Radio technologies have undergone increasingly rapid evolutionary changes in the recent past. The first cellular phones used narrow-band FM modulation, which was soon replaced by digital modulation in second & third generation devices. Today, multiple-antenna systems are being employed to increase data rates. These provide improved quality while decreasing operational costs. 

As technology progresses to take advantages of more complex channel characteristics,
the channel modeling required to emulate the radio environment for testing becomes
both more critical and more complex. For instance, when bandwidths are increased (to
support higher data rates) receivers become more susceptible to Inter-Symbol
Interference (ISI). To ensure that measurements in the lab accurately correlate to the
quality of the user's experience, channel models must account for all the aspects of the
radio environment. Click here to continue reading

Nanotechnology research works with matter at the molecular level, atom by atom, to create structures with fundamentally new properties. In particular, the field of nanoelectronics is developing especially rapidly with potential impact across a wide range of industries. Nanoelectronics research today includes devices that utilize carbon nanotubes, semiconductor nanowires, molecular organic-based electronics, and single-electron devices.

Unfortunately, these smaller devices can't be tested using standard test techniques for a number of reasons. One key reason is the physical size of the devices. The nanoscale
dimensions of some of the new 'beyond CMOS' devices can be susceptible to damage from even small amounts of current used in the measurement process. In addition, traditional DC test techniques are not always adequate to reveal how devices really operate. Consequently, designers need new testing techniques and test tools. One such technique is pulse testing, and it is essential for the new generation of nanoelectronic devices. Click here to continue reading