ScanWorks® Processor-Controlled Test Stations for Intel® processors

Processor-controlled Test (PCT)

Processor-controlled test for the ASSET ScanWorks® platform for embedded instrumentation is the ideal, non-intrusive board test (NBT) methodology for Intel® processor based boards, even where limited or no JTAG testing is possible.

See the list of supported Intel processors below.

The Flash movie below shows how processor-controlled test (PCT) works. Initially the processor is stopped, giving the ScanWorks platform full control over the UUT's operation via the processor's debug port. ScanWorks issues read and write commands to the processor, instructing it to set up and test all addressable devices on the board, without running BIOS or OS-level code. Consequently, ScanWorks is able to diagnose faults even on non-booting boards.

By sequentially accessing all devices from the processor down, ScanWorks can exercise, test and monitor the operation of all UUT functions. Diagnostic and coverage reports identify the defective block(s), and the cause of the defect, e.g. a short on a specific line of the PCI bus, etc.

The latest version of PCT now offers extended coverage reporting, with visual and textual node-level diagnostics based on a board's component level netlist and schematics.

ScanWorks PCT has an extensive built-in library of memory, chipset and I/O device profiles, as well as a wide range of pre-programmed test scripts, e.g. Bus, memory, USB, Infra-red, etc. These facilitate automated test generation, saving a great deal of development time.

The optional I/O Emulation Unit is used to monitor and provide feedback during the testing of I/O devices. When the USB port is being tested, for example, the processor sends data to its output register, which is picked up by the I/O Emulation unit and is returned to USB input register. The processor is directed to read and compare this with the sent data, verifying the function of the port and the intervening buses.

ScanWorks supports the following Intel® processor families. Please click the links for details of each solution.