Anaheim, Calif. -- February 25, 1997 -- Teradyne, Inc. today announced a new low-cost circuit board test system priced under $50,000. Introduced at the NEPCON West 97 trade show, the Z1803 manufacturing process tester delivers the proven performance and productivity of the world's best-selling Z1800-Series systems at a new, low price.

"The Z1803 is the solution of choice for manufacturers who need total fault coverage for advanced VLSI and mixed-signal boards, but want to preserve the time and cost advantages that older MDAs (manufacturing defects analyzers) provide on simpler boards," said Craig Pynn, Marketing Manager, Assembly Test Division-Walnut Creek. "The Z1803 combines the well-known cost and cycle time benefits of MDAs with the high fault coverage and upgradability of manufacturing process testers."

The Z1803 offers the following features:

• Full power-off analog in-circuit test for finding interconnect faults and checking passive devices.
• Standard DeltaScan™ vectorless test for high coverage of VLSI digital and mixed-signal opens and device faults.
• Standard FrameScan Plus™ and CapScan™ vectorless test for finding connector opens and reversed electrolytic capacitors.
• Up to 2048 non-multiplexed pins.
• Bosch frame-equipped, tilting console for straightforward integration into automated assembly lines.
• PC-based run-time operating and programming environment.
• Full program-generation tools, including available Momentum™ programming environment for direct CAD-to-tester data transfer and test validation.
• ProcessWatch Parametrics™ software for creating accurate, repeatable test programs.
• Full production-floor upgradability to other Z1800-Series features, such as digital in-circuit, boundary-scan test, and flash memory programming.

Pricing for the Z1803 begins at under $50,000. Systems will begin shipping in the second quarter of 1997. Availability is 4-6 weeks ARO.

Teradyne is the world's leading supplier of automatic test equipment. Headquartered in Boston, the company also manufactures telephone-equipment test systems and backplane equipment. The Assembly Test Division, Walnut Creek, Calif., manufactures circuit-board test and inspection systems for the commercial electronics market.