Best in Test Finalists 2010: DFT, boundary scan, and emulation

-- Test & Measurement World, 12/22/2009 12:00:00 PM

Return to the entire list of Best in Test finalists for 2010.

--JTAG Functional Test Module, JTAG Technologies
--JULIET Desktop JTAG Tester, GOEPEL Electronic
--kDiagnostics Software Platform, Kozio
--ScanWorks for Embedded Boundary Scan, Asset InterTech
--ScanWorks Support for Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series, Asset InterTech

 

JTAG Functional Test Module
JTAG Technologies
www.jtag.com

JTAG Functional Test (JFT) provides developers with a new method for preparing tests for non-boundary-scan portions of their boards. JFT simplifies tests of mixed-signal parts such as ADCs and DACs, tests that require user intervention, and looping patterns to set up device registers.

JFT uses a recognized open-source programming language, Python, for boundary-scan testing. The integrated JFT/Python script editor and code template permit easy linking of boundary-scan pin functions to cluster I/O functions. Other time-saving features are automatic completion lists and tooltip display of available function parameters.

JFT is a plug-in module to JTAG ProVision, the company's comprehensive development system. Cluster tests are re-used automatically in ProVision by intelligently mapping boundary-scan pins to clusters. JTAG Technologies says that prior to JFT, cluster test developers used lower-level tools with cryptic proprietary test languages or complex compilers such as C and C++. These techniques were often time-intensive or lacked versatility.

Price: $2375 for users of JTAG ProVision; $4150 for new customers.

 

Juliet Desktop JTAG Tester
Goepel Electronic
www.goepel.com

Juliet (JTAG UnLimItEd Tester) is a stand-alone desktop JTAG/boundary-scan tester for prototyping and manufacturing test. It executes boundary-scan tests, in-system-programming of flash memory and PLDs, and functional emulation tests. The modular system is controlled by an external PC or laptop and features a mass interconnect interface and an exchangeable UUT (unit under test) adaptor, allowing quick system reconfigurations and providing easy access to test points.

Juliet automatically detects the UUT fixture type, loads test programs from a central server, and detects procedures to be executed. To initiate a test sequence, the operator loads the UUT into the test fixture and closes the cover; Juliet will indicate the test progress and test results via the user interface panel.

Juliet includes a boundary-scan controller, fixture electronics for testing analog and digital I/O, a power supply, a bar-code reader, USB and LAN access, an operator interface, and support for parallel and at-speed testing.

Price: $28,200 to $41,200.

 

kDiagnostics Software Platform
Kozio
www.kozio.com

kDiagnostics is an in-system diagnostics platform that provides complete functional test coverage and troubleshooting for processor-based boards. The software platform boots and runs directly on the target system with no other test access requirements.

The Kozio solution delivers a comprehensive at-speed functional validation for silicon, boards, and systems of boards. The software provides diagnostic tests for processor, caches, buses, memories, displays, cameras, audio channels, and other peripherals. The test suites help users verify that hardware functions as planned and also helps them troubleshoot design or assembly errors.

kDiagnostics allows a user to run an automated validation suite on one or thousands of boards during a production run without having to alter the design, spend multiple months of development effort, or spend days setting up a test systems. This solution allows the diagnostics software to ship with the final product.

Base price: $19,950.

 

ScanWorks for Embedded Boundary Scan
ASSET InterTech
www.asset-intertech.com

ScanWorks for Embedded Boundary Scan is an embeddable IP (intellectual property) version of the ScanWorks platform for embedded instrumentation. Asset says that boundary scan has typically been implemented on the manufacturing floor to structurally test printed-circuit boards via external testers, but embedded boundary scan can provide manufacturers with the extreme reliability they require in the field. ScanWorks for Embedded Boundary Scan IP offers a cost-effective, off-the-shelf solution. It can apply SJTAG (system-level JTAG) tests, diagnostic and programming algorithms locally or remotely to meet installation, commissioning, and field-service requirements.

With ScanWorks for Embedded Boundary Scan, system providers can control operations, administration, and maintenance of their installed systems. High-availability, fault-tolerant systems, such as those in telecom, high-end computing, and defense, can use the product to employ the JTAG infrastructure as a secondary maintenance bus for remote test, diagnostics, and provisioning.

Base price: $20,000.

 

ScanWorks Support for Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series
ASSET InterTech
www.asset-intertech.com

Asset Intertech says that the ScanWorks platform for embedded instrumentation is the first tester to support both signal-integrity design validation and circuit-board test for the new Intel Xeon Processor 5500 Series (code-named Nehalem). Enhanced since the introduction of its support for Xeon, ScanWorks deploys three non-intrusive test technologies—boundary scan, built-in self-test, and PCT (processor-controlled test)—to validate and test Xeon 5500-based circuit boards.

In validation applications, ScanWorks employs Intel's IBIST (Interconnect Built-In Self-Test) embedded instrumentation technology to perform margining and BER (bit-error rate) testing on high-speed buses like QuickPath Interconnect and PCI Express. In test applications, all three test technologies are employed. PCT takes control of a Xeon 5500 processor and asserts structural and functional tests and diagnostics on other devices and buses on the circuit board. The boundary scan function performs traditional shorts-and-opens testing.

Base price: $13,350.