Product: Cimtek, NI Collaborate For Xbox 360 Testing

Electronics testing firm Cimtek announced that National Instruments was a key collaborator in the development of the Xbox 360 testing solution, which was used to enable faster, more accurate and lower cost tests for high volume production of Microsoft's new console. Microsoft selected Cimtek as a test strategy design and development partner to devise a global solution to test the Xbox 360. Cimtek's experience in developing complex test solutions for global customers combined with National Instruments PC-based modular instrument and data acquisition technology played a key role in the Xbox 360 global testing strategy. "The Xbox 360 launch was one of the most complex global launches ever undertaken for a consumer electronics product,” commented Leslie Leland, director of platform evaluation from Microsoft. “The Cimtek team together with National Instruments enabled us to deliver just in time test solutions for our factory." The system included the NI PCI-5112 and NI PCI-5122 100 MHz digitizers, two NI modular instruments designed to acquire and process large waveforms, resulting in an improved transfer rate. Both enable faster measurements and decrease overall test time. In addition, NI PCI data acquisition products quadrupled test resolution and increased sampling speed, resulting in overall improved test accuracy. "We rely on our key partnerships to ensure our global clients meet their critical time to market windows," says Stan Smith from Cimtek. "During the development of the complex test solution for the Xbox 360, we chose to work with National Instruments because of their long history in providing advanced cost-effective test and measurement technology."