JTAG Boundary Scan Test Systems (IEEE 1149.1)

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XJEase — The High-Level JTAG language

XJEase test system - flexible, reusable scripts

XJEase is the test system that provides you with all of the functionality, flexibility and control you require to create a JTAG solution.

Check your board for shorts and opens using the built-in interconnect test and information taken straight from your netlist.
Program JTAG devices (e.g. CPLDs, FPGAs) and non-JTAG devices (e.g. Flash). Run advanced tests on non-JTAG devices.
Optimise your test coverage before PCB layout.

Get the XJEase datasheet  reusable IEEE 1149.1 test scripts  (PDF, 250k)  |  View all datasheets

XJDeveloper

XJDeveloper is an advanced graphical application that enables you to both generate the XJEase description of the circuit you want to test, and then perform the tests. The simple drag-and-drop interface allows you to set up your JTAG chain and categorise all of the non-JTAG devices in your circuit quickly and easily, while the built-in netlist explorer provides a simple interface for you to view the connectivity between devices.

XJDeveloper - advanced graphical interface to configure XJTAG to test your circuit

Advanced Connection Test

A proprietary connection test can be run on the board as part of a script. By making use of its knowledge of the nature and interconnection of the devices in the circuit, XJTAG is able to test a higher percentage of a circuit than many other JTAG solutions. By monitoring the status of the devices in the circuit, XJTAG also provides you with more information about the location and precise nature of any faults that are found.

Testing and programming non-JTAG devices

XJEase can be used to test or program non-JTAG devices including Flash, all types of RAM, FIFO arrays, IIC devices, SPI devices and Ethernet controllers.

Flexible, high-level, test description language

All the advantages and flexibility of a programming language, such as loops, variables and flow control, can now be applied to developing device and circuit tests. By generating test patterns as required, under the control of a high-level XJEase program, you can use XJTAG to easily develop complex tests not possible with many other JTAG solutions.

Device-centric — reusable tests

Building an XJEase test system requires no knowledge of the underlying JTAG technology. All device tests written in XJEase are independent of the specific circuit under test. Tests are written from the device's perspective; they specify the pin levels required to run the test and any pin states expected as a result. XJTAG then uses its knowledge of the circuit to create test patterns that will achieve the required inputs. This means that once tests have been developed for a device they can be reused in any circuit without any additional work.

FREE Test Library

Device test files are available for download, including examples of programming Flash and other devices. Even if you have never used JTAG before, it is possible to create a fully functioning test system with no extra programming.

No need to understand how JTAG works

If you do have to create your own tests XJEase makes this easy by abstracting the description of how a device is to be tested from the detail of creating the JTAG test vectors to implement those tests; this means that the process of developing tests for your non-JTAG devices is quick and easy.

XJTAG will check that the pins on a device to be tested are on nets accessible from JTAG devices and then work out which JTAG device pins must be manipulated to access the correct nets.

XJDeveloper screenshot, showing the high-level language used to create a connectivity test for a memory device

Similarly, once you have a test file for a device, it can be reused whenever that device is part of another circuit.

Multiple boards

Testing multiple boards is as easy as testing a single board. There is no complex merging to be done; simply give XJTAG the netlists and tell it how the boards are connected together. Everything else is worked out by the underlying engine at runtime.

Running XJEase

XJDeveloper can run XJEase tests from within the application. However, there are other ways of running your XJEase tests, depending on your requirements.

XJDebug is the command-line interface to XJEase during development and prototyping. It includes a classic style debugger, allowing you to:

  • Step through code a line at a time.
  • Set and remove breakpoints.
  • Check and set the values of any variables in the code.
  • Record interactions with the hardware for later playback.

XJRunner, a run-only environment for XJEase, is our solution for the production/servicing environment. It is aimed at board manufacturers and/or in-field testing, with additional logging, serial numbering and user management capabilities. It has both a GUI and a command-line version, to allow you to integrate XJTAG with other test systems. The GUI can run tests on multiple boards simultaneously for use in manufacturing applications.

Netlists

Supported netlists include EDIF 2 0 0, RINF, Protel, PADS-PCB, Cadence Allegro, P-CAD, Genrad, BoardStation (Mentor), Zuken, Protel V2 and many other formats., which are automatically recognised by the XJTAG applications. If you can not produce a netlist in one of these formats, please contact us.

For support, or for a quote on any part of the XJTAG system, please contact us.


XJTAG Ltd. © Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Part of IEEE 1149.1