Cambridge Technology Consultants (formerly OptionExist) wins DTI Smart Award to develop boundary scan testing via USB port
CAMBRIDGE, England, December 20, 2002
– Cambridge-based technical design consultancy, Cambridge Technology Consultants (formerly OptionExist), has won a Smart Award from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)'s Small Business Service to assess the feasibility of boundary scan testing using the universal serial bus (USB) port of a computer.Cambridge Technology Consultants has been awarded £45,000 under the Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology (SMART) scheme. The presentation was made at a ceremony in Cambridge last week.
"This is an important research project for Cambridge Technology Consultants and we are delighted to secure funding from the DTI," said Dr Gordon Hollingworth, head of XJTAG development, Cambridge Technology Consultants. "We have a sophisticated range of JTAG boundary scan tools, which could gain mass appeal among printed circuit board assemblers if we could overcome the inherent latency problems with the USB port."
The computer's USB port has a latency or delay built into it to avoid the computer from being overloaded with data. However, the USB interface does provide the fast data transfer rates and ease of use, which are required by Cambridge Technology Consultants to maximise the capability and availability of its XJTAG solution.
"Our technology is already suitable for designers and developers of integrated circuits," added Dr Hollingworth. "However, if the feasibility study proves successful, we can address the much bigger test assembly market, which is worth in excess of US$740 million per year."
Cambridge Technology Consultants's XJTAG tools enable designers and developers of integrated circuits (ICs) to shorten the development and prototyping process by facilitating early test development, early design validation, fast development of highly functional tests and test reuse across circuits that utilise the same devices.
The Smart scheme has been running for more than 14 years and aims to boost innovative or exploratory ways of solving practical problems. Grants are given for three types of project:
- up to £10,000 for a micro project to develop a low cost prototype
- up to £45,000 for a feasibility study into innovative technology; and
- funding of up to £150,000 for the development of a new product or process up to pre-production prototype stage.
About Cambridge Technology Consultants (www.camtechconsultants.com)
Cambridge Technology Consultants (CTC) is an award-winning information technology company, providing innovative product development and technical consultancy services to wide range of clients, including, among others, ARM, AT&T, BOC Edwards, Celoxica, Fujitsu, Marconi and Mitsubishi Electric.
Founded in 1993 by ex-Acorn engineers Stephen Love and Simon Rayne with marketing director Simon Payne, and based on the outskirts of Cambridge, England, CTC's multi-disciplinary team of hardware and software engineers specialise in developing real-time embedded systems. Typically working as an extension to a client's own development team, CTC provides one-off problem-solving, bespoke software or volume production of a new product, it can also design, develop and support all, or any part, of the hardware, software, processes or systems needed to drive a client's business forward.
Cambridge Technology Consultants has also developed a portfolio of leading-edge products, which are available for license to third parties.
Organisations can find out more about Smart by contacting the Small Business Service for the East of England on: 01223 484537 or visiting www.dti.gov.uk
Media contact:
Martin Brooke
Martin Brooke Associates
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 244500
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