Abstract
Lab skills are essential to characterize and validate the exceptional performance of Analog Devices’ power converter products. Without accurate measurement techniques, engineers evaluating different solutions don’t have the necessary information to make an informed decision. This article discusses how to care- fully select passive probes for measurement, how to optimize measurement methods, and introduces alternative measurement techniques to further aid in diagnosing converter operations. Reference setups are shown to illustrate how typical data sheet figures are captured such as voltage ripple and switching waveforms.
Introduction
When evaluating a switch-mode power supply (SMPS), there are many key parameters to assess and many factors to consider when observing a particular measurement. Making these measurements accurately is necessary to ensure design decisions are not led astray by faulty data, and proper oscilloscope probe selection is the first step.
Oscilloscope Probe Selection
An oscilloscope is a powerful tool that engineers use to evaluate the performance of SMPS. However, it cannot be overstated how important proper measurement technique is to oscilloscope capture accuracy. The first step is selecting the right oscilloscope probe for the measurement being taken.
Passive probes are versatile and useful for accurate signal measurements, and they contain no active circuitry and do not require external power. While less disruptive measurements for extremely sensitive circuits can be achieved with active probes, they are also more complex and expensive. This section will explore oscilloscope measurements using passive 10× probes, passive 1× probes, and coaxial cables, with a brief discussion on how to determine which of the three is appropriate for certain measurements.
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