A systems approach to downsize ATE

It has been demonstrated that the size of traditional ATE (automatic test equipment) systems can be reduced significantly by using modular instruments and an open system architecture called the VXIbus, which solves many problems experienced by the ATE system builders. The VXIbus architecture allows significant reduction in the footprint of the traditional rack-and-stack ATE systems. In addition, the VXIbus offers significant advantages in the area of addressing instrument functions, message-passing, time synchronization, power-on initialization and diagnostics, and system throughput. The VXIbus combines multivendor computer and instrumentation functions into a common mainframe and supports interchangeability and interoperability.<>