Usually a capacitor’s value in microfarads or picofarads is printed on its housing or there is a color code there. But sometimes we need to measure the amount of capacitance. For example, an electrolytic capacitor may lose capacitance over time (and exhibit more series resistance as well). In critical applications, this effect can be catastrophic. […]
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Tiny recorders let crash test dummies take one for the Gipper
The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Department of Mechanical Engineering is developing new testing methodologies using crash test dummies to improve helmet testing and ultimately reduce concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI). In that regard, they are putting sensors and recorders inside crash test dummy heads to get biofidelic impact data. Miniature DTSSLICE NANO […]
Power supply design measurement tips from A to Z
To design an efficient, reliable and compliant power supply, be sure to follow these testing and measurement guidelines. Varun Merchant Tektronix Power supplies are the lifeline behind all electronics and electronic devices – and the pressure is on to make them smaller and more efficient year after year. Achieving higher efficiencies and higher power densities while […]
MIL-STD 1553 bus: Making measurements and connections
MIL-STD-1553 was first used by the US Air Force in 1973 to define a serial data bus for military aircraft, notably the F-16 Fighter. It soon began to be a means of moving data in many other US military jets, as well as in domestic and foreign avionics, showing up even in the Russian MIG-35. […]
Don’t kill the WIAMan — Embedded DAQ checks test dummies in IED simulations
A blast test dummy, officially called the Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin (WIAMan), is the first anthropomorphic test device (ATD) designed specifically to withstand underbody blasts (like IEDs). The goal of all WIAMan testing is to advance soldier protection and improve military vehicle designs. The WIAMan effort recently moved into a new 3,000+ ft.2 lab furnished […]
In search of accuracy: Instrument calibration using frequency standards
Accuracy as it relates to the measurement of electrical signals would seem to be a simple, straight-forward concept. In the simple case, a reading as shown in a digital display could be compared to that of a perfectly accurate instrument. The discrepancy, if any, could be expressed as a fraction of a percent. The difficulty […]
When waveform read-outs come from a SPICE simulator
In a simpler time there wasn’t a great need for electronic simulation because equipment composed of discrete components could easily be bread boarded and powered up to try out ideas. This approach is now unfeasible thanks to billion-component ICs, multi-gigahertz bandwidth requirements, parasitic impedances, and electromagnetic interference issues. Rather than manually building and testing multiple […]
How to measure powerline quality with an oscilloscope
Power quality in the context of ac lines usually refers to how closely the ac line comes to approximating the ideal sinusoidal wave. Real-world factors such as electrical noise and the tolerance of ac voltage and frequency all affect power quality. Thus it is often important to measure the degree to which ac lines depart […]
Wideband transceiver optimized for tests of 802.11ad devices
Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) today announced the volume launch of their solution for testing 802.11ad devices. The flexible and compact E7760A wideband transceiver is an integrated test solution that supports the IEEE 802.11ad wireless standard. The solution was introduced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year. “Our customers are looking for millimeter […]
Basics of induction
Building on the work of others, particularly Humphry Davy, Hans Christian Ørsted and Alessandro Volta, English researcher Michael Faraday formulated his Law of Electromagnetic Induction. This most basic of all laws governing electromagnetism quantifies the interaction of a magnetic field and an electric circuit, producing electromotive force (EMF) or in the language of technicians and […]
