Downsizing with VXIbus: opportunities and limitations in factory, field, and portable environments

The author examines the technical constraints of downsizing for factory, field, and portable environments and develops metrics for comparing functional densities. Two examples of downsized VXIbus systems are evaluated. One is a C-size system with DC to microwave capability for factory floor or transportable ATE (automatic test equipment) applications. The second is a B-size system that is a lower performance equivalent of the C-size system with the microwave functionality removed; it is applicable for transportable and portable ATE. Actual examples of reduced-size test equipment ranging from battery operated testers to rack mounted, factory-based test systems are shown and evaluated. It is concluded that the VXIbus can deliver substantial reductions in test system size for factory, transportable, and portable ATE. Size reduction averages about 3 to 1 over equivalent HP-IB rack and stack instruments.<
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