Source Measure Units (SMUs) are versatile instruments developed at the advent of semiconductors to characterize their complex behavior. Key capabilities of a SMU include 4-quadrant operation, precision measurement and sourcing, and high speed. These capabilities make SMUs similar to a range of other test and measurement equipment, yet different in meaningful ways. This blog explores some of the …
While the types of electrical tests required during the design and production of power conversion equipment are similar to those required for previous generations of devices, the adoption of wide-bandgap materials like silicon carbide (SiC) or gallium nitride (GaN) requires added rigor and new test strategies.
Bench testing continues to play an important role at every stage of the development of …
The power-density advantages of smaller and lighter designs are particularly evident in space-constrained and/or mobile usages such as electric vehicles, but compact power electronics are more broadly desirable as well. At the same time, efficiency is growing in importance as governments introduce financial incentives and more stringent energy-efficiency regulations. Guidelines issued by global …
A signal generator is an analog or digital device that engineers use to create electronic signals when testing circuit designs. There are many different types of signal generators with diverse features and applications. Below are the most common types of signal generators and the unique capabilities of each.
Waveform or function generators
Waveform generators produce electrical waveforms over a …
Introduction:
Radio Frequency (RF) signals are used widely in today’s world. RF transmitters have become so pervasive that they can be found in almost any location imaginable: consumer electronics in homes, medical devices in hospitals, industrial control systems in factories, and even tracking devices implanted underneath the skin of livestock, pets, and people. This presents a challenge with RF …
Switching Losses Matter Even in the New SiC and GaN World
As GaN and SiC enable smaller, faster, and more efficient semiconductor designs, regulatory and economic pressures are driving new demands for energy efficiency in power electronics. Minimizing switching losses through design optimization is paramount in maintaining power efficiency throughout the generation, transmission, and consumption …
