IG-XL Signals are defined as a software entity representing RF, mixed signal or digital test stimulus, capture, setup, and control.

Compared to pin language, signal language will not affect hardware until the signal is applied with specific active commands like LSC (LoadSettingsConnect) , Start/Trigger, etc. There are many ways to organize and use the signals in the whole IGXL test flow, and you will find different ways will results in different test time.

To achieve reasonable test times while maximizing program development efficiency, users should understand difference between pin and signal language and use the advantage of signal features.

This paper will discuss and compare the different ways defining and utilizing signals and introduce a well proven signal-table-method. In this method all stimulus and capture Signals (RF, mix signals, DSSC etc.) are well organized in a table and preloaded only one time prior to the production run. Preloaded signals then will be shared by all the test instances, VBT functions and POP patterns. Multi-triggering or any POP bursting/combining can easily implemented with this method. Signals will be utilized and test time is minimized. In this paper, real cases with signal table will be demonstrated and test time benefits will be compared to traditional way.