Prototype Validation

2012-10-31T21:07:36Z

You've got first proto's back from fab ready for testing! Now what?!

Among the primary concerns of functional hardware and software debug, physical mockups and early customer validation among other processes must be satisfied along with EMI/ESD compliance issues.

Unfortunately, valuable and scarce prototypes are difficult to commit early on to potentially damaging ESD or other transient testing risks.

But the earlier this testing is done, the more likely problems can be identified early and managed to keep the product development schedule on-track.

ESD Susceptibility scanning does not directly inject ESD energy into the system, rather it mimics the fields created nearby from the gun to allow fine-pitch susceptibility analysis without the danger of destructive zaps finding a delicate node which wouldn't be exposed or vulnerable in the final system.

Comparative Current Reconstruction can be used at non-destructive levels to characterize TVS clamping performance and the specific need for such devices on each node, whereas ESD guns cannot provide repeatable, line specific information.