What is ate testing?
Automatic test equipment (ATE) is a machine that is designed to perform tests on different devices referred to as a devices under test (DUT). An ATE uses control systems and automated information technology to rapidly perform tests that measure and evaluate a DUT. ATE tests can be both simple and complex depending on the equipment tested.
What does an ate engineer do?
In the semiconductor industry, ATE engineers are automated test engineers who develop test programs that run on ATEs made by companies like Teradyne.
What is automatic test equipment (ATE)?
Automatic test equipment or automated test equipment ( ATE) is any apparatus that performs tests on a device, known as the device under test (DUT), equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT), using automation to quickly perform measurements and evaluate the test results.
What does an automated test equipment engineer do?
automated test equipment engineer. you develop and maintain jigs that make testing easier and quicker. any place that manufactures hardware needs them. In the semiconductor industry, ATE engineers are automated test engineers who develop test programs that run on ATEs made by companies like Teradyne.
What does ATE mean in engineering?
Automatic test equipment or automated test equipment (ATE) is any apparatus that performs tests on a device, known as the device under test (DUT), equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT), using automation to quickly perform measurements and evaluate the test results.
What is ATE test program?
Automated test equipment (ATE) is computer-controlled equipment that tests electronic devices for functionality and performance. ATE also conducts stress testing with minimal human interaction. ATE includes the control hardware, sensors, and software that collects and analyzes the test results.
What is ATE testing in semiconductor?
Semiconductor test equipment (IC tester), or automated test equipment (ATE), is a system for giving electrical signals to a semiconductor device to compare output signals against expected values for the purpose of testing if the device works as specified in its design specifications.
What is ATE semiconductor?
Automated test equipment is a computer-operated machine used to test devices for performance and capabilities. A device that is being tested is known as device under test (DUT). ATE can include testing for electronics, hardware, software, semiconductors or avionics.
What is the purpose of ATE?
The overall purpose of ATE systems is to ensure that electronic devices perform and function as intended once they're in the customer's hands, which consequently prevents defective or faulty devices from entering the market.
How long does ATE test take?
The test usually takes about 20 to 40 minutes. If you require more detailed information, check with the facility where you are having your exam.
What is the full form of ATE?
Automated Test Equipment is known as ATE, Automatic test equipment or automated test equipment (ATE) is any apparatus that performs tests on a device, known as the device under test (DUT), equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT), using automation to quickly perform measurements and evaluate the test results ...
What is ATE board?
What is an ATE Printed Circuit Board? ATE PCB or Automatic Test Equipment Printed Circuit Board is an efficient way of testing large systems. They particularly find wide application in testing different semiconductor chips such as: Microprocessors.
What is IC test engineer?
As an IC Test Engineer at Melexis, you develop and validate a solution in order to test the Integrated Circuit (IC). You ensure the appropriate balance between cost, quality and timing. Your test solution will be implemented to test 100% of the chip at 3 different temperatures before it is delivered to the customer.
What is SLT testing?
System Level Test (SLT) is a paradigm shift from traditional structural and functional testing. The device is tested in a complete, integrated system to evaluate its compliance against specified requirements.
What is ICs testing?
An integrated circuit or IC is a semiconductor chip which houses a large circuitry, capable of executing complex tasks and functions. In order to test whether or not an IC is in working order, engineers test ICs in 2 levels: wafer level testing and package level testing.
What is IC test handler?
Test handlers act as the transportation mechanisms to move the parts to be tested and to present them to the ATE terminals where the test measurements are performed, as well as to perform the tested parts sorting (so-called binning) depending on the test results.
What is the full form of ATE?
Automated Test Equipment is known as ATE, Automatic test equipment or automated test equipment (ATE) is any apparatus that performs tests on a device, known as the device under test (DUT), equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT), using automation to quickly perform measurements and evaluate the test results ...
What is ATE board?
What is an ATE Printed Circuit Board? ATE PCB or Automatic Test Equipment Printed Circuit Board is an efficient way of testing large systems. They particularly find wide application in testing different semiconductor chips such as: Microprocessors.
What is SLT testing?
System Level Test (SLT) is a paradigm shift from traditional structural and functional testing. The device is tested in a complete, integrated system to evaluate its compliance against specified requirements.
What is the purpose of a DIB board?
