electron plus ASA240 Analog Signature Analyser User Manual
- June 17, 2024
- Electron Plus
Table of Contents
electron plus ASA240 Analog Signature Analyser
Notices
Copyright
© Electron Plus 2018-2024
This manual (or part thereof) may not be reproduced by any means (electronic
or photographic, including translation into a foreign language) without prior
written consent and agreement from Electron Plus as set-out in United Kingdom
and international copyright laws.
Electron Plus is a trading style of BFRAD Limited.
Part number
ASA240_User_Manual.PDF
Issue
24.001, February 2024
Location
The latest version of this document can be found on our website:
www.electron.plus
Published by
BFRAD Limited (t/a Electron Plus)
Unit 8 Manor Farm Business Centre
Manor Lane
Stutton
Suffolk
IP9 2TD
UK
Hereafter referred to as Electron Plus
Notes
- We frequently update our manuals and add new features and improvements as they available, please ensure that you check our website for an updated version of this document, especially if updating your Electron Plus software.
- We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this manual’s contents. If you find any errors, have suggestions for expanding on a feature, or feel that we can improve it’s contents then please contact us at support@electron.plus
- Copying or reproducing this document or any part of this document without written permission of Electron Plus is strictly prohibited.
Trademark acknowledgement
Electron Plus fully recognises and acknowledges any trademark(s) of the respective trademark holder.
Windows TM is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Transzorb TM is a trademark of Vishay General Semiconductor, LLC.
Purpose of manual
The purpose of this manual is to enable you to safely setup, configure and operate your Electron Plus instrument, associated software and/or accessories.
Please pay particular attention to any section with a warning symbol.
Safety warnings
Warnings, cautions and notes are colour coded through-out this manual. These are divided into several categories and are described below:
WARNING – Pay special attention to anything written here – this is for
your safety and continued protection and is critical information!
CAUTION – Damage may occur to your equipment or any DUT (device under
test).
NOTE – General text, with useful information or tips.
Getting Started
System requirements
We recommend at least Windows 7 operating system. ASA is available in both 32 bit and 64 bit from the Electron Plus website.
Minimum requirement for connection to ASA device: 1x USB 2.0 type A (common) for connection to the instrument, at 0.0A
Screen resolution of at least 1440(W) x 900(H), it will work with others, but you risk some of the CONTROL RIBBON items not being visible.
ASA uses the PC sound card for various alerts, although it will operate correctly without sound.
Technical Note
We test EPIC builds mainly on Windows 10/64 bit machines with 1920×1080
monitors.
Getting help
Help is available by email: support@electron.plus
If you are experiencing an issue with EPIC, please email a copy of the following files (see below) found in the EPIC installation folder along with a description of the problem.
log.txt
bugreport.txt
This will help us understand your problem and provide a quicker fix.
Introduction
Welcome
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing an Electron Plus product.
Please take a few minutes to read the ‘Before you start’ section of this manual, especially as misusing this product can result in damage to it, your device-under-test or potentially place you in-danger.
New in software
ASA covers most Electron Plus instruments and not all instruments are updated between versions:
V24.001
Bug fixes
Various small tweaks
V22.001
Change of name to ASA from EPIC
Bug fixes
V21.012
Bug fixes
ASA – addition of manual mode
V21.011
Bug fixes
CTL503 – Vgs vs Id (at fixed Vds) mode added
CTL503 – updates to status display
CTL503 – removal of DEVTEST button/function.
V21.010
Bug fixes
Addition of version compiled for 32 bit systems
CTL503 added to EPIC
ASA200/240 – addition of SIGNAL/COMMON to EDIT page
V21.009
Bug fixes
SPA100 added to EPIC
REF50X added to EPIC
V21.008
Bug fixes
Installation sequence
Please install the ASA software and the associated USB driver software BEFORE connecting your device to a computer.
You do not need to remove a previous copy of ASA, the new copy will overwrite the necessary existing file(s). The “settings.txt” file will only be created if it is not present.
When ASA is first started, it will build a number of files (unless they are already there from a previous installation) in the installation directory.
If upgrading from EPIC V21.009 or earlier please be aware that the new program EXE is called either ASA32.EXE or ASA64.EXE and that previous shortcuts might not work or will link to previous copy.
Installing the Software
Electron Plus products require a USB connection to a PC running ASA (our proprietary software) in order to function.
ASA now comes in two compiled versions (since version 21.010):
ASA64 – for 64 bit Windows installations & PC’s (we recommend this).
ASA32 – for 32 bit legacy Windows machines.
You can download the latest copy of ASA for free from www.electron.plus/pages/software, ASA is being constantly revised with new features, updates and bug fixes.
