J-SCAN Version 2.1

Macraigor Systems LLC, a supplier of Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) and background debug mode (BDM) connection solutions for on-chip debugging, recently announced the availability of J-SCAN Version 2.1, the newest release of of what they claim their high-speed, low-cost boundary-scan debug and programming tool. This new technology according to them allows circuit designers to facilitate early test development, thereby shortening the development cycle and prototyping process.

According to Macraigor Systems the following are the main features of Version 2.1:

• Version 2.1 of J-SCAN communicates to the target with a USB 2.0- and USB 1.1-compatible interface that runs in high speed or full speed modes. This gives a performance increase of more than 10X compared to the previous version of J-SCAN. Additionally, J-SCAN 2.1 has full support for serial peripheral interface (SPI) Flash programming, supporting those systems using field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and other embedded devices.
• J-SCAN provides significant advantages compared to logic analyzers and oscilloscope probes, permitting designers to observe the behavior of the pins under a ball grid array (BGA) device in real time on their PCs. The J-SCAN debug and programming tool also allows designers to manually place the pins to any logic state with a simple point-and-click of the mouse. Engineers can observe logic state transitions and instruction addresses sent and received across individual pins, providing an unprecedented level of visibility in debugging SOCs, integrated components and new board designs.
• For the first time, the IC designer now has visibility into and control of every pin. If the CPU is not yet available and the designer needs to program flash memory, doing so simply involves setting up the signals (address, data, enables), selecting a data file and pressing the PROGRAM button. The included USB 2.0 download cable enables programming times of minutes, rather than hours or days. Utilities to program FPGAs and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) are also available.
• J-SCAN works independently of any logic inside the JTAG device, so no special firmware, code or logic needs to be installed. The J-SCAN debug and programming tool is extremely easy to use, allowing designers to be up and running in minutes. The designer simply plugs in the Macraigor usb2Demon interface, drops any type of integrated circuit (IC) device on the screen and presses the scan button. Instantly, all activity on every boundary-scan enabled pin on any device or chain of devices is visible on the PC or laptop.
• The J-SCAN manual is written in a tutorial style that provides users with not only the J-SCAN features and how to simulate faults, but also the fundamentals of boundary scan. No prior boundary-scan experience is required. Multiple J-SCAN video tutorials featuring a fully populated demonstration board are available online as well.

SOURCE: Macraigor Systems LLC