RPM Systems Corporation
March, 2016 Page 26
MPQ Manufacturing Programmer User's Guide
5.0 MPQ Arrays
MPQ programmers can be arranged in arrays - essentially networked together- in a variety of ways in
order to provide the ability to control all the programmers in the array with one set of control inputs. Arrays can
be used in Stand-alone, ATE and PC-Controlled operating modes.
5.1 Stand-Alone Arrays
To use stand-alone MPQ arrays, it is necessary only to connect together the GND and Active# signals of
all programmers in the array. Pressing the green programming button on any one of the MPQs will then initiate a
programming cycle on all MPQs in the array. Each MPQ will display pass/fail status for its four ports on its own
Pass/Fail LED displays. Under normal circumstances, the image and port enables selected for the array opera-
tion will be the Default image selected for each programmer by MP Manager (section 3.1), however the ATE
control signals can also be used to select different programming options, as described in the preceding section
on ATE-controlled progamming.
5.2 ATE Controlled Arrays
ATE controlled arrays can be constructed by connecting together the GND and Active# signals of all
programmers in the array. The ATE may then drive the shared Active# low to initiate a programming cycle on
all programmers in the array. Note that, since each MPQ provides an internal 4.75K-ohm pullup resistor, the
amount of current required from the ATE to assert the Active# signal increases with the number of programmers
in the array. The minimum sink current required to assert Active# in an array of 16 programmers is approxi-
mately 10mA.
Once the programming cycle is initiated, Active# will be held low until all programmers in the array have
completed their programming cycles.
If ATE image selection is desired, the ATE_Op_En# and OptionSel1..0 signals of the programmers in the
array may be interconnect, as well, and driven by the ATE as described in section 4.1.3.
If the ATE needs to acquire pass/fail status from the programmers in the array, the PF1..4 status outputs
from each MPQ in the array must be acquired independently - as a separate ATE input - as each output applies
to a specific target port.
5.3 PC-Controlled Arrays
In order to control arrays from the PC, using MP Manager, the PC must be able to communicate with all
of the programmers in the array. This is enabled by using the MPQ's built-in RS-485 communications bus.
Essentially, the D+, D- and GND signals of each of the programmers in the array are connected together with
