Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.P.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

John P Huetter

Richard Ortiz

Craig Arthur Sanford

Richard Kunze

Duong Xuan Vu

Gale A Sill

Methods and apparatus for managing circuit tests. In a first embodiment of the invention, a number of electrical characteristics of a number of electrical components which exist in a circuit are identified, and the number of electrical components are then grouped in response to the number of electrical characteristics. Thereafter, and for each group of electrical components, a circuit test which is common to the electrical components of the group is established. When the execution of a test results in a false fail, the test is debugged, and the debugged test is then associated with each other component in its group. Much of a programmer's debug effort is therefore &ldquo;proactive&rdquo; rather than &ldquo;reactive&rdquo;. Preferably, a test history log is maintained for each component group so that previously abandoned test solutions are not repeated as tests are debugged. In a second embodiment of the invention, a number of test parameters of a number of circuit tests created for a number of electrical components which exist in a circuit are identified. Circuit components are then grouped in response to the test parameters rather than in response to electrical characteristics (though some of the test parameters may actually be electrical characteristics). The methods are preferably implemented in software. The methods and apparatus disclosed not only shorten the time required to complete a debug effort (i.e., to insure that tests are stabile), but also insure a greater degree of uniformity among tests which are associated with like electrical components.

Method and apparatus for managing circuit tests

An apparatus and method for preventing inadvertent disconnection of male and female electrical connectors is provided. In one principal type of method and apparatus, devices are configured to provide outside retaining forces to retention prongs of a female electrical connector, substantially restricting or preventing the retention prongs from moving toward an outer non-holding position after connecting with receiving portions in the male connector. In another principal type of method and apparatus, a female electrical connector includes modified retention prongs having a portion configured to enter and remain in surface holes of the male connector so that the male connector, once inserted, cannot be removed from the female connector without a user manipulating the modified retention prongs.

Apparatus and method for cable connection retention

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Auburn, CA, United States of America

John P Huetter