SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Advantest Corporation , a global leader in semiconductor test systems, today announced that its T2000 Series -- introduced in September 2003 -- has been certified by the Semiconductor Test Consortium (STC) as the industry's first system to meet the Open Semiconductor Test Architecture (OPENSTAR(R)) standard. The world's first truly open test platform, OPENSTAR enables chipmakers to implement flexible automated test equipment (ATE) solutions to meet their divergent test needs in a cost-effective manner, providing unique multi-vendor interoperability at both the hardware and software levels. To date, Advantest has shipped over 50 T2000 OPENSTAR-compliant systems worldwide.
Typically, chipmakers have had to purchase new ATE systems every two to three years to keep up with fast-changing technology advancements. However, because the T2000 is built on the modular OPENSTAR architecture -- which Advantest was instrumental in helping to develop -- it delivers flexible and extendible functionality, enabling easy configuration for future test applications. Certification by the STC ensures the T2000's interoperability when equipped with third-party test modules that comply with the STC standard.
Advantest President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Lee stated, "Advantest has taken a pioneering role in this effort over the past two years -- helping drive creation of the open standard, introducing the world's first OPENSTAR-based test system, and, now, seeing that system fully certified as OPENSTAR-compliant. We are pleased that the STC has recognized the T2000 in this manner, and we will continue to work closely with the consortium as we seek to develop next-generation, open test systems that lower the cost of testing leading-edge devices."
According to Fred Bode, STC secretary and administrator, "Since its establishment in 2002 and subsequent incorporation, the STC has rapidly established itself as a vital, pioneering force in the test industry. The OPENSTAR platform is now supported by 25 semiconductor, equipment and instrumentation companies worldwide. The STC looks forward to working with these and other industry leaders as we continue our drive to help enable test solutions that deliver optimal technical and economic benefits."
Advantest's T2000 Test System
Developed to meet the demands of a broad array of customers, the T2000 offers integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) a lower cost of test and evaluation. It also provides fabless companies a flexible platform with interchangeable modules that easily adapts to changing device requirements, and extends tester life and lowers the risk of equipment obsolescence for test houses. The T2000 can be easily configured for testing microprocessors, microcontrollers and radio-frequency (RF) devices by choosing from an expanding menu of test modules. Together with these modules, the T2000 enables unprecedented customization of test capabilities and delivers unmatched support for parallel testing.
Standardization also helps third-party suppliers integrate their software to the T2000 environment, enabling the use of third-party software products. End users benefit both from the system's open architecture software and its highly descriptive testing language, based on the specifications under development by the STC software working group. The T2000 software uses the vector and waveform table constructs of IEEE Std 1450-1999.
About the Semiconductor Test Consortium
The Semiconductor Test Consortium was founded in 2003 to develop a common test architecture that is completely open, documented and supported via solutions available from all ATE vendors. Open to all companies throughout the semiconductor supply chain with a vested interest in the test sector, the consortium is focused on the following goals: driving the direction of OPENSTAR; publishing the architecture and providing training programs and workshops to ensure it is truly open; and defining and managing validation procedures to ensure full vendor interoperability. Twenty-five semiconductor, equipment and instrumentation companies worldwide and 11 universities in Europe, Japan, China and the United States now support the STC. More information on members, benefits and membership materials can be found at http://www.semitest.org/.
About Advantest
Advantest Corporation is one of the world's leading automatic test equipment suppliers to the semiconductor industry, and is also a producer of electronic and optoelectronic instruments and systems. A global company, Advantest has long offered total ATE solutions, and serves the industry in every component of semiconductor test: tester, handler, mechanical and electrical interfaces, and software. Its logic, memory, mixed-signal and RF testers, and device handlers, are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor fabrication lines in the world. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established its North American subsidiary in 1982. Advantest America, Inc.; Advantest America R&D Center, Inc.; and Advantest Test Engineering Corporation are based in Santa Clara, Calif. Advantest America Measuring Solutions, Inc., based in Edison, N.J., distributes Advantest electronic measuring instrument products in North America. More information is available at http://www.advantest.com/.
