TEST & MEASUREMENT APPLICATION NOTES AND WHITE PAPERS

  • VCO Measurements With FSPN Phase Noise Analyzer

    This application note provides a short technical introduction to voltage-controlled oscillators and explains the most common and the most important measurements made during the VCO characterization process.

  • Load Transient Response – Enhancing Loop Stability Testing

    Ensuring stability in power supply design requires validating switching converter stability through frequency loop and load transient responses, aided by modern oscilloscopes for visualizing PWM signals and identifying converter effects.

  • Field Probe Correction Factors

    To better achieve accurate field level measurements, it is helpful to have an understanding of field probe calibrations, the factors generated, and what’s presented as data during testing. This application note presents how to utilize the factors presented for inclusion into test data, how to generate composite measurements, and why calibrations are performed at selected frequencies.

  • Making Higher Accuracy Oscilloscope Measurements

    One of the most important functional blocks in a digital oscilloscope is the analog-to-digital converter or ADC. This white paper explains why ADC resolution has become a more important consideration in oscilloscopes, especially for measuring small signal details.

  • RF Amplifier Output Voltage, Current, Power, And Impedance Relationship

    How much output voltage, current, and power can you expect from your amplifier? In rare cases, this can be answered by applying Ohm’s law, assuming that the net power or power delivered to the load is the rated power output of the amplifier. In most cases, practical issues such as VSWR and forward power concerns must be considered before applying Ohm’s law. This application note addresses this issue and discusses an approach to be used that applies actual test data when calculating output parameters.

TEST & MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS

dB Control’s family of traveling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs) features a combined frequency range of 2 to 18 GHz up to 15kW output power. dB Control utilizes our proprietary transformer fabrication, encapsulation and high-voltage potting techniques developed for demanding military applications which results in superior reliability, low cost and ease of maintenance.  Products in this series are ideal for several applications, including: test and measurement, electronic warfare (EW) simulation, RFI/EMI/EMC Testing, electronic countermeasures (ECM), and antenna pattern and radar-cross section measurements.

Electrostatic discharge testing is utilized worldwide by electronics manufacturers to determine the ESD susceptibility of their devices. It is extremely difficult to estimate the exact cost of ESD loss annually, but it can safely be stated that ESD requires the development and testing of many hardware prototypes and contributes to a high number of warranty claims and loss of consumer confidence if failure occurs in the hands of the customer. Given the high cost in time and materials associated with ESD hardware testing, the ability to simulate the ESD testing process in XFdtd is extremely valuable, allowing engineers to pinpoint locations susceptible to ESD damage and optimize ESD mitigation during the concept and design stage of product development.

The Model 6350S is a small form factor 8-channel A/D & D/A subsystem designed for a variety of applications including high-bandwidth data streaming, waveform signal generators, multimode data acquisition, and other electronic warfare systems. Designed to be integrated into larger systems with minimal design effort, the 6350S delivers the performance and high-channel density of RFSoC in a small, convenient footprint.

The dB-9003 and dB-9005 from dB Control are custom-mounted Integrated Stabilized RF Sources (ISRFS) designed to operate in the I and Ka-band frequency range. Both products feature high accuracy and a wide temperature operating range. They can be controlled and set up with a digital port. The units are packaged in a custom configuration with conduction cooling.

The A.H. Systems' line of Current Probe Calibration Fixtures are a great way to keep your broadband Current Probes, and Injection Current Probes calibrated and up to date. Their rugged design ensures long life, and faultless operation over the wide calibration frequency range of 10 kHz to 1000 MHz.

The dB-9002 from dB Control is a custom-mounted Dual Instantaneous Frequency Measurement (DIFM) unit designed to operate in the C, X, and Ku-band frequency range and provide highly accurate measurements at 100 ns to CW pulse width measurements.

The Si894x is a galvanically isolated delta-sigma modulator which outputs a digital signal proportional to the voltage level at the input. 

Microwave Systems offers the MS010620 multi-octave, high-power GaN amplifier designed to operate from 1 to 6 GHz. It is ideally suited for use in communications systems, radar systems, test instrumentation, broadband RF telemetry, point to point radio, and fiber optics applications.