The instruments’ innovative current feedback amplifier technology provides both maximum sensitivity and accuracy
The new source measure units (SMUs) NGU201 and NGU401 enable simultaneous, high-precision sourcing and measuring of currents and voltages.
The two-quadrant NGU201 addresses wireless device battery tests and automatically switches from source mode to sink mode at a defined positive input voltage. The four-quadrant NGU401 can also switch at negative voltages, supporting source measurements for a vast range of power supply types.
The instruments’ innovative current feedback amplifier technology provides both maximum sensitivity and accuracy to reliably measure currents from nA toA in a single sweep. To handle rapidly changing load conditions typical of battery-powered communications devices switching between sleep and transmit modes, the NGU features an optimised control loop load providing a best in class recovery time of under 30 μs with minimum overshoot.
The NGU SMUs include six current ranges from 10 ÎĽA with 100 pA resolution to 10 A with 10 ÎĽA resolution. For all ranges, accuracy up to 0.025 % is achieved. Voltage is measured with 10 ÎĽV resolution in the 20 V range and 1 ÎĽV resolution in the 6 V range. For the typical capacitor measurement problem at the input to the device under test, the NGU features a variable capacitance mode adjustable in steps from 1 ÎĽF to 470 ÎĽF, compensating the capacitance, so that the current is displayed as if it was measured directly at the device under test. Devices up to 20 V, 8 A, and 60 W are all supported.
The four-quadrant NGU401 is the specialist for semiconductor testing. It provides source measurements for any equipment requiring source and sink voltages in the range from –20 V to +20 V. Additionally to the voltage regulation mode of power supplies, the NGU includes a fast current regulation mode to avoid damaging current-sensitive devices under test, such as LEDs or other semiconductors. An external arbitrary waveform source connector turns the NGU401 into an AC source and makes it possible to simulate glitches or unstable power supplies of up to 1 kHz.
The two-quadrant NGU201 is optimised for battery drain analysis of any battery-powered device, including mobile phones, tablets and the full range of IoT equipment. Design engineers can use it to simulate real-world battery characteristics. Once the battery model characteristics are defined, they can be reused whenever required. With its 8 A maximum current, the instrument even supports fast-charge applications.
Besides the dedicated source measurement features, the NGU series also includes features common to all speciality power supplies from Rohde & Schwarz. The market-leading data acquisition rate of 500 ksample per second offered by the FastLog functionality captures voltage and current levels every 2 ÎĽs so that even the shortest intermittent glitches are detected. With the optional built-in digital voltmeter, users can check voltages at any point in the device under test as well as the input voltage.
The new NGU201 and NGU401 source measure units are now available from Rohde & Schwarz and selected distribution partners.
