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Cover-Extend leverages existing VTEP hardware such as the VTEP probes and MUX card.
(March 24, 2008) SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Agilent Technologies Inc. will demonstrate a hybrid boundary scan and VTEP vectorless test solution, Cover-Extend, at APEX in Las Vegas, April 1–3 and Nepcon China in Shanghai, April 8–11, launching under its VTEP v2.0 Powered suite. Cover-Extend technology allows in-circuit test (ICT) without physical test points, recovering up to 50% of test node access and protecting assemblies.
Agilent designed the ICT technology in response to smaller form factors and tighter spacing on modern PCBs, thinner PCBs and fragile BGAs/CSPs that are sensitive to strain, and test access blocks caused by heatsinks and no-lead packages on assemblies. The technology also is designed to eliminate some fixturing costs on ICT units, reducing overall operating costs for the testing method. A typical EMS/OEM facility with the technology implemented across 30 lines can save up to $500,000 in fixturing per year, according to Rich Rivas, Intel global account manager for Agilent's systems solutions team. The Cover-Extend technology uses stimulus from boundary scan cells to provide ICT; non-boundary-scan devices connected to boundary-scan-enabled chips are tested simultaneously. Users resolve about 28% of test requirements with this system, Rivas notes, and designers can incorporate Agilent Bead Probes to reduce test point area further.
Traditional boundary scan also requires skilled test operators, hampering use in emerging markets, according to Andrew Tek, product marketing engineer at Agilent's measurement systems division. Vectorless test, on the other hand, is popular in emerging markets with low-skill operators, he added. The hybrid test technology of Cover-Extend requires mid-level test engineer skills, appealing to the emerging markets in China and the Asian region. Tester resources, test nodes, and fixturing costs all are expected to lower with the Cover-Extend technology.
Agilent is focusing on mobile computing, which it sees as driving trends in PCB development, and other computational/consumer devices for the Cover-Extend test technology. The company is implementing Cover-Extend in full-scale production environments with key customers in April 2008, and will demonstrate it at major tradeshows.
For more information, visit www.agilent.com.
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Cover-Extend enables ICT coverage on the Medalist i3070 platform.
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