Abstract: A test and measurement instrument switch matrix including a first cable including a center conductor and a guard connected to a first output of the test and measurement instrument; a second cable including a center conductor and a guard connected to a second output of the test and measurement instrument; a third cable including a center conductor and a guard connected to the device under test; and a fourth cable including a center conductor connected to the device under test and a guard connected to the device under test.

Abstract: A testing system includes a Device Under Test (DUT) interface structured to couple to one or more DUTs and a device characterization circuit structured to be controlled to perform static testing and dynamic testing of the one or more DUTs. The device characterization circuit includes a drain amplifier coupled to a drain of the one or more DUTs that is structured to measure drain leakage current. Methods of measuring drain current in a device that performs both static and dynamic testing are also described.

Abstract: A test fixture for coupling a Device Under Test (DUT) to a measurement instrument includes a device interface board, which may be a solderless, press-fit board, for electrically connecting to one or more DUTs, a power delivery section electrically coupled to the device interface board through a series of electrical contacts, a measurement interface section electrically coupled to the device interface board through a second series of electrical contacts, the measurement interface structured to be coupled to the measurement instrument, and a metal plate coupled between and providing an electrical return path between the measurement interface and the power delivery section. The metal plate is sized and shaped to provide physical protection from DUTs that are destroyed during testing.

Abstract: A test and measurement circuit including a capacitor in parallel with a device under test, a direct current voltage source configured to charge the capacitor, a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse for testing the device under test, and a sensor for determining a current in the device under test.

Abstract: A safety container for high-power, electronic device testing, the safety container including a first shell and first and second ports in the first shell. The first shell is configured to substantially surround a testing chamber sized to accommodate a device-under-test (DUT). The first shell is substantially rigid. The first port is configured to allow a fluid into the testing chamber, the second port configured to allow the fluid to exit the testing chamber.

Abstract: A test and measurement system includes a power device having an interface to allow connection to one or more devices under test (DUTs), and one or more processors configured to execute code that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to receive a selection between static and dynamic characterization, and to configure the power device to perform the selected one of static or dynamic characterization of the one or more DUTs, a measurement device, having a user interface, one or more processors configured to execute code that, when executed, causes the one or more processors to: receive user inputs through the user interface, the user inputs including at least the selection between static and dynamic characterization, and send the selected one of static or dynamic characterization to the power device, and a connector to connect the power device to the measurement device.

Abstract: A test and measurement circuit including a capacitor in parallel with a device under test, a direct current voltage source configured to charge the capacitor, a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse for testing the device under test, and a sensor for determining a current in the device under test.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument switch matrix including a first cable including a center conductor and a guard connected to a first output of the test and measurement instrument; a second cable including a center conductor and a guard connected to a second output of the test and measurement instrument; a third cable including a center conductor and a guard connected to the device under test; and a fourth cable including a center conductor connected to the device under test and a guard connected to the device under test.

Abstract: A system can include a device under test (DUT) having a DUT voltage, a cable connected to the DUT, the cable having a cable inductance, and a power supply configured as a current source to provide a wide bandwidth voltage source to the DUT, wherein the DUT voltage is independent of the cable inductance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement instrument including a plurality of ports. The ports are configured to source a test signal into a device under test (DUT), and receive a signal response from the DUT. The test and measurement instrument also includes a measurement unit configured to measure the signal response. The test and measurement instrument further includes a processor configured to compare the signal response to a data structure. The processor also determines a classification of, and/or connections to, at least one DUT component coupled to at least one of the ports based on results of the comparison.

Abstract: A connection interface for connecting one or more devices under test (DUTs) to one or more remote test and measurement instruments includes a device-under-test connector for connecting a DUT to the interface, a host-instrument connector for connecting the interface to a host test and measurement instrument, and an electrical path between the device-under-test connector and the host-instrument connector. The connection interface also includes a display that has a first portion visually associated with the device-under-test connector and configured to display an identifier for a particular connection point on the DUT. In some embodiments, the first portion of the display is configured to display measurement data from the particular connection point on the DUT. In some embodiments, the display has a second portion that is configured to display information related to the host test and measurement instrument, or to display a name for a particular measurement of the DUT.

