ATE Loadboard
In plain English
A special board that connects a testing machine to the chip being checked, passing signals back and forth — like a docking station between the tester and the part.
The technical version
The PCB interface between an automated tester and the device under test.
An ATE loadboard is the printed circuit board that routes signals between an automated test equipment system and the device under test. These boards reach extreme layer counts and net counts and demand full signal and power integrity simulation. Hard-gold contacts and back-drilled vias are typical to survive test cycling and preserve high-speed measurements.
Related terms
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