Thank you for purchasing the B & K
PrecisionModel570A HandHeld
Linear IC Tester.
The basic function of the B & K Model
570A Linear IC Tester isto test a linear
IC for correct logical functioning as
described in the manufacturer’s IC data
sheets.The B & K Model 570A applies the necessary analogue
signals to the inputs of the IC, monitoring the outputsat each stage
and comparing them with the expected voltages. Any discrepancy
results in a FAIL indication and the faulty pins are shown on the
integral display.Additional facilities are also provided, amongst
them test loops that can be used for goods inwards inspection,
detecting intermittent faults or simply providing a rapid method of
exercising any IC for demonstration or educational purposes. Since
the B & K Model 570A contains an extensive IC library, it is not
necessary to program the unit yourself other than to key in the IC
number. It is also capable of identifying an unknown IC using the
SEARCH mode - this isa feature that many userswill find extremely
valuable.
The B & K Model 570A is provided with an RS-232 interface
enabling it to be connected to a companion software package
called CompactLink running on a PC.CompactLink allows test
programs for ICsnot included in the internal library to be developed
and downloaded into the B & K Model 570A memory to enhance
the library according to your wishes.
2. DC input
The B & K Model 570A is powered by four AA batteries or by the
use of the battery eliminator input at the rear of the case. To insert
the batteries, turn the unit upside down and remove the battery
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
cover by removing the two cross head screws holding it in place.
The batteries must be inserted in the correct orientation, as
indicated by the drawing within the battery compartment. Incorrect
insertion of batteries will not allow the unit to operate. Replace the
battery cover and insert the screws. If the battery voltage falls too
low, a low battery warning symbol will be displayed at the top left
hand cell of the display in normal operating mode. A low battery
warning will also be displayed during a result display. Test results
may be inconsistent under these conditions.
3. battery eliminator
An external battery eliminator is available for prolonged use of the
B & K Model 570A.Some ICs consume a significant amount of
current when powered up, and battery life can be conserved by
using the eliminator. There isno need to remove the batteriesprior
to inserting the battery eliminator. However, please note that during
prolonged periods of non-use batteries are prone to leakage and
should be removed.Note that to avoid damage to the unit we
strongly advise that you only use the recommended battery
eliminator that is available by contacting your distributor. Note that
using an incorrect battery eliminator voltage may damage the unit
and invalidate the warranty.
4. switching on
To switch the unit on, simply pressthe 'ON' key. To preserve battery
life, the unit powers itself off after approximately three minutes of
non-use or when “Sw Off” is selected from the main menu. When
the unit is switched on, it first performs a self-diagnosis test.
Therefore, before switching on, checkthat the test socket isempty to
prevent interference with the diagnostics. If the unit passes the selftest, a pass result will be displayed on the screen. Press a key to
enter the main operating mode - the display will be as follows:
NO:
MODE:Single:RDY
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Test Equipment Depot - 800.517.8431 - 99 Washington Street Melrose, MA 02176
FAX 781.665.0780 - TestEquipmentDepot.com
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
When this initial display is obtained the B & K Model 570A isready
for use.If, however, the message SELF-TEST FAIL: is displayed
along with a fault message, this indicates that a self-test diagnostic
fault has been detected. Any detected faultswill be displayed one
at a time.Pressing the TEST/EXEC key will then revert to the
opening menu as above, but of course operation of the unit will
then be suspect. Before contacting your distributor, check that the
test socket iscompletely empty.
5. operating modes
The B & K Model 570A has a number of test modes that are
selected using the MODE/CLEAR key from the initial screen. The
test modesare asfollows:
Single- execute a single test on the IC in the socket.
Loop- execute test repeatedly, regardlessof the result.
P Loop - execute test repeatedly, provided the result was PASS.
F Loop- execute test repeatedly, provided the result was FAIL.
Search - identify the number of the IC in the socket.
Diags- execute the diagnostic self-test.
CmLink - enter remote mode for CompactLinksoftware.
Sw Off- turn off the unit
6. entering test numbers
Pressthe MODE/CLEAR key until the desired test mode isdisplayed.
Enter the number of the IC you wish to test.Pressing the
MODE/CLEAR key will clear the last digit from the display if a
mistake is made.
Note: The NUMERIC information only is entered, leaving out the
manufacturers prefixes and suffixes and IC family information.
As an example, all the following linear ICs should be entered as
7, 4, 1 on the keypad:
e.g. uA741CP, uA741M, uA741C etc
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
Some ICs are available in different pin outs or package types, and
also there may be several different types of IC with the same
numerical part number. In these cases the B & K Model 570A will
automatically determine which test to perform. If howeverthe IC is
faulty the unit may not be able to determine the correct IC type - if
this happens a warning message will be displayed. A complete list
of all ICs supported by the B & K Model 570A iscontained in the IC
SUPPORT LIST at the end of this manual together with notes on
any special requirementsfor certain ICs.
