• Introduction
• Network package
• Hardware card
• Multiple Systems
• Summary

Introduction

Salland Engineering has a lot of experience with networking ATE equipment. Today most modern ATE machines are standardly equipped with networking capabilities. However, the previous generation of ATE were equipped with tapes, local hard disks or floppy drives. In most cases, a serial link was also available. With the increasing complexity of the components, the test programs tend to become larger and larger. Therefore, the need for a centralized test program database increased.

Fast-Link was originally developed to be used with the Teradyne J941, J386, and J387. These machines used to rely on tapes for program development and backup. Sometimes it could take several hours to load a program from tape, significantly reducing the test time available for production. With Fast-Link, programs no longer need to be transferred to tape. Data logs and summaries can be sent to files on the server. Downloading the same program from the server is now a matter of minutes rather than hours.

The remote terminal option was also added, increasing the potential of the package. Now it is possible to work offline on any terminal connected with the server (even via modem). The system can be accessed virtually around the globe.

The following diagram shows the Fast Link network package:

A TCP/IP based package has also been developed to be used with an MCT tester. This package enables MCT testers to mount a remote disk on a VAX via NFS protocol. The entire package was later adopted by MCT and has been sold world-wide.

A Fast-Link package was also made for an LTX-77 mixed signal tester. This package is also available.

All of the above mentioned packages have been developed and are supported by Salland Engineering.

Salland Engineering has also developed a link between a Sentry and a PC. This package offers file transfer between Sentry and PC. By networking the PC (using relatively cheap and easy to get standard software and hardware) to a remote Server, the Sentry can be linked to a network, offering the benefits of a centralized test library and more.

Network Package

The Teradyne J941 / J386 / J387 network package consists of the following items:

• A hardware card (developed by Salland Engineering) for each system.
• A software package (developed by Salland Engineering) replacing the TSD package in the Teradyne MOP.
• A software package (Fast-Link) running detached on a VAX to establish a link with the J941, J386 or J387 test system.
• A software package (JTERM) running on the VAX for remote terminal capabilities to the Teradyne system. Any standard VAX terminal can be used to access the A360 tester.

Hardware card

The Fast-Link hardware card is plugged directly into a free I/O slot in the Teradyne M365 computer, which is the heart of any Teradyne J941 / J386 / J387 tester. This card contains the following:

• Logic to interface with the M365 I/O bus
• An Ethernet controller and Thinwire interface
• A dedicated processor controlling the Fast Link II process
• Some local memory for the dedicated CPU

Multiple systems

The Salland Engineering Fast-Link software running on the Teradyne J941, J386 or J387 adds additional functions to the standard operating system. The software will 'talk' with the software package running on the PC and control the hardware interface in the Teradyne. The software on the PC will take care of the file handling with the server and the Teradyne test system.

System Architecture

Summary

The following table summarizes the Fast-Link on various ATE.

home | about us | news | ate products | test program services | locations | jobs | feedback