Asset InterTech Acquires Software Debug Specialist

It broadens ScanWorks capabilities which already embrace validating signal integrity on high speed I/O buses, performing at-speed functional tests on circuit boards as well as finding shorts and opens on boards.

Reg Waller, European Business Manager of Asset InterTech put the acquisition in the context of the increasing challenges posed to design and test engineers.

“The cores and software embedded in system are growing exponentially. With multiple cores, two four and eight this brings challenges in debugging software in multi-threaded applications,” he observed. “Faster Ser/Des I/O above 6Gb/s along with fast memory means signal integrity can’t be undertaken via probes or test points,” he added.

And as packaging technology becomes more integrated there is less I/O access hampering the access for design validation and structural test in production.

Asset InterTech’s strategy has been endorsed by Intel’s launch of Silicon View Technology (SVT) which is a set of capabilities embedded in Intel’s processors and chipsets. It enables platform debug, electrical validation, and board manufacturing test solutions and those from third party solution providers, tasks now covered by ScanWorks following the Atrium deal.

Arium will be merged into Asset InterTech. “There are no planned redundancies and Arium is a strong brand that we will continue to use, Waller commented.