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N1918A Power Analysis Manager

Technical Overviews

Introduction

Power instrumentation has evolved from being a mere combination of hardware devices to PC-based instruments and application software. This further extends the computation and analysis capability of power measurements, which provides a higher performance and more variety of data computation and analysis. The Keysight Technologies, Inc. N1918A Power Analysis Manager is a PC-based application software that is targeted to extend the capabilities of some of Keysight’s power meters and power sensors. This application software provides a powerful power analysis in multiple test and measurement formats that facilitate the process of problem identification and tracking. This technical overview provides a detailed description of the features and capabilities of the Power Analysis Manager application software. The contents of this technical overview enable engineers to understand the software operation and performance capabilities offered in N1918A Power Analysis Manager.

PC-Based Power Meter Application Software to Uncover and Identify Problems in Many Ways

The Power Analysis Manager is a PC-based application software that runs on Microsoft Windows platform and aims to enhance the capabilities of some of Keysight’s power meters and sensors. The N1918A can interface with various hardware devices like N1911A single-channel and N1912A dual-channel P-Series power meters, U2000 Series USB power sensors and N8262A P-Series modular power meters. Once power measurements are digitized from power meters, USB power sensors or any other supported hardware system, the data can be analyzed in many different ways. The application software is flexible and able to accept data from multiple front ends. Thus, users can perform power measurements, time-based recording, pulse characterization analysis, trace data processing, waveform math computations, and many other data analysis using single or multiple hardware devices.

The Power Analysis Manager is a suite of application software that comprises basic version (Power Panel) and advanced version (Power Analyzer). The Power Panel is bundled with the purchase of U2000 Series USB power sensors, N1911A/N1912A P-Series power meters, and N8262A P-Series modular power meters. Power Panel offers an easy-to-use standard GUIs for these hardware devices.

The N1918A Option 100 Power Analyzer is an optional licensed software that is available for purchase separately. Power Analyzer offers advanced functions like pulse analysis, multi-channels power measurement, statistical analysis and recording function. Users can use this software to perform tests and measurements, and to track problems at any stage of the design process—from simulation to the final prototype.

More Than Just Power Meters

Power Analysis Manager provides conventional power measurements and measure­ment displays. However, this is not enough for today’s power instrumentation. The Power Analysis Manager offers a wider range of measurement capabilities like statis­tical analysis, pulse parameters characterization, limits and alert function, and many other advanced functions.

The Power Analysis Manager leverages the power measurement data available from the data output of the power meter instrument. The software provides you the tools you need to identify the root cause of a problem. Furthermore, it also provides tools such as minimum, maximum, and average measurement, trace marker (in strip chart) and gating, pulse analysis, and the Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function (CCDF) measurement for a qualitative understanding of a signal behavior. Multi-instrument measurements and overlay graphs with math (delta, sum, and ratio) operations, play, stop, record and restore options, save and load graph data (MS Excel compatible), multi-tab display, limits and alerts, and pulse reference point defined are some of the extended capabilities of the Power Analysis Manager, which is more than just a power meter.

PC-Based for Ease of Use

The Power Analysis Manager is PC-based, thus any improvements made on the PC capabilities will contribute to the improvement of the application software performance. Furthermore, the LAN and USB plug-and-play connectivity are common standard connectivity in PCs today, thus enabling easier instrumentation setup at lower startup cost. Besides, the Power Analysis Manager offers powerful power measurement tools and an easy-to-use GUI as the software platform for your instrumentation that allows comprehensive power measurement analysis.

Power Analysis Manager Standard Functions and Features

Start and Stop Measurement Function

Users are able to control their power measurements via the Power Analysis Manager using the start and stop options. Users can start or stop the measurements at any time or at any point.

Multiple Instrument, Tab, and Measurement Displays

The Power Analyzer allows users to create multiple tabs, each of which may contain up to four measurement displays from multiple instruments input such as the USB sensors or the P-Series power meters. Measurement displays include Soft Panel, Gauge, Strip Chart, Trace Graph, Overlay Trace Graph, and statistical graph such as CCDF graph. This allows users to analyze measurement signals in different formats simultaneously for more comprehensive analysis.

Instrument Properties Panel

Conventionally, power meters allow users to change the instrument properties physically such as the system and channel configuration, trigger settings, and measurement setups through the instrument front panel or via SCPI commands. The Power Analysis Manager allows users to remotely configure the instrument properties prior to performing power measurements.

Instrument Properties Toolbar

Preset Predefined Setting 

The built-in predefined instrument settings, Preset option, simplify the measurement setup. These preset options are identical to the P-Series power meters’ predefined settings that enable users to easily set up their instrumentation.

Save and Restore Instrument Settings 

The Power Analysis Manager provides an option that allows users to save the instrument settings in .prop format files. This allows users to restore their instrument settings whenever the same settings are required. It is done by simply loading the instrument property files.

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