ASSET ScanWorks Selected by Microsoft for Xbox 360 Console Testing; Deployment of Over 50 ScanWorks Stations Marks a Major Breakthrough for Boundary Scan in Consumer Electronics.RICHARDSON, Texas Richardson is a suburb in Dallas County and Collin County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 91,803, while according to a 2006 estimate, the population had grown to 99,200. -- Microsoft's selection of ASSET's ScanWorks(R) boundary-scan (IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. 1149.1/JTAG) test system for its Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system marks the first major announcement of boundary scan See scan technology. boundary scan - The use of scan registers to capture state from device input and output pins. IEEE Standard 1149.1-1990 describes the international standard implementation (sometimes called JTAG after the Joint Test Action Group which began the in a high-volume consumer electronics product. Through the end of the year, over 50 ScanWorks systems will be deployed to test the Xbox 360 console throughout its product life cycle. ASSET InterTech Inc. (www.asset-intertech.com) is an international leader in boundary-scan test and in-system programming In-System Programming (abbreviated ISP) is the ability of some programmable logic devices, microcontrollers, and other programmable electronic chips to be programmed while installed in a complete system, rather than requiring the chip to be programmed prior to installing it into (ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. ). Previously, boundary scan has been deployed extensively in telecommunications, defense, high-end computer and medical systems. Microsoft(R) will engage ScanWorks' capabilities for the Xbox 360 console beginning with the product's design phase where tests generated by ScanWorks will debug To correct a problem in hardware or software. Debugging software means locating the errors in the source code (the program logic). Debugging hardware means finding errors in the circuit design (logical circuits) or in the physical interconnections of the circuits. prototypes. These ScanWorks tests will migrate to high-volume manufacturing, where they will be applied via an Agilent Medalist in-circuit test (ICT (1) (Information and Communications Technology) An umbrella term for the information technology field. See IT. (2) (International Computers and Tabulators) See ICL. 1. (testing) ICT - In Circuit Test. ) system. In addition, ScanWorks tests will be integrated into a functional test suite for the Xbox 360 console. And lastly, ScanWorks tests will be used by field depot repair operations. By re-using ScanWorks boundary-scan tests throughout every phase of the Xbox 360 console life cycle, test costs are reduced significantly and the system's time-to-market is accelerated. "We continually look for ways to improve the quality of the Xbox experience," said Don Kadyk, Manufacturing Test Engineering Manager of Microsoft. "That means looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. ways to test the quality of our product at every phase in its life cycle. We saw that ASSET's ScanWorks had the versatility and portability to support our life-cycle testing goals and keep a lid on test development costs. In the very price-sensitive consumer electronics marketplace, it's incumbent upon us to reduce costs whenever we can and ScanWorks is helping us do that." ASSET(R) is working closely with Microsoft and its test partners, including Agilent, to deploy boundary-scan tests for the Xbox 360 console. ScanWorks is the only boundary-scan system that has been fully integrated into Agilent's Medalist series of ICT systems, giving contract manufacturers the ability to run ScanWorks JTAG (Joint Test Action Group) An IEEE standard for boundary scan technology. See scan technology. JTAG - Joint Test Action Group tests on either of Agilent's ICT platforms, the Medalist 3070 Series or the new Medalist i5000 Series. In addition, ASSET is collaborating with Microsoft's test partners to incorporate boundary-scan tests into the functional test suite for the Xbox 360 console. "As we began to develop our test strategies for the Xbox 360 console, we thoroughly analyzed whether incorporating boundary scan into ICT and functional test would be effective," said Gabe Valentin, Manufacturing Test Engineer of Microsoft. "In the end, we realized that any risk would be eliminated because we could migrate the ScanWorks' tests that were developed for prototype debug into ICT and functional test. Our investment of time and effort in developing boundary-scan tests for ICT and functional test would be minimal." Said Glenn Woppman, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of ASSET InterTech, "We are pleased to be working with Microsoft on such a critical product and happy they saw the vision of life-cycle testing in terms of cost savings and quality. The capabilities of boundary scan and ScanWorks match up quite well with consumer electronic systems. Like most other types of applications, consumer electronic products are being squeezed onto smaller and smaller circuit boards with less space for physical access to device pins or test pads. Structurally testing dense boards without physical access is what boundary scan does and no other test method can do it. We believe that consumer electronics is just the first of several new market segments which will soon come to realize the inherent value of boundary scan." About ASSET InterTech ASSET InterTech, Inc. develops, markets, sells, and supports boundary-scan testability and in-system programming (ISP) products worldwide. ASSET's affordable ScanWorks(R) environment is easy yet powerful. For product information, call toll free 888-694-6250, send faxes to 972-437-2826, direct e-mail to sales@asset-intertech.com or visit the company's Web site at www.asset-intertech.com. About Xbox 360 Xbox 360 is the next-generation video game and entertainment system that places gamers at the center of the experience. Available this holiday season in Europe, Japan and North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , Xbox 360 will ignite a new era of digital entertainment that is always connected, always personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. and always in high definition. |
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