Value of ScanWorks®
shines on every segment of marketplace
by Nicole Doherty
Mainstream, Business Development Manager
The first thing many ScanWorks users
want to know is how quickly can interconnect tests be
developed and deployed with the highest test coverage?
The answer they want to hear is always the same: the
faster, the better.
Because of ASSET's significant investment
in automation features, an always improving graphical
user interface and its intuitive nature, ScanWorks has
become the easiest to use boundary-scan environment
available today. And ease-of-use has a direct bearing
on how quickly tests can be developed and deployed.
Ease-of-Use
One way that ease-of-use can be measured
quantitatively is the number of mouse clicks that any
task requires. With the assistance of long-time users,
ASSET developers have thoroughly analyzed the typical
boundary-scan test development process. Based on this
knowledge, ScanWorks has been equipped with features
and capabilities which anticipate many of the next steps
in the process. Instead of involving human intervention,
these steps are performed automatically for users. In
addition, ASSET developers found that some steps involved
more manual labor than others. By automating many of
these steps, manual mouse clicks, which indicate time
and effort on the part of an engineer, can be eliminated
and the entire process streamlined.
Steps in the development process that
provide major return in terms of ease-of-use are those
that involve text editing by the user. Wherever and
whenever manual text editing can be eliminated, the
ease-of-use is improved. This has been carried out to
such an extent in ScanWorks that now many types of boundary-scan
interconnect tests can be developed quickly and all
text editing has been eliminated. For example, at one
time an engineer might need to manually edit the netlist
of a design to generate a boundary scan test. Now, ScanWorks
has eliminated much, if not all, of the manual labor
that was previously required to edit netlists.
 Another
factor which makes ScanWorks so easy to use is the intuitive
nature of the graphical user interface. The icons, dialog
boxes and other features of ScanWorks guide users through
test development, simplifying the choices and speeding
up the entire process.
As one user so aptly put it: "ScanWorks
is easy to use. We've found ScanWorks' Memory Interconnect
Test very useful with our memory-intensive boards. We
have been able to get test coverage close to 90 percent
by using only ScanWorks." -- Michael Hinz, digital
hardware design engineer at Navini Networks.
One Click Test Development
A critical aspect of automating test
development in ScanWorks is its new TopCAT™ (Topology
and Cluster Analysis Technology) capabilities, which
are particularly valuable to users who are bringing
new products to market quickly, such as growing companies
involved in emerging technologies.
TopCAT technology slashes interconnect
test development time by automating many tasks that
engineers or technicians previously performed. TopCAT
technology analyzes the schematic of a printed circuit
board or assembly to identify all of the non-boundary-scan
devices that are connected to boundary-scan devices.
These non-boundary-scan devices are candidates for boundary-scan
cluster tests. Next, TopCAT technology automatically
matches the names of the non-boundary scan devices in
the design's netlist with device models that are archived
in a library on the Internet and available through ScanWorks.
Alternatively, the models may be stored in a library
within the user organization. Once the TopCAT technology
has retrieved the device models, they are automatically
included in the interconnect test generation process.
TopCAT then optimizes the configuration of the device
models to achieve the highest test coverage and safety
of the board. (For more information on TopCAT,
click
here.)
Ensuring Success
Getting started with boundary scan
is a significant undertaking for anyone. In addition
to simply learning the technology, there can be pressure
to quickly generate results in the form of interconnect
tests. To help alleviate this situation, ASSET's Ensure
DFT (EDFT) services organization is a cost-effective
and fast solution. EDFT and its Partner Providers offer
a full line of services and are experts in boundary
scan test development. From simply verifying the accuracy
of devices' boundary scan description language (BSDL)
files to a full range of test development services,
EDFT strives for the best coverage on every boundary
scan deployment. Having EDFT develop tests for a production
board as a test case often is the fastest way of instituting
and deploying boundary scan. (For more information on
EDFT,
click
here. For more information on EDFT's
Partner Providers, click
here.)
Flexible ScanWorks Solutions
To ensure all users can take full advantage
of ScanWorks' boundary-scan test capabilities, ScanWorks
is highly configurable. As a result, users can select
the ScanWorks station that best meets their needs. ASSET
offers two different product lines along with licensing
options that meet the needs of every budget. For example,
those who are just getting started in boundary-scan
test and who are looking for a quick, easy interconnect
development tool will find a good fit in the new ScanWorks
Interconnect Development Station product line. (For
more information on ScanWorks,
click
here.) All ScanWorks options are listed in every
proposal so firms can budget for upgrades as their designs
integrate more boundary-scan components. The ScanWorks
Test Development Station product line meets the needs
of those who are looking for a more comprehensive and
dynamic station that can handle boundary-scan support
devices, non-boundary scan devices and even loop-back
tests. Both types of systems come with TopCAT technology
for fast interconnect test generation and to ensure
the highest coverage possible.
In addition, ASSET has licensing options
to fit all budgets. Single user or network licenses
are available, as well as perpetual and limited-term
licenses. For example, a limited term license for ScanWorks
gives a budget-conscious user the option of experiencing
the value of ScanWorks before committing to a long-term
perpetual license.
In the end, the ease-of-use, tools,
automation features, capabilities and flexible licensing
arrangements of ScanWorks, backed by the effective services
of EDFT and its Partner Providers, add up to an offering
that has tremendous value for every segment of the electronic
test market.
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