Patent ID: 8751183

Claim:
Automatic test equipment (ATE) for testing integrated circuit (IC) devices, comprising: a load board attached to a test head for mounting at least one IC device under test (DUT) via a socket on said load board; a tester module including: test instruments operable for testing said DUT including communicating test signals to said DUT and receiving test data signals generated by said DUT responsive to said test signals through said test head via one or more electrical couplers; a plurality of sensors including sensors coupled to or proximate to said test instruments for detecting a plurality of different maintenance triggers associated with one or more of said test instruments; a memory that stores code including operating system code for controlling said test instruments and for implementing a system maintenance compliance tool, and a processor coupled to said test instruments, said plurality of sensors, and said memory, wherein said processor runs said operating system code including said system maintenance compliance tool; wherein said system maintenance compliance tool upon receiving notification of at least a first of said plurality of maintenance triggers automatically blocks said ATE being used for said testing.