If you are characterizing the the electrical properties of nanoscale devices, check out a new type of instrument called the DC power analyzer.  It’s more than just a bench power supply.  I haven’t used one but those that have tell me you can quickly set it up to output sequences of voltages or currents.  It has a built-in voltmeter and digitizer that can monitor the output voltage and current from each channel, store this data, and display a graph of voltage and current versus time on the color display. 

 Why should you care?  If you are really trying to understand how much power your device draws you can now see this with one instrument.  If you want to do more than just output a simple voltage or current, you have that flexibility as well.  And if you need to vary the voltage and/or current you can do that without writing a program.  It even documents all the readings. 

What doesn’t it do?  It will never replace a high performance multimeter because the power analyzer monitors voltage and current into the device - not out of the device.  You need a multimeter for that. 

It also doesn’t replace a semiconductor or impedance analyzer.  A semiconductor analyzer is a source / measure unit but it provides much higher precision than a power analyzer.  And the power analyzer isn’t going to give you the precision of an impedance analyzer either. 

The power analyzer is a new concept but its based on proven technologies.  Let me know if you have some additional thoughts.  I think it might be a good choice the next time you are looking for a flexible power supply.

To see more information - go to http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/redirector.jspx?action=ref&cname=PRODUCT&ckey=1123271&cc=US&lc=eng

This entry was posted on Friday, May 11, 2007 at May 11, 2007 and is filed under Electronics, General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.