There are two main products offered as part of all translation solutions:

1. The Software Translator - This software translates the original test software from its current syntax into the target test system's syntax. The software can be used as a stand alone item, or in conjunction with a test fixture adapter.
2. A Test Fixture Adapter - The adapter allows for the use of existing test fixtures on the foreign target test system. The adapter is used in conjunction with the Software Translator to properly map the tester resources used in the translated test program.

A complete description of all available translators can be found on the translation main page.

Why should I use a translation product?
Most companies that use translation products have the requirement to support multiple vendor ATE platforms on their production floor. Contract manufacturers often have the requirement to provide test services using test fixtures and software foreign to their installed ATE. Translation products allow for the cross utilization of test programs and test fixtures on multiple ATE platforms. For instance, using the GR2HP translation product, a test fixture and program developed on a GenRad GR2284 could be used on an Agilent 3070.

There are two main justifications most companies use in deciding whether a translation product is in their best interest:

1. Financial - Translation products offer large financial incentives over new product development.
2. Technical - The technical capabilities of translation products can be identified and compared with the technical requirements of the board(s) under test.

Have use models been developed to help me determine if translation products are a good fit for me?
Yes. Companies that use translation products have historically fit one or more of the following models:

• Ownership of multiple ATE platforms manufactured by different vendors (Agilent, GenRad, etc.)
• Inefficient ATE load balancing. Bottlenecks occur at one test station, or one ATE platform, while others are idle.
• New ATE test systems are purchased, foreign to the installed base of ATE
• Programming and support staff are not proficient on all installed ATE
• Contact manufacturing test support for ATE test systems not installed, or budgeted.
• Immediate utilization required on newly purchased ATE.

What are the financial justifications for translation products?
A financial justification for translation products involves the following items:

• Cross platform utilization of existing ATE test fixtures and software verses new test program and fixture development.
• Cross platform training for test engineering hardware and software support staff.
• Immediate utilization of newly purchased ATE
• Load balancing between existing ATE

Companies rarely have additional money budgeted for the re-development of existing test fixtures and programs. Not to mention the ramp up time associated with cross training of the existing programming staff and operators. Translators significantly reduce the financial strain in these areas. In addition, a break even point can be readily identified using existing in-house numbers for new product test development. A typical break even cost justification using this method is included below.

A budgetary number of $15,000 is used in this break even analysis for the purchase of the translation hardware adapter. The cost of the translation software is estimated at $15,500. Both the translation hardware adapter and translation software are one time, non-recurring expenditures. Predicted recurring expenses for the development of new test fixtures is estimated at $5,500 each. New software recurring development costs are estimated in this justification at $9,500 each. Obviously, individual corporate estimates based on past history and future projections should be used for a proper analysis.

Using these numbers as a guide, the break even point for the purchase of a test fixture and hardware translation product is approximately two (2) boards (2 * $15,000 = $30,000). In this example, if more than two products exist on the original host ATE that are targeted for a new ATE test platform, the purchase of a translation product, compared with new test software and fixture development, offers significant financial savings.

• Translator Costs
  
  • Software : $15,500
  • Hardware : $15,000
  • Total : $30,500

• Board Test Development Costs
  • Software : $9,500
  • Hardware : $5,500
  • Total : $15,000

What are the technical justifications for translation products?
Board test programs already in use typically have a well defined fault class already associated with the board(s) under test. The identification of the technical requirements of test programs can be easily determined once the fault class of the board under test is understood. The technical specifications for translation products can be reviewed and compared against the technical requirements of the board(s) under test.

What does not translate?
Most translators are defined in terms of what they can translate, as opposed to what they can not. A good rule of thumb is that most translators are able to translate all in-circuit test sequences that are a result of the input test system's Automatic Test Development software (APG, IPG, etc.). Most functional test code does not translate. Partial translation is usually available for mixed signal and powered analog testing. All test code that does not follow what can be considered good rules of programming on the input test system will not translate.

What does translate?
Most translators are able to translate all in-circuit test sequences that are a result of the input test system's Automatic Test Development software (APG, IPG, etc.). A partial list follows:

• Shorts
• Pins (Contact Tests)
• All unpowered analog testing (resistors, capacitors, diodes, etc.)
• Powered digital test sequences

Can I regenerate test sequences, or enhance test coverage after translation, or use the program generation features of my new ATE on the translated test programs?
Yes, in all cases. This is an excellent use of translation products. The ideal model is to translate the existing test program, use the new tools on your target ATE to determine fault coverage, and enhance the translated test program by utilizing the standard capabilities of your new ATE.

How are ECO's handled on a translated test program?
After a program is translated, the standard sustaining engineering tools available on the target ATE are used to handle program changes, modifications, or product ECO's. In other words, ECO's are handled in the same fashion on translated test programs, as they are on any other product on the target ATE.

After I translate my test program, will Testjet work on my GenRad test system, or Opens Express work on my Agilent test systems?
No. All Testjet hardware must be replaced with Open Express hardware if a translation is being made to a GenRad test system. Conversely, all Opens Express hardware must be replace with Testjet hardware if a translation is being made to a Agilent test system. After the hardware is replaced, the Testjet tests, or Opens Express tests can be regenerated on the target test system. The regeneration of this software on both platforms is very easily accomplished.

Do I have to use a hardware adapter?
No. Hardware adapters are only necessary if you wish to use your existing test fixtures on your new ATE. The software translator can be used as a stand alone tool to translate existing test patterns, or test system input files, to the syntax of the target ATE test system. If you wish to develop new test fixtures, and translate your existing test programs, no test fixture adapter is required.

Do I need a fixture adapter for each test fixture, or can a single fixture adapter handle multiple input test fixtures?
Fixture adapters are designed to handle multiple test fixtures. You need to purchase only one fixture adapter per ATE test system configuration (both input and target).

Can my test fixture be used on both the original ATE platform and the target ATE platform after the program is translated?
Yes, with the exception of any Testjet or Opens Express hardware modifications that may be required. (See: After I translate my test program, will Testjet work on my GenRad test system, or Opens Express work on my Agilent test systems?)

How are fixture adapters wired?
Fixture adapters are wired prior to a review of any test fixtures or programs that will be placed on them. As a result, the wiring schemes typically go outside the straight pin one to pin one approach. Each hybrid resource of the input test system must have at lease one hybrid resource assigned to it on the target test system. In addition, fixture adapters are wired to take maximum advantage of the target test system hybrid resources. Where additional hybrid resources are available on the target test system, multiple hybrid resources will be wired to a single hybrid resource on the input test system. This scheme aids in the resolution of multiplex conflicts.

If a number of input test systems exist with different configurations, the largest configuration, or union of all is used as the input system configuration. If a number of target test systems exist with different configurations, the smallest configuration, or intersection of all is used as the target system configuration.

How are power supplies wired?
Power supply wiring is custom for each fixture adapter. Input and target test system configurations are analyzed to determine the best one-to-one correspondence between the available power supplies on both test systems. The power supplies for each system are then brought up to terminal blocks inside the fixture adapter. Then jumpers are inserted between the terminal blocks for each test system's power supplies. The use of terminal blocks, and jumpers between them, allows for the modification of power supply usage if it should become necessary after delivery of the fixture adapter.

How many fixture adapters do I have to purchase?
All input test systems that are equal to or smaller than the configuration that the fixture adapter was wired for, can use a single adapter. All target test systems that have configurations greater than or equal to the configuration that the adapter was wired for can use the same fixture adapter.

How are multiplex issues resolved between different ATE?
An algorithm is used that walks input tester pins up through the maximum number of multiplex groups on the target test system. In addition, multiple resources on the target test system are wired to single resources on the input test system whenever possible. This duplication gives the target test system software more choices when multiplex errors occur. If multiplex errors cannot be resolved through the use of multiple resources on the target test system side through the fixture adapter, jumpers are added in the board test fixture to unused locations that correspond to hybrid resources on the target test system that resolve the multiplex error. Jumpers are added to the individual board test fixture, not the test fixture adapter. Jumpers are always added to unused locations, to allow for the continued use of the board test fixture on the original input ATE.

How many additional resources should I have for a typical target system configuration?
A minimum configuration requires at least a one to one correspondence in hybrid resources and real channels (the number of pins that can be used at any one time). The more duplication of resources on the target test system the better. A perfect configuration allows for a two to one correspondence. A 20% duplication is the recommended minimum.

Do I have to purchase the hardware adapter from the same firm that writes the software translator?
No. The hardware adapter can be built by any technically competent fixture manufacturer. It is important to remember, however, that the wiring in the test fixture must match the wiring used in the software translator. Therefor, make sure that you get the wiring scheme from the software developer if you plan on using a separate fixture provider. Also, the fixture manufacturer will never guarantee the success of the software translation if the software was written by a different company. In addition, the software developer will never guarantee the success of the hardware connection if the fixture is built by a different company. These problems go away when the software translator and hardware adapter are provided by the same firm.

Is the test program output from a translation product always as good or better than could be generated on the target ATE without a translator?
No. Having said that, it's important to note that the relative quality of a translated program, verses a totally regenerated one, is a function of the quality of the input test program and fixture, the target tester's test program generation capabilities, and the translation capabilities of the translation product. It's safe to say, however, that the best possible test program and fixture you can get on any ATE test system, is one that was generated using the host ATE's test development tools.

Who writes these things?
Most translation products on the market today have been created by third party ATE support operations with a demonstrated multiple cross platform competence. Companies involved in these products must also have a systems level programming staff available to perform support and enhancement efforts on these products.

Why don't the major ATE companies offer translation products?
Most of them have tried, at some time or another, and failed. Others have reviewed the history of those that have tried, and have chosen to leave this task to others.

Translation products require a high level of technical expertise on both sides of the translation equation in order to be successful. Technical competence must be at a very high level on both the input and target test systems in order to understand the input test system parsing requirements, and the output test system syntax and capabilities. Most ATE test equipment manufacturers do not maintain a technical field force, and an in-house systems level programming staff, that is focused on maintaining a level of proficiency on the programming capabilities of competitive products. These are the minimum foundation requirements to provide translation products, and their continuing field support. Those ATE firms that do posses the necessary technical credentials, are seen by the test industry as lacking the credibility to provide objective analysis and review of competitive products. This is also a necessity in translation products.

In addition, all ATE manufactures spend their development money on the enhancement of their existing software and hardware, and the research and development of new products. There is little interest within these ATE companies to spend development money on software and hardware projects that involve a detailed understanding and competence on a competitor's product. The overall belief is that this is a task better left to third parties, such as ourselves. We tend to agree.

In spite of the above objections, some ATE firms do provide translation products. Check with your ATE salesman, and he'll let you know what they have to offer. He'll probably then give you our URL: www.atepal.com.

Can I try before I buy?
Yes. Most folks would like to look under the hood before they purchase. A software demo can be easily arranged to allow for the review of input and output files. Files can be transmitted on the net, and translated files sent back for your review within 24 hours. Of course, snail mail is also an option for the transfer of data via floppies or tape. Give us a call, or send us some e-mail if you'd like to see one of these things in action.

My Grandfather tried one of these things and it didn't work. I'm afraid to try.
The history of translation products is not good. There are multiple reasons, and plenty of blame to spread around. But it's safe to say that the current state of the art in translation products is a direct result of the learning curve provided by past performance. Any credible translation product provider will offer a demonstration of the translation product's output files, using your input files as a test case, for your review before any purchase is completed. These files can then be reviewed for company specific technical requirements.

The current technical capabilities of off the shelf ATE are light years ahead of what they were just a few years ago. These capabilities, along with the technical tools available on the operating systems used by the current ATE, allows for much more capabilities to be demonstrated by translation products.

If you haven't reviewed translation possibilities in a little while, you'll be nicely surprised. I urge you to review the current offerings, and compare their capabilities with your technical requirements.

The success of translation products is a reality today. But not all translation product vendors provide the same level of expertise and support. Question everything, and be comfortable technically before you buy. It's the job of translation providers to make sure your objectives are met.

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Paluch, Inc.
http://www.atepal.com

Phone: (305)759-8222	Fax: (305)759-0090

9822 NE 2nd Ave. #7
Miami Shores, Florida 33153-9998
mike@atepal.com
Last Update: February 8, 2002