LitePoint IQNFC addresses production testing
July 2014 – In a visit to the LitePoint offices in Silicon Valley, we were shown the new IQNFC lab and production test system they have developed for multi-application NFC testing. NFC is a stable connection technology that has had a challenge over use model and awareness of it being embedded into products due to lack of uniform logos/branding. The issue is becoming important as NFC moves to being used for mobile transaction, door locks and car keys, a replacement for paper passports. In 2013, credit card fraud was at $24.7B and the use of secure NFC has been shown to be able to reduce that by 50% in certain tests.
On the technical side with the protocol supporting multiple data rates, operating distances for the 13MHz narrow band signal and coil sizes for connections up to 4cm, there are testing and validation challenges. As a result, the production testing of the end units has been held back with the need for multiple DUT heads and exciter / reader systems needed to test it.
To address these challenges LitePoint has created the IQNFC system. This is a 19” 1U rack mount system that is stackable in a production rack and a cabled DUT platform that can placed on the production work surface. The DUT platform supports the multiple coil and frequency options for all the NFC standards, Currently most NFC test environments are Pass / Fail. The LitePoint solution provides parametric for the 19 points of possible failure for the PHY level test for all the devices in their final form factor. The multi-mode tester is a direct NFC tester and does not require the cellular connectivity portion of testing NFC in a cell phone.
A key for the cost of test is reduce the test time. The system supports a full NFC test in under 5sec for up to all 8 standards of NFC with a single coil. The DUT fixture supports a handler for assembled devices. The unit can also be configured with a software release to test coils only prior to assembly or in partial assemblies. The test interface has built around their IQFact+ software base that has an interface and API to SAP / Oracle / IBM MRP systems. These units have been in several customers as “early production” release and are now available for general purchase.
