Atec Agilent-346a User Manual

Page 41

Designing and Probing with Target Connections
Agilent Logic Analyzers with 90-pin Pod Connectors

Seven options are available for
connecting Agilent logic analyzers
with 90-pin pod connectors to
a target system using mass
connections.

Agilent Pro Series Soft Touch
Connectorless Logic Analyzer Probes

Agilent Technologies has devel-
oped connectorless logic analyzer
probes based on soft touch
probing technology. Connectorless
logic analyzer probing removes
the connector that is traditionally
attached to the target board and
replaces it with an array of probe
pads. This reduces the probe load
on the target by eliminating the
loading associated with the
physical body of the connector.
Additionally, this streamlines the

design flow by eliminating the
need to assign a logic analyzer
connector to the bill of material
of your board, procuring those
connectors and then having them
loaded onto your board.

Agilent’s soft touch connectorless
probes use micro spring-pin tech-
nology to provide reliable contact
which is not dependent on the
planarity of the PC board or the
plating processes used to fabri-
cate the board. No special clean-
ing processes are required when
using Agilent’s soft touch probes.

The new Agilent Technologies Pro
Series soft touch connectorless
probes offer a 30% smaller foot-
print than the original soft touch

Figure 8.1. “Top-side” mountable retention module.

Insert

Solder pins from
top of board

probes and are the basis for the
industry standard connectorless
probing footprint.

The probes use a retention module
that ensures soft touch pin-to-PC
board pad alignment and holds
the probe in place while in use.
The Pro Series soft touch uses a
“top-side” mountable retention
module. The retention module is
mounted on the same side of the
board as the probing footprint so
there is no need to access the
back-side of the board. Because
there is no requirement for the
retention module pins to extend
beyond the back-side of the
board, the retention module is
compatible with virtually any
board thickness.