Temporary wiring is usually associated with construction sites and outdoor concerts. But it also comes into play when test regimes demand that several test instruments be set up outdoors, and when research work must commence in temporary quarters. Here are a few things to know about keeping safe when instrumentation gets plugged into wiring that […]
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Making measurements with Matlab
Matlab was released in 1984 by Mathworks, an American privately-held corporation whose other major product is the closely-related Simulink. Additionally, Mathworks offers close to 100 other programs, such as Polyspace, SimEvents and Stateflow. Matlab’s main focus is numerical computing, including matrix and algorithm operations, plotting of data and functions and creation of user interfaces. It […]
Test and measurement with LabVIEW
LabVIEW is an awesome product created and maintained by National Instruments. It consists of systems engineering relating to test, measurement and control of instrumentation, devices and machinery, and it is currently used worldwide in numerous applications. Rather than endless lines of textual coding, LabVIEW has a simple graphic interface where devices such as an oscilloscope […]
Measuring signals on transmission lines
Reflections typically arise when a beam of light strikes a polished flat reflective body whose surface is perpendicular to the beam of light. Then the transmitted light minus loss in two-way transit appears at the source. This is similar but not exactly equivalent to an electrical signal traveling through a conductive medium that has an […]
A look at the instrumentation for trapping atoms, ions, and particles
Enormous gains have been made in quantum research by confining single atoms or small numbers of atoms and elementary particles in electromagnetic traps. For experimental purposes, what is wanted is the ability to confine a single particle in a small container for a long time. The object would be to repeat measurements introducing alternate variables […]
A DIY vector network analyzer? Yes, there is such a thing
Believe it or not, there’s a do-it-yourself vector network analyzer that can be constructed with a few readily available parts which also can provide measurements accurate enough to be useful in professional work. The basis for the VNA is a chip from Mini-Circuits. Mini-Circuits president Ted Heil explained the ideas behind the DIY VNA in […]
Measuring phase noise and jitter
Generally, whether one speaks of phase noise or jitter depends upon whether they happen to be a radio frequency or digital systems engineer. Both phenomena are random fluctuations of a time-domain waveform in an oscillator or in a clock. Phase noise is best represented in the frequency domain. It is usually defined as the spectral […]
Interoperability testing for the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things might also be thought of as the internet of interoperable things. A systematic testing regime can help uncover problems when devices work in concert. DELMAR HOWARD, INTERTEK GROUP PLC The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing at an exponential rate. In three years, the number of IoT-enabled products is expected to […]
Interactive debugging on a budget
The cost of undertaking multi-domain debugging has come down. New instrumentation can time-correlate RF and embedded signals to let designers quickly uncover the root causes of knotty problems. CHRIS ARMSTRONG, RIGOL TECHNOLOGIES INC. Examine a typical device that is part of the Internet of Things and you’ll likely find a product that combines RF, digital, […]
Probing Small Signals on a High-Voltage Bus
Subtleties of scope probes can lead to garbled measurements when examining power circuits. KEN JOHNSON, DAVID MALINIAK, TELEDYNE LECROY CORP. When an oscilloscope is used for debugging, validation, or device characterization, measurements generally take place with the help of a scope probe. There are several types of scope probes because manufacturers optimize different types for […]