Mobile Device IrDA Test

INTRODUCTION

How to Design a Good IrDA-Enabled System Products?

Most of the IrDA hardware components such as the IR transceiver, the encoder/decoder or the integrated IrDA I/O chip are often tested by the component manufacturer to be IrDA compliant. Each IrDA protocol software layer licensed from third party or developed in-house, can also be individually tested to be IrDA compliant. However, when all these IrDA-compliant components are put together, unexpected result may happen.

Once the engineering phase is done and manufacturing phase starts, there are many possibilities on the manufacturing line too, due to parts property or assembly variations. Also, after the manufacturing phase is done and the products are shipped, there remains field service issue of screening test in the field or at service centers.

Methods for system testing must be planned and designed into the IrDA implementation, not an afterthought. A good system test methodology is essential to facilitate both engineering, the production and field service.

What IrDA Mishaps Can Occur and How to Test Them?

Most of engineering mishaps usually are in the area between the Physical Layer and IrLAP. Production mishaps usually are confined to Physical Layer only. Consequently, a very simple and effective system test is to access the “test frame” feature of IrLAP as defined in the IrDA Protocol Spec., particularly the test frame feature within a connection. ACTiSYS Corp. has made this test frame source codes available which you may get by contacting: irda-info@actisys.com.

Most major IrDA hardware or software products have implemented this “test frame” well. These include Microsoft-Windows 95/98 IR drivers, HP-5P/6MP LaserJet printers and many others.

If implemented well in your IrDA protocol stack, a specially programmed tester tool can fully exercise the Physical Layer and IrLAP layer in the device under test (DUT) automatically. This test can range from very thorough for engineering study or QC diagnosis to very speedy for production, quality control or field screening. Both fashions are especially useful for Inter-op “IrDA Reference Product” and “IrReady” certification tests among different IrDA device classes.

ACTiSYS provides such test software, ACT-IR9003SW, IR9000SW, IR3000SW.

What Can ACT-IR3000M Do For You and IrDA Certification?

ACTiSYS has a complete IrDA system test strategy, provides such test hardware and software tools, and operates the first full-capability among five IrDA authorized Certification Test Lab’s.

We have condensed all these expertise into one enabling FIR handheld tester, IR3000M and the associated optional software package; IR3000SW-1, IR3000SW-2, IR9000SW.

You can now use IR3000M to carry out:

1)      IrDA Bit Error Rate test of your products in the design phase by engineers,

2)      quick screen test on the production line by your production workers, and

3)      even simple and quick field test by your service personnel.

You can use IR3000M to carry out IrDA BER (Bit Error Rate) self test of your IrDA-enabled products following the procedures recommended below in “RECOMMENDED IrDA CERTIFICATION TEST PLAN” section. After you have completed this self test, you may fill out the appropriate Test Lab. report forms available from ACTiSYS at irda-info@actisys.com and submit these forms to any of the IrDA Test Lab. This will enable speedy completion of IrDA certification process at lower cost for your IrDA system products!

Reference Information:

IrDA Inter-Op Test Plan and Certification (Published by Infra-red Data Association, 1998. Available at web site: http://www.actisys.com)

IrDA Test Lab. Operation Procedure and Report Forms (ACTiSYS Corp., 1998. Available at: irda-info@actisys.com)

SET  UP  AND  OPERATION  PROCEDURE

I.   TWO- STATION SET-UP:

Testing Embedded DUT’s(Device Under Test) SET-UP:

• IR3000M is used as Test Reference Station powered by battery or AC adapter. DUT (Device Under Test) Station can be one of the following IrDA-enabled embedded devices:  digital camera, PDA, smart cell phone, pager, data terminal, printer, intelligent dongle, etc.'
• Position the IR3000M so that its infrared window is lined up with DUT’s IR window within 1 meter or maximum capabe distance of reliable data transfer.

A.   TEST DUT – EMBEDDED DEVICE:

1)   “IR DETECT” TEST:

a)    Press on, for a short while, any  “IR Detect” button on IR3000M, the LED status indicator will be “on”  couple times indicating test in progress. It will detect any IR beam from IrDA DUT, TV remote control, etc.

b)    This LED will remain on while test result is displayed by Pass/Fail LED or by audio. If IR beam is detected this Pass/fail LED will flash. If no IR beam is detected this Pass/Fail LED will remain “off”.

c)    When test is completed, you may turn off the unit to save power by pressing Stop/Reset button. You should turn off the unit if you want to continue with another test option and re-start by pressing on the corresponding button.