Abstract: A method for measuring the impedance of a DUT having a capacitance of less than 1 pF includes applying a voltage or current signal to the DUT, the voltage or current signal including an AC component having a non-zero frequency of less than 1 kHz; monitoring a current or voltage signal, respectively, through the DUT in response to the voltage or current signal; digitizing the voltage signal and the current signal synchronously; and calculating the impedance from the digitized voltage and current signals.

Abstract: An electronic test measurement system can include a device under test (DUT) and an electronic test instrument that includes a signal input configured to receive an electrical signal from the DUT, a cooling mechanism, and a processor. The processor can be configured to determine a frequency at which the cooling mechanism should operate, cause the cooling mechanism to operate at the determined frequency, select a filter based on the determined frequency, and apply the filter to the electrical signal to reduce interference with the electrical signal resulting from mechanical vibrations of the cooling mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a test and measurement instrument including a plurality of ports. The ports are configured to source a test signal into a device under test (DUT), and receive a signal response from the DUT. The test and measurement instrument also includes a measurement unit configured to measure the signal response. The test and measurement instrument further includes a processor configured to compare the signal response to a data structure. The processor also determines a classification of, and/or connections to, at least one DUT component coupled to at least one of the ports based on results of the comparison.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved two-cable connection system for connecting electrical test instrumentation to a device under test (DUT). In one embodiment, a single pair of equal-length triaxial cables each has a desired characteristic impedance. Each cable has a center connecter, intermediate conductor, and outer conductor. The proximal end of each cable is connected to the test instrumentation, and the distal ends are located at the DUT. At the distal end, the center conductors are connected to the DUT, the intermediate conductors are allowed to float, and the outer conductors are connected to each other. The proximal end of each cable is connected to the device using an appropriate connection for the test that will be performed. This allows the test instrumentation to perform different types of tests without changing connections to the DUT.

Abstract: A method for measuring the impedance of a DUT having a capacitance of less than 1 pF includes applying a voltage or current signal to the DUT, the voltage or current signal including an AC component having a non-zero frequency of less than 1 kHz; monitoring a current or voltage signal, respectively, through the DUT in response to the voltage or current signal; digitizing the voltage signal and the current signal synchronously; and calculating the impedance from the digitized voltage and current signals.

Abstract: A method for measuring the impedance of a DUT having a capacitance of less than 1 pF includes applying a voltage or current signal to the DUT, the voltage or current signal including an AC component having a non-zero frequency of less than 1 kHz; monitoring a current or voltage signal, respectively, through the DUT in response to the voltage or current signal; digitizing the voltage signal and the current signal synchronously; and calculating the impedance from the digitized voltage and current signals.

Abstract: An electronic test measurement system can include a device under test (DUT) and an electronic test instrument that includes a signal input configured to receive an electrical signal from the DUT, a cooling mechanism, and a processor. The processor can be configured to determine a frequency at which the cooling mechanism should operate, cause the cooling mechanism to operate at the determined frequency, select a filter based on the determined frequency, and apply the filter to the electrical signal to reduce interference with the electrical signal resulting from mechanical vibrations of the cooling mechanism.

Abstract: A dynamic current limiter circuit is disclosed. The dynamic current limiter includes an input node an output node. The dynamic current limiter also includes a current control valve coupled between the input and output nodes, the current control valve being configured to limit current flow between the input and output nodes based on a control input. The dynamic current limiter also includes a current change detector coupled between the input and output nodes, the current change detector being configured to detect a change in current through the input and output nodes and generate a control signal configured to drive the control input. The current control valve is configured to limit current flow between the input and output nodes in response to the current control signal.

Abstract: A switch protection circuit includes a discharging circuit and, optionally, a clamping circuit. The discharge circuit operates prior to the switch completing the switching action to discharge capacitance from a signal line of a cable connected to a device under test to a ground voltage. When not discharging, the discharge circuit presents low leakage to a measurement circuit so as not to interfere with such measurement. If present, the clamping circuit clamps a signal line of the cable to a guard structure of the cable so that the discharge circuit can couple both the signal line and the guard structure to ground. The protection circuit operates without