Corelis launches low-voltage JTAG adapter

The adapter allows compatibility between Corelis's boundary-scan controllers and low-voltage JTAG designs operating below 2.5V.

The low-voltage adapter is rated to support up to 100MHz TCK speeds, employs ESD protection, and is capable of driving up to 90mA on its outputs.

It provides an electrical and mechanical interface to connect any Corelis 20-pin boundary-scan controller to a high-density Intel XDP (extended debug port) connector.

XDP is a 60-pin, small form-factor connector designed to extend JTAG by permitting two separate clock domain scan-chains to be implemented.

Dividing the system scan-chains into two domains allows increased operating frequencies of the processor scan-chain by moving slower chipset JTAG agents to a separate clock domain.

The XDP port runs at roughly 1.0V and has 51ohm signal termination resistors, preventing traditional TTL-based JTAG controllers from interfacing to it.

The low-voltage adapter overcomes this limitation by providing the appropriate level translation and current drive capability.

Circuit boards having an Intel XDP connector can utilise the low-voltage adapter to access the scan chain with existing scan controllers.

David Muse, hardware products manager at Corelis, said: 'The low-voltage adapter fills a gap for new processor technologies that require a low-voltage interface combined with low-impedance termination.

'The adapter is capable of driving a 50ohm resistor at 1V,' he added.

The low-voltage adapter is fully compatible with Corelis' Scanexpress family of software products and comes complete with all necessary hardware and cabling.