- Select which variant you wish to use go ahead and download it (typically by double clicking on the ZIP file named something like: Install_ASA24001_64.ZIP)
- Open the downloaded file (typically Windows will recognize the ZIP format and open the file and display the contents like a folder), double click the EXE file – typically called Install_ASA24001_64.exe)
- Follow the on screen instructions to complete the installation.
Before starting ASA, we recommend installing any USB drivers, see next section for details.
This manual MAY NOT represent the most up-to-date features and screenshots, if something is unclear, please contact support@electron.plus and we will promptly try to assist you.
Installing the USB driver
The product covered in this document communicates with the host PC via USB using an FTDI FT230X bridge IC.
A copy of the official FTDI device driver is available from the SOFTWARE section of our website (www.electron.plus/pages/software), device drivers can also be downloaded directly from FTDI’s website (www.ftdichip.com/drivers).
Download the FTDI driver (CDM21228_Setup), open the ZIP file and run CDM21228_Setup.EXE, this will install the D2XX drivers necessary.
It is possible that you already have this FTDI device driver installed, however we still recommend following this procedure.
Earthing for function and safety
For functional and/or safety reasons you may wish to EARTH the casing of your Electron Plus instrument. This is not necessary under most normal operating conditions.
In this case, we recommend loosening (and re-tightening) the M3 stainless steel chassis screw (2mm HEX drive) and fitting an earthing wire using either ring terminal or spade terminal.
If in doubt please contact Electron Plus for further details.
Caution
USB 0V, rear panel, front panel, casing and any external power supply 0V are
all the same potential and connected via low impedances (PCB, metalwork, etc.)
– Avoid creating ‘ground loops’ with your setup!
Note
Some earlier production ASA100 units may have a TORX T10 headed stainless
steel earthing screw fitted instead of the 2mm HEX drive type. If you would
like a 2mm HEX drive screw (our part# SCREW014), please contact the factory
and we will supply one free-of-charge.
Operation
Selecting Instrument
When ASA is first installed it will initially start in ASA 100 mode.
To change this:
INSTRUMENT > CHANGE INSTRUMENT and select the actual instrument you wish to
use, you will then have to close and reopen ASA for this to take effect.
Technical Note
Variable used in settings.txt: Active Instrument=ASA 100
Connecting Instrument
To connect to the instrument you can use the options in the MENU or the button on the Control Ribbon.
INSTRUMENT > CONNECT to connect, or DISCONNECT to disconnect.
Before the instrument connects it will check the identification in the FTDI USB bridge IC, an error message will be shown if the instrument selected is not the same as the instrument connected.
Technical Note
Upon successful connection, ASA will download the calibration coefficients
file from the USB bridge IC. These are then stored in the EPIC folder as
“ASA_cal.txt”
Check for updates
Once per day ASA will check if there is a newer version available. This feature maybe disabled or re-enabled here:
UTILITIES > DAILY UPDATE CHECK
Tick will enable EPIC to perform the daily update check, unticking will
prevent EPIC from performing the daily update check.
Technical Note
In “settings.txt”: Check Website For Update=1 or 0 determines if this function
is enabled/disabled. Date Of Last Update Check=04/11/2021 is self-explanatory.
If function is enabled and date <> today a small file called “version.txt” is
downloaded from “http://www.electron.plus/wpcontent/“. This contains the
current revision of EPIC also the current revision for each product where a
change/update has been made.
Test Controls
The Pin/record selected is incremented/decremented manually (using the buttons
below) or advanced automatically (when in Auto Test, Auto Capture or Single
Capture).
These buttons (above) will increment/decrement through the individual
Pin/records – using the controls below will increment/decrement through entire
components at a time.
Skipping straight to the first* record or the last press one of the buttons
below.
When changing to a different record, the instruments output voltage/resistance/frequency settings are automatically set to those of the new record (if a golden signature has been captured, if no signature has been captured they remain as before). This feature is enabled by default (see below), uncheck the box to disable.
To clear all DUT Signatures (GOOD and BAD) and reset to the first record, press the button below. Before the reset, a pop-up window will be ask if you really want to do this.
The above function will not reset captured Golden Signatures (make sure you save the .EPT file at regular intervals).
Note
Floating the mouse over one of the buttons above will bring up a small text
description of the button function.
Note
*The first usable record is #2, as record #1 is reserved for other (historic) functions.
During a test, the percentage of pins that test GOOD and BAD is calculated and
displayed (see image below).
GOOD and BAD buttons (above) will mark each record as either GOOD or BAD – typically this is used when overriding automatically tested signature results.