The device interface board (DIB) provides a means of customizing the general-purpose tester to specific DUTs and families of DUTs. The DIB serves two main purposes. First, it gives the test engineer a place to mount DUT-specific circuitry that is not available in the ATE tester.
What is a test engineer?
A test engineer is a professional who determines how to create a process that would best test a particular product in manufacturing and related disciplines, in order to assure that the product meets applicable specifications .
What is the first stage of a test engineer?
Ideally, a test engineer's involvement with a product begins with the very early stages of the engineering design process, i.e. the requirements engineering stage and the design engineering stage. Depending on the culture of the firm, these early stages could involve a Product Requirements Document (PRD) and Marketing Requirements Document (MRD) —some of the earliest work done during a new product introduction (NPI).
Why do companies outsource testing?
Because it is hard to find a test engineer who knows every aspect of testing methodology (from PCB tests like ICT, JTAG test, flying probe test, and X-Ray test to PCBA test which includes writing test automation from functional test to FQA test among others), companies usually outsource part of the development of this missing test piece to their CM. For example, if none of the in-house TEs know much about ICT fixtures, they will ask their CM to develop the ICT test solutions for them instead.
What is the purpose of automation in testing?
The whole intention of automating the test is as follows: Enforce test steps to be followed within specifications and correct timing. Eliminate manual command and data inputs. Automate data gathering.
What is test automation?
Depending on the product, the machines that we are referring to could mean a combination of Automatic Test Equipment (ATE), handler, interface board, and test program that drives the ATE, as with the case of the IC chip testing.
Do test equipment operators need training?
Also, new test equipment may require training for test equipment operators and supervisors. By following the general rules above, test engineers minimize future surprises (like adding extra components, re-layout of the boards, etc.) which drives up costs and development delays of the final product.
Do test engineers get involved in reviews?
With this in mind, test engineers always get involved in the following reviews as well:
What is automatic test equipment (ATE)?
Automatic test equipment (ATE), or automatic testing equipment, is computerized machinery that uses test instruments to carry out and evaluate the results of functionality, performance, quality, and stress tests performed on electronic devices and systems. As its name implies, ATE automates traditionally manual electronic test equipment and processes, and requires minimal human interaction.
What is ATE used for?
Consumer electronics, where ATE is used to assess the functionality of smartphones and tablets, radios, televisions, appliances, speakers, headphones, fitness wearables, and more.
How is ATE useful and beneficial?
The overall purpose of ATE systems is to ensure that electronic devices perform and function as intended once they’re in the customer’s hands, which consequently prevents defective or faulty devices from entering the market.
What industries and companies use ATE?
The aerospace and defense industrie s are big buyers of ATE because of the lifesaving, mission-critical, and safety-critical electronics deployed on military aircraft, ships, ground vehicles, and in weapons, missile launch , radar, and wireless communication systems.
How does ATE system help?
ATE systems also helps cut down on testing time and saves companies a lot of money by digitizing and automating traditionally manual testing equipment, procedures, and processes.
What is the ATE responsible for?
ATE is directly responsible for ensuring that end users of electronic equipment not only acquire devices that perform and function as intended, but are also not exposed to danger as a result.
What devices are tested by ATE?
Devices tested by ATE include integrated circuits (ICs), printed circuit boards (PCBs), hard disk drives (HDDs), systems and modules in automobiles, and the various electronic systems and line-replaceable units (LRUs) that support aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites, a family of technologies known as avionics.
What is an ATE test?
Automatic test equipment or automated test equipment ( ATE) is any apparatus that performs tests on a device, known as the device under test (DUT), equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT), using automation to quickly perform measurements and evaluate the test results. An ATE can be a simple computer-controlled digital multimeter, or a complicated system containing dozens of complex test instruments (real or simulated electronic test equipment) capable of automatically testing and diagnosing faults in sophisticated electronic packaged parts or on wafer testing, including system on chips and integrated circuits.
What is an ATE diagnostic?
Automatic test equipment diagnostics is the part of an ATE test that determines the faulty components. ATE tests perform two basic functions. The first is to test whether or not the Device Under Test is working correctly. The second is when the DUT is not working correctly, to diagnose the reason. The diagnostic portion can be the most difficult and costly portion of the test. It is typical for ATE to reduce a failure to a cluster or ambiguity group of components. One method to help reduce these ambiguity groups is the addition of analog signature analysis testing to the ATE system. Diagnostics are often aided by the use of flying probe testing.
What is an ATE controller?
