Web Browser JTAG Debugging System for PCB Interconnect Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and miniaturization of electronic components, such as Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) and Ball Grid Arrays (BGA), pose challenges in accessing and testing interconnects on printed circuit boards (PCBs), as traditional test methods struggle with physical access and require extensive test vectors, leading to increased costs and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
A JTAG test and debugging system utilizing a web browser to interact with a JTAG device test controller, dynamically downloading the latest debugging software and JTAG drivers, eliminating the need for manual updates and ensuring the use of the latest software versions without operating system compatibility issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional in-circuit testers and bed of nail fixtures are used to test interconnects on PCBs, then physical access to test points is required, but physical space constraints and loss of physical access to fine pitch components and BGA devices increase fixturing cost and reduce fixture reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical test fixture system with an electrical testing system using JTAG boundary scan technology. Instead of using physical probes and fixtures to access test points, the system uses electrical signals transmitted through the device interconnects themselves to perform testing, thereby eliminating the need for complex mechanical fixturing and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces JTAG boundary-scan cells as intermediary elements embedded within the device logic. These cells act as mediators that capture and transmit test data through the existing interconnects, allowing testing without direct physical access to test points and eliminating the need for external mechanical fixtures.
2Reliability
If manual updates of debugging software and drivers are required, then user intervention is needed, but this increases the risk of using outdated software and reduces testing consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automatic software update mechanism where the testing system automatically checks for and downloads the latest debugging software and drivers from a remote server. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual user intervention in software updates, ensuring that the system always uses the most current software versions while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism where the testing system periodically checks with a remote server to determine if newer software versions are available. Based on this feedback, the system automatically initiates downloads and updates, ensuring software consistency without requiring user awareness or action.
3Measurement precision
If extensive test vectors are used to initialize sequential logic and test interconnects, then test coverage is improved, but test time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the test vector generation and initialization functions from the traditional testing approach and consolidates them into the JTAG boundary-scan cell structure. By using the existing scan chain infrastructure, the system can initialize sequential logic and test interconnects using a standardized set of test vectors, significantly reducing the number of custom test vectors needed while maintaining comprehensive test coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
An operating system independent JTAG debugging system implemented to run in a web browser. The software executing in the browser identifies the JTAG enabled components in the target system that is to be tested, and automatically downloads the latest versions of the appropriate software, JTAG drivers and configuration information from a test server.