Note that if you have stored a user library using CompactLink, an IC
in the user library with the same number as one in the internal
library will take precedence. Thisallowsa new test to be written for
an existing IC. If you wish both teststo be available, use a different
number for your user test.
7. testing the IC
The test socket is a 24 pin shell with 16 active pins. Insert the IC to
be tested in the front of the 24 pin Zero Insertion Force socket with
pin 1 towards the display asshown below:
For 3 pin TO220 or TO92 packages, insert the IC in pins6, 7 and 8
(lower left) of the socket with the metal tab or flat side facing to the
right.
Ensure that the operating lever on the socket isin the open (i.e. up)
position before inserting the IC.Close the socket by lowering the
lever, making sure that the IC is firmly seated in the socket and
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
making good contact. Pressthe TEST/EXEC key to activate the test
sequence for the IC. If an invalid IC type number was entered, or if
the IC you have requested isnot supported the message "Unknown"
will be displayed.Simply entering another IC type number will
automatically clear this error message. If a valid type number was
entered, the IC test will begin and the message "BUSY" will be
displayed while the test proceeds.Many of the tests, however,
execute so quickly that this message isnot noticeable.
8. test results
A pre-determined sequence of signalsisapplied to the inputsof the
IC under test and the output voltages are measured prior to
comparing with the correct values. The exact nature of the test
depends on the function of the IC, but as an example the
operational amplifier tests include both open and closed loop
testing over a range of input voltages and gain settings. If all the
outputs respond correctly, the result PASS will be displayed at the
top right of the display. A scrolling message will contain the IC
function and power pin information.
If a short circuit between the power pins of the IC is detected, a
warning ‘SHT!' will appear on the top right of the display and, since
no valid test isthen possible, the result will FAIL. If the IC under test
takes an excessive amount of current when power is applied, a
warning 'ICC!' will appear. Press the TEST/EXEC key to continue
with the test, or MODE/CLEAR to abandon.Depending on the
condition of the batteries there may also be a ‘BAT!’ warning which
indicates that the batteries are incapable of supplying the current
required by the IC under test. You can continue with the test by
pressing the TEST/EXEC key, but the unit may malfunction because
of a drop in battery voltage. To avoid this, change the batteriesor
use a battery eliminator. Note that a faulty IC may demand more
operating current and therefore will quickly drain the batteries.
Some ICs require external components to be fitted prior to the test in these cases the message EXT or CAP will be displayed at the top
right of the display.Please refer to the IC lists at the end of this
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
manual for details of the component(s) required. After fitting the
component the test can be carried out by a further press of the
TEST key. If you wish you can abandon the test by pressing the
CLEAR key.
In the case of a FAIL result, the error conditions at all the nonfunctional pins of the IC will be scrolled on the display, and the IC
function will be shown. The various failure conditions that can be
displayed are asfollows:
V<<- the voltage on the pin was lower than
expected.
V>>- the voltage on the pin was higher than expected.
D<<- the diode drop voltage was lower than expected.
D>>- the diode drop voltage was higher than expected.
LOAD- the input cannot be driven.
In some cases, the scrolling test results may include one or more
WARNING indications. These warningsindicate conditionsthat may
result in an incorrect test result, and are asfollows:
D/F- result may be invalid because last self-test failed.
BAT- battery voltage too low during test
ICC- large current taken by IC under test
Some ICs are available in various packages, and also there are
some ICs in the library which have the same numerical part number
even though the IC functions are different. In these cases the B & K
Model 570Awill automatically determine the IC type prior to the
test, provided that the IC is functional.If the IC is faulty, the
following warning will appear after the test:
WARNING: All Part TypesFAIL
Thisindicatesthat the IC is faulty, but the pin information cannot be
displayed since the exact part type cannot be identified.
Before discarding a failed IC check that the correct IC type number
was entered and also check that the IC pins are clean and making
good contact with the test socket.Note that there is no way of
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
stopping a test once it has commenced, but see the description of
loop functionslater in thismanual.
9. testing further ICs
After a test is completed, the test result will be displayed. To test
another IC of the same type, simply insert the next IC and pressthe
TEST/EXEC key again. To test a different IC, enter the new IC type
number in the usual way, noticing that pressing the first digit of the
new number automatically clears the previous number from the
display.Remember that the MODE/CLEAR key can be used if an
error ismade during the entry of the IC type number.
10.continuous testing
It is possible to test the same IC repeatedly to detect intermittent or
temperature-related faults, or to rapidly test a batch of identical ICs.
There are three typesof test loop modes:
Loop- execute a test repeatedly, regardlessof the result.