NOTE: OPENSTAR is a registered trademark of the Semiconductor Test Consortium.
Advantest Corporation
Typically, chipmakers have had to purchase new ATE systems every two to three years to keep up with fast-changing technology advancements. However, because the T2000 is built on the modular OPENSTAR architecture -- which Advantest was instrumental in helping to develop -- it delivers flexible and extendible functionality, enabling easy configuration for future test applications. Certification by the STC ensures the T2000's interoperability when equipped with third-party test modules that comply with the STC standard.
Advantest President and Chief Executive Officer Keith Lee stated, "Advantest has taken a pioneering role in this effort over the past two years -- helping drive creation of the open standard, introducing the world's first OPENSTAR-based test system, and, now, seeing that system fully certified as OPENSTAR-compliant. We are pleased that the STC has recognized the T2000 in this manner, and we will continue to work closely with the consortium as we seek to develop next-generation, open test systems that lower the cost of testing leading-edge devices."
According to Fred Bode, STC secretary and administrator, "Since its establishment in 2002 and subsequent incorporation, the STC has rapidly established itself as a vital, pioneering force in the test industry. The OPENSTAR platform is now supported by 25 semiconductor, equipment and instrumentation companies worldwide. The STC looks forward to working with these and other industry leaders as we continue our drive to help enable test solutions that deliver optimal technical and economic benefits."
Advantest's T2000 Test System
Developed to meet the demands of a broad array of customers, the T2000 offers integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) a lower cost of test and evaluation. It also provides fabless companies a flexible platform with interchangeable modules that easily adapts to changing device requirements, and extends tester life and lowers the risk of equipment obsolescence for test houses. The T2000 can be easily configured for testing microprocessors, microcontrollers and radio-frequency (RF) devices by choosing from an expanding menu of test modules. Together with these modules, the T2000 enables unprecedented customization of test capabilities and delivers unmatched support for parallel testing.
Standardization also helps third-party suppliers integrate their software to the T2000 environment, enabling the use of third-party software products. End users benefit both from the system's open architecture software and its highly descriptive testing language, based on the specifications under development by the STC software working group. The T2000 software uses the vector and waveform table constructs of IEEE Std 1450-1999.
About the Semiconductor Test Consortium
The Semiconductor Test Consortium was founded in 2003 to develop a common test architecture that is completely open, documented and supported via solutions available from all ATE vendors. Open to all companies throughout the semiconductor supply chain with a vested interest in the test sector, the consortium is focused on the following goals: driving the direction of OPENSTAR; publishing the architecture and providing training programs and workshops to ensure it is truly open; and defining and managing validation procedures to ensure full vendor interoperability. Twenty-five semiconductor, equipment and instrumentation companies worldwide and 11 universities in Europe, Japan, China and the United States now support the STC. More information on members, benefits and membership materials can be found at http://www.semitest.org/.
About Advantest
Advantest Corporation is one of the world's leading automatic test equipment suppliers to the semiconductor industry, and is also a producer of electronic and optoelectronic instruments and systems. A global company, Advantest has long offered total ATE solutions, and serves the industry in every component of semiconductor test: tester, handler, mechanical and electrical interfaces, and software. Its logic, memory, mixed-signal and RF testers, and device handlers, are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor fabrication lines in the world. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established its North American subsidiary in 1982. Advantest America, Inc.; Advantest America R&D Center, Inc.; and Advantest Test Engineering Corporation are based in Santa Clara, Calif. Advantest America Measuring Solutions, Inc., based in Edison, N.J., distributes Advantest electronic measuring instrument products in North America. More information is available at http://www.advantest.com/.
NOTE: OPENSTAR is a registered trademark of the Semiconductor Test Consortium.
Advantest Corporation
© 2004 PR Newswire
