IEEE Std 1641™, the Standard for Signal and Test Definition provides a means of unambiguously defining the Signals and Tests required when creating and executing test requirements. It provides the capability to describe, control and measure signals, whilst permitting a choice of operating environment, including the choice of test language.

The main features of IEEE 1641 are:

• Provides a set of common basic signals
• Basic signals are mathematically defined by a functional language definition
• Complex signals are defined by combining basic signal
• Programming language of the user's choice
• Usable across all test platforms

It allows test information to pass more freely between the design, test and maintenance phases of a project, enabling the same information to be used directly across project phases. This more efficient use of information, leads to reduced life cycle costs.

IEEE 1641 has replaced ATLAS as the test language of choice for test systems supplied to the military. MOD policy, defined under the Acquisition Operating Framework (AOF) and its supporting layers, requires all new Automatic Test Systems to be of an open architecture design and to use IEEE 1641 as the test language. The Defence Logistics Support Chain Manual JSP 886 references this standard.

We have been involved in the development of this standard with several engineers actively participating in the IEEE standards development committee SCC20 for over 20 years. We support the implementation and use of this standard with training and a comprehensive set of tools.

See the Signal and Test Definition website for further information on IEEE 1641, including reports from UK MOD sponsored demonstrations and projects that were used to prove and promote the use of IEEE 1641.