Developing an Audio Video Multimedia Automated Testing System with NI LabVIEW and PXI "Because of the ease of use

of LabVIEW, we reduced automated testing program development and product verification times, saved money on instrumentation, and enhanced our productivity."
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The Challenge:
We measure the quality of the video output by the product in response to the video signal using LabVIEW and an NI PXI-5122 14-bit 100MS/s digitizer during development. Ensuring synchronization between the instrument, control software, and test plate to reduce testing and development time and shorten our time to market.

The Solution:
Using NI LabVIEW software to connect and synchronize the apparatus, control software, and testing platform in addition to the related algorithms to judge the stability of the measurement data and produce video and audio automated testing systems. Author(s): Jiancheng Chen - Sunplus mMobile Inc. Mingzhong Chen - Sunplus mMobile Inc. Junlong Zhuang - Sunplus mMobile Inc. Shujuan Guo - Sunplus mMobile Inc. We measure a variety of indicators when testing video and audio devices and the process can be very time-consuming if the measurements are taken manually because each indicator requires different settings on the measuring apparatus. For example, manual testing is not cost-effective when the products are in the debugging phase and we have to repeat the procedures hundreds of times to achieve a complete test. Each measurement indicator has a corresponding testing pattern and apparatus setting, therefore we can only acquire the correct measurement data when related settings and patterns are accurately selected, which presents another problem for the fully automatic measurement system. To overcome these obstacles, we used NI LabVIEW software to connect and synchronize the apparatus, control software, and testing platform. At the same time, we used the related algorithms to judge the stability of the measurement data and produce the video and audio automated testing systems through a combination of the devices. Meeting Specific Standards for New Technologies Most of the terminal application functions of various consumer electronics products contain video and audio I/O such as MP3/MP4 players, PC/Webcam, DSC/DV, game counsels, and portable media players. However, we have to follow strict requirements and quality standards as well as important codes and criteria for different consumer electronics products. With the introduction of new technologies, besides these common codes, manufacturers may also customize procedures to test their products. Increasingly rigorous codes and standards presents more parameters and measurement items, which leads to confusion and errors among developers when setting measurement system parameters. In addition, the time spent verifying the functionality of these products will increase. Developing Audio and Video Automated Testing Systems We initially had four major objectives when planning the development of the system: automatically transfer or acquire data via digital and analog I/O with the measurement parameter setting, automatically trigger the testing pattern to control the acquisition, directly display the acquired data flow in the graphic format, and automatically generate the measurement data into reports. Our system uses audio precision as the measuring apparatus to analyze the indicators for audio quality and generate test patterns through an audio precision generator, which plays in proper sequence. At the same time, it has audio precision analyzer sensing signals and sets the parameters and measurement functions of the test item immediately after it determines if the pattern is correct. After it confirms that the measured data is correct and stable, it will convert the data into fixed-format reports. Engineers use the reports to identify the problematic items and develop solutions. We established the system to expect that different video and audio tests can be carried out in the shortest time on the multimedia platforms. Because there are dissimilarities and relative complexities between parameter settings on video and audio measuring apparatus and testing indicators, we developed the automated testing system to avoid measurement errors and incorrect data due to human error, as well as reduce test time. With this system we have integrated audio precision and NI PXI modules, the ability to test products through a LabVIEW VI, and a control interface that directly uses the LabVIEW instrument transmission function by reading, analyzing, and visualizing the data on the

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user interfaces from instruments such as oscilloscopes and function generators. In addition, we can control external instruments 2 through various communication protocols (GPIB, VISA, RS232, and I C) to edit user interfaces so the external measuring apparatus is easier to operate. We synchronized the time pulses between hardware and software and performed correct data acquisition with the convenient virtual instrumentation and control interface. Also, because of the ease of use of LabVIEW, we reduced automated testing program development and product verification times, saved money on instrumentation, and enhanced our productivity. Accurate Product Quality Control and Reduced Testing Time Compared with the former instrument control methods of inputting numerical values via a keyboard, product developers can use our automated testing system to more conveniently and flexibly use different settings on the control panel from the graphical user interface to select test items and related instruments, choose instrument switches, move slide control parameters, and zoom out on the graphs. In the future, we will use the system to verify if the video and audio quality of consumer electronics products satisfies the test requirements, which will help us accurately control product quality and reduce verification testing time. Contact Information: Sunplus mMobile Inc. No.19-1, Innovation 1st Road Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan 300 Tel: +886-3-5799699 Author Information:

[email protected]

We measure the quality of the video output by the product in response to the video signal using LabVIEW and an NI PXI-5122 14-bit 100MS/s digitizer during development.

We use this system to control audio precision to analyze the quality of the output audio from this MP3 prototype.

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Testing System Framework

Next Steps
Learn ways to perform audio test with NI products View the complete audio test solution used by Sunplus Learn about the NI PXI Blu-ray Player and Set-Top Box Test System

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