Analog set top calibration patterns in manufacturing

1. A method for performing a functionality test on a Set Top Terminal (STT), comprising:

storing at least one test pattern to a storage device within the STT;

decoding the at least one test pattern stored to the storage device to produce a decoded test pattern within the STT;

converting the decoded test pattern to an analog signal that represents the decoded test pattern;

coupling the analog signal from an analog output port of the STT to an attenuator element that is coupled to an analog input port of the STT, the analog input port being coupled to at least one tuning device;

the at least one tuning device tuning the STT to a radio frequency (RF) channel according to the decoded test pattern represented by the analog signal; and

testing functionality of one or more components of the STT based on signals derived from the analog signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising converting the decoded test pattern represented in analog format in the analog signal to a digital test pattern.

3. The method of claim 2 , and further comprising converting the digital test pattern to an analog video signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein testing comprises determining whether at least one component of the STT is operating properly based on the analog video signal.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein testing comprises sending the analog video signal that represents the converted digital test pattern to a video measurement system (VMS).

6. The method of claim 1 , and further comprising modulating the analog signal that represents the decoded test pattern to an RF signal prior to coupling the analog signal via the analog output port to the attenuator element.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analog output port and the analog input port are at least one of the following: composite video baseband signal (CVBS), S-Video, Y/Pr/Pb Component Video, and Red Green Blue (RGB) Component Video.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the analog output port and the analog input port are configured to convey RF modulated signals.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the test pattern is mathematically perfect.

10. A Set Top Terminal (STT) configured for performing internal testing, comprising:

a storage device configured to store at least one test pattern;

at least one decoder configured to receive the at least one test pattern from the storage device, the at least one decoder further configured to decode the test pattern;

a first digital encoder configured to receive the at least one decoded test pattern and convert the at least one decoded test pattern into an analog signal that represents the decoded test pattern;

an analog output port that is configured to receive the analog signal for output from the STT;

an analog input port that is configured to receive analog input signals to the STT;

an attenuator element that connects between the analog output port and the analog input port in order to couple the analog signal from the analog output port to the analog input port;

at least one tuning device coupled to the analog input port and configured to receive the analog signal and tune to a radio frequency (RF) channel according to the decoded test pattern represented by the analog signal;

an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the tuning device and configured to convert the analog signal to a digital test pattern; and

a second digital encoder configured to receive the digital test pattern from the analog-to-digital converter to generate an analog video signal for output to a testing device.

11. The STT of claim 10 , further comprising a frame buffer coupled to the second digital encoder, the second frame buffer configured to hold the digital test pattern for delivery to the second digital encoder.

12. The STT of claim 10 , wherein the analog output port and the analog input port are configured to convey RF signals.

13. The STT of claim 10 , wherein the analog input port and the analog output port are configured to convey composite analog signals.

14. The STT of claim 10 , wherein the storage device includes at least one of the following: Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), flash memory, and a hard disk.

15. A system comprising the STT of claim 10 , and a video measurement apparatus that is configured to receive the analog video signal from the second digital encoder to determine whether at least one component of the STT is operating properly.

16. The STT of claim 10 , wherein the test pattern is mathematically perfect.

17. A computer readable storage medium for performing an internal test of a Set Top Terminal (STT), comprising:

logic configured to store at least one test pattern;

logic configured to retrieve the at least one stored test pattern;

logic configured to buffer the retrieved test pattern;

logic configured to decode the buffered test pattern to produce at least one decoded test pattern;

logic configured to convert the at least one decoded test pattern into an analog signal that is coupled from an analog output port of the STT to an analog input port of the STT via an attenuator element;

logic configured to tune the STT to an RF channel based on the decoded test pattern represented by the analog signal;

logic configured to convert the analog signal to a digital test pattern; and

logic configured to generate an analog video signal from the digital test pattern.

18. A system comprising an STT apparatus that comprises the computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , and a video measurement system coupled to the STT that is configured to receive the analog video signal in order to determine whether at least one component of the STT is operating properly.

19. An STT comprising the computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the analog input port and the analog output port are configured to convey Radio Frequency (RF) signals.

20. An STT comprising the computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the analog input port and the analog output port are configured to convey composite analog signals.

21. The computer readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the test pattern is mathematically perfect.