CheckSum Will Launch Unique ICT-Based ISP Programmer That Programs Multiple Boards Simultaneously.

ARLINGTON, Wash. -- Innovative Technology Delivers Significant Throughput Advantage and Lower Cost

E[acute accent]CheckSum, a leading supplier of low-cost, PC-based in-circuit test (ICT) systems, announced today that it will introduce and demonstrate a new ICT-based ISP programming solution at the IPC APEX trade show in Anaheim, CA next week, February 22-24, Booth #1171. E[acute accent]The new CheckSum(TM) MultiWriter ISP System uses innovative, patent-pending technology to simultaneously program up to 24 serial ISP devices per board or multi-up panel at high speed. This advanced design delivers a significant speed advantage over other ICT-based, on-board ISP programming alternatives and enables the MultiWriter system to program multiple boards concurrently. E[acute accent]According to John VanNewkirk, President & CEO of CheckSum, "Customers asked us to develop a better solution for high-speed programming of serial ISP devices during the circuit board assembly process, especially for multi-up panels. These companies are dissatisfied with the slow and expensive solutions currently available. The CheckSum MultiWriter delivers the industry's most advanced, lowest-cost, and most flexible on-board ISP programming technology. It is also the first ISP system designed to program multiple serial devices simultaneously on a very low-cost in-circuit tester, providing a substantial price advantage over competitive ISP subsystems found on traditional in-circuit testers from Agilent, GenRad, and Teradyne." E[acute accent]MultiWriter technology responds to two major trends in electronics manufacturing: increasing use of programmable chips and increasing use of panelization. The parallel programming capabilities of MultiWriter allow high-volume manufacturers to maintain and even increase production beat rates of multi-up panels. "Manufacturing managers and engineers are very excited by MultiWriter's ability to increase capacity and deliver on the promise of panelized boards," said VanNewkirk. "ISP programming at ICT has historically been a bottleneck for panelized boards, but with MultiWriter multi-up panels can now be programmed at the same speed as a single board." E[acute accent]As an example, benchmark results conducted by CheckSum show that MultiWriter can program four 25LC640 Serial EEPROM devices (memory size: 8 KB, serial bus type SPI at 2 MHz) in virtually the same amount of time as one: 1.85 seconds vs. 1.81 seconds. E[acute accent]"In designing the MultiWriter ISP programming system, we have applied CheckSum's philosophy of delivering the ATE industry's lowest acquisition and operating cost by designing to mainstream uses and eliminating rarely used -- and expensive -- 'corner case' features," said VanNewkirk. "This approach gives electronics manufacturers who need to program on-board serial ISP devices a breakthrough solution that is simultaneously high speed and low cost."

E[acute accent]Pricing & Delivery

E[acute accent]The MultiWriter ISP System expands the capabilities of the industry's leading low-cost ICT by making ISP programming functionality available at low cost. MultiWriter is available only as an integrated element of a CheckSum-developed application package that includes a bed-of-nails fixture and associated test program operating on an Analyst in-circuit test system. E[acute accent]MultiWriter-equipped fixtures from CheckSum reduce the operating cost of ICT by up to 50% compared to traditional ICT vendors. An average fixture and program with 2,000 points and MultiWriter ISP functionality costs less than $20,000. Many customers have justified buying new CheckSum low-cost ICT equipment solely on the savings generated by 2-3 fixtures compared to the fixtures and programs they are buying now. MultiWriter ISP capability will be available on CheckSum Analyst in-circuit testers in March.

E[acute accent]About CheckSum

E[acute accent]CheckSum is a leading supplier of low-cost in-circuit test solutions -- including systems, fixtures, and program --to the electronics manufacturing industry. CheckSum has been delivering reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use test solutions to OEMs and contract manufacturers for 18 years. With an installed base of over 2,500 test systems at more than 200 companies in over 40 countries, CheckSum helps customers ranging from automotive electronics manufacturers to global EMS providers reduce their total test and manufacturing costs and increase their manufacturing margins. E[acute accent]CheckSum is the only North American Automated Test Equipment (ATE) supplier to offer turnkey test program and fixturing packages solutions and an engineering-oriented approach to customer support, giving customers a cost-saving alternative to traditional ATE suppliers. Satisfied customers helped CheckSum become the winner of the 2004 Evaluation Engineering "Readers' Choice" award in the category of ATE.