Testing apparatus

Claim 1

A test apparatus having data processing means for processing and/or editing test data obtained from an object unit to be tested, which comprises, in combination, an organization trade-off means adapted to make a trade-off procedure for determining the organization of said object unit to be tested in accordance with a specification essen­tial to said object unit and to prepare a functional block diagram which is equivalent to a design drawing from the results of said trade-off procedure; a failure mode and effect analysis sheet preparation means adapted to perform a failure mode and effect analysis on the basis of said func­tional block diagram prepared by said organization trade-off means and to subsequently prepare a failure mode and effect analysis sheet in accordance with the results of said analy­sis; a design review means consisting of a learning section for acquiring and learning design knowledge from the results accomplished by said organization trade-off means and said failure mode and effect analysis sheet preparation means, a knowledge base section for accumulating the knowledge and design knowledge generated by said learning section, and an inference section for performing inferences using the knowl­edge accumulated in said knowledge base section; a diagnosis rule preparation means adapted to prepare a reference rule for determining a test data diagnosis from the contents of said failure mode and effect analysis sheet prepared by said failure mode and effect analysis sheet preparation means; and a diagnosis means consisting of a knowledge data base section for registering said reference rule for determining a test data diagnosis prepared by said diagnosis rule prepa­ration means and constructing a data base as an aggregate of rules, and an inference function section for inferring a result of diagnosis of said test data as given by said data processing means by using said aggregate of rules in said knowledge data base section.