On the ultra-compact Diamond 10 platform, Credence will present the capabilities of its complete instrument portfolio, highlighting the powerful new MultiWave instrument to demonstrate advanced mixed-signal capabilities such as parallel ADC and DAC testing as well as GSM/GPRS baseband system on chip (SoC) testing. Multisite solutions for high-volume production will also be highlighted, illustrating the ease with which test engineers can convert a single-site test program to quad site within the Diamond Integrated Test Environment (ITE) software.

The ten-slot Diamond 10, which is about the size of a large desktop computer, is specifically designed to solve the test challenges facing manufacturers of very price-sensitive consumer IC devices. The Diamond 10 offers industry leading cost-performance capability within a floor space requirement of less than 1 square meter, compared to traditional ATE systems that require at least four times this area to deliver similar capability. The Diamond architecture can be configured with a complete range of test instruments. Typical configurations support up to 768 200-Mbps digital channels, or up to 672 digital channels when equipped with mixed-signal instruments.

The MultiWave, which integrates the functionality of multiple instruments into one multi-channel arbitrary waveform generator and digitizer unit, further leverages the Diamond 10 system benefits to give customers the industry's most cost-effective mixed-signal solution for multisite testing of highly integrated system-in-package (SiP) and system-on-chip (SoC) devices used in mainstream consumer applications. Customers today use the MultiWave to solve a full range of highly integrated SoC/SiP testing challenges (for example, fully parallel and concurrent testing of audio and video devices), thus effectively reducing cost of ownership in very competitive markets.

Credence will also present solutions for two of its leading platforms in the ASL Series, the most widely deployed production test system in the industry. With over 3000 systems installed worldwide, the ASL platforms -- ASL 1000, ASL 3000, and ASL 3000RF -- are proven to consistently deliver highly accurate results at significantly lower cost of test for very competitive market environments, including analog, discrete, power management and wireless applications.

On the ASL 1000, Credence will demonstrate volume testing of devices such as single-channel protected power switches designed for USB and other 5V high-side power-switched applications, compliant with USB1.1/USB2.0 specifications for use in consumer-driven products such as PDAs, computers, portable media players, etc. Another ASL 1000 demonstration will test 8-bit serial I/O ADCs with multiplexer options to illustrate ease of interfacing to all microprocessors. The ASL 1000 is a linear test platform that supports up to 21 instruments in a fully configured system. With the smallest footprint in its class, the air-cooled ASL 1000 uses a standard 110/220V outlet. It is extremely adaptable and easily shared between engineering labs and full production test environments where it proves its low total cost of ownership on a daily basis.

For wireless applications, Credence will unveil key capabilities of the ASL 3000RF platform, to demonstrate cost-effective testing of an ISM band single-chip, frequency shift keying (FSK) transceiver device intended for use in half-duplex, bidirectional RF links. The scalable, flexible architecture of the ASL 3000RF protects investment in capital equipment, program development, and training, offering a significantly lower cost of ownership than competitive offerings. The ASL 3000RF includes advanced RF instrumentation for both digital and analog baseband, and features modulated vector network analysis (MVNA) technology for making S-parameter measurements with greater accuracy.

About Credence: Credence Systems Corporation is a global provider of automated test equipment (ATE) solutions to the high growth, consumer semiconductor industry. Credence is committed to deliver the highest standards of value -- an optimal combination of technology, turn-around time, reliability, ease of use, service and support -- to every customer, which enables important cost and performance advantages for integrated device manufacturers (IDMs), wafer foundries, outsource assembly and test (OSAT) suppliers and fabless chip companies worldwide. An ISO 9001-certified company with a presence in 20 countries, Credence is headquartered in Milpitas, California. More information is available at http://www.credence.com .

By Robert Hoskins

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