New CC³ Lightning High Speed Channel Card Reduces Device Programming Time

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA -- March 14, 2000 -- Teradyne, Inc. (NYSE:TER) introduced the CC³ Lightning Flash/ISP Programmer, a high-speed channel card designed for programming flash memory and In-System Programmable (ISP) devices on Teradyne's Spectrum 8000-Series Manufacturing Test Platform. CC3 Lightning incorporates all in-circuit functionality of its predecessor channel card, the CC2. In addition it programs flash memories and ISPs at speeds approaching maximum device performance, reducing programming time and maintaining high throughput and a fast beat rate on the line. Eliminating process steps can be achieved by combining device programming with the ICT step on any Spectrum system upgraded with CC3 Lightning channel cards.

"Many products from MP3 players to PC motherboards have now incorporated large amounts of flash memory. Flash memory programming is becoming more and more of a manufacturing issue. ISP device technology and use is also growing rapidly. In both cases, throughput is the issue. CC3 Lightning is the first total solution for flash and ISP programming targeted for high volume production environments. The CC3 Lightning hardware and software upgrade package is 100% integrated into the Spectrum Platform and combines flash and ISP programming into a single manufacturing stage along with in-circuit test." said Michael Early, Technology Product Manager, Teradyne, Assembly Test Division.

CC3 Lightning supplies 128 channels of I/O to the Spectrum fixture interface. The card is comprised of a 64-channel master board and a 64-channel expander board unit. CC3 Lightning installs into any channel card slot in a Spectrum 8000-Series mainframe. A single VXI cage can accommodate up to 10 CC3 Lightning cards. The new channel card can also operate in multiple cages.

CC3 Lightning stores flash and JTAG application data in the workstation PC computer memory rather than in proprietary channel card hardware memory. This feature provides for virtually unlimited memory depth that is inexpensive and readily available.

Any number of CC3 Lightning cards can parallel process flash/ISP data simultaneously. Up to 10 flash programming sessions have the same high performance at speeds approaching maximum specified performance for applications such as N-up multi-board panelized products. CC3 Lightning's at speed flash programming performance and its multi-card parallel processing capability make it the ultimate high-end solution for high-throughput and multi-panel applications.

CC3 Lightning supports a wide variety of JTAG scan-chain operations via the UUT's TAP port(s). This capability provides another method to address loss-of-access problems in printed circuit assembly designs. Scan chain-based applications include boundary-scan test, on-board flash programming, and ISP configuration. For ISP configuration applications, CC3 Lightning accepts industry standard SVF, JAM, and STAPL format files.

CC3 Lightning includes a complete package of development tools including a plug and play driver for the CC3 instrument, a high level API, documentation, model libraries, and an automatic program generator (APG). Programs generated by the APG are documented with full C source code for easy modification.

Pricing and Availability

The U.S. list price for the CC3 Lightning Starter kit for Flash/ISP device programming is $28,000. The U.S. list price for the CC3 Lightning add-on channel card is $23,000. The product will ship in June, 2000 and is supported by Teradyne's global customer service and product support.

About Teradyne

Teradyne is the world's leading automated testing company for the electronics, communications, and software industries. Its products and services address the test requirements of a broad range of semiconductors, electronic assemblies, telephone access networks and software applications. Teradyne supports its customers via a global service and applications engineering network, with technical centers located throughout the United States, Europe, and the Pacific Rim.

The Assembly Test Division, located in Boston and Walnut Creek, California, serves circuit-board test customers with comprehensive capabilities in test and inspection. These test instruments and systems are used in commercial environments and in military/aerospace applications where reliability, time-to-market, and in-line process test are key to success. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Teradyne reported sales of approximately $1.8 billion in 1999 and currently has about 7500 employees worldwide. Teradyne's World Wide Web address is www.teradyne.com.

Teradyne Inc., Assembly Test Group, 2625 Shadelands Dr., Walnut Creek, CA 94598. Tel: 925-932-6900; Fax: 925-934-0540.