Method and apparatus for disabling all operations of an electronic instrument except for an automatic test procedure

An electronic instrument which is tested by an automatic test system that performs a quality test of a plurality of operating characteristics of the instrument, the instrument including a quality lock device, the quality lock comprising:

• a) means for coupling the instrument to the automatic test system including an instrument-to-test-system communication link wherein the instrument-to-test-system communication link is never disabled even though the instrument may be decoupled from the test system;
• b) means for disabling operation of the instrument exclusive of the instrument to test system communication link until the instrument has passed the quality test, wherein the means for disabling operation is coupled to the instrument through the means for coupling;
• c) means for disabling electronic communication between the instrument and any external circuit exclusive of the instrument to test system communication link until the instrument has passed the quality test, wherein the means for disabling electronic communication is coupled to the instrument through the means for coupling;
• d) means for enabling operation of the instrument after the instrument has passed the quality test, wherein the means for enabling operation is coupled to the instrument through the means for coupling;
• e) means for enabling electronic communication between the instrument and any external circuit after the instrument has passed the quality test, wherein the means for enabling electronic communication is coupled to the instrument through the means for coupling;
• f) means for periodically disabling operation of the instrument exclusive of the instrument to test system communication link until the instrument has repassed the quality test, wherein the means for periodically disabling is coupled to the means for disabling;
• and
• g) means for periodically disabling electronic communication between the instrument and any external circuit exclusive of the instrument to test system communication link until the instrument has repassed the quality test, wherein the means for periodically disabling electronic communication is coupled to the means for disabling electronic communication.

A method for ensuring compliance of an electronic instrument to a plurality of predetermined operating characteristics comprising the steps of:

• a) disabling operati,on of the instrument exclusive of an instrument-to-test-system communication link until the instrument has passed a quality test;
• b) disabling electronic communication between the instrument and any external circuit exclusive of the instrument-to-test-system communication link until the instrument has passed the quality test;
• c) performing the quality test;
• d) enabling operation of the instrument after the instrument has passed the quality test;
• e) enabling electronic communication between the instrument and any external circuit after the instrument has passed the quality test;
• f) periodically disabling operation of the instrument exclusive of the instrument-to-test-system communication link until the instrument has repassed the quality test;
• and
• g) periodically disabling electronic communication between the instrument and any external circuit exclusive of the instrument-to-test-system communication link until the instrument has repassed the quality test.

A method for selectively enabling operation of an electronic instrument comprising:

• a) automatically disabling all operations of the instrument except for an automatic test procedure performed by a test system;
• b) automatically coupling the test system for transmitting a control signal from the test system to a quality lock device for indicating that the instrument passed the test procedure;
• c) storing the control signal in the quality lock devioe;
• and
• d) enabling operation of the instrument only after receiving the control signal.