The next button has several different functions depending on which mode is
being used. Default state is manual testing (use GOOD/BAD buttons to register
the results of a signature test), pressing the button (below) will start an
automatic test (AUTO TEST) at the current Pin/record:
When the AUTO TEST is running, the button will show TEST IN PROGRESS (see
below). Pressing the button will stop the automatic test. The test maybe
resumed by pressing the button again.
If the Edit/Capture signature tick box (see Edit Controls) is ticked, then
capture mode is selected and there will now be two buttons (see below) instead
of the three before:
The SINGLE CAPTURE button will capture the Live Signature and it’s associated voltage/resistance/frequency settings and store it as the Golden Signature for that Pin/record, once done, it will automatically advance to the next Pin/record (ready for another capture).
The AUTO CAPTURE button will start the automatic capturing of Golden Signatures (see Auto Capture). When AUTO CAPTURE is running, the buttons will look like:
Pressing CAPT IN PROGRESS button will stop the automatic capture.
Views
There are multiple ‘view’ configurations that can be selected. Users will often prefer one style (research has shown this to be: 2 mini-scopes + PCB + TestTree+ BadTree), however we encourage testing alternate ‘views’ as they may be better suited to your testing.
To select a different view: DISPLAY > VIEW
The options are shown below – on the following pages are examples of the same
Pin/record (41/127) viewed in different configurations.
The mini-scopes are useful to see a previous test or the next test.
The coloured square in the top-left corner of a mini-scope is the test status of that Pin/record, and follows the convention:
GREEN – good signature, RED – bad signature, YELLOW – untested (no DUT signature captured), PINK – no Golden signature recorded yet.
9 mini-scopes
The centre mini-scope of the 9 is the current Pin/record (same image as the
main scope).
Clicking on any of the mini-scopes will select that Pin/record as the main
scope image.
6 mini-scopes + TestTree
The centre-right mini-scope of the 6 is the current Pin/record (same image as
the main scope).
Clicking on any of the mini-scopes or TestTree points will select that
Pin/record as the main scope image.
3 mini-scopes + TestTree
The centre mini-scope of the 3 is the current Pin/record (same image as the
main scope).
Clicking on any of the mini-scopes or TestTree points will select that
Pin/record as the main scope image.
3 mini-scopes + TestTree + BadTree
The centre mini-scope of the 3 is the current Pin/record (same image as the
main scope).
Clicking on any of the mini-scopes, TestTree or BadTree points will select
that Pin/record as the main scope image.
3 mini-scopes + PCB
The middle mini-scope of the 3 is the current Pin/record (same image as the
main scope).
Clicking on any of the mini-scopes or test points (on the PCB image) will
select that Pin/record as the main scope image.
3 mini-scopes + PCB + TestTree
The middle mini-scope of the 3 is the current Pin/record (same image as the
main scope). Clicking on any of the mini-scopes, TestTree points or test
points (on the PCB image) will select that Pin/record as the main scope image.
Clicking on any area of the PCB image (but not on a test point) will toggle the image from the selected view to the overall PCB image and back – this function is useful if you need to see where you are on the larger board.
2 mini-scopes + PCB + TestTree + BadTree
The left mini-scope displays the previous Pin/record and the right mini-scope
displays the next Pin/record. Clicking on any of the mini-scopes, TestTree
points, BadTree points or test points (on the PCB image) will select that
Pin/record as the main scope image.
2 mini-scopes + PCB + TestTree
The left mini-scope displays the previous Pin/record and the right mini-scope displays the next Pin/record. Clicking on any of the mini-scopes, TestTree points or test points (on the PCB image) will select that Pin/record as the main scope image.
Clicking on any area of the PCB image (but not on a test point) will toggle
the image from the selected view to the overall PCB image and back – this
function is useful if you need to see where you are on the larger board.
1 mini-scope + TestTree + BadTree
The mini-scope displays the previous Pin/record. Clicking on the mini-scope,
TestTree points, BadTree points or test points (on the PCB image) will select
that Pin/record as the main scope image.
PCB
Clicking on the test points (on the PCB image) will select that Pin/record as
the main scope image.
Clicking on any area of the PCB image (but not on a test point) will toggle the image from the selected view to the overall PCB image and back – this function is useful if you need to see where you are on the larger board.
Setting up a test
Creating new test file
To setup a new test you must first create a new file:
FILE > NEW
Select a location and name for the test. The file extension is .ept, and will
be automatically appended when the file is saved.
Once the file has been saved it will be automatically loaded/used by the software. The file name and path will be shown on the top of the main-scope image.
Note
.ept files are essentially CSV (comma separated variables) formatted
spreadsheets. Commas in text fields are automatically swapped with £ symbols.
Adding an image
One or more images can be added to the to the test file. Click
Customers Support
www.electron.plus
Copyright © 2018-2024 Electron Plus. All Rights Reserved.
References
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