Three Degrees of Board Testing

摘要

As PCB component density has increased, many more new designs are based on boundary scan-enabled parts because physical access has virtually disappeared. Today, complex ICs encompass several forms of built-in test intelligence, and the boundary scan (JTAG) test port has become a popular means of access.rnNevertheless, most engineers and technicians associate boundary scan with PCB troubleshooting, and it is at this level that JTAG Technologies has directed the new JTAG LIVE™ suite of Buzz, Clip, and Script programs. According to Ray Dellecker, the company's U.S. marketing manager, "JTAG Live is a low-cost, easy-entry tool for anyone who wants to probe a circuit board without having a netlist-you just need the BSDL files. The software can be downloaded from the company's website and used with a suitable boundary scan controller and interconnecting cables."