2)   “BASIC TEST”:

a)    This test will work well only if the DUT has a proven Test Frame within its built-in IrDA protocol driver. This Test Frame is defined in detail in the IrDA Protocol Specification as part of the IrLAP protocol layer.

b)    Press the “Basic Test” button on IR3000M to test the DUT of both its IrDA hardware and Test Frame in its built-in default IrDA protocol driver. The corresponding LED status indicator will stay solid on indicating Basic Test is in progress. This “Basic Test” utilizes the ACTiSYS IrDA Test Software (ACT-IR9003SW) built into IR3000M and its associated test parameters with pre-set values of: Frame size, # of Frames, Test Patterns, IR Baud rates), The test process progresses through the  following steps:

• Media busy condition.
• Discovery procedure.
• Connections at all the data rates supported.
• IAS inquiries of DeviceName and IrLMPSupport.
• Verify Test Frames if the DUT-IrLAP supports it.
• Disconnect, go back to Normal Contention Mode and connect at the next supported data rate, make IAS inquiries, exchange test frames, etc.

c)    This LED will remain on while test result is displayed by Pass/Fail LED or by audio. If DUT passes the test, audio will beep once at lower tone for SIR, higher tone for MIR and yet even higher tone for FIR. The Pass/Fail LED will also light up as Green each time DUT passes the corresponding SIR, MIR, FIR test.If DUT fails the test, audio will sound a resonating beep at the corresponding tone of SIR, MIR, FIR test. The Pass/Fail LED will also light up as Red each time DUT fails the corresponding SIR, MIR, FIR test.

d)    When test is completed, you may turn off the unit to save power by pressing Stop/Reset button. You should turn off the unit if you want to continue with another test option and re-start by pressing on the corresponding button.

(You may skip “CUSTOM TEST” section if you have not purchased additional ACTiSYS test software ACT-IR3000SW-1)

3)   “CUSTOM TEST”: (You need to license additional test software, ACT-IR3000SW-1)

Customize the Test Program:

a)    You may customize the parameter values in the IrDA test software built into IR3000M (Frame size, # of Frames, Test Patterns, IR Baud rates).

b)    Connect IR3000M using serial cable to the RS232 port of your PC. Activate the

IR3000SW-1 running under DOS of your PC. You’ll see the GUI as shown in the display below. Turn on the IR3000M and you are ready to program the test parameters.

(IR3000SW-1 display, same as 9003SW only changing name 9003SWè3000SW-1)

c)    This test-parameter set up procedure is described in detail in the separate ACTiSYS IrDA Test software, IR3000SW-1 which you will purchase/license separately.

d)    This customized test parameter values will be stored in the flash memory in IR3000M and kept permanently as “Custom Test” program until you re-program and re-store it again.

Start the Custom Test:

• Please refer to 2) “BASIC TEST” procedure above.

• You may even watch the test in progress as GUI display on your PC as long as IR3000M is connected by serial cable to the RS232 port of your programming PC.

• When test is completed, you may turn off the unit to save power by pressing Stop/Reset button. You should turn off the unit if you want to continue with another test option and re-start by pressing on the corresponding button.

B.   TEST DUT - NOTEBOOK PC:

1)   “IR DETECT” TEST:

a), b), c): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “IR DETECT” TEST procedure above.

2)   “BASIC TEST”: (You need to license additional test software, ACT-IR9000SW)

a)    Install and activate IR9000SW on DUT-Notebook PC following its User’s Manual.

b), c), d), e): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “BASIC TEST” procedure above.

(You may skip “CUSTOM TEST” section if you have not purchased additional ACTiSYS test software ACT-IR3000SW)

3)   “CUSTOM TEST”: (You need to license additional test software, ACT-IR3000SW-1)

Customize the Test Program:

a), b), c), d): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “CUSTOM TEST”,

      Customize the Test Program procedure above.

Start the Custom Test:

a)     Install and activate IR9000SW on DUT-Notebook PC following its User’s Manual.

b), c), d): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “CUSTOM TEST”,

      Start the Custom Test procedure above.

C.    TEST DUT - IrDA TRANSCEIVER MODULE: (You need to purchase additional Test Fixture, ACT-IR3000TF) =

a)    Load your IrDA transceiver module into the pre-formed receptacles on the test platform. Lower the zero-force lever downward to press onto the DUT module in order to assure solid electrical contacts of the module pins.

b)    Turn on the power of IR3000TF to ready the DUT Station for test.

c)    IR3000M is used as Test Reference Station powered by battery or AC adapter.

d)     Position the IR3000M so that the infrared window is lined up with the DUT-IrDA Transceiver module within 1 meter or maximum capable distance of reliable data transfer.

