Optimizing test for performance and efficiency

摘要

Power supplies and loads are key tools in the test of products ranging from highly efficient communications ICs to high-power automotive-drive-train and battery systems. Physical configurations range from benchtop units to floor-standing cabinets. "Today's complex electronic designs place higher demands on the systems that power them," said Bill Griffith, application engineering manager at Keysight Technologies, speaking of power supplies at the launch of Keysight's latest model. "But these power systems often cause design problems, and basic power supplies may be incapable of uncovering them." As for loads, companies recently have introduced both regenerative and dissipative versions since our last look at the topic.1 Gerard Sheehan, Intepro Systems' chief technical officer, commented that the regenerative feature is valuable because it minimizes the need for expensive cooling systems used by conventional air- and water-cooled loads. However, Herman vanEijkelenburg, director of marketing at Adaptive Power Systems, which makes both regenerative and dissipative loads, notes the dissipative loads can provide higher dynamic-current slew-rate performance.