modern strategy for validation, test and debug as well as programming of complex boards and systems. They can be used throughout the entire product life cycle, enabling improved test coverage at reduced costs. A key part of ESA are chip-embedded instruments, permanently integrated or temporarily implemented test and measurement functions in an integrated circuit, that are the counterpart to external T&M instruments but don’t require invasive contacting by probes or nails. To support its customers employing ESA, GOEPEL electronic has introduced the ESA Coach evaluation kit, which offers tutorials in ESA technologies such as Boundary Scan, Processor Emulation Test and Chip Embedded Instruments. “The advancing paradigm shift from intrusive test to Embedded System Access requires corresponding knowledge and technology transfer, which we are able to support through our ESA Coach,” says Jan Heiber, a GOEPEL electronic’s Application Support Manager. “Practical training in the newest test and programming strategies enables users to solve access problems caused by intrusive methods.”
Optical Inspection GOEPEL electronic has been developing its Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) systems since 1996 when the first OptiCon system was launched. It has since been developed into one of the most commanding test technologies in electronic production and the first of the new company buildings was opened in 2003 specifically to support these systems. Last year, GOEPEL electronic upgraded its OptiCon TurboLine AOI system, which is widely used for both top and bottom PCB inspection in production for automotive products. An additional integrated camera module for PCB bottom side enables inspection of pin-in-paste solder joints together with the SMD inspection – all in one system. 76 Industry Europe
Of course, however sophisticated an optical inspection system is it can see only what is actually visible. GOEPEL electronic has therefore taken its inspection systems a step further with the development of automated X-ray (AXI) systems which can inspect complex and double-sided assembled PCBs including all solder joints. At present only a minority of 3D AXI systems are fast enough to enable a complete PCB inspection within a production cycle because the magnitude of image capturing required and the large amount of data dramatically limits possible inspection speeds. But the revolutionary GigaPixel image capturing concept of GOEPEL electronic’s OptiCon X-Line 3D AXI system enables a complete 3D inspection of the entire PCB at speeds of up to 40cm2/s.
Solutions for the auto industry The development and production of Intelligent Test Systems for the functional testing of electronic assemblies and devices for the automotive industry has been a major part of GOEPEL electronic’s business for many years. Functional tests are carried out at the end of the production line, typically at the final assembly point of complex boards where multiple electronic and mechanical components ‘meet’ for the first time. At this stage it is possible that the wrong electronic components get into the housing or electronic components may even be destroyed during the final assembly. It is to recognise these and other faults that functional testing of manufactured products is carried out at the end of the line. A major order in this business area was carried out in 2013 when GOEPEL electronic’s OsCAR G3 functional test systems were put into operation at the production facilities of the worldwide Lear Corporation in Germany, USA, South Africa, China and India. The OsCar systems were installed for the functional testing of Lear’s BR205 series of car seats which
are supplied for the new Daimler C Class. The OsCAR system executes ECU tests and checks additional electronic components inside the car seats; it is a versatile functional car seat test system that can be configured for specific test requirements and ‘unit under test’ with minimal modification and reprogramming effort. Because of the systems’ automatic seat identification system it can be used to test each car seat of each automobile manufacturer. GOEPEL electronic’s solutions for the automotive industry include bus communication and ECU testing up to functional test systems for vehicle control units. GOEPEL electronic also offers solutions for acoustics analysis in vehicle manufacturing to enable noises such as squeaking or rattling to be detected and analysed through end-of-line testing. These include the SoundChecker mobile structure-borne sound analysis system and CARoLINE, an impact sound analysis tool that evaluates the acoustic quality of rotating, motor-driven components in the vehicle. “The automotive industry is a very important market for GOEPEL electronic but our testing systems are applicable in just about all industries that use PCBs or other electronic assemblies,” says Thomas Wenzel. “Telecoms, medical devices and the rapid development of the Internet of Things are increasingly important markets for us and will be major drivers of future growth. We are a very dynamic company and we put just as much work into strategic marketing – understanding changing market demands and global logistics flows – as into developing new technologies for ever-more-complex boards. We see a lot of opportunities for the applications of embedded systems and we are always alert to new testing technologies just over the horizon. “So I am confident that GOEPEL electronic can continue to grow, as it has for the last 22 n years, step by step and year on year.”
