Electronic design

Verification of a device means checking that the performance of the device matches the expectations both during development and once development is complete. These expectations can be set internally by the organization commissioning the device, or externally by standards also available to other device developers.
For signal processing devices, the increasing complexity and speed of the device, and the reductions in signal levels together make verification ever more complex. Verification involves ensuring that signal values and parameters always remain within acceptable limits under a wide range of conditions.

Electronics testing means checking that a circuit using semi-conductors is performing correctly. While electronics testing includes fundamental properties such as voltage, current, resistance, conductance and capacitance, almost certainly the properties of the signals transmitted by the circuit will be the major reason for testing. Measurements on signal integrity (quality) such as noise or distortion, or out of the stipulated frequency band do not require demodulation. If the data transmitted by the signal shall be tested to check whether the content is correct, demodulation functions for the appropriate data communication standard are required. The expected results of electronic testing depend on the stage in the life cycle of the device under test (DUT). During development, accurate measurements resulting in values to check against the specification are required. During production, high speed testing with a pass/fail result will meet the test requirements.

So long as “electronic” is taken to mean any circuit using semi-conductors to manipulate electrons, “electronic testing” is used to test any properties of the circuit that can be measured; almost entirely electrical properties, which can be measured at various levels. At the fundamental level, properties such as voltage, current, resistance, conductance and capacitance, can be measured using a multimeter. At the higher level of the signals transmitted by the circuit, measurements on signal integrity (quality) such as noise or distortion, or out of the stipulated frequency band, are measured with respect to frequency using signal and spectrum analysis, and with respect to time with oscilloscope functions. If the data transmitted by the signal shall be tested to check whether the content is correct, demodulation functions for the appropriate data communication standard are required.

In electronics, integrity is whether the expected performance and characteristics of the signal processing from input signal to output signal are being met. Signal integrity refers to the quality of the signal, whether the signal waveform is as anticipated, and the degree to which the waveform is deformed by noise, jitter, and distortion. Power integrity refers to whether the anticipated voltage and current levels are present at all times at the selected test location in the circuit, and parameters such as unplanned variations in level, and planned speed of change in level. Integrity is inevitably associated with testing, as the degree of integrity can only demonstrated by taking measurements and comparing the results to the specification. Poor signal or power integrity results in reduced performance and data transmission errors.