P Loop - execute a test repeatedly, provided the result isPASS.
F Loop- execute a test repeatedly, provided the result was
FAIL.
The B & K Model 570A is configured into one of the loop modes
using the MODE/CLEAR key as described earlier. Insert the IC and
press TEST/EXEC in the usual way to start the continuous test
process. The result of each test isdisplayed as PASS or FAIL on the
top right of the display. In LOOP mode, thisallowsa large batch of
identical ICs to be tested, without any action on the part of the
operator other than inserting the IC.When the IC is inserted,
sufficient time must be allowed for the test to take place before the
result status is updated, so if in doubt the IC should be tested in
single mode so that the approximate test time can be determined.
It will be found that high throughput can be obtained using this
mode.
To stop any of the test loops, pressMODE/CLEAR, but note that the
test in progress is completed before the command is obeyed. The
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Test Equipment Depot - 800.517.8431 - 99 Washington Street Melrose, MA 02176
FAX 781.665.0780 - TestEquipmentDepot.com
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
effect of this is usually unnoticeable, but where the test takes a
reasonable time to execute there will be a delay before the
instrument respondsto the MODE/CLEAR key.
Note: Testing high current ICs in loop mode will drain the
batteries quickly, and it is recommended that a battery eliminator
is used if you wish to perform loop tests.
11.search mode
This feature allows the type number of an unknown IC to be
determined, provided the IC is actually contained in the B & K
Model 570A library, and it isa correctly functioning IC. Thisfacility
isuseful when the IC type number isillegible or hasbeen removed.
Use the MODE/CLEAR key to choose SEARCH mode, insert the
unknown IC into the socket and pressthe TEST/EXEC key. You will
be prompted to choose the number of pins of the IC you wish to
identify - use the MODE/CLEAR key to select from 3 to 16 pins or
'QUIT' to abandon this mode. Press the TEST/EXEC key again to
start the SEARCH or to quit asrequired.
During the identification process the display will indicate the
number of ICs identified (IDENT:) and will show graphically how far
through the library the SEARCH has progressed. At the end of the
SEARCH, a list of all the similarICswill be scrolled onto the display.
The list may be scrolled again by pressing the TEST/EXEC key.
If the IC cannot be identified the message "Not in Library" will be
displayed. This means either that the IC is not in the library or it is
non-functional.Note that if the B & K Model 570A detects
excessive supply current (ICC! or BAT! warnings), the IC will not be
identified during the SEARCH, but can still be tested in SINGLE
mode.
If you have a user library present the search will extend to userICsin
that library also.However, CompactLink contains a facility for
excluding ICs from the search if required.
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
12.self test mode
This feature allows you to check the integrity of the unit, including
the pin drivers and receivers, power supplies and other internal
hardware. The test executes automatically at switch on, but you can
if you wish perform a self-test at any time by selecting Self-Test
(DIAGS)modeusingtheMODE/CLEARkeyandpressing
TEST/EXEC.
If a fault isdiscovered a brief description will be displayed which will
help our engineers to locate and rectify the fault. This message
should be noted and quoted in any correspondence relating to a
unit fault. Contact your distributor in the event of a self-test fail, but
first of all ensure that the socket was empty when the diagnostics
were run.
13.CompactLink mode
The B & K Model 570A is provided with an RS-232 interface to
connect to a PC with a serial COM port or using a USB to RS-232
converter. A companion software package CompactLinkisavailable
whichprovides librarymanagement, test developmentand
debugging and user library update facilities.You can also use
CompactLink to update the software of your B & K Model 570A
without replacing the internal memory or opening the case.
To enter CompactLink mode, user the MODE/CLEAR key to enter
CMLINK mode, then press TEST/EXEC. Press TEST/EXEC again
to confirm that you wish to enter CompactLink mode, and the
display will show “Not Connected”. Run the CompactLink software
on your PC, connect the serial cable and follow the CompactLink
manual instructionsto connect to the B & K Model 570A.
For comprehensive instructions on using CompactLink please refer
to the manual and built-in help supplied with the software.
Note that in CompactLinkmode, including waiting for a connection,
the normal power down timeout isdisabled and the unit will remain
Copyright 1993-2007B&KPrecisionCorp.
Model 570ALinear IC Tester
on for ever. We recommend using a battery eliminator when using
CompactLinkmode to develop test programs.
14.specifications
SPECIFICATIONS
Batteries:4X AA size
DC input:6V, 850mAmax,center positive,regulated.
Power consumption:Power off10Amax
This section is a complete list of the ICs supported by the B & K
Model 570A. If there are any special requirements necessary for a
particular IC, this will be indicated in the comments column in the
table.Always consult this list before testing an IC you have not
tested before, particularly when there isa comment present.