The semiconductor ATE architecture consists of master controller (usually a computer) that synchronizes one or more source and capture instruments (listed below). Historically, custom-designed controllers or relays were used by ATE systems. The Device Under Test (DUT) is physically connected to the ATE by another robotic machine called a handler or prober and through a customized Interface Test Adapter (ITA) or "fixture" that adapts the ATE's resources to the DUT.
What language is used for ATE?
The ATE computer uses modern computer languages (like C, C++, Java, Python, LabVIEW or Smalltalk) with additional statements to control the ATE equipment through standard and proprietary application programming interfaces (API). Also some dedicated computer languages exists, like Abbreviated Test Language for All Systems (ATLAS). Automatic test equipment can also be automated using a test execution engine such as NI 's TestStand.
How does DSP work in ATE?
For example, to measure a voltage of a particular semiconductor device, the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) instruments in the ATE measure the voltage directly and send the results to a computer for signal processing, where the desired value is computed. This example shows that conventional instruments, like an Ammeter, may not be used in many ATEs due to the limited number of measurements the instrument could make, and the time it would take to use the instruments to make the measurement. One key advantage to using DSP to measure the parameters is time. If we have to calculate the peak voltage of an electrical signal and other parameters of the signal, then we have to employ a peak detector instrument as well as other instruments to test the other parameters. If DSP-based instruments are used, however, then a sample of the signal is made and the other parameters can be computed from the single measurement.
How to improve test time?
One way to improve test time is to test multiple devices at once. ATE systems can now support having multiple "sites" where the ATE resources are shared by each site. Some resources can be used in parallel, others must be serialized to each DUT.
Where is ATE used?
Where it is used. ATE is widely used in the electronic manufacturing industry to test electronic components and systems after being fabricated. ATE is also used to test avionics and the electronic modules in automobiles. It is used in military applications like radar and wireless communication.
What is ATE testing?
ATE tests can be both simple and complex depending on the equipment tested. ATE testing is used in wireless communication and radar as well as electronic component manufacturing. There is also specialized semiconductor ATE for testing semiconductor devices. Automatic test equipment is also known as automated test equipment.
Why is ATE important?
The objective of ATE is to quickly confirm whether a DUT works and to find defects. This testing method saves on manufacturing costs and helps prevent a faulty device from entering the market. Because ATE is used in a wide array of DUTs, each testing has a different procedure.
What is automated testing equipment?
Automated test equipment is a computer-operated machine used to test devices for performance and capabilities. A device that is being tested is known as device under test (DUT). ATE can include testing for electronics, hardware, software, semiconductors or avionics.
How many years of experience do you need to be a test engineer?
A minimum of >=10 years of professional work experience as a test engineer.
What is a senior hardware test engineer?
As a Senior Hardware Test Engineer, you will be responsible for developing both the engineering and production test infrastructure that supports MEMS and Microsystem product evolution from the synthesis of experimental DC to RF data through volume based manufacturing test.
Overview
Test automation
Test automation refers to the automation of the process to test a product through the use of machines. Depending on the product, the machines that we are referring to could mean a combination of Automatic Test Equipment (ATE), handler, interface board, and test program that drives the ATE, as with the case of the IC chip testing.
Test automation is a big part of a test engineer's job.
Early project involvement from design phase
Ideally, a test engineer's involvement with a product begins with the very early stages of the engineering design process, i.e. the requirements engineering stage and the design engineering stage. Depending on the culture of the firm, these early stages could involve a Product Requirements Document (PRD) and Marketing Requirements Document (MRD)—some of the earliest work done during a new product introduction (NPI).
Working with cross platform teams, hardware and software team
Often people take shortcuts to be able to deliver final products. Because of these shortcuts, the product's manufacturability and testability becomes complicated (inability to read and write information, creating deviation from the process, etc.) which impacts the manufacturing complexity of a product. Because of this complexity, bottlenecks in the manufacturing and delivery schedule delays are introduced.
Yield maintenance
Products' yield plays a very important part during their lifespan. There are usually three stages for a product, engineering, initial production (IP) and full production (FP).
• In early stages, engineering, production yield fluctuates a lot. The manufacturing process is under debugging and optimising. Foundry engineers usually work with factories to drive the yield of the product. Most companies set specific yield targets for each process to hit the expected yields.
Defining standard test documents
Following are some of the documents that the test engineers maintain or define:
• Test method
• Diagnostic design specification
• Manufacturing test requirement design specification
Contract manufacturer
A contract manufacturer (CM) also provides a test engineer for their customers. The function of these test engineers varies depending on the level of support they provide for their customers: providing "interactive and first level of defense"-only support or providing partial or ground-up solutions.
Providing "interactive and first level-of-defense"-only support is the usual job of the CM TE. Here …
See also
• Metrology
• Reliability engineering
• Design engineer
What Is Automatic Test Equipment (Ate)?
- Automatic test equipment (ATE), or automatic testing equipment, is computerized machinery that uses test instruments to carry out and evaluate the results of functionality, performance, quality, and stress tests performed on electronic devices and systems. As its name implies, ATE automates traditionally manual electronic test equipment and process...
How Is Ate used?
- ATE controls, monitors, captures data using, and derives insights from a wide range of test instruments and signal sources, including: 1. Digital multimeters, for voltage, current, and resistance measurements. 1. LCR meters, for inductance, capacitance, and resistance measurements. 1. Digital storage oscilloscopes(DSOs), for display of signal voltages and analys…
How Is Ate Useful and Beneficial?
- The overall purpose of ATE systems is to ensure that electronic devices perform and function as intended once they’re in the customer’s hands, which consequently prevents defective or faulty devices from entering the market. If faults or defects are detected during testing, ATE also helps diagnose why, which allows manufacturers to finetune and make corrections where necessary b…
What Industries and Companies Use Ate?
- The aerospace and defense industries are big buyers of ATE because of the lifesaving, mission-critical, and safety-critical electronics deployed on military aircraft, ships, ground vehicles, and in weapons, missile launch , radar, and wireless communication systems. These electronics need to be assessed to a greater extent than electronics in other industries for critical safety and nation…
Overview
Automatic test equipment or automated test equipment (ATE) is any apparatus that performs tests on a device, known as the device under test (DUT), equipment under test (EUT) or unit under test (UUT), using automation to quickly perform measurements and evaluate the test results. An ATE can be a simple computer-controlled digital multimeter, or a complicated system containing do…
Where it is used
ATE is widely used in the electronic manufacturing industry to test electronic components and systems after being fabricated. ATE is also used to test avionics and the electronic modules in automobiles. It is used in military applications like radar and wireless communication.
Semiconductor ATE, named for testing semiconductor devices, can test a wide range of electronic devices and systems, from simple components (resistors, capacitors, and inductors) to integrate…
Components
The semiconductor ATE architecture consists of master controller (usually a computer) that synchronizes one or more source and capture instruments (listed below). Historically, custom-designed controllers or relays were used by ATE systems. The Device Under Test (DUT) is physically connected to the ATE by another robotic machine called a handler or prober and through a customized Interface Test Adapter (ITA) or "fixture" that adapts the ATE's resources to the DUT.
Handler or prober and device test adapter
ATE can be used on packaged parts (typical IC 'chip') or directly on the silicon wafer. Packaged parts use a handler to place the device on a customized interface board, whereas silicon wafers are tested directly with high precision probes. The ATE systems interact with the handler or prober to test the DUT.
ATE systems typically interface with an automated placement tool, called a "handler", that physic…
Programming ATE
The ATE computer uses modern computer languages (like C, C++, Java, Python, LabVIEW or Smalltalk) with additional statements to control the ATE equipment through standard and proprietary application programming interfaces (API). Also some dedicated computer languages exist, like Abbreviated Test Language for All Systems (ATLAS). Automatic test equipment can also be automated using a test execution engine such as NI's TestStand.
Test data (STDF)
Many ATE platforms used in the semiconductor industry output data using Standard Test Data Format (STDF)
Diagnostics
Automatic test equipment diagnostics is the part of an ATE test that determines the faulty components. ATE tests perform two basic functions. The first is to test whether or not the Device Under Test is working correctly. The second is when the DUT is not working correctly, to diagnose the reason. The diagnostic portion can be the most difficult and costly portion of the test. It is typical for ATE to reduce a failure to a cluster or ambiguity group of components. One method t…
Test equipment switching
The addition of a high-speed switching system to a test system's configuration allows for faster, more cost-effective testing of multiple devices, and is designed to reduce both test errors and costs. Designing a test system's switching configuration requires an understanding of the signals to be switched and the tests to be performed, as well as the switching hardware form factors available.