Product category:
Design and Development Hardware
News Release from: Integrated Measurement Systems (IMS) | Subject: Vanguard 330
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 27 April 2001
Low-cost entry to IC design verification
Integrated Measurement Systems has a new, lower-cost version of its flagship Vanguard engineering system for validation of complex, high-performance logic ICs and SoCs.
Integrated Measurement Systems has a new, lower-cost version of its flagship Vanguard engineering system for validation of complex, high-performance logic integrated circuits and SoCs Designed to validate devices in the 100 to 330MHz performance range, the Vanguard 330 affords customers the opportunity to bring designs faster to market at a lower capital investment in the critical engineering phase of IC development
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 22 Mar 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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According to Chuck Wiley, IMS Logic Systems Marketing Manager, "Vanguard logic IC validation systems, both the 500MHz/1Gbit and the newest 330MHz/660Mbit version, offer customers interactive software, excellent speed and timing performance, and easy system mobility, providing superior validation performance at prices significantly lower than production ATE systems.
The lower price of the Vanguard 330 makes it easier for users to move into the Vanguard family, knowing that they can upgrade to 500MHz/1Gbit performance when next generation designs require the added speed".
Complete device validation requires device operation at full rated speed.
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As high performance designs utilise faster datapaths, engineers need validation systems with faster device clocks and datarates.
To meet this need, the Vanguard 330 provides clocks running up to 330MHz, 1x data rates up to 330Mbit/s and 2x data rates up to 660Mbit/s.
By comparison, the current Vanguard 500 provides clocks up to 500MHz and data rates up to 500Mbit/s or 1 Gbit/s.
In contrast to production ATE systems which optimise device throughput for go/no-go tests, Vanguard optimises the process of setting up tests and viewing results, shortening the time to isolate and analyse device performance problems.
"The Vanguard has proven to be an invaluable engineering tool for many of the leading IC manufacturers in the world developing the latest and most complex designs", stated Don Grant,IMS President and Chief Operating Officer.
"The Vanguard 500, and now the new 330, will continue to set the standard for engineering validation in the semiconductor industry with unmatched speed, performance and cost-effectiveness.
More importantly, Vanguard will help IMS customers to meet their critical time to market and profitability goals".
Validating first silicon prototypes and identifying performance problems is a critical period in IC development.
The distinguishing advantage of Vanguard's interactive software is the time it saves users developing and modifying validation programs.
Engineers can quickly view test conditions and results on screen.
They can investigate performance issues by quickly changing pattern, voltage and timing parameters, immediately rerunning tests, and viewing new results on-screen.
Vanguard's ability to provide immediate results, in contrast to batch-oriented production ATE systems, can save customers weeks or months in development time.
A significant challenge during debug of a new device is determining exactly what has failed in a pattern test.
Vanguard improves the efficiency of this process by providing simultaneous real-time comparison and acquisition, with 1 or 4Mbyte acquisition memory on each pin, so that engineers can see what actually happened pin-by-pin and vector-by-vector after a single execution of the test.
And, since validation parameters are set and displayed in device-oriented terms, the user is less likely to make errors in understanding or interpreting the test conditions and results.
The Vanguard's high-speed timing architecture and outstanding pin electronics provide versatile and accurate performance at the device under test.
With fly-by I/O available on every pin, Vanguard easily interfaces to high-speed busses.
Vanguard also allows single-line I/O connections with tri-stateable drivers for interfacing to low power pins.
The Vanguard 330 can be upgraded to full Vanguard 500 performance on a monthly basis or permanently.
The monthly upgrade is designed for users who have an occasional project with speeds above 330MHz.
The permanent upgrade is more cost effective if a customer expects to need speeds above 330MHz on a regular basis.
Upgrading simply requires an order and license information from IMS.
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