EXHIBIT 99a
PRESS RELEASE
Editorial Contact:
- ------------------
Steve Morris Ed Paulsen
Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc. LTX Corporation
(503) 626-7117 (617) 467-5041
Carol Hilden
Creative Marketing Communications
(503) 591-9707
INTEGRATED MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS AND LTX ANNOUNCE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION
PARTNERSHIP FOR SYNCHRO VIRTUAL TEST PRODUCTS
IMS AND LTX SYNCHRO VIRTUAL TEST SOFTWARE OFFERS COMPLETE, GRAPHICAL-BASED
TEST DEVELOPMENT AND DEBUG ENVIRONMENT
Portland, Oregon -- July 16, 1996 -- Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IMSC) and LTX announced today an OEM and joint R&D agreement. Under
the non-exclusive distribution agreement, IMS will distribute LTX's Synchro
Models Toolbox and Device Tool software products. Also, under this agreement,
IMS will help develop portions of the Synchro Models Toolbox. IMS and LTX will
work together to integrate IMS's Dantes-TM-, and Device Tool and Synchro Models
Toolbox products. With the availability of Models Toolbox, Synchro customers now
have the ability to quickly and easily develop and debug their test programs,
off-line, for faster time-to-market in either the Device Tool or the Dantes
environment.
Synchro customers can capture, simulate and document test schematics with
Dantes, and then transparently move to the Device Tool environment to use the
integration it offers with the LTX programming environment for final program
debug. To ensure a consistent, compatible environment, Dantes uses the same
schematic symbols and templates as Device Tool. Dantes and Device Tool support
use of the Synchro Models Toolbox for test simulation. Device Tool provides the
graphical representations of the instruments, intelligent instrument programming
control panels, and a real-time bi-directional connection to the Synchro test
program debug environment. Device Tool gives the test engineer a graphical
programming interface and tester view that is consistent through all phases of
test development, from test simulation to on-line test program debug. The
Synchro Models Toolbox provides a library of behavioral tester instruments
models based on the Spectra/Verilog mixed-signal simulator. Implementing the
models in HDL rather than Spice, allows extremely quick simulation times to be
achieved while maintaining an accurate representation of the real test
instrumentation functionality. The end result is a Virtual Test environment for
the Synchro that allows real test program debug.
Ed Paulsen, Product Manager at LTX states, "The barriers that have held
back Virtual Test are coming down. Advances in mixed-signal behavioral
simulation technology have made it possible to simulate complex mixed-signal
tests in a Virtual Test environment. We see Virtual Test tools having a
tremendous impact on time to volume, especially in growing markets like super
smart power. Working with IMS, as one of our Synchro Models Toolbox development
partners, has allowed us to combine their experience with the Cadence simulation
tools with our knowledge of mixed-signal test development. This OEM agreement
extends this relationship by allowing IMS to sell and support our Device Tool
and Synchro Models Toolbox products, along with Dantes and Cadence Design
System's EDA tools. I believe that our combined development and support
resources will enable us to successfully support our customers in meeting their
time to volume objectives."
Dantes, a test design and verification environment which supports test,
capture, modeling, rule-checking, simulation, ATE code generation, fixture
design, and documentation for mixed-signal test, reduces test development time
and maximizes tester utilization.
Steve Morris, Director of Marketing for the Test Software Division of
IMS, commented, "Complex circuits used in markets such as telecommunications
and multimedia, present manufacturers of these devices with the ever
increasing challenge of improving test development productivity and reducing
the time-to-market. By integrating Dantes and Device Tools, Synchro customers
can use the Dantes simulation-view mechanisms to
develop an understanding of how their devices should be tested and use Device
Tool to debug the test in the Synchro programming environment. They will
realize a marked improvement in their engineering test productivity, with
reduced test development and debug time."
LTX Synchro Test System is designed for high throughput testing of
complex, mixed-signal devices. The Synchro series consists of the Synchro
Plus, Synchro II, and the Synchro ProductionPAC test systems.
AVAILABILITY. The Device Tool Add-on (requires Composer to provide full Device
Tool capability) is available immediately. The Synchro Models Toolbox is being
used in several pilot programs and is expected to be available in production in
early 1997.
Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc. (IMS), is the worldwide leader in
Engineering Test Stations and Virtual Test Software, providing cost-effective
solutions to reduce the time required to test and verify complex electronic
circuits. In 1994 and 1995, IMS was rated the #1 quality Supplier of Test and
Material Handling Equipment in the VLSI Research Customer Survey. IMS is listed
on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol IMSC. For more information,
contact IMS at 9525 S.W. Gemini Drive, Beaverton, OR 97008. Telephone: (503)
626-7117 or (800) 879-7117. Visit our Web Site: www.ims.com.
LTX Corporation is a supplier of digital, linear, mixed-sign and discrete
semiconductor test equipment. The Company has development and manufacturing
facilities in Westwood, Massachusetts and San Jose, California, and worldwide
sales and service facilities to support its customer base. The Company has a
site on the world wide web at http://www.ltx.com.