COM simplifies automated prototype testing for RF designers

The Microsoft component object model (COM) allows separate programs to be simply connected together, such that functions in one program can be called by another. This paper shows that many software tools used by RF designers are COM-aware, and that it opens up an efficient way to create time-saving test sequences for the RF development environment. The technology is explained and a number of worked examples are given to illustrate the possibilities. This paper addresses the scenario where a small quantity of prototypes has to be tested and there would otherwise be insufficient payback in developing a manufacturing-scale ATE program.