The cost of undertaking multi-domain debugging has come down. New instrumentation can time-correlate RF and embedded signals to let designers quickly uncover the root causes of knotty problems. CHRIS ARMSTRONG, RIGOL TECHNOLOGIES INC. Examine a typical device that is part of the Internet of Things and you’ll likely find a product that combines RF, digital, […]
Probing small signals on a high-voltage bus
Subtleties of scope probes can lead to garbled measurements when examining power circuits. KEN JOHNSON, DAVID MALINIAK, TELEDYNE LECROY CORP. When an oscilloscope is used for debugging, validation, or device characterization, measurements generally take place with the help of a scope probe. There are several types of scope probes because manufacturers optimize different types for […]
Better instrumentation for insulation testing
Megohmmeter measurements can now be more accurate, rapid and safer than ever before. JEFF JOWETT, MEGGER A considerable number of electronics personnel working throughout the electrical industry are military trained. And many of them learned on a simple hand-cranked analog meter, properly termed a megohmmeter, or insulation tester. These testers were typically 500-V units that […]
You passed: Getting products through EMC/EMI compliance tests
Pre-compliance tests run in your own lab can avoid bad news when products go into formal conformity checks. DYLAN STINSON, TEKTRONIX INC. EMI regulations are in place to ensure reliability and safety for users of electrical and electronic equipment. With few exceptions, any product emitting or susceptible to electromagnetic interference must be certified for EMI […]
RFIC test capability for NB-IoT and eMTC standards
New NI-RFmx NB-IoT/eMTC measurement software complements National Instruments’ existing RF test capabilities for wireless technologies ranging from 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax to Bluetooth to 2G/3G/4G/5G standards. NB-IoT and eMTC drive a wide range of machine-type communication applications by delivering on key performance criteria such as extended range and lower power consumption. Compared to existing LTE technology, the NB-IoT […]
Tips on buying a new oscilloscope
Answers to a few basic questions can help clarify what kind of scope makes sense for your workbench. JAMES MCGREGOR, NEWARK ELEMENT14 For many engineers, the oscilloscope is the most useful and versatile tool on the bench. So when it’s time to buy a new one, it’s important to make sure the scope meets your […]
Why 5G is going to over-the-air testing
Cables and connectors may become artifacts of the past for communication electronics as the world moves to 5G standards. SHERI DETOMASI, KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 5G is rapidly approaching and there is a lot of talk about over-the-air (OTA) testing – that is, testing without the DUT physically connected to the test equipment. I’ve seen test […]
Analog signal generators cover 3, 6, and 12-GHz ranges
Tabor’s Lucid LS RF Analog Signal Generators offer advanced features and industry-leading performance in a compact form factor. The three models, LS3081M (3 GHz), LS6081M (6 GHz) and LS1291M (12 GHz), provide single-channel high-purity sine waves in a small footprint module. Featuring extremely fast switching speed, superior signal integrity, and low distortion, the Lucid range […]
Infrared cameras for PCB development and diagnosis
IR cameras can help size up the surface temperatures of electronic components, PCBs, and other objects to reveal unseen problems. ALAN J. LOWNE, SAELIG CO. INC. Thermal imagers, also called infrared cameras, capture a 2-D representation of objects in front of their germanium optics (ordinary optical glass impedes IR wavelengths). They present a visible version […]
Functions and features of advanced hipot testers
Modern instruments help to check whether manufactured equipment meets the proliferating variety of international safety standards that govern factors such as grounding and the ability to withstand overvoltages. KEVIN CLARK, VITREK, INC. Electrical safety testers – often referred to as hipot testers – are an integral part of electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing. Hipot testers get […]