Minimal footprint ATE system with expandable resource and capabilities

Technology has been developed that can be smartly utilized to minimize footprint space of automated test equipment (ATE) systems. Recently, small and powerful COTS PCs have been merged with PXI and PCMCIA instrumentation hardware to make a new category of ATE realizable - minimal footprint automated test equipment system. The minimal footprint system is a category of ATE that uses Ethernet technology to share multiple resources and capabilities among minimal footprint test equipment systems. This paper highlights and discusses the following: 1. current and developing technologies needed to implement a minimal footprint ATE system and 2. scenarios for implementation.