JTAG Technologies today announced the first-of-its-kind product for mixed-signal boundary-scan testing. With this groundbreaking product, analog designers and test engineers will be able to explore and exploit the capabilities of IEEE 1149.4, the Standard for analog testing via boundary-scan.
JTAG-1149.4 Explorer is an easy-to-use evaluation system consisting of a sample mixed-signal application board, boundary-scan controller, and a graphical software measurement environment. The sample application board contains 1149.1- and 1149.4-compliant ICs as well as analog instrumentation including a current generator, analog to digital converter, digital to analog converter, and an AC-signal source. Using the software tool's GUI, developers select components or specific analog nodes and conduct embedded analog measurements via the IEEE 1149.4 test buses. The system enables the user to perform resistance, capacitance, voltage, AC-signal and characteristic impedance measurements without the need for additional hardware. The graphical user interface provides pull-down menus for selection of specific components or nodes on the evaluation board for the measurements. In another application of the system, engineers can make analog measurements on their own target board by using the resources (stimuli and measuring capabilities) of the JTAG-1149.4 Explorer.
"The new evaluation system will enable potential users of 1149.4 to evaluate the technology and determine whether it will be beneficial for their applications," said Ken Filliter, System Test Access Product Line Director at National Semiconductor. "We know from ample experience with evaluation boards how important it is to provide a complete package of user-friendly tools and that's why we partnered with JTAG Technologies for this product."
The only requirement to use the 1149.4 JTAG Explorer is a Windows-based PC with a parallel printer port. Existing users of JTAG Technologies products can also use any of the JT 37xx boundary-scan controllers to drive the mixed-signal applications to the target board. The mixed-signal evaluation system is available immediately at a price of approximately $2,500 from JTAG Technologies.
JTAG Technologies creates innovative boundary-scan (IEEE Standard 1149.1) products. The company delivers a broad line of software and hardware tools for test preparation, test execution, test result analysis, and in-system programming applications.