Best in Test Finalists: Boundary scan
-- Test & Measurement World, 12/22/2008 2:00:00 AM
→ JT 37x7 Rack-Mountable Instrument, JTAG Technologies
→ onTAP Series 4000 Software Featuring ProScan, Flynn Systems
→ Remote Instrumentation Controller, Model 1000 (RIC-1000), ASSET InterTech
→ ScanBox RM System, Acculogic
→ UltraTAP-BT Test Pod, Intellitech
→ VarioTAP Platform, GOEPEL electronic
JT 37x7 Rack-Mountable Instrument
JTAG Technologies
www.jtag.com
The JT 37x7 RMI Rack-Mountable Instrument is a complete boundary-scan controller packaged in a standard 19-in., 1U form factor. It supports all boundary-scan test applications, including IEEE 1149.6 advanced digital network testing, as well as in-system programming of flash memories and programmable logic devices.
With its four fully compliant boundary-scan TAPs, the RMI maintains signal integrity at the target. In addition, the RMI provides 256 programmable I/Os. All TAPs and I/Os are available on the front panel of the unit to ease cabling.
Useful for bench work in the lab, the self-contained RMI offers three test system interfaces: USB 2.0, Ethernet 10/100, and IEEE 1394. Test clock frequency is programmable up to 40 MHz for rapid application execution, especially important for flash programming, while TAP and I/O voltages can be programmed over a wide range.
Base price of the JT 37x7 RMI is $6500. Plug-in modules allow upgrading in two steps to support all boundary-scan applications.
onTAP Series 4000 Software Featuring ProScan
Flynn Systems
www.flynn.com
onTAP Series 4000 is a highly automated boundary-scan software package for comprehensive JTAG testing at an affordable price. Because onTAP uses standard CPLD/FPGA programming cables or the onTAP USB test and programming cable, the cost of developing and maintaining expensive custom hardware is eliminated.
The onTAP software organizes boundary-scan-related questions and tasks that are fundamental to a project and then guides the user through them; a graphical interface acts as a task manager. The software provides a full set of boundary-scan interconnect, cluster test, and programming features, while allowing application through inexpensive programming cables.
onTAP Series 4000 also features ProScan, an integrated environment to view, run, and debug tests. Bringing test and development functions to the ProScan screen provides engineers full access to onTAP’s multiple array of tools, while providing a graphic display of test functions. ProScan’s tools, some of which include break-points, single stepping, browsing the circuit, pin wiggling, guards editing, recompiling, and application mode signal sampling, help make debugging and development easier and smoother.
The base price for a single seat of onTAP Series 4000 is $4285. A typical onTAP configuration, including the basic system, flash programming, memory cluster testing, a floating license, and USB test and programming cable, costs $6405.
Remote Instrumentation Controller, Model 1000 (RIC-1000)
ASSET InterTech
www.asset-intertech.com
ASSET claims its Remote Instrumentation Controller, Model 1000 (RIC-1000) is the first JTAG/boundary-scan controller capable of applying tests anywhere in the world directly over the Internet. Previously, boundary-scan tests might be applied scan-by-scan through uplink and downlink converters at both ends of the communications link—a method that can introduce latencies on the line and add the cost of multiple protocol converters.
With the RIC-1000 and ScanWorks embedded instrumentation platform, you can implement a client/server architecture where entire tests suites are communicated directly over the Internet from a ScanWorks system to the RIC-1000. Because it is equipped with local intelligence and ASSET’s EIE (Embedded Instrumentation Engine) technology, the RIC-1000 is able to apply complete test suites independently of the remote ScanWorks system. The RIC-1000 then communicates test results back to the ScanWorks system via the Internet. Each RIC-1000 is assigned an IP address. The EIE technology, which applies the JTAG tests locally, runs on the RIC-1000’s CPU and executes tests based on UUT-specific data downloaded from ScanWorks. Since all ScanWorks interactive debugging features are available through the RIC-1000, users can effectively debug tests and PCBs remotely over any wireline or wireless network.
Prices for the RIC-1000 start at $5995.
ScanBox RM System
Acculogic
www.acculogic.com
Each boundary-scan controller is connected either through the system backplane or directly to the UUT. Communication between ScanBox and the controlling PC is accomplished using an Ethernet link in a local network or remotely through the Web.
Using Acculogic’s ScanNavigator Rx software, you can use a single PC to develop an unlimited number of different test and programming routines (pattern sets), concurrently deliver them to each target, and capture the diagnostic responses. While the boundary-scan programs are being executed on the ScanBox, the PC is free to attend to other tasks.
Each ScanBox RM mainframe is configurable with multiples of up to six boundary-scan controllers. A single ScanBox RM with three controllers installed in the 19-in., 1U rack-mount chassis costs $24,750. The system requires a single user license for ScanNavigator Rx, which costs $3000.
UltraTAP-BT Test Pod
Intellitech
www.intellitech.com
About the size of a flash drive, the UltraTAP-BT is a Bluetooth-enabled IEEE 1149.1/JTAG test pod with nonvolatile flash memory for storing test programs and failure data. The pod allows plug-and-play testing and FPGA configuration without the need for a computer, cable, and software.
Once the pod is programmed, the USB connection is not required, as UltraTAP-BT derives its power from the target UUT. You can perform JTAG tests by plugging the UltraTAP-BT into the JTAG header of the PCB and checking the green and red pass/fail LEDs. When tests fail, the results are transmitted to a nearby Bluetooth-enabled computer for pin, net, and register diagnostics or stored in the pod’s nonvolatile memory for retrieval via the USB interface.
The light weight, low-power, and wireless operation of the UltraTAP-BT pod enables wireless-network-based JTAG testing on the factory floor or temporary JTAG BIST for a UUT without designing it into the PCB. UltraTAP-BT can also be used to add JTAG testing to in-circuit test fixtures, flying probes, and functional testers.
North American list price for the UltraTAP-BT is $595. The software required to download to the pod and to collect failure information and diagnose faults costs $1500 for a 1-year license.
VarioTAP Platform
GOEPEL electronic
www.goepel.com
VarioTAP technology enables the fusion of JTAG emulation and boundary-scan testing to enable real interlaced test operations. The solution employs a configurable streaming technology of TAP signals based on respective microprocessor model libraries (VarioTAP-IP models) that can transform a microprocessor into an intelligent test controller.
With VarioTAP, you can define emulation test vectors and boundary-scan test vectors on the same level and in the same environment within a single test program. Special microprocessor knowledge or native microprocessor development tools are not needed.
The system also allows vector generation via ATPG (automated test pattern generation). Emulation test vectors are translated by the VarioTAP-IP on-the-fly into functional microprocessor executions and applied dynamically for at-speed testing. Afterward, response vectors can be used for pin-level fault diagnostics.
The price for a single microprocessor-specific VarioTAP-IP is $290. A VarioTAP manual interlaced test-generation tool costs $1610; VarioTAP ATPG dynamic memory access costs $2980; and VarioTAP ATPG peripheral interface test costs $4120. All prices are for perpetual licenses.
| Go back to the complete list of Best in Test finalists. |
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