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N8839A Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC) Compliance Test Software

Data Sheets

Keysight N8839A

Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC)

Compliance Test Software

For use with Infiniium Z-Series oscilloscopes

Data Sheet

Introduction

The Keysight Technologies, Inc. N8839A hybrid memory cube (HMC) compliance test software provides a fast and easy way to test, debug, and characterize your HMC designs. The application’s tests are based on the HMC Specification as defined by the HMC Consortium. N8839A also features a user-friendly setup wizard and a comprehensive report that includes margin analysis. HMC is an evolutionary upgrade to DDR3 memory systems, offering significant bandwidth performance while using less power. HMC achieves these advances through a combination of high speed logic process technology and a stack of through-silicon-via (TSV) bonded memory die. It operates at up to 30 Gb/s. Signal integrity is crucial for memory system interoperability. Reference clock jitter measurements help ensure that jitter is well within the specifications, which is vital for reliable and interoperable modular memory systems. Critical electrical and timing characteristics of other signals ensure the memory system functions correctly and stays error free. The HMC compliance test application is compatible with the Keysight Infiniium Z-Series digital storage oscilloscopes.

Comprehensive Test Coverage

With the HMC compliance test application, the same oscilloscope you use for everyday debugging can be used to perform automated testing and margin analysis based on the HMC specifications. N8839A automatically configures the oscilloscope for each test and provides informative results. It includes margin analysis indicating how close your device comes to passing each specification. Traditionally, some of the difficulties with testing have included connecting to the target device, configuring the oscilloscope, performing the tests, and analyzing the measured results. The HMC compliance test application does most of this work for you.

Features

The N8839A compliance test application offers several features to simplify the validation of your designs:

  • Complete test coverage on transmitter voltage, jitter, signaling rate, and return loss measurements
  • Enhanced execution speed to minimize compliance test time
  • User-selectable tests and configurations based on HMC Specification-defined data rates
  • Test framework that provides powerful characterization through multiple trials, showing a full array of statistics for each measurement and returning the worst measurement value
  • Offline setup for compliance testing on saved waveform files from the oscilloscope
  • Switch matrix option to enable simultaneous connection of multiple data lanes

Easy Test Definition

N8839A enhances the usability of Keysight Infiniium oscilloscopes for testing HMC devices. The Keysight automated test framework quickly guides you through the steps required to define the setup, perform the tests, and view the test results. You can then select a category of tests or specify individual tests. The user interface is designed to minimize unnecessary reconnections, saving time and minimizing potential operator errors. Save the tests and configurations as project files and recall them later for quick testing and review of previous results. Clear menus make it easy to perform tests with minimal mouse clicks.

Configurability and Guided Connection

The HMC compliance test application provides test setup flexibility, including voltage, jitter, signaling rate, and vector network analyzer return loss measurements. Once tests are configured, the connection page displays the connection diagram for the selected tests. You can run the selected tests until the stop condition is met. The application then saves the worst-case conditions and helps you locate the anomalies in the signals.

Thorough Performance Reporting

The HMC compliance test application generates thorough HTML reports that capture the performance, status, and margins of your device. Details are available for each test, such as the test limits, test description and test results – including saved waveforms. In addition, the pass/fail margin is indicated to provide further insight. N8839A also captures screen shots of critical measurements for your reference and documentation, in a report that is suitable for printing and sharing with your vendors, customers, and colleagues.

Extensibility

It is easy to add additional custom tests or steps to the test application using the User Defined Application (UDA) development tool (www.keysight.com/find/uda). UDA simplifies the development of functional Add-Ins that can be plugged into the HMC software application. Add-Ins may be designed as:

  • Complete custom tests (with configuration variables and connection prompts)
  • Custom steps such as pre- or post-processing scripts, external instrument control, and your own device control

Automation

Completely automate the execution of your application’s tests and Add-Ins from a separate PC using the included N5452A Remote Interface feature. (Download the free toolkit from: www.keysight.com/find/scope-apps-sw). Create and execute automation scripts inside the application using a convenient built-in client. The commands required for each task may be created using a command wizard or obtained from the Remote Hints accessible throughout the user interface. Using automation, accelerate complex testing scenarios and automate manual tasks such as:

  • Opening projects, executing tests, and saving results
  • Executing tests repeatedly while changing configurations
  • Sending commands to external instruments
  • Executing tests out of order

Combine the power of built-in automation and extensibility to transform your application into a complete test suite executive.

  • Interact with your device controller to place it into desired states or test modes before test execution
  • Configure additional instruments used in your test suite, such as a pattern generator and probe switch matrix
  • Export data generated by your tests for post-processing using your favorite environment, such as MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, C, C++, or Visual Basic
  • Sequence or repeat the tests and Add-In custom steps execution in any order for complete test coverage of the test plan

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