Measurement and Analysis of Integrated Power Supplies

Looking at today’s world of electronics, a handful of topics dominate the headlines. These include digitization, artificial intelligence, electrification of transport, autonomous driving, renewable energies and 5G, the next generation of mobile radio. From a higher perspective, they are all interconnected in some way.

Oscilloscopes are the primary measurement tools used today by engineers to test and characterize their power supply designs. The R&S®RTx-K36 frequency response analysis (Bode plot) option provides a low-cost alternative to low frequency network analyzers or dedicated stand- alone frequency analyzers.

In his article published in the July & August 2016 issue Elektor author Alfred Rosenkränzer presented a wonderfully simple differential probe for oscilloscopes, based around the AD8479 precision differential amplifier. I built one of them immediately and found it particularly suitable for measurements in the audio range, for example. But one small detail was not covered in this article: the power supply used for the probe (or for several of them). Practically all modern oscilloscopes have a USB port on the front panel for data output. Since the power consumption of a probe is very low, it makes sense to use this socket to power the probe.

Since the majority of electronic circuits these days operate in the digital domain for the most part, the purchase of a 'real' logic analyzer (or perhaps 'protocol analyzer' is a better description?) is becoming increasingly tempting. If you would like to keep it affordable then you will quickly arrive at a device that has a USB connection. But which one is handy, versatile and value for money? In the Elektor Labs we looked at the ScanaQuad series, made by the French company Ikalogic.

It’s great fun and a complete journey of discovery to repair and recalibrate vintage electronics with the instruments, ‘standards’ and ‘fixtures’ recommend and supplied by the manufacturer. This episode of Retronics presents a few such instruments, specifically from Tektronix. Although the company offered a calibration and service for their oscilloscopes, they actually provided the information and equipment to do it yourself. That equipment, once expensive, now rare but not forgotten, does it still work after 40 to 60 years?

In the past, every electronics technician had a function generator with an XR2206 in his (hobby) lab, but those days are long gone. Nowadays such a generator works with a DDS chip that generates frequencies digitally. Unfortunately, a decent DDS function generator isn't really cheap - or is it? The JOY-iT DDS function generator promises a wide frequency range and many possibilities at a low price.

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A new test of PCBite filmed by Roger, an Elektor reader who checks if this accessory lives up to its promises. Does it give reliable, hands-free measurements without mechanical linkage, held firmly in place by gooseneck arms? Do the befits of this accessory justify investing in it? The answer to these questions is set out in this video from Kainka Labs.

A cheap and simple function generator kit for DIY assembly with surprising features and user-friendly operation.

This is a submission from Distrelec about the arrival of the new Teledyne LeCroy T3 suite of products comprising of turnkey and ancillary test tools and equipment. The T3 portfolio has been designed to provide engineers and test technicians alike the ability to assemble a highly reliable, fully equipped test bench at an affordable price, making the suite ideal for schools, universities and developers working with budget constraints.