ASSET’s ScanWorks for Intel platforms speeds structural and functional test on prototype and production circuit boards

Example: Memory test with bit level failure.

The newly enhanced processor-controlled test (PCT) tool on ASSET® InterTech’s ScanWorks™ platform can perform structural and functional test, as well as diagnostics, in one pass and still achieve the high test speeds required on manufacturing lines. ASSET (www.asset-intertech.com) is a leading supplier of software and hardware debug, validation and test tools based on embedded instrumentation.

“Test execution speed is especially critical in manufacturing settings, but also in design,” said Larry Osborn, ASSET’s product manager for ScanWorks PCT. “We’ve accelerated PCT to the point where a full suite of tests can be applied on a production line with minimal impact on the line’s output. Depending on the complexity of the circuit board, ScanWorks PCT can perform shorts-and-opens testing, functional test and diagnose the causes of faults all within six to eight minutes on a more complex Xeon design. That’s significantly faster than alternative test methodologies.”

ScanWorks PCT is able to quickly test and diagnose on-board memory, a common problem on Intel platforms. The faster test execution speeds of the PCT tool allow memories to be tested down to the bit level on Intel Core™-based platforms and to the rank level on Xeon® circuit boards without disrupting the flow of a manufacturing line. Since Xeon-based boards typically have more much complex memory architectures, more time is needed to identify faults to the bit level. Even so, ScanWorks PCT can find these bit-level faults by employing additional diagnostics, but this is usually performed offline from production lines.

In addition, the PCT tool can test a circuit board without bringing up its BIOS or UEFI firmware. This is important since booting adds time to the test execution process and a board with BIOS or UEFI initialized is more difficult to accurately test. For example, if a lane or two on a high-speed input/output (I/O) bus on an Intel platform fails to train properly during system initialization, the system will simply disable the failing lane, but the bus will be reported as operational despite its significantly diminished throughput. ScanWorks PCT identifies all lanes that fail to train properly.

About ASSET InterTech

ASSET InterTech (www.asset-intertech.com) is a leading supplier of tools to debug, validate and test software and hardware. The company’s SourcePoint™ software debug and trace platform and ScanWorks® platform for embedded instruments work in tandem to give engineers real insight from code to silicon. SourcePoint is a best-in-class, powerful debugger that includes advanced trace tools to gather data from code and quickly debug complex embedded software systems. ScanWorks controls instruments embedded in chips to test and validate chips and circuit boards. Together they empower engineers with tools and technology for the entire life-cycle of a system, beginning with software and hardware development, continuing through design validation and software/hardware integration, and eventually supporting the testing of the product in manufacturing and field service. ASSET InterTech is located at 2201 North Central Expressway, Suite 105, Richardson, TX 75080.