Charting test's road to recovery
In a recent interview, Ron Nersesian of Agilent Technologies discussed the outlook for the test industry and new technology development at Agilent.
By Larry Maloney, Contributing Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 7/1/2009 2:00:00 AM
 Ron Nersesian Senior VP and General Manager, Electronic Measurement Group Agilent Technologies Santa Clara, CA In March, Ron Nersesian was named senior VP and general manager of Agilent Technologies’ Electronic Measurement Group. He began his career with Computer Sciences Corp. as a systems engineer in satellite communications. In 1984, he joined Hewlett-Packard, serving in various management roles before moving to LeCroy in 1996 as VP of worldwide marketing and later as general manager of the digital storage oscilloscope business. Nersesian joined Agilent in 2002 as VP and general manager of the Design Validation Division. He holds a BSEE from Lehigh University and an MBA from New York University. Contributing editor Larry Maloney conducted an e-mail interview with Nersesian on the outlook for the test industry and new technology development at Agilent. Read the continuation of this interview. |
Q: How will the recession change the electronics test and measurement business?
A: Electronics test will remain a critical part of all electronic product delivery, whether in wireless communications, vehicle electronics, or general electronics. In some sense, every economic environment requires some level of purchasing for test products—hardware and software. Having said that, customers have become very conservative about new product purchases. Lately, we see them using existing equipment for the tests and measurements required to successfully take products to market. What’s required—and Agilent is taking a leadership role—is delivering versatile instruments and applications that can serve a broad spectrum of test needs.
| Ron Nersesian addresses more questions on new instrumentation and emerging applications in the continuation of this interview. |
Q: When will the test industry begin growing again?
A: We expect limited growth in 2009, followed by a slow rebound beginning in 2010. For Agilent, the best opportunities for growth are likely to be found in such areas as modernization in aerospace and defense, homeland security and surveillance, wireless R&D, MIMO antenna technology, smart phones, alternative and green energy, handheld RF instrumentation for base-station deployment, and 3G ecosystems, such as LTE, HSPA, and EDGE Evolution. We’re also pursuing the resurgent investment in university-based research.
Q: How will Agilent’s 2009 exit from the AOI and AXI business affect existing operations?
A: In the wake of our exit from the AOI (automated optical inspection) and AXI (automated x-ray inspection) businesses, Agilent is focusing new investment and expanding our product offerings for ICT (in-circuit test) and functional test. Examples include the i3070 and i1000 in-circuit testers, and the TS54xx family of automotive functional-test systems. Agilent has also introduced innovative limited-access solutions, such as Bead Probe and Cover Extend, which will enable our customers to enjoy new levels of value from ICT.
Q: What synergies exist between Agilent’s electronic measurement arm and its fast-growing bio-analytical instruments business?
A: A great example is our new measurement platform in scanning microwave microscopy. It combines two existing products: the vector network analyzer from our electronic measurement business and the AFM (atomic force microscope) from our bio-analytical measurement business. This platform is the first commercial scanning multifrequency, absolute-capacitance AFM.
The combination of world-class microwave electronics and world-class AFM provides exceptional performance and enables applications never before possible. One key application is the probing of dopant concentrations in semiconductors. Existing techniques are destructive to the wafer and cannot sense deep below the surface. With our scanning microwave microscopy, it is possible to nondestructively see the electronic structure beneath the surface, providing new insights into semiconductor materials.
Q: What other methods does Agilent use to drive innovation?
A: Our individual business units are constantly looking, listening, and probing for test and measurement solutions that will address today’s needs and anticipate those likely to emerge far into the future. To keep our finger on the pulse of the market, Agilent is active in all the major standards groups and we chair several of them.
Read the continuation of this interview.
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