1)   “IR DETECT” TEST:

a), b), c): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “IR DETECT” TEST procedure above.

2)   “BASIC TEST”:

a), b), c), d): Please refer to A) TEST DUT-EMBEDDED DEVICE, “BASIC TEST” procedure above.

3)   “CUSTOM TEST”: (You need to license additional test software, ACT-IR3000SW-1)

Please refer to A) TEST DUT-EMBEDDED DEVICE, “CUSTOM TEST” procedure above.

II:  ONE-STATION SET-UP FOR DUT-NOTEBOOK PC: 

You have two options to carry out efficient high-speed IrDA loop test in this one-station set up; A) use the pre-loaded Windows 95/98/2000 IR driver and no additional test software, or B) quicker DUT set-up using the additional DOS-based test software, ACT-IR3000SW-2 avoiding the slow boot-up time of Windows O.S.

A.  USE WINDOWS IR DRIVER:

SET-UP:

a)    Connect IR3000M using serial cable to the RS232 port of your PC. Position the IR3000M so that its infrared window is lined up with DUT’s IR window within 1 meter or maximum capable distance of reliable data transfer.

b)   Activate the IR driver in Windows 95/98/2000 following Windows User’s Manual. 

1)   “IR DETECT” TEST:

a), b), c): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “IR DETECT” TEST procedure above.

2)      “BASIC TEST”:

a), b), c): Please refer to A) TEST DUT-EMBEDDED DEVICE, “BASIC TEST”

      procedure above.

d)   In addition to the indication of status and test result by LED’s and audio from IR3000M, you

can also see the test in progress graphically on your Windows screen. This is accomplished by activating the “Hyper Terminal” and “IR” icon of your Windows 95/98/2000 on your DUT-Notebook PC. You will see the station ID (ACTiSYS IR3000M), IR speed being tested, test in progress, and test result as shown below.

       (Windows 98 IR Screen, showing Total 3 sections:  “ACTiSYS ACT-IR3000M” name, 4Mbps, and Test result)

e)    When test is completed, you may turn off the unit to save power by pressing Stop/Reset button. You should turn off the unit if you want to continue with another test option and re-start by pressing on the corresponding button.

3)   “CUSTOM TEST”: (You need to license additional test software, ACT-IR3000SW-1)

Please refer to A) TEST DUT-EMBEDDED DEVICE, “CUSTOM TEST” procedure above.

B.  USE DOS-BASED TEST SOFTWARE: (You need to purchase separate test software,

      ACT-IR3000SW-2 to be installed onto your DUT-Notebook PC) SET-UP:

a)    Connect IR3000M using serial cable to the RS232 port of your PC. Position the IR3000M so that its infrared window is lined up with DUT’s IR window within 1 meter or maximum capable distance of reliable data transfer.

b)    Install and activate the IrDA test software, IR3000SW-2 on your DUT following IR3000SW-2 User’s Manual. 

1)   “IR DETECT” TEST:

a), b), c): Please refer to A. TEST DUT-EMBEDED DEVICE, “IR DETECT” TEST procedure above.

2)  “BASIC TEST”:

a), b), c): Please refer to A) TEST DUT-EMBEDDED DEVICE, “BASIC TEST” procedure above.

d)   In addition to the indication of status and test result by LED’s and audio from IR3000M, you can also see the test in progress graphically on your screen as shown below.

 (IR3000SW-2 display, same as 3000SW-1 except changing name 3000SW-1è3000SW-2)

e)   When test is completed, you may turn off the unit to save power by pressing Stop/Reset button. You should turn off the unit if you want to continue with another test option and re-start by pressing on the corresponding button

3)   “CUSTOM TEST”: (You need to license additional test software, ACT-IR3000SW-1)

Please refer to A) TEST DUT-EMBEDDED DEVICE, “CUSTOM TEST” procedure above.  

I.    BACKGROUND:

IrDA Test Council has established Inter-Op test plan and certification procedure as well as authorized Test Lab’s to assure the inter-operability among IrDA-enabled products, even across different device classes. Within each device class, there will be one or more product models qualified and certified as “IrDA Reference Product” which can be used by the Test Lab’s or manufacturers as Reference to test the inter-operability and “IrReady” qualification of their IrDA products. Some of the key elements are summarized in this User’s Manual and the detail can be found either from IrDA web site: http://www.irda.org or more easily, linked directly to its right location from ACTiSYS web site: http://www.actisys.com.

