productronica: Cloud clears way to IC testing

The service operates on a pay per use approach. Advantest supplies two testers with three different configurations to execute the test programs. These machines are supplied rent-free. The user then pays a licence fee to download a menu of a set of software tools from the cloud including algorithms and testing functions, directly onto a laptop to build individual, specific test environments using the Cloud Testing Service software interface.

Once the test flow is completed it can be downloaded onto a tester connected to the device under test.

The concept is clearly explained on a CTS portal site along with a detailed IP licensing description and selection assistant.

A user can register on the portal and set up an account to download user manuals, basic CloudTesting software and selected IPs. Advantest is offering a free month trial to potential users.

Two test boxes are offered. The CX1000P provides two power supplies, 32 I/O channels, one PMU, one arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) and a digitiser. It also contains two reference voltage supplies, one auxiliary power supply and 16 controller signals to control specific applications.

The CX1000D tester provides eight power supplies, 128 I/O channels, four PMUs, four                     AWGs, and four digitisers. Two of these testers can be linked to double resources including 256 I/O channels.

The service has been launched successfully in Japan and productronica was its first outing in Europe.