February 13, 2002 - LogicVision, Inc., (NASDAQ:LGVN), a leading provider of embedded test for integrated circuits and systems, and National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) today announced the successful deployment of their jointly developed STA400 device in Lockheed Martin's remote controlled, prototype test and fault isolation system.
Using the STA400 chip (the industry's first ever mixed-signal integrated circuit fully supporting the new IEEE Standard 1149.4 Mixed-signal Test Bus), Lockheed Martin was successful in testing an evaluation circuit board representative of a typical application containing both analog and digital circuitry utilizing their Intranet to control a test system located remotely in Sunnyvale, Calif. Engineers were able to remotely probe the circuit board in real time using an on-line schematic diagram of the PCB, measuring actual voltages at component pins.
Advances in circuit board and IC packaging technology have resulted in extraordinary reductions in circuit board area. With smaller, denser boards, test access has been compromised, and fault detection and diagnosis is limited. Digital portions of circuit boards presently benefit from extensive use of the familiar IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan standard for high fault coverage automated test generation, and low-cost PC-based board test. To access analog test points, however, an external In-Circuit-Tester (ICT) must still be utilized, and the board layout and shielding must accommodate external probing. The IEEE 1149.4 mixed-signal test bus standard reduces the need for ICT and allows denser board layouts. Analog test points can be accessed according to the 1149.4 standard, which defines parametric test facilities and use the digital 1149.1 infrastructure.
LogicVision and National Semiconductor have been working together for the last two years to develop and promote technology based on the 1149.4 standard. LogicVision provided RTL code for the 1149.4 embedded test core and some unique design concepts to extend circuit bandwidth. National Semiconductor incorporated the LogicVision IP into its STA400 device that it is currently sampling to selected customers.
"With the unique capability of the STA400 device, electrical test is now possible at the analog nodes which previously could not be accessed without time consuming custom design," said Pat McHugh, Lockheed Martin's DFT Applications Engineer in their EPI division. "Lockheed Martin was successful in testing an evaluation circuit board representative of a typical application containing both analog and digital circuitry utilizing their Intranet to control a test system located in Sunnyvale, California remotely from the Fleet Ballistic Missiles (FBM) facilities at Kings Bay, Georgia and Bangor, Washington."
"In validating the use of1149.4 as an enabling technology for remote control test and diagnosis of a mixed-signal circuit board, Lockheed Martin has demonstrated the leverage of embedded test capabilities at the board level," said Steve Baird, LogicVision's Marketing Director. "We are excited about Lockheed Martin's success and encourage other system providers to explore the downstream benefits of the IEEE mixed-signal test bus embedded in application-specific devices, such as the STA400. We foresee incorporation of 1149.4 into future Scorpoverview01/OC devices."
"National Semiconductor is a leading supplier of System Test Access (STA) enabled analog and mixed-signal products and technologies," said Brian Stearns, Technical Marketing Manager of National's Enhanced Solutions Group. "Our joint development partnership with LogicVision allows Lockheed Martin to conduct successful fast, low cost, and highly accurate remote system tests in a real-world situation."
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor is the premier analog company driving the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of-the-art digital technology, the company is focused on the fast growing markets for wireless handsets; displays; information appliances; and information infrastructure. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for its last fiscal year and has about 9,800 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com.
About LogicVision Inc.
LogicVision (NASDAQ: LGVN) provides proprietary technologies for embedded test that enable the more efficient design and manufacture of complex semiconductors. LogicVision's embedded test solution allows integrated circuit designers to embed into a semiconductor design test functionality that can be used during semiconductor production and throughout the useful life of the chip. For more information on the company and its products, please visit the LogicVision website at www.logicvision.com.
