What is Boundary-scan?
Boundary-scan (also known as JTAG boundary-scan) is a method of testing modern Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) after assembly. Using the dedicated test logic built into many of today’s integrated circuits (ICs), boundary-scan checks if each device is correctly inserted and soldered onto the PCB.
Typical devices that incorporate boundary-scan technology include CPLDs, FPGAs, microprocessors, DSPs, ASICs, bus logic, SERDES, telecom encoders, PHYs and Bridges (PCI/PCIe).
A number of device manufacturers embracing boundary-scan technology are Intel, Analog Devices, ARM, Freescale, NXP, PLX, ST, TI, Renesas, Xilinx, Altera, Lattice, Broadcom and Actel among others.
Boundary-scan enabled devices feature four (or sometimes five) dedicated test access port (TAP) signals:
- TCK (Test Clock)
- TMS (Test Mode Select)
- TDI (Test Data In)
- TDO (Test Data Out)
- TRST (Test Logic Reset) (optional)
To simplify the test infrastructure within a PCB it is common to connect the devices in a serial (daisy chain) formation so that the first device's TDO connects to the next device’s TDI (and so on) to form a so-called scan chain.
To activate the boundary-scan logic, simply pulse TCK while toggling TMS as specified in the TAP state machine map. Once activated, boundary-scan logic controls the device's pins while isolating the primary core functions of the device.
- Download our detailed brochure When does boundary-scan make sense?
- View our video presentation on the Advantages and applications of boundary-scan
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