System and method for generating a shmoo plot by tracking the edge of the passing region

1. A method of testing an electrical device to determine a range of combinations of values of first and second parameters for which the electrical device functions properly, the method comprising:

testing the electrical device using a combination of values of the first and second parameters corresponding to a selected operating point comprising an origin of an R, θ polar coordinate plane;

if the electrical device is determined to function in a passing manner at the selected operating point, updating the value of the polar coordinate R by incrementing the value thereof by a predetermined amount ΔR; otherwise, updating the value of the polar coordinate R by decrementing the value thereof by ΔR;

if the updated value of the polar coordinate R is determined to be beyond an edge of a defined plot region in the R, θ polar coordinate plane, updating the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ; and

identifying an operating point corresponding to at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second parameters corresponding to the identified operating point.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, subsequent to completion of testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second parameters corresponding to the identified operating point, returning to the updating.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

continuing the updating, identifying, and testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second parameters corresponding to the identified operating point until the electrical device functions differently at a successive identified operating point than at an immediately, preceding identified operating point; and

responsive to the electrical device functioning differently at the successive identified operating point than at the immediately preceding identified operating point, incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, subsequent to the incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ, returning to the identifying and testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second parameters corresponding to the identified operating point.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising continuing the incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ until the value thereof is equal to 360 degrees.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying an operating point corresponding to the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ comprises:

locating a point designated by the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ;

if the located operating point lies within a defined plot region, using the located point as the identified operating point; and

if the located point lies outside of the defined plot region, using as the identified operating point an operating point that lies just within the defined plot region along a line defined by the updated value of the polar coordinate θ.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the identifying an operating point corresponding to the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ comprises:

locating a point designated by the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ; and

using an operating point closest to the located point as the identified operating point.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the passing manner of functioning of the electrical device is characterized by proper operation thereof and the manner other than the passing manner of functioning of the electrical device is characterized by a failure thereof to properly operate.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising plotting results of the testing.

11. A system for testing an electrical device with respect to various combinations of values of first and second variable operating parameters to determine a range of combinations of values of the first and second variable operating parameters for which the electrical device functions properly, the system comprising:

means for testing the electrical device using a combination of values of the first and second variable parameters corresponding to a selected operating point comprising an origin of an R, θ polar coordinate plane;

means for updating the value of the polar coordinate R, wherein the means for updating increments the value of the polar coordinate R by a predetermined amount ΔR if the electrical device is determined to function in a passing manner at the selected operating point and decrements the value, of the polar coordinate R by ΔR if the electrical device functions other than in the passing manner at the selected operating point;

means for updating the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ, provided that the updated value of the polar coordinate R is determined to be beyond an edge of a defined plot region in the R, θ polar coordinate plane; and

means for identifying an operating point corresponding to at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

means responsive to the electrical device functioning differently at a successive identified operating point than at an immediately preceding identified operating point for incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for identifying an operating point corresponding to the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ comprises:

means for locating a point designated by the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ;

means responsive to the located point lying within the defined plot region for using the located point as the identified operating point; and

means responsive to the located point lying outside of the defined plot region for using as the identified operating point an operating point that lies just within the defined plot region along a line defined by the updated value of the polar coordinate θ.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the means for identifying an operating point corresponding to the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ comprises:

means for locating a point designated by the at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ; and

means for using an operating point closest to the located point as the identified operating point.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the passing manner of functioning of the electrical device is characterized by proper operation thereof and the manner other than the passing manner of functioning of the electrical device is characterized by a failure thereof to properly operate.

17. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for plotting results of the testing.

18. A system for testing an electrical device with respect to various combinations of values of first and second variable operating parameters to determine a range of combinations of values of the first and second variable operating parameters for which the electrical device functions properly, the system comprising:

a circuit tester connectable to the electrical device for testing the electrical device under prescribed operating conditions; and

a computer connected to the circuit tester for controlling operation thereof, the computer testing the electrical device using a combination of values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to a selected operating point comprising an origin of an R, θ polar coordinate plane; if the electrical device is determined to function in a passing manner at the selected operating point, updating the value of the polar coordinate R by incrementing the value thereof by a predetermined amount ΔR; otherwise, updating the value of the polar coordinate R by decrementing the value thereof by ΔR; if the updated value of the polar coordinate R is determined to be beyond an edge of a defined plot region in the R, θ polar coordinate plane, updating the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ; and identifying an operating point corresponding to at least one of the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer uses the values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point, returning to the updating subsequent to completion of testing the electrical device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the computer continues the updating, identifying, and causing the circuit tester to test the electrical device using the values of the first arid second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point until the electrical device functions differently at a successive identified operating point than at an immediately preceding identified operating point, and, wherein responsive to the electrical device functioning differently at the successive identified operating point than at the immediately preceding identified operating point, the computer increments the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the computer returns to the identifying and testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point subsequent to the incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the computer continues the incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ until the value thereof is equal to 360 degrees.

23. A computer-readable medium operable, with a computer to test an electrical device with respect to various combinations of values of first and second variable operating parameters to determine a range of combinations of values of the first and second variable operating parameters for which the electrical device functions properly, the medium having stored thereon:

instructions executable by the computer for testing the electrical device using a combination of values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to a selected operating point comprising an origin of an R, θ polar coordinate plane;

instructions executable by the computer for updating the value of the polar coordinate R by incrementing the value thereof by a predetermined amount ΔR if the electrical device is determined to function in a passing manner at the selected operating point;

instructions executable by the computer for updating the valve of the polar coordinate R by decrementing the value thereof by ΔR if the electrical device functions in a manner other than the passing manner at the selected operating point;

instructions executable by the computer for updating the value of the polar coordinate e by a predetermined amount Δθ provided that the updated value of the polar coordinate R is determined to be beyond an edge of a defined plot region in the R, θ polar coordinate plane; and

instructions executable by the computer for identifying an operating point corresponding to the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 further having stored thereon instructions executable by the computer for testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 further having stored thereon instructions executable by the computer for returning to the updating subsequent to completion of testing the electrical device.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25 further comprising:

instructions executable by the computer for continuing the updating, identifying, and testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point until the electrical device functions differently at a successive identified operating point than at an immediately preceding identified operating point; and

instructions executable by the computer responsive to the electrical device functioning differently at the successive identified operating point than at the immediately preceding identified operating point for incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ by a predetermined amount Δθ.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 further comprising instructions executable by the computer for returning to the identifying and testing the electrical device using the values of the first and second variable operating parameters corresponding to the identified operating point subsequent to the incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 further comprising instructions executable by the computer for continuing the incrementing the value of the polar coordinate θ until the value thereof is equal to 360 degrees.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the instructions executable by the computer for identifying an operating point corresponding to the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ comprise:

instructions executable by the computer for locating a point designated by the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ;

instructions executable by the computer responsive to the located point lying within the defined plot region for using the located point as the identified operating point; and

instructions executable by the computer responsive to the located point lying outside of the defined plot region for using as the identified operating point an operating point that lies just within the defined plot region along a line defined by the updated value of the polar coordinate θ.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 23 wherein the instructions executable by the computer for identifying an operating point corresponding to the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ comprise:

instructions executable by the computer for locating a point designated by the updated values of the polar coordinates R and θ; and

instructions executable by the computer for using an operating point closest to the located point as the identified operating point.