Electronica addresses PCB quality

-- Test & Measurement World, 11/22/2006 9:34:00 AM

Electronica 2006 exhibitors Aeroflex, Digitaltest, Seica, and Teradyne demonstrated new PCB electrical-test functionality, while Viscom touted recently introduced PCB inspection capabilities.

Aeroflex announced that it has improved the functionality of its 5800 Series multi-configuration, multi-function ATE system with the addition of a boundary-scan and Q-Test capability along with a PXI software wrapper tool.

The system’s boundary-scan capability supports boundary scan path check, device identification checks (IDCODE), interconnect tests, device internal tests (INTEST), device built-in-self test (BIST), and external tests (EXTEST). Aeroflex’s Q-Test function enables both analog and digital devices plus connectors to be tested for pin connectivity without requiring detailed information on the device under test. The Q-Test features comprise simplified vector testing, inductive or capacitive signal pickup for broad applications, graphical user set-up, and flexible mounting for detection circuitry. The new PXI software wrapper tool allows PXI cards to be integrated into the Aeroflex software environment. The new tool is not restricted to PXI cards and can also be used for most instrument drivers, including DLLs.

The 5800 Series combinational PCB testing platform supports analog in-circuit testing with a maximum of 3456 test points, and is available in floor-standing, bench-top, and rack-mount styles.

Digitaltest chose Electronica 2006 to demonstrate new features added to its Condor, MTS300 Sigma, and the MTS 180 systems. The company’s second-generation Condor 500 flying prober employs linear motors to operate 30% faster than previous models. It also includes “soft landing” technology to limit damage to boards under test. The company’s MTS 300 Sigma in-circuit tester now features a new ergonomic design with a 20° diagonal angle that facilitates the change of adaptors and boards. The company also demonstrated for the first time a one-touch fixture for its MTS 180 in-circuit tester; the new fixture reduces handling time for fixture exchange.

Teradyne demonstrated two new pin cards for its TestStation ICT platform. The UltraPin II 121 and 121a pin boards offer true non-multiplexed operation, enabling unrestricted pin assignments for both analog and digital test applications while providing flexibility when programming driver/sensor logic levels, sense thresholds, slew rates, and back-drive limits. The UltraPin II 121 features Teradyne’s SafeTest capabilities and offers 15-mV drive and sense accuracy, 2.3-mV programming resolution, low driver impedance, and the ability to monitor and program back-drive currents to 15 mA The UltraPin II 121 pin board has 128 real (non-multiplexed) digital/analog pins per board and supports a maximum of 2048 high-performance pins when configured in a TestStation LH model or 3840 when installed in the LX model. The 121a is a pure-pin analog-only board with 128 analog pins optimized for the accurate and reliable powered and un-powered testing of analog components and electrical specifications. TestStation systems support mixing UltraPin II 121 and 121a pin boards in the same system. Starting prices of UltraPin II TestStation configurations are less than $100,000.

Teradyne also highlighted its Debug Pro software debug environment for TestStation ICT equipment. Debug Pro features a label navigator, a statement editor, a guard editor window, a charting tool, component and property information windows, a customizable tool bar that provides greater access to comprehensive debug tools, and an optional untranslator window (which provides experienced users with the ability to perform debug activities using the familiar commands and keystrokes of legacy Runtime debug environments).

Also in the electrical-test arena, Seica demonstrated its lineup of functional, in-circuit, and flying-probe test systems, and the Italian company announced it has appointed Bernd Hauptmann as Munich-based sales director. Hauptman had previously held sales positions with GenRad and Orbotech.

Next: Viscom targets x-ray and optical inspection