Safety considerations for configuring LXI-based ATE systems when IP addresses become logical addresses

LXI has become an increasingly popular instrumentation platform that is being used in many ATE system designs. It provides simplified programming interface, convenient LAN-based hardware architecture, and the precision synchronization and triggering required by many test applications. When multiple copies of an LXI instrument are used in a system, potential issues can arise if the instruments are swapped during troubleshooting. Technicians must manually reconfigure the instruments or update the system configuration file. Due to time constraints and shift changes, the technician may inadvertently configure the system incorrectly, which can cause damage to the unit under test (UUT), especially if the instruments are power supplies. This paper will discuss an automated method for reconfiguring systems that significantly reduces the risk of UUT damage or risk to the operator.