Flying probe testers work with boundary scan

Goepel Electronic and Itochu SysTech have developed a boundary scan option for Takaya series 8xxx and 9xxx flying probe testers.

Goepel Electronic and Itochu SysTech have developed a boundary scan option for Takaya series 8xxx and 9xxx flying probe testers.

The solution is based on the integration of the Cascon Galaxy software and new Scanflex hardware into the flexible flying probe test system, involving the FPT probes.

"Combining the flexible abilities of Takaya flying probe test system with Goepel Electronic JTAG/boundary scan test advantages, increases the customer's test opportunities of both products in the market".

"Due to this development co-operation we're presently able to offer a highly powerful solution", says Stefan Meissner of Goepel Electronic.

"In particular, the parallel control of the flying probes - independent from serial TAP vectors - results in a considerable improvement in test quality as well as process handling".

"Each probe can be an additional virtual scan pin in all types of boundary scan tests without modifying projects and test programs already generated at the lab stage".

Boris Opfer, Product Manager, ICT Sales and Technical Services for Itochu SysTech, adds: "Only by the long-term partnership with Goepel Electronic was it possible to provide this innovative solution not exclusively for the new generation of Takaya flying probe systems but previous systems can also be refitted".

"Now existing Takaya users are able to upgrade their test solutions and benefit from Goepel Electronic's Cascon software and Scanflex hardware products".

In terms of hardware, the integration is based on the high-performance Scanflex SFX/PCI1149-x PCI controller with programmable TCK frequencies up to 20MHz (A type) and 50MHz (B type), respectively.

The UUT connection is completed by using a Scanflex transceiver model SFX-TAP4/C, which provides four parallel TAPs, interposing relays and up to eight programmable interface parameters for the optimal adaptation to the UUT.

The UUT is connected by means of the standard interface of the flying prober.

The reliable Scanflex TAP-transceiver with Cion interface enables the direct control of UUTs at distances up to 1.5m.

No additional signal conditioning electronics is required.

The probes are parallel controlled by the recently introduced SFX-5704 multifunction module.

Thus, each probe can digitally measure and drive, and can be used for scanning analogue voltage.

In terms of software, the complete Cascon Galaxy development and execution environment was integrated into the operating system via the user friendly CAPI interface (Cascon application programming interface).

Thus, all Cascon software editions can be configured per enable codes on the FPT.

The flying probes' control is managed with the integrated SFX-5704 module by means of Hyscan technology implemented in Cascon Galaxy.

Hyscan enables the synchronisation of serial JTAG/boundary scan test vectors with parallel test vectors through a special emulation process.

The parallel vectors are linked to the physical I/O interface at run time, providing tester hardware independence.

The manual or automated generation of test vectors, the debugging, and the fault diagnostic is executed by the native JTAG/boundary scan tools.

Each flying probe acts as a boundary scan pin at the contacted net, completely transparent to the user.

Special knowledge about the detailed runs is not necessary because data handling is executed automatically.

The first systems have already been delivered in the first quarter of 2006.

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