In the test and measurement domain there has been an ongoing tendency towards ever more compact and cost-efficient solutions. The ILAN module technology by IPTE highlights this trend with outstanding features. Combined with the software package FrameWorX+ it allows the capable integration of turnkey solutions, providing cost-efficient systems where the instrumentation is located next to the point of measurements.
Tom Guerts, Product Manager, IPTE Genk
IPTE’s test strategy has turned a new page in instrumentation technology. Providing turnkey solutions with more then 17 years of experience, IPTE has bundled this experience into the new instrumentation platform ILAN and the comfortable software platform FrameWorX+. FrameWorX+ fully integrates the measurement equipment and provides easy-to-use turnkey solutions. The ILAN modules can straightforwardly be used to efficiently automate manufacturing and test steps, but also to provide automation solutions in numerous other application areas as we can see later.
The ILAN solutions can be quite easily tailored according to customer requirements and at the same time are highly cost-effective. The combination with existing instrumentation and systems stemming in a factory from a range of third-party suppliers is easy and allows for quick and successful buildup of best fitting solutions in demanding environments such as shop and test floors. In every respect the modules and the appropriate IPTE software package FrameWorX+ are designed and completed following state-of-the-art criteria.
In order to first characterize the challenging situation in today’s application area let’s have a look at the issues of today’s measurement and test technology:
- Programming and debugging capabilities and features – are they efficient enough for you to get optimum solutions?
- Hardware integration – are you sufficiently flexible in the integration of the instrumentation next to the point of measurement? Would it not be more efficient to locate the measurement equipment close to the device under test (DUT)
- Cabling and wiring – you have selected the appropriate hardware for this solution, but extensive and costly wiring is needed for the connections. However, your goal is to achieve an absolute minimum of cables and wires because of serious constraints in accuracy, space, costs, signal integrity, maintenance, etc.?
- Space requirements – since space is limited in the system would you like to use a compact module that is saving you up to 50% and in some cases even more. Does it need to fit as a boxed module or is it needed to be integrated as PCB assembly to save even more space?
- Customizing – do you need to adapt the hardware as closely as possible to the application requirements and want to have easy access to the solution?
- Signal conditioning – the input and output signals do not always match the specifications of the test hardware so do you need to convert signal levels, handle timings, etc. according to the system specifications?
- Separate computer – is it really always necessary to connect a full-blown PC to control relatively simple measurement and test solutions?
IPTE can frankly say that the perfect answers to all these application-based issues are embedded in the special concept and technology of IPTE’s ILAN and FrameWorX+. The system concept is as simple as it is efficient: small but powerful instrumentation modules generate the required stimuli signals and timing settings, and provide the conditioning of the measurement and test signals so that evaluation and control can be carried out using just a conventional Ethernet interface. Consequently, test and measurement solutions can be implemented more easily, faster and more cost-efficiently. Using ILAN, also existing measurement and test applications and instruments can successfully still be complemented and integrated with the new hard and software in order to form effective systems.
The very compact ILAN modules can be integrated virtually wherever they are needed in a system. For example, they can be placed directly in the test fixture, right at the contacting bed-of-nails. This allows measurements and programming in close proximity to the test object. The advantage is twofold: on the one hand there is higher measurement accuracy and less vulnerability to failures, and on the other hand space requirements for the whole system are drastically reduced. Added to that are less wiring, less difficulty and a remarkably minimized cost situation.
As we can see from this assortment of advantages, this novel system concept has the potential to be utilized to its fullest extent, providing yet unheard of capabilities and opportunities in the test and measurement domain.
For the configuration of a solution all ILAN modules are connected to a test or measurement system over the standard Ethernet interface of a local network using a PC as controller. However, as enough system intelligence is integrated in the ILAN modules they can also be used in a stand-alone modus without interfacing to a PC. Access to the IPTE ILAN modules is possible through every standard web browser via Ethernet interface and is therefore easy, as well as being tried and tested as a wide-spread and known technology. Moreover, the “look and feel” of the operation and programming environment can be designed according to application and/or customer-specific requirements.
