Pulse measurement systems for single pulses
A pulse measurement system consists of the following components:
- Pulse module for generating the voltage pulse for the input of the test module (GATE pulse).
- Pulse module for the output (DRAIN pulse).
- PIV controller: contains a measuring computer (PC) with Windows operating system on which the software for pulse generation and measurement data acquisition is executed. The controller is connected to the pulse modules via shielded cables. The controller contains the timing logic circuit for generating the pulses and parts of the measuring instruments. A control interface is used to control the four required DC voltage channels of the external power supplies.
- Oscilloscope (internal in PIV controller): for time-resolved measurement of voltage and current characteristics during the pulse.
- External power supplies for GATE and DRAIN side: two independent channels are needed per side: one channel for DC power supply and one channel for pulse voltage. In total, therefore, four channels.
- External multimeter for current measurement at the DRAIN.
Module |
Maximum voltage |
Maximum pulse current |
Maximum DC current |
Maximum pulse power |
Minimum pulse width |
Max. pulse repetition rate |
Min. edge duration at output |
Connector |
PHG20 |
+/-20 V |
100 mA |
100 mA |
2 watt |
200 ns |
250 kHz@20 V |
30 ns |
BNC-Female |
PHG100 |
+/-100 V |
2 A |
100 mA |
40 watt |
200 ns |
250 kHz@20 V |
30 ns |
BNC-Female |
PHD220-2 |
220 V |
2 A |
0.85 A |
40 watt |
200 ns |
20 kHz@200 V 80 kHz@100 V |
30 ns |
BNC-Female |
PHD220-2_Spezial |
+/-220 V |
+/-2 A |
+/-0.85 A |
40 watt |
200 ns |
20 kHz@200 V 80 kHz@100 V |
30 ns |
BNC-Female |
PHD220-10 |
220 V |
10 A |
1.7 A |
200 watt |
750 ns |
20 kHz@200 V 80 kHz@100 V |
55 ns |
BNC-Female |
PHD220-30 |
220 V |
30 A |
5 A |
1000 watt |
1000 ns |
20 kHz@200 V 80 kHz@100 V |
60 ns |
BNC-Female |
PHD600-5 |
600 V |
5 A |
1.0 A |
1000 watt |
200 ns |
80 kHz@200 V |
55 ns |
MHV-Female |
PHD1200-10 |
1200 V |
10 A |
1.0 A |
5000 watt |
1 µs |
1.4 kHz@1200 V |
84 ns |
SHV-Female |
PHD1200-100 |
1200 V |
100 A |
1.0 A |
5000 watt |
1 µs |
1.4 kHz@1200 V |
84 ns |
SHV-Female |
PHD2000-10 |
2000 V |
10 A |
0.1 A |
5000 watt |
4 µs |
1.0 kHz@2000 V |
84 ns |
SHV-Female |
PHD2000-100 |
2000 V |
100 A |
0.1 A |
5000 watt |
4 µs |
1.0 kHz@2000 V |
84 ns |
SHV-Female |
Table 1: Properties of the PIV modules for single pulses
Table 1 shows the characteristics of the available pulse modules. A GATE module must be selected for the input (part number starting with “PHG”), and a DRAIN module for the output (part number starting with “PHD”). For special cases, it is also possible to use different GATE modules at input and output. However, only one DRAIN module can be used per measurement system.
The test SW integrated on the measuring computer of the test system enables the setting of the following operating parameters:
- DC voltage at GATE and DRAIN.
- Pulse voltage at GATE and DRAIN.
- Timing of the fully synchronised GATE and DRAIN pulses.
- Selection times for measuring current and voltage.
- Presetting of a maximum current at the DRAIN. If exceeded, the voltage is limited to protect the test module.
- Pulse repetition rate in the possible value range.
- DC calibration with calibration resistors.
The following measurement series are supported:
- Single measurements: especially important to “carefully approach” the typical operating points of new test components.
- DC current and pulse measurement of the IV characteristics at GATE and DRAIN.
- IV characteristic curves at the DRAIN for a configurable selection of GATE voltages.
- Measurement of current and voltage curves over time for each single pulse.
- Measurement of S-parameters in pulse mode with an external network analyser (a 2-port S-parameter set is measured per operating point).
- Various graphical display options of the measured data.
The PIV measurement system is designed as an extension for the RF design suite “FDCS” by Focus-Microwaves. The PIV system is selected as a voltage source module in the device selection of FDCS. The configuration of the pulses is done in advance with the test SW of the PIV system. FDCS controls the entire measuring station with all associated instruments. The DC or pulse excitation of the test block is done via the PIV system, while the network analyser is triggered time-correlated (please note: the network analyser must have the necessary options for pulsed S-parameter measurements). As an example, the setup of a vectorial load pull measuring station is sketched in Figure 3. This setup is very well suited for the characterisation of amplifier chips for mobile radio stations.