Unrestricted.2016-11-142011-01-112016-11-142010-12http://hdl.handle.net/2346/ETD-TTU-2010-12-1155The characterization of semiconductor integrated circuits using standard bench equipment is optimized using software reconfigurable interface boards. A field programmable gate array (FPGA) provides reconfigurable virtual instruments and traditional instrument control and signal routing via a matrix relay board. An FPGA including a power PC processor core is programmable in C/C++ with the automated test procedure while maintaining a fixed logic for the gate array used to support a minimal amount of external circuitry needed to provide testing resources. The test capabilities of a traditional bench can be expanded to include protocol aware testing and supplemental test circuitry implementation including over temperature testing.application/pdfengField-programmable gate array (FPGA)Semiconductor device testingSoftware reconfigurableBench testingThesis