Product category:
Electronics Manufacturing Quality Assurance
News Release from: Accelonix (UK) | Subject: Data I/O ImageWriter
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 28 March 2005
Board programmer integrates with
production ATE
The ImageWriter is a modular, board-level programmer that can be embedded into a board fixture on an ATE system, activate on command and program a single board or multiple-board panels.
Accelonix, leading supplier to the microelectronics production, PCB assembly and test, RF and EMC test markets has added Data I/O's ImageWriter to its product portfolio Launched in February and now available in the UK, ImageWriter is a modular, board-level programmer that can be embedded into a board fixture on an ATE system, activate on command (from the ATE system), and program a single board or multiple-board panels
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 1 Mar 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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ImageWriter is ideal for electronics manufacturers using ATE systems in the manufacturing line who want to integrate the programming function within the test process.
Paul Phillips, Managing Director of Accelonix said: "We see many diverse approaches to in-system programming in production today".
"A number of companies are using high-end ATE, especially for programming panellised boards, but it can take a lot of engineering effort to develop the vectors required".
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"Boundary scan is also an obvious choice for in-system programming but this can also use up a lot of engineering effort".
"Also, it tends to be slow and it cannot be used in most cases because boundary scan has to be designed in to the product".
"A popular approach is to deploy low cost engineering programmers for production programming".
"However, these tend to be difficult to integrate into existing process steps and the software they use is often rather operator-unfriendly".
"The ImageWriter addresses all of these concerns and is the first product we have come across which is specifically aimed at solving the challenges of in-system programming in production".
ImageWriter promises many benefits.
It reduces development time to almost nil by having the programming algorithms provided by Data I/O - the world's leading device programming company.
Operator interface and training problems are eliminated by providing a simple user interface which is consistent across many families of device types.
The overall cost and complexity of the solution is reduced by being able to run in a stand-alone mode without needing a PC and the integration into existing processes is easy using either a Windows command-style interface (ie with PC) or using a TTL-type handshaking interface (ie without a PC).
ImageWriter offers great flexibility; it can easily accept variable data and program it into the target device.
Throughput is enhanced because ImageWriter runs at a speed that is close to the theoretical minimum programming times for most device types.
Further throughput and complexity benefits are gained through the ability to run in "gang" mode allowing an entire panel of boards to be programmed simultaneously.
Users' investment is protected because ImageWriter can be redeployed on different product/device families at any time in the future.
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