ATE noise reduction techniques

This paper explores noise measurement and reduction techniques as related to automated test equipment (ATE). The potential measurement techniques include various instruments with connections made at external interfaces, instrument interfaces and bus points. The instruments may include standard lab equipment like multimeters, digitizers, spectrum analyzers and power meters depending on the frequency band and signal levels of interest. The potential noise sources include instrument drive levels, conductor parasitics, ground system circulating currents, transmission line effects, instrument leakage, facility power and electromagnetic susceptibility