Types of Test Equipment
– Multimeter with clamp facility
– RF probe
– Signal tracer
– Logic analyzer
– Spectrum analyzer
Basic Equipment
– Digital voltmeter
– Clamp facility
– Signal generator
– Source measure unit (SMU)
– Semiconductor curve tracer
Analyzers
– Logic analyzer
– Spectrum analyzer
– Protocol analyzer
– Vector signal analyzer
– Time-domain reflectometer
Signal-generating Devices
– Signal generator
– Frequency range
– Waveform type
– Source measure unit (SMU)
– Power and voltage/current measurement
Platforms
– Modular electronic instrumentation platforms
– Common use in automated test and measurement systems
– Incoming inspection, quality assurance, and production testing
– Industry-standard communication interfaces
– Custom software application control
VME, VPX, and VXI Bus Interfaces and Adapters
– VMEbus uses Eurocards with a 96-pin plug for durability
– VME64 provides 64-bit data transfers and addressing
– VME64x is an improved version with a 160-pin connector family and hot swap capability
– VME160 transfers data at 160 Mbit/s
– VME320 transfers data at a rate of 320 Mbit/s
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI)
– PXI is a peripheral bus specialized for data acquisition and real-time control systems
– PXI uses the CompactPCI 3U and 6U form factors
– PXI adds trigger lines, a local bus, and other functions for measurement applications
– PXI hardware and software specifications are developed and maintained by the PXI Systems Alliance
– More than 50 manufacturers produce PXI hardware worldwide
Universal Serial Bus (USB)
– USB connects peripheral devices to PCs
– USB can handle up to 127 devices on one port
– USB has a theoretical maximum throughput of 480 Mbit/s
– USB is not widely used in industrial test and measurement systems due to limitations
– USB is primarily used in laboratory settings
RS-232
– RS-232 is a serial communication specification
– RS-232 is popular in analytical and scientific instruments
– RS-232 allows connection and control of only one device at a time
– RS-232 has relatively slow data rates of less than 20 kB/s
– RS-232 is best suited for laboratory applications
Test Script Processors and a Channel Expansion Bus
– Test system platforms use onboard test script processors and a high-speed bus
– One master instrument controls the slave instruments via a LAN-based trigger synchronization and communication bus
– Scripting coordinates a sequence of actions in test systems
– This platform allows instruments to behave as one tightly integrated multi-channel system
– The platform supports synchronous operations between multiple instruments without additional trigger connections Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_test_equipment
Electronic test equipment is used to create signals and capture responses from electronic devices under test (DUTs). In this way, the proper operation of the DUT can be proven or faults in the device can be traced. Use of electronic test equipment is essential to any serious work on electronics systems.
Practical electronics engineering and assembly requires the use of many different kinds of electronic test equipment ranging from the very simple and inexpensive (such as a test light consisting of just a light bulb and a test lead) to extremely complex and sophisticated such as automatic test equipment (ATE). ATE often includes many of these instruments in real and simulated forms.
Generally, more advanced test gear is necessary when developing circuits and systems than is needed when doing production testing or when troubleshooting existing production units in the field.[citation needed]
