Software Guides Next Generation Of Test Equipment

摘要

Test instruments have traditionally been packaged as single-function products. Most readers are familiar with products such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters, and bit-error-rate (BER) testers, each in its own box. When racks are filled with these instruments, a hefty price is paid for the redundancy in power supplies and other common components. Virtual-based Instrumentation (VXI) made some headway in reducing physical redundancy by consolidating system controllers and power supplies. Combined with external software control, the VXI format was a step forward for many automatic-test-equipment (ATE) systems. Despite VXI's benefits, however, its modules are still implemented as single-function boxes.