ASSET Helps Telecommunications Company Program Implement In-System Programming with the ScanWorks JTAG Environment

"Based on these results, we decided to require boundary scan on all new products."

CUSTOMER

Jerry Talen, Senior Hardware Test Engineer, Netrix, Inc. Netrix is a telecommunications company that designs and manufacturers network interface cards and software for private wide area networks (WANs).

CRITICAL ISSUE

The company needed a cost effective way to program flash memory and in-system programmable devices on their boards, as well as troubleshoot diagnostic tests during the manufacturing process.

REASONS

The company had encountered difficulties with access to test points during manufacturing test on some of its newer designs. In addition, the engineers had been confronted with cryptic diagnostic routines that on several occasions had led to costly problems during manufacturing.

VISION

Mr. Talen saw the possibility to maximize the use of both in-circuit test (ICT) and ASSET’s JTAG test tools to increase overall productivity. In this way, he could use ICT systems for some test functions, while using the fast and portable PC-based ASSET boundary scan system to program flash memory and other programmable devices after they had been soldered to the board, as well as to test and troubleshoot boards.

WE PROVIDED

ASSET gave Netrix these capabilities as well as a Windows graphical user interface that made the new system easy to use.

RESULT

Netrix found that ASSET improved productivity tremendously, which allowed the company to increase production volume. In addition, the engineers found it to be the least expensive way to program and test their programmable logic devices. Based on the results of the initial implementation, a corporate-wide decision was made to require boundary scan on all new products.

Mr. Talen explains the results this way. "We did a cost justification of ASSET when we were first considering boundary scan. It is now integral to our manufacturing test strategy for all new products. We couldn't do without it."

Success Stories Home