ScanWorks® JTAG Programming Stations

Product Overview

The ScanWorks Programming Stations come in three flavors, PLD Programming Station, Flash Programming Station, or PLD/Flash Programming Station. The ScanWorks Programming Stations has been designed to take advantage of JTAG or boundary-scan access to load programs or configuration data into memories or programmable logic devices (PLDs) after they have been bonded to a printed circuit board (PCB). In-system programming (ISP) or in-system configuration (ISC) operations are optimized on ScanWorks because of the high-speeds the station is capable of (up to 50 MHz) and the station's multi-port capabilities, which allow it to program as many as eight PCBs in parallel.

On-board programming has many benefits during the manufacturing process, but the ScanWorks Programming Station is very valuable during design as well. Some of the benefits of ISP and ISC, including the following:

• More efficient manufacturing -- programming is accomplished as an integrated part of the overall manufacturing process.
• Reduced device handling -- Devices are soldered once, and programmed or re-programmed on-board
• Less risk of device damage -- No need to de-solder devices for re-programming
• Easier inventory control -- Fewer devices in inventory because only non-programmed devices are in inventory
• Simpler field upgrades -- Software/firmware can be upgraded in the field.

Design Management

ScanWorks design management provides features needed to get started using ScanWorks for boundary-scan testing or in-system configuration. The design management software is included with the Test Development Station, Interconnect Development Station, Diagnostics & Repair Station, Interconnect Repair Station, and the Programming Station. The design management software features allow you to:

• Import the design data from your CAE/CAD environment on which interconnect tests, scan path verification tests, memory interconnect tests, flash programming and graphical views are based
• Create the boundary-scan description of your design on which all test and programming activities are based
• Create and apply tests to verify the boundary-scan design description is correct and works properly
• Organize and manage your design, test, and programming data
• Create and apply simple test programs using the macro language
• Use a simple test executive to create manufacturing test and programming applications
• Integrate ScanWorks tests into custom test executives or with other test applications using APIs
• Export tests to manufacturing as one compressed file
• Automate the process of creating and managing projects, designs, and actions using any language that supports Microsoft COM, including Perl and Tcl with ScanWorks scripting feature.

JTAG/Boundary Scan Design Description

The boundary-scan design description used in ScanWorks is based on the IEEE 1149.1 standard Boundary-Scan Description Language (BSDL) files provided by the device vendors. The design management software imports these descriptions and creates a description of your design that includes all of the information needed to perform scan operations on the design. It is also possible to create descriptions at the multi-chip module and system levels. Once the design is described, tests to verify the design description against your actual board and tests to verify the scan path is actually working are automatically created. Scan path verification tests include options to specify alternate Device IDCODES or USERCODES.

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