ATE to aid PCB production

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I062-U desktop plotter from Benson

30 s mm tw arlizts A 3D graphics system for designers and graphic artists has been launched at the Computer Graphics '86 exhibition in London, UK. The Pn system Js PC AT-based and is a video animation and slide production tool, according to its developers, RGB Computer Graphics. Pi is menu driven and Js a development of the Picaso system developed by John Vince. Pi requires no particular programming expertise, unlike Picaso which requires a working knowledge of Fortran from the user. Pi allows the user to design 3D objects; define paths of movement of images, viewer and light source (flight path generation); manipulate 3D objects and output 2D hard copy images. The price of the software plus framestore is £10 900. (RGB Compu-

ter Graphics Ltd, 65 Jeddo Road, London WI2 9ED, UK. Tel" 01-740 8333)

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logic devices Daisy has introduced PLD Master, which is software for the design, test and simulation of programmable logic devices. Daisy claims that the PLD Master is an improvement over standard methods of design which may only create PLDs as standalone components. PLD Master supports any logic compiler that generates a standard JE DEC (Joint Electronic Device

560

A desktop pen plotter is now available for the plotting of microcomputerbased CAD. The plotter is known as the 1062-U has been developed by Benson Electronics and is aimed at technical office use. It plots at up to 100 cm/s and can handle either roll or single sheet media in A3 or A4 sizes. It is equipped with an automatic paper cutter and can

Engineering Council) file, as well as programmable components such as programmable array logic, flexible programmable logic array and programmable read only memory devices etc. from various major companies including National SemiConductor and Texas Instruments. PLD Master's flexible entry methods mean that users can choose from a range of methods from graphics state machine to high-level languages. Designers can enter logic, compile patterns in conventional language and simulate device behaviour in a mixed mode simulation environment,

accept a range of media including tracing paper and film. The 1062-U can accommodate up to 9 pens simultaneously. The 1062-U costs £3750. (Benson Electronics Ltd, 300 Park A venue, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BSI2 4RG, UK. Tel: (0454) 617777, Tx: 44459 7 BENSON G. Fax; 0454 618435)

atlowJng simulation of PLDs with gate arrays, full custom design and with VLSI components, according to Daisy. The universal design compilers Monolithic Memories' Palasrn2, Data I/O's Abel and Amaze from Signetics are supplied with PLD Master. PLD Master runs on Daisy's Personal Logician, Logician and accelerated Megalogician workstations. The starting price of the software in the UK is £6677.

(Daisy Systems Corporot/on, Berk House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG212HZ, UK. Tel: (0256) 464061. Fax: (0256) 53625)

ATE to aid PCB Izmduc e Factron Schlumberger has presented the 700E ATE range, which the company claims will reduce PCB production costs substantnally. The 700E includes in-circuit, performance and combination ATE (automatic test equipment). The mcircuit testers have faster testing, courtesy of the MicroAMS hardware which predicts the final values by extrapolating from a sequence of fast initial measurements. Another feature is the Protector Plus control software which allows users to specify the maximum permitted times for backdriving, to reduce stress in the operator. The ATE range also includes an 'intelligent probing algorithm' called Context Dependent Probing (CDP). The software will direct the user to the probe points most likely to allow faults, and a heuristic misprobe algorithm will tell the operator to check again where it diagnoses a possible

fault in the fact-finding sequence. Schlumberger claims that these two algorithms together can cut the time of functional fault diagnosis by 30%. The 700E entry-level system costs £100 000. (Factron 5chlumberger,

Ferndown Industrial Estate, Wireborne, Dorset BH21 7PP, UK. Tel." (0202) 893535. Tx: 41436)

Part of Factron Schlumberger's 700E A TE range

computer-aided design