defense, avionics, semiconductors, automotive, and consumer electronics.

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