High-performance component software changes the rules for configuring ATE

New component technology, made possible by wide acceptance of the VXIplug&play standard, allows ATE buyers to select test system components in much the same way they choose stereo system components. This paper will examine the uses and benefits of component software technology in three different ATE configuration scenarios: updating legacy ATE, integrating component test equipment into larger ATE, and configuring specialized test equipment (STE) for custom requirements. Several possibilities for leveraging new component technology such as high-performance test executives and diagnostic tools are discussed to illustrate the flexibility users will soon have in configuring ATE.