Testing Multiple Devices with ATEasy
Testing multiple devices or UUTS with one test system allows test engineers to maximize their capital investment in test hardware as well as adding incremental test capacity without investing in additional systems. ATEasy 8.0 offers users the ability to test multiple UUTs which includes overall management of test sequencing as well as management of shared test system resources. Using ATEasy’s Multiple UUT test feature, each device can be tested with the same test program or alternatively, each device can be tested with a unique program. When using the Test Executive to control and manage the testing of multiple UUTs, each individual UUT is automatically allocated a separate tab so that each unit has its own log window, test pane and test properties. (Figure 1).

Test Executive managing the test execution of four UUTs – Figure 1
ATEasy and the Test Executive both support the test execution of multiple UUTs in parallel mode, sequential mode or in mixed mode. An application that is configured for Sequential testing will execute a test program on each UUT sequentially, using a single, shared program thread. Applications configured for parallel testing will start testing all devices at the same time and each UUT will execute its test program in its own thread. Additionally, since each UUT can be configured independently, the application can be configured to execute in mixed mode with some UUTs configured to run sequentially and some UUTs configured to run in parallel. When using the Sequential Test mode, ATEasy allows you to define when to switch from one UUT to the next UUT. This point in the application, defined as the switch level, can be performed at the Program level, the Task level, or the Test level. For example, if the switch level is set at the Test level and the system has four UUTs being tested sequentially, ATEasy will run one test on UUT #1 before switching to UUT #2 to continue testing. Each UUT will run one test at a time until all test programs have completed. Note that just before switching UUTs, the module events OnInitSwitchUut and OnEndSwitchUut will be executed. This is the ideal place to insert any set-up code that may be required when adjusting / allocating system resources for the new UUT such as rerouting of a signal using a switch matrix or locking/unlocking a shared resource such as a digital multimeter.
Configuring your Application to Support Multiple UUTsATEasy 8.0 offers several customization options for supporting the testing of multiple UUTs:
- Enable / disable the Multiple UUT mode.
- Define or change the number of UUTs being tested.
- Specify the number of UUT tabs to create/run test applications
- Specify the program level for switching from one UUT to another.
- Define a Program/Profile per UUT: When disabled, selecting a program or profile will apply to all UUTs.
- Enable the active UUT display tab
Configuring these options is done via the Test Executive GUI and then opening the Customize | Options dialog page. (Figure 2).

The Test Executive Customize Dialog – Figure 2
After setting the UUT options listed above as required by your application, you can select a program or a profile using the Select Program Dialog. Depending on the options you set in the Options dialog, you will be able to override and set the UUT count, select one or more program/profiles for your UUTs and select the run mode for each UUT (either parallel or sequential). After configuring the UUT count and the run mode, the Test Executive will update its configuration to represent the changes. The Test Executive will display 'P' on the UUT label table if the UUT is running in parallel mode. To test all UUTs, you select the Start Command from the Run menu or to test a single UUT, select the target UUT tab and select the Start UUT Command.
Configuring Multiple UUT support programmatically is similar to the graphical approach. The System.OnInit event is an excellent place to customize the Test Executive.
The code below demonstrates a programmatic configuration of the multiple UUT option:
TestExec Customize Options Set (ateOptionsEnableMultipleUUTs, True)
TestExec Customize Options Set (ateOptionsEnableUUTCountSetting, True)
TestExec Customize Options Set (ateOptionsAllowDifferentProgramProfilePerUUT, True)
TestExec Customize Options Set (ateOptionsActivateLogTabOnUutSwitch, True)
TestExec Customize Options Set (ateOptionsUutSwitchLevel, aUutSwitchLevelTask) ! switch UUT at the end of task
Assigning programs/profiles to the UUTs can also be done in the System.OnInit event after the customization code above is executed. In the example below, UUTs 1 and 2 are set to sequential operation and UUTs 3 and 4 are set to parallel operation.
! Configure for four UUTs
TestExec Execution SetUutCount(4)
! Assign programs to UUTs
! First two set to sequential mode and last two in parallel
TestExec Execution LoadProgram("SystemBIT", , , 0)
TestExec Execution LoadProgram("UUT1", , , 1)
TestExec Execution LoadProgram("Language", , aUutRunModeParallel, 2)
TestExec Execution LoadProgram("UUT1", , aUutRunModeParallel, 3)
As one can see, ATEasy offers users a variety of methods for testing multiple UUTs. To learn more about ATEasy and its multiple UUT features click
HERE. You can also try out the TestExecMultipleUuts example project which is provided with ATEasy to learn more about testing multiple UUTs using ATEasy’s Test Executive.
Addressing a Customer’s Specific Instrumentation Requirements – Geotest’s New GX3348
The world of functional test requires many specialized or application specific instruments which may not be easily addressed by employing standard, off the shelf solutions. Geotest’s team of design and systems engineers are skilled in adapting our standard products to meet a customer’s unique test instrumentation requirements. This flexibility and responsiveness to meeting a customer’s specific requirements for instruments or systems is what sets us apart from other test and measurement suppliers.
Geotest recently worked with a military and aerospace customer to deliver the GX3348, a 6U PXI multi-channel DC source. The customer liked the basic features of the Geotest GX1838, a multi-channel DC voltage source which offers a wide voltage range. However, the customer’s application required stimulus and measurement support for a large number of discrete analog I/Os. Consequently, the required instrumentation needed to include a 4x48 matrix, with each channel having measurement capabilities. Additionally, the overall test system configuration dictated that the solution be implemented on a single 6U PXI card. David Manor, Geotest’s VP of Hardware Engineering, managed the overall project and worked with our customer to create the GX3348, based on the existing GX1838 design. From start to finish the complete project was done in 4 months with deliveries to the customer scheduled for May.
Key features of the GX3348 include:- (2) +/- 20 VDC programmable sources
- -10 to +32 VDC programmable source
- 4x48 matrix providing access to sources and signal ground
- DC measurement on each channel
- External source input with amplifier
- Single slot, 6U PXI format
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If you have specific PXI instrumentation requirements, please
contact us to see how Geotest can help you with your specialized test or instrumentation needs.