Calibrating automatic test equipment

1. A method for use with automatic test equipment (ATE), comprising:

programming the ATE to generate bursts, each of the bursts corresponding to a signal characteristic produced by the ATE;

obtaining power levels for the bursts;

determining if the power levels for the bursts correspond to expected power levels for signal characteristics corresponding to the bursts; and

calibrating the ATE based on a determination of whether one or more of the power levels corresponds to one or more expected power levels;

wherein the programming, obtaining, determining, and calibrating are performed without connecting a device to be tested to the ATE.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the bursts corresponds to a different signal characteristic produced by the ATE.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein programming the ATE comprises:

receiving data identifying signal characteristics; and

using the data to cause the ATE to generate the bursts.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein using the data comprises adjusting programmable settings (PSETS) on the ATE.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining a power level for a subject burst comprises:

waiting for the subject burst to substantially settle; and

obtaining a power level of the subject burst after the subject burst substantially settles.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the ATE comprises adjusting circuitry in the ATE that is configured to produce one or more bursts corresponding to the one or more power levels.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bursts comprises a progression of bursts that occur one burst after another burst.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal characteristic comprises at least one of signal frequency and signal amplitude.

9. A system comprising:

automatic test equipment (ATE) that is configured to generate bursts, each of the bursts corresponding to a signal characteristic that is producible by the ATE;

a sensor configured to obtain power levels for the bursts; and

a processing device configured to determine if the power levels for the bursts correspond to expected power levels for signal characteristics corresponding to the bursts, and to calibrate the ATE based on a determination of whether one or more of the power levels corresponds to one or more expected power levels;

wherein the power levels are obtained and the ATE is calibrated without connecting a device to be tested to the ATE.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the bursts corresponds to a different signal characteristic produced by the ATE.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the ATE is configured to:

receive data identifying signal characteristics; and

use the data to cause the ATE to generate the bursts.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing device comprises a computer; and

wherein the ATE comprises a signal generator configured to generate the bursts based on the data.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein using the data comprises adjusting programmable settings (PSETS) on the ATE.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein obtaining a power level for a subject burst comprises:

waiting for the subject burst to substantially settle; and

obtaining an average power level of the subject burst after the subject burst substantially settles.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the bursts comprises a progression of bursts that occur one burst after another burst.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the signal characteristic comprises at least one of signal frequency and signal amplitude.

17. A system comprising:

signal generation circuitry configured to provide information to a device, the information corresponding to signal characteristics;

the device configured to receive the information and to generate bursts based on the information;

a sensor configured to obtain power levels for the bursts; and

a processing device configured to determine if the power levels for the bursts correspond to expected power levels for signal characteristics corresponding to the bursts, and to calibrate the device based on a determination of whether one or more of the power levels corresponds to one or more expected power levels;

wherein the power levels are obtained and the device is calibrated without connecting a device to be tested to the device configured to generate the bursts.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the signal generation circuitry comprises:

a waveform generator configured to generate pulses; and

a synthesizer to affect the pulses so that the pulses convey the information to the device.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the information comprises at least one of signal frequency and signal amplitude.