MUNICH--November 12, 1996--Teradyne, Inc. today introduced the first VXI-architecture manufacturing test platform for testing advanced-technology SMT circuit boards. Demonstrated for the first time at the Electronica trade show here, the next-generation Spectrum 8800-Series is the first board test system built around a fully integrated VXI system architecture for full-spectrum in-circuit and board-function test.

The Spectrum 8800-Series is designed for high-volume, leading-edge manufacturers of complex digital and mixed-signal computer and communications products (such as multimedia PCs, digital cellular and wireless networks, PDAs, broad-band PCS, set-top boxes, and cable modems)as well as automotive electronics.

Initial customers for the 8800-Series include Spectrian, Inc. (Sunnyvale, California), a manufacturer of high-power amplifiers for the wireless industry; Ford Electronics' North Penn facility (Worcester, Penn); Lucent Technologies at various locations; and Acculogic (Markham, Ontario, Canada), a test programming house and member of the Teradyne Support Network (TSN).

According to John Tufano, Manufacturing Test Engineering Manager at Spectrian, "The most effective way to meet our customer demands for quality, schedule, and cost was to make the Spectrum 8800 and Teradyne a significant part of our manufacturing plan. Of the systems we researched, the Spectrum 8800 gives us the best fault coverage and highest accuracy and repeatability. The 8800's open architecture provides plenty of flexibility for functional testing and is open to future expansion and requirements for increased capability."

"Open systems for manufacturing test demand standards," said Joseph Wrinn, General Manager, Assembly Test Division/Walnut Creek. "An open architecture lets customers implement different test strategies on a single test platform. By building the Spectrum 8800-Series around industry standards like VXI, PCs, Windows NT, and LabWindows/CVI, we offer customers the flexibility, ease of implementation, and upgradeability they need to respond to today's fast-changing production environments."

Full-Spectrum Manufacturing Test Capabilities

Standard features of the Spectrum test platform include:

• VXI architecture for in-circuit and board-function testing
• Non-multiplexed driver architecture for in-circuit test: analog, digital, and guard resources are always available on every pin
• TTL, CMOS, low-voltage CMOS, and ECL logic drive levels
• PRISM (PRecision Integrated Signal Measurement), a new high-accuracy, DSP-based VXI analog stimulus/measurement system
• PC/Windows NT-based run-time and programming software
• National Instruments' LabWindows/CVI software integrated with the Spectrum programming environment
• High-performance DSP-based digital test instrument (VP/VXI), including full parallel sensing, with comprehensive vector test capability for SSI, LSI, VLSI, and boundary-scan test
• In-Line Device Programming (ILDP) capability for high-throughput programming of flash memories and programmable logic devices on any tester pin

The easy-to-use, worksheet-based PC/Windows NT-based programming environment includes integrated CAD translation, testability analysis, test-program generation, and fixture-design software, as well as MultiScan II vectorless test for the most comprehensive vectorless test fault coverage.

A new high-density fixture interface simplifies fixturing, improves performance, and allows for smaller, lighter fixtures and straightforward use of wireless fixtures.

The new PRISM measurement system delivers state-of-the-art accuracy, throughput, stability, and flexibility for in-circuit and functional testing of analog and mixed-signal components. [See separate news release.]

Open Systems for Flexible Manufacturing Test

Spectrum systems are based on an open-systems test architecture. All Teradyne-designed channel cards, controllers, switching, and instrumentation modules are VXI compliant. Adherence to the VXI standard enables customers to configure and customize Spectrum test systems by adding commercially available C-sized VXI instrumentation as required by future growth needs or changes in technology or test strategy.

This high level of flexibility is mirrored in the open software architecture, which employs Windows NT and LabWindows/CVI. This software platform opens the system to utilize hundreds of Windows NT programming tools and utilities. Spectrum's PC/Windows NT-based run-time and programming software fully utilizes Windows NT functionality, including true multitasking and support for Windows DLL, DDE, and OLE standards, which allow communications with other Windows programs. The familiar PC/Windows NT platform simplifies training and support.

National Instruments' LabWindows/CVI (or LabView), the software industry standard for graphical development of functional tests, is tightly integrated into the Spectrum worksheet-based software environment. Running on a PC, the common platform for functional test development, LabWindows/CVI streamlines test development and debug. Over 500 hundred LabWindows/CVI device drivers for a wide range of VXI, IEEE, and GPIB instrumentation are available, letting users add third-party instruments for board-function test.

The PC system controller communicates with the test head VXIbus directly via a high-speed Multisystem eXtension Interface bus (MXI). A National Instruments' PCI/MXI-2 I/O card in the PC and VXI/MXI-2 card in the VXI cage provide this high-speed interface, which makes the external test system PC controller perform as though it were plugged directly into the VXI backplane, providing the capability of an embedded system controller.

Spectrum's open architecture based on popular industry standards enables electronics manufacturers to employ a flexible test strategy. In addition to performing manufacturing process test, manufacturers can move product function tests from custom rack-and-stack or hotbed test setups, as well as PCB assembly steps such as flash programming, on to the Spectrum manufacturing test system.

"Spectrum is the ideal test platform for manufacturers who want to increase final test yields, drive down overall test costs, and cut cycle time," said Craig Pynn, Marketing Manager, Assembly Test Division/Walnut Creek. "Advanced electronics manufacturers who want to move beyond simply controlling their assembly process with a process tester will find Spectrum the right platform to attack costs and cycle times associated with final test."

Compatibility with Current Test Systems

The Spectrum 8800 test platform builds on the best features of the popular Z1800-Series testers, which currently number approximately 2000 systems installed worldwide. Current Z1800-Series customers can use their existing Z1800-Series programs on the 8800-Series test system without modification. A "personality plate" allows existing Z1800-Series fixtures to be used on the new high-density Spectrum tester. Personality plates are also available for other manufacturers' test fixtures. A similar "look and feel" between the Z1800-Series and Spectrum 8800-Series programming environment and tools ensures a smooth upgrade path for current Z1800 users.

"The Spectrum 8800-Series is designed for effective process test plus flexible extension to include VXI, IEEE, or customer instrumentation and software," said Pynn.

"The Z1800-Series remains our standard platform for manufacturing process test. We are committed to maintaining the Z1800-Series as the cost, cycle time, and quality leader in manufacturing process test. For example, the new PRISM analog sub-system will be available on the Z1800-Series platform in early 1997."

Pricing & Availability

The Spectrum 8800-Series will initially be available in three models: the 8851, 8852, and 8855. All models are equipped with the same set of manufacturing test software and hardware, but vary in the number of channels and size of test cage. The 8851 model has up to 1280 non-multiplexed driver channels available; pricing starts at under $100,000. The 8852 offers up to 2560 non-multiplexed driver channels; pricing starts at around $120,000. The 8855 can be equipped with up to 5120 non-multiplexed driver channels; pricing starts at around $265,000. Spectrum testers will begin shipping in the fourth quarter.

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, California, manufactures circuit-board test systems for the commercial board-test market.