A variety of standard ILAN units are available either as boxed module versions in an enclosure or as printed circuit board assembly for easy integration into a test fixture or highly compact systems. Both series can combine – depending on their variants – with other equipment standards such as PXI, the GPIB/IEEE-488/IEC-Bus, LXI, USB or PCI. For the potential range of applications a large variety of combinations is possible with any chosen standard equipment. With the launch of the ILAN units, IPTE places high importance not being a test & measurement hardware supplier competing with other suppliers, but to offer even more optimized solutions which today cannot be realized with the existing hardware on the market. As of now, the following ILAN modules are provided:
- Programmable power supplies/battery simulators (up to 36 V, 3A, resolutions down to 1 mV, 1 mA)
- Digital multi meters (up to 400 V, up to 10 A; true RMS, max. sampling rate 250 k/s)
- RF power meter (field strength frequency 76 MHz to 2.5 GHz)
- Audio DSP analyzer (multi channel analysis, 20 Hz to 20 kHz)
- Digital and analog I/O unit and communication (3,3V up to 24V levels, 16 analog input channels, 12bit)
- Switch units multiplexer/matrix/relay (different configurations)
- CAN bus controller (port CAN transceivers, high/low speed)
- FM radio transmitter (76 to 108 MHz, audio generator, external input, mono/stereo)
Wiring and integration of the hardware is easy and efficient as standard low-cost cables can be used. The form factor of the modules is only 80 x 120 mm (L x W) with different heights. The integration in a possibly cumbersome rack-and-stack system is not necessary, just an Ethernet connection and a power supply are enough to apply the ILAN solution in the required location of a system. The customization of the module web pages and the scripting features are also supported.
The IPTE ILAN modules deliver the energy supply and the necessary standard or specific stimuli signals for the test object (DUT); they also control and operate the input and output configurations, and measure, test, analyze, control and monitor the system. Besides the “classical” test applications in the manufacture of printed circuit board assemblies and electronic units or products such as functional test systems, the ILAN modules can also be used for other applications without difficulty. Such applications can be configurations such as burn-in/run-in solutions, rework systems, design stations, machine controller modules, control modules for systems in industry and consumer area, etc., as well as the design of custom instrumentation and many more, provided in combination with third-party hard and software, as well as stand-alone units. This high flexibility in use and in combination with other systems is unsurpassed in the market so far.
The software provides great user benefits
The IPTE software package FrameWorX+ runs on Windows XP and offers more special features than the usually available standard test sequencers. The software package provides full access to the system and measurement hardware and is a production not a development tool for the lab. The test engineer can very easily integrate existing programming and debugging tools in the FrameWorX+ environment. For normal use however, the operator screen can be adapted to the unpretentious requirements on the shop floor. Easy swapping is possible between the different interactive screen modes. In practice this means the entire functionality can be seamlessly integrated so the complete system can be operated just from one common program environment.
Summary of the advantages of the genuine IPTE software package FrameWorX+: Programming editors and wizards for all the required process steps are fully integrated, as is also a web-based debugger tool. The program operation is entirely monitored, and test sequences can of course be manually or automatically controlled. The monitor function allows for easy checking of program commands and/or actions. The package supports integration with automated systems interfaces. The standard CamX link is also integrated. Report generation takes place in XML format.
With this software package test, routines can be efficiently generated and debugged within a very short time because all the required drivers and programming tools are already integrated. The programmed test sequences and functions can be verified in evaluation runs.
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zusammenfassung
Kompaktere, kostengünstigere und einfachere Lösungen sind im Bereich der Test- und Messtechnik dringend nötig. Die auf Web- und Netzwerk-Standards basierende ILAN-Technologie bietet hier geeignete Lösungen.
Dans le domaine des techniques d’essai et de mesure, il est urgent de développer des solutions plus compactes, plus simples et moins coûteuses. Basée sur les normes Internet et de réseau, la technologie ILAN offre ici des solutions adaptées.
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