Using general purpose digital hardware to perform boundary scan tests

Abstract

Boundary scan tests are typically developed to make use of the proprietary hardware provided by one of the companies that specialize in boundary scan testing. This can lead to fixturing and logistical problems on large scale test systems used for Defense and Aerospace test, because testing many different assemblies whose tests rely on different boundary scan vendors can require the use of test hardware from each of those vendors. This paper presents a better approach, in which a common runtime software library can be used by each boundary scan supplier to apply his tests using the system's existing general purpose digital hardware.