The EL2021 is designed to drive
programmed voltages into difficult
loads. It has the required circuitry to be
used as the pin driver electronics in board test systems.
Capable of overpowering logic outputs, the part can
accurately drive independently set high and low levels with
programmed Slew Rates into reactive loads. It can also be
placed into high impedance to monitor the load without
having to disconnect. Previous board testers had
multiplexing schemes to reduce the number of pin drivers
required. With the small size and power consumption of the
monolithic EL2021, a driver per node with little or no
multiplexing becomes practical. Since only a few pins of
“bed-of-nails” board testers need be active at any given time,
the power-down feature saves substantial power in large
systems.