Importance

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Abstract

A system for testing a hardware unit containing sensitive information, while inhibiting access to that information, includes a secure program in an Automated Test Station and an interface circuit. The test station has a programmed processor, as well as generating equipment which generates pseudo test signals and measuring devices which measure the response of the unit to actual test signals. Within the processor of the test station there is a test program which does not indicate the sensitive information and a run-time program that interprets the test-program to generate encoded commands for carrying out the test. The interface circuit receives the encoded commands and the pseudo test signals from the test station, decodes the encoded commands and generates the actual test signals. These actual test signals are routed to the unit under test by the interface circuit. The interface circuit also receives the response from the unit to the test signals, encodes it and sends it to the test station for interpretation. The secure run-time program, the encoding by the test station, as well as the encoding and decoding by the interface circuit greatly inhibit the opportunity to uncover the sensitive information during testing of the unit.

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First Claim