Advantest Extends High-Volume Manufacturing SSD Test Capability With Newest MPT3000 Solution

TOKYO, JAPAN--(Marketwired - Aug 8, 2016) - Leading semiconductor test equipment supplier Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) has introduced the MPT3000HVM system, providing a single platform to test the full range of SATA, SAS, and PCIe solid-state drives (SSDs), from the highest performance enterprise to the most cost-effective client SSDs. The MPT3000HVM achieves this optimal production test solution by leveraging the proven MPT3000 tester-per-DUT (device under test) architecture and unique hardware acceleration in a new high-density configuration.

The SSD market is forecast to grow to over 300 million units by 2019, according to the research and advisory firm Gartner, so customers need a flexible and scalable test solution with the lowest cost of test across their expanding product portfolios. The MPT3000HVM gives SSD manufacturers a single platform that handles the broad range of SSD protocols and form factors. Like all models in the MPT3000 series, the new system tests all major protocols including SAS 12G, SATA 6G and PCIe (with NVMe or AHCI) through FPGA firmware downloads. The MPT3000HVM also tests a wide variety of form factors, including U.2, M.2 and AIC cards, by utilizing changeable passive interface boards. Production change-over times between various SSD products take just minutes.

The MPT3000HVM supports the increasing power range of high-performance SSDs, controlling up to 25-W devices with a new closed-loop thermal control capability. The tester also increases manufacturers' floor space utilization with a reduced-footprint, modular and scalable, high-density solution.

"With the MPT3000HVM, we are bringing next-level innovation to high-volume SSD testing," said Colin Ritchie, vice president of system level test at Advantest. "This single-system solution is designed to help SSD manufacturers increase both their productivity and profitability."

MPT3000 platform's ease of use is enhanced with Stylus™ software user interfaces for both engineering and production environments. Added to Stylus with the MPT3000HVM is the new SLATE™ interface, optimized for asynchronous single-DUT testing in a high-volume production environment. Stylus comes with a complete test-method library and debugging features. Casual to advanced users can easily create test flows by using the system's test-method library while expert users have the capability to develop and modify any desired test methods using C/C+ and extensive application programming interfaces (APIs).

MPT3000HVM systems have already shipped to multiple customers.

About Advantest Corporation
A world-class technology company, Advantest is the leading producer of automatic test equipment (ATE) for the semiconductor industry and a premier manufacturer of measuring instruments used in the design and production of electronic instruments and systems. Its leading-edge systems and products are integrated into the most advanced semiconductor production lines in the world. The company also focuses on R&D for emerging markets that benefit from advancements in nanotech and terahertz technologies, and has introduced multi-vision metrology scanning electron microscopes essential to photomask manufacturing, as well as a groundbreaking 3D imaging and analysis tools. Founded in Tokyo in 1954, Advantest established its first subsidiary in 1982, in the USA, and now has subsidiaries worldwide. More information is available at www.advantest.com.