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Characterizing the operation of switch-mode power supplies requires a broad range of measurements using an oscilloscope. You must analyze the power supply's input, switching, and output. You will also need to make frequency response measurements like power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) and control loop response. These measurements are typically made with a vector network analyzer (VNA).
Perform these measurements using an oscilloscope with power measurement software, a deskew fixture, a high-voltage differential probe, a current probe, and a passive voltage probe. The deskew fixture nulls the difference in propagation delay between the probes for more accurate measurements. Deskewing is critical for the switching loss measurement. Time delay can cause significant differences in power and energy measurements during the turn-on and turn-off phases of transistor switching.
How to Test Switch Mode Power Supplies
Measure down to 1 mA/div, giving you a much more accurate view of low-level signals
Bandwidth | 150 MHz |
How to Test Switch Mode Power Supplies
The 4000 X-Series boasts 12.1-inch display, capacitive touch screen technology, InfiniiScan Zone touch triggering, 1-million-waveforms/sec update rate, MegaZoom IV smart memory technology and standard segmented memory.
Bandwidth | 1.5 GHz |
Max Memory Depth | 4 Mpts |
Max Sample Rate | 5 GSa/s |
Type | Real-Time |
How to Test Switch Mode Power Supplies
Obtain floating signal measurements of up to 1,400 V of differential voltage and up to 1,000 V of common mode voltage
Bandwidth | 100 MHz |
How to Test Switch Mode Power Supplies
Deskew the time delay between voltage and current probes, driving both probes with the same pulse signal
Compatible Probes | n/a |
Description | Power measurement deskew fixture for voltage and current probes |
Compatible Oscilloscopes |
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Select Oscilloscope Series |
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How to Test Switch Mode Power Supplies
Enable all software applications on the InfiniiVision 4000 X-Series oscilloscopes
Debug & Analysis Software |
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Connectivity & Usability Software |
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Compliance Test Applications | none |
Select Oscilloscope Series |
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Software Type | |
Applications | |
Compatible Instruments |
How to Test Switch Mode Power Supplies
You can use the built-in waveform editor to create custom waveforms to output on the WaveGen of the scope. You can also capture a known good or golden waveform on a scope channel and save that to the ARB and generate it through BNC output.
Debug & Analysis Software |
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Connectivity & Usability Software |
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Compliance Test Applications | |
Select Oscilloscope Series |
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Software Type | |
Applications | |
Compatible Instruments |
Additional resources for characterizing switch-mode power supply designs
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Measuring the current / voltage characteristics of a low-power IC requires a variety of basic instruments including multiple power supplies, digital multimeters (DMMs), pulse generators, and digitizers. Learn how to characterize low-power ICs efficiently and quickly using a single source / measure unit (SMU).
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Characterizing wide-bandgap (WGB) semiconductors requires testing both static and dynamic parameters to avoid losses. Learn how to perform JEDEC tests for WBG devices, including turn-on / off, switching, and other standardized tests repeatably.
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