ACTiSYS Corp. operates two of the first five worldwide IrDA Inter-Op Test Lab’s authorized by IrDA Test Council in July 1998. ACTiSYS is the first company among this first group of authorized Test Lab’s with full certification capability since October 1998; IrDA Compliance (system hardware and protocol software) Test to qualify DUT for “IrDA Reference Product” certification, and IrDA Inter-Op Test to qualify DUT for “IrReady” certification.

You can now use IR3000M to carry out IrDA BER (Bit Error Rate) self test of your IrDA-enabled products following the procedures recommended below. After you have completed this self test, you may fill out the appropriate Test Lab. report forms available from ACTiSYS at irda-info@actisys.com and submit these forms to any of the IrDA Test Lab. This will enable speedy completion of IrDA certification process at lower cost. 

II.   “IrDA REFERENCE PRODUCT” QUALIFICATION TEST:

A)   TEST PROCEDURE:

1)    BER Test Using IR3000M In “CUSTOM TEST” Mode

a)     Test File Structure: "CUSTOM TEST” setting: 4 test patterns x 2 way test x frame size x number of frames.

b)    Test File Size: (Derived from IrDA Standards - Physical Spec.)

 1.25MBytes (BER in 0 x 10-7): For IR speeds of: 9.6K, 19.2K, 38.4K, 57.6K and 115.2Kbps.

 12.5MBytes (BER in 0 x 10-8): For IR speeds of 1.15M and 4Mbps.

c)    Speed, Distance and Angle:

Speed: All baud rates.

Distance: 0 cm, 50 cm, 100cm or maximum capable distance of zero BER.

Angle: 0 and 15 degrees left/right and up/down. (Only air, no reflective surface in between.)

d)   Reference Station IR Emission Power Level: (IR3000M IR Emission = 200mw/SR)

       Min. Distance Test: 200mw/SR at 1 cm = 500mw/SR (IrDA Spec.NFS) at 1.6 cm.

      Max. Distance Test: 200mw/SR at 144cm = 100mw/SR (IrDA Spec.FFS) at 100cm.

d)    Alternative Desktop Tester:

If you prefer desktop PC with lower-cost IrDA tester and more jumper flexibility than IR300M, you may review our Desktop FIR Tester, ACT-IR2000B/L at www.actisys.com

2)    IrDA Physical Compliance Test

a)     Required Equipment

The following list represents the minimal set of test equipment required to perform the tests outlined in this section: Please refer to IrDA Inter-Op Test Plan at www.actisys.com

b)     Assumptions

The tests in this section will rely heavily on Bit Error Rate (BER) tests. In order to simplify test results, we will presume that BER tests are pass/fail. In other words, when bit errors begin to occur, the device under test will be deemed to be failing. It will be deemed to be passing when no bit errors occur.

Because of the dependency on BER tests, IrDA reference products must support test frames so that consistent test methods can be established and utilized by all IrDA Inter-op Tests Labs for all candidate reference products.

An IrDA Reference Product must support all SIR baud rates from 9600 bps up to its maximum speed. For example, if a device’s maximum speed is 57.6 Kbps, it must also support 38.4 Kbps, 19.2 Kbps and 9.6 Kbps. However, it needs not support 115.2 Kbps if such speed is not suitable for the device. BER tests should be run for all supported speeds.

B)    “IrReady” AND “IrDA Reference Product” CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE

Please see the following chart for detail.

C)    INTER-OP AND DEVICE CLASSIFICATION TABLE:

D)  APPROVED “GOLDEN REFERENCE PRODUCT” OF EACH DEVICE CLASS

1)    Please refer to IrDA web site: www.irda.org for current list of certified Reference Products.

2)    Certified Reference Products in “Dongle” and “Printer” device class as of Nov. 1998.

a)    SIR PC Adapter:                           ACTiSYS ACT-IR220L, IR220L+

FIR Motherboard Adapter:             ACTiSYS ACT-IR2000L

FIR PC Add-On Card:                   ACTiSYS ACT-IR2000BL

SIR Printer Adapter:                       ACTiSYS ACT-IR100M

b)     FIR Desktop Printer:                      HP 6MP LaserJet Printer