Scan Fixture universal low cost device test platform for ASICs and MCMs

Mountain View, CA, October 24, 1994 ... Alpine Image Systems, Inc. (AIS)
introduced ScanFixture, a low cost digital ASIC and MCM (Multi Chip
Module) tester, at the International Test Conference 94 in Washington DC
the first week in October. ScanFixture is a universal test platform
featuring 400 ScanPinZ test points for applications including MCM
interconnect verification, BSDL (Boundary Scan Description Language) file
verification, IDDq device test, and low speed digital functional test.

OVERVIEW

ScanFixture is a benchtop instrument with removable load boards configured
for specific ASICs or MCMs. The load boards accommodate PGA, QFP, DIP, SMT
and BGA packages through a variety of ZIF sockets and footprint adapters.

ScanFixture is driven by a PC plug-in card (included) and controlled by a
variety of software packages, optimized for testing Multi Chip Modules and
1149.1 compliant and non-compliant ASICs. For each of these categories of
devices ScanFixture brings unique test benefits.

Each DUT pin maps to one of ScanFixture's 400 ScanPinZ, multi-functional
test nodes that can be configured as inputs, outputs, tri-states (hi Z),
power or ground. Power and ground pins are strapped on the load board.
ScanPinZ drive high, low and tri-state values under test program control;
ScanPinZ also sense highs, lows and differentiate between DUT tri-state
output and a DUT drive high or DUT drive

Each ScanFixture load board has a staging area for ancillary circuitry
(e.g. crystal oscillator) that may be required to keep the DUT running. An
external power supply or ScanFixture's internal power supply can power the
DUT. Other test tools such as pattern generators, logic analyzers, signal
sources and oscilloscopes may be connected to the DUT through the load
board. Test programs can interlock with other programmable test
equipment.

"ScanFixture was developed after we learned that several customers were
going to build their own 'home brew' tester, since they couldn't buy one
off-the-shelf," noted Ellis Goldberg, AIS VP of Marketing. Unlike what the
customers planned on building themselves, ScanFixture is a universal
device test bed with elegantly simple I/O on each of up to 400 ScanPinZ.
It tests devices with varied kinds of package technologies by just
plugging in different adapters and load boards".

"ScanFixture is priced so a single designer or small group can afford it as
a modest performance alternative to expensive device test systems," he
continued. "It is the platform for a growing variety of test
applications," said Julian Marshall, AIS president. "The expandability of
the platform, flexibility of applications and support from third parties
will increase the value of an investment in ScanFixture."

"The elegance of ScanFixture is shown when you examine the applications for
the machine," Mr. Marshall remarked. "Without ScanFixture, the
verification of a BSDL file is particularly difficult. Until now the
designer customarily built a jig to hold the DUT and used a scope and a
standalone scan controller to hand check the boundary scan functionality
of the part--the lack of automation allows many BSDL files to leave the
manufacturer with uncaught bugs. It is probable that a BSDL file for a
complex device will contain errors. And since error free BSDL files are
essential for use with ATPGs from Teradyne, HP, and others, ScanFixture is
essential."

"The BSDL Verification Tool operates with all hardware configurations of
ScanFixture, from 100 to 400 pins. It reads the BSDL file, checks BSDL
language syntax, and checks actual hardware functionality against the
expected behavior described in the BSDL file," continued Mr. Marshall.
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Mr. Goldberg noted that "ScanFixture is also an ideal platform for MCM
test. MCM fabricators will find ScanFixture valuable in locating
manufacturing defects and structural faults. Since Multi Chip Modules tend
to be relatively expensive, customers will use ScanFixture for incoming
inspection parts and for assessing failures in modules for return to the
vendor. Similarly, repair depots will determine the causes of field
failures and verify operation of replacement MCMs."

"ScanFixture confirms low speed operation of the MCM via boundary scan and
broadside test vectors. Interconnects are verified directly in the
scannable sections of the module and inferred elsewhere through the
application of parallel test vectors to patches of non-scan glue logic.
The user has control of all the boundary scan cells in the chips on the
MCM and of the 400 ScanPinZ to which the MCM I/Os are attached. Plus,
ScanFixture has full access to MCM BIST capabilities," he added.

Test programs for testing MCMs are created with the AVL for ScanFixture
Tool Kit and several ATPGs. The Kit includes AVL (ASCII Vector Language),
a mature boundary scan language optimized for hand coding 1149.1 test
programs. A C library allows programming in a high level language and an
AVL to C filter makes it possible to craft a small test segment in AVL and
translate it for use in C. The Kit also includes Convert!!, a simulation
vector conversion utility for testing non-compliant components on the MCM,
plus a learn mode that uses a known working MCM as a means of creating
test vectors.

"AIS supports the same ATPGs on ScanFixture that we support with our
proTEST line of scan test systems," noted Mr. Goldberg. "Teradyne's
VICTORY" VIT (Virtual Interconnect Test) ATPG and HP 3070 scan tools
create interconnect tests between compliant chips on the MCM. AIS then
translates these tests for use with ScanFixture."
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IDDq tests find manufacturing defects in ICs. By checking ambient quiescent
current at particular machine states it can be determined if the device is
failing or is marginal. The AVL Tool Kit includes facilities to write test
vectors for putting the device into a particular state, then making a
current measurement and comparing it to the expected current. TDX-IDDQ, a
software package from ATTEST SOFTWARE, INC., helps pick the minimal set of
current measurement points that yield optimal coverage.

Mr. Marshall added, "Non-compliant ASICs are broadside tested with the
ScanFixture to look for low-speed combinatorial logic faults. This is
particularly useful for programmable logic components, which undergo more
handling in the manufacturing process than do ASICs." Simulation test
vectors are adapted for ScanFixture with the same Convert!! for
ScanFixture software that is used for MCM glue logic testing.

The 100 ScanPinZ ScanFixture with AVL Tool Kit for ScanFixture is priced at
$26,995. ScanPinZ are added at $ 1000 per 100 pins when purchased with the
ScanFixture. Load boards are priced from $695; custom load boards are
available on request. Adapters, sockets and host computer are not included
in the prices.

Software modules for ScanFixture include:

Application               Software                       Price
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ASIC 1149.1 compliant     BSDL Verifier                  $ 4,995

MCM  1149.1 compliant     VICTORY with SVF2AVL           $14,995
                          AVLsim                         $ 5,995
                          VCL2AVL                        $ 5,995

ASIC or MCM non-1194.1    AVL for ScanFixture Tool Kit   Included
compliant                                                w/system

ScanFixture production is scheduled for December, with delivery 60 days
ARO. Contact Ellis Goldberg at AIS, 2513 Charleston Road, Suite 211,
Mountain View, CA 94043 USA (415) 941-3247, (415) 941-7642 FAX

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