The evolution of precision analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and high-fidelity audio devices (codecs, MEMS microphones, etc.) continues to increase the demand for high-performance audio and arbitrary signal generation in automated test equipment (ATE). The multiple high-performance instruments required to characterize, validate, and test the dc and ac characteristics of these devices impose a premium on the cost of development and production test, with sometimes prohibitive or limiting test coverage.
When possible, test engineers develop in-house solutions as an alternative, but this comes at the expense of time and resources. Reference designs such as the ADMX1002 ultra-low-distortion signal-generator module seek to offer an alternative to accelerate this development.