As production volumes grow and competition increases in the IC and electronics industries, switching is becoming an increasingly critical component for the automated test equipment (ATE) system makers. Simply put, test costs are growing and therefore produce a negative affect for the profitability of manufacturers. MEMS based switches are now becoming a viable and advantageous alternative to traditional technologies such as electromechanical relays, reed relays and semiconductor switches. We recently spoke with Dr. Dan Hyman, a leading industry expert and President of XCOM Wireless, about the current state of the ATE industry and his expectations for the future. In this comprehensive interview, Dr. Hyman presents his views on the current status of ATE switching including main industry trends, device costs as well as upcoming technology developments.
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