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October 29, 2007 04:55 AM Pacific Daylight Time

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--XJTAG, a leading supplier of IEEE Std. 1149.1 compliant boundary scan development tools, today announced version 2.0 of its popular XJTAG boundary scan development system, which sets a new standard for speed and accuracy of printed circuit board (PCB) debug and test.

The new version of the XJTAG system - which is used throughout the electronic product life cycle by board developers and manufacturers to debug, test and program complex Ball Grid Array (BGA) populated printed circuit boards and systems - will be unveiled by XJTAG at Productronica (Area A1/Booth 448), New Munich Trade Fair Center, Germany, November 13-16, 2007.

XJTAG 2.0 has a raft of new features, including automated JTAG chain discovery and set-up, a built-in netlist explorer, optimised memory test, and real-time design for test (DFT) coverage tracking. It also includes an ever growing library of device-centric test scripts, improved integration with LabVIEW, and support for Xilinx’s Virtex-5 FPGA System Monitor.

Simon Payne, CEO at XJTAG, said: “Engineers invariably choose the XJTAG boundary scan system because it’s so easy-to-use and because you get everything for debugging and testing complex PCBs in one package for a set price and with no hidden extras.

“While developing the new version, we have listened closely to feedback from our fast-growing base of customers - both design engineers and manufacturers - and have focused on further abstracting engineers from the complexity of the JTAG/ IEEE1149.1 standard, in particular, through enhancements to our XJEase programming environment.”

With version 2.0, XJTAG has introduced a drag-and-drop interface that automates the JTAG chain discovery and set-up process, thereby saving engineers time and hassle. The developer simply connects the computer to the unit under test via the USB2.0 XJLink hardware module, creates a new project, and adds the target board. The XJTAG system then detects the scan chain and matches the JTAG device codes to their respective BSDL files, as well as identifying ground nets and making intelligent suggestions about other components.

In addition, this intelligent set-up facility enables the board developer to quickly and easily categorise all of the non-JTAG or cluster devices in the circuit. For example, with one click all the pull resistors, or another component type, can be grouped together for speed and convenience during the set-up stage. XJTAG version 2.0 also includes a built-in netlist explorer that provides a simple interface to view the connectivity between devices on the board.

Other enhancements include an optimised memory test, real-time Design For Test (DFT) coverage analysis, an extended library of device-centric test scripts, and improved integration with LabVIEW and other leading test executives. XJTAG has also added support for Xilinx’s Virtex-5 FPGA System Monitor to enable customers to check power supplies or perform overall thermal management using the JTAG port on the 65-nm Virtex-5 FPGAs.

Dominic Plunkett, chief technology officer at XJTAG, said: “In today’s right-first-time environment, engineers need a test solution that not only maximises test coverage but also minimises board debug time. Using XJTAG, engineers are able to create valuable test IP, which can be recorded, refined and repeatedly re-used throughout the development cycle. With XJTAG v2.0, customers will continue to have an ‘all-in-one’ boundary scan system that enables them to get their boards up and running in minutes and hours not days and weeks as is the case with some traditional systems.”

XJTAG enables engineers to test a high proportion of the circuit (both boundary scan and cluster devices) including BGA and chip scale packages, such as SDRAMs, Ethernet controllers, video interfaces, Flash memories, FPGAs and microprocessors.

Pricing for the XJTAG system ranges from £3,500 (€5,075) to £9,900 (€14,355).

Contact XJTAG: telephone +44 (0) 1954 213888, facsimile +44 (0) 1954 211565 or email enquiries@xjtag.com. Alternatively visit www.xjtag.com. XJTAG has a global network of distributors servicing Europe, the Far East, North America, the Middle East and Australasia.