Board test gets respect at APEX, ITC

Does board test get no respect? That could be the case, based on comments at an October 10 board-test panel at the 2002 International Test Conference, and based on interviews I've conducted since then (see "Is functional test necessary?" Test & Measurement World, January 2003). That's about to change, though, as two shows plan board-test events for 2003.

First up is APEX, scheduled for March 31 through April 2 in Anaheim, CA. APEX will host the National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative's (www.nemi.org) Test Strategy Project. At a free session, to be held Tuesday April 1 from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m., project representatives will present the results of a year-long investigation into the effectiveness of in-circuit test, plus optical and x-ray inspection, for testing high-density PCBs.

ITC (www.itctestweek.org) organizers have taken to heart the comments they heard at last year's board-test panel. Spurred on by test consultant Ben Bennetts and other board-test practitioners who have come together under the BTAG (Board Test Action Group) banner, this year's ITC (September 30 to October 2, Charlotte, NC) will include a special track for board and system test.

To boost participation in the board and system test track, show organizers have extended the submission deadline for board and system test papers from February 14 to June 6. The track gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge in various board-test areas:

• traditional board-test techniques like boundary scan, in-circuit test, and x-ray and optical inspection,
• in-system configuration of CPLDs and FPGAs,
• new standards such as IEEE P1581 Static Component Interconnection Test Technology (SCITT) and 1149.6 AC EXTEST,
• using 1149.1 as a test-bus backplane for system-level and field-service test,
• board-test economics and outsourcing, and
• education requirements for board-test engineers.

ITC has become a chip-centric show that has kept board-test presentations hovering at about 10% to 15% of total presentations. But standards like P1581 and the various flavors of 1149 require close cooperation of chip and board engineers for optimal results, so it's appropriate that ITC begin to emphasize board test's importance.

Whether you are a board or chip test engineer, you can contribute to the board-test function. Attend the board-test sessions at APEX and ITC or obtain the proceedings to study after the shows. For maximum impact, submit a paper to ITC. But hurry—the June 6 deadline is approaching quickly.

Contact Rick Nelson at rnelson@tmworld.com