MATE compliant portable test technology emerges

The author begins by presenting an overview of the original MATE (modular automatic test equipment) standards and their purpose in driving ATE (automatic test equipment) design. He then highlights new or otherwise pending standards and provides a systems overview of their impact, permitting the realization of a small, transportable and more powerful configuration of ATE. He notes that newly defined mission requirements place increased emphasis on equipment downsizing and improved transportability. Over the past several years, technology has produced products that promise powerful solutions to testing and significantly reduce the size and footprint of ATE. The innovative implementation of this technology forms the basis by which MATE can be realistically applied to the downsized test environment. An example of a MATE compliant downsized tester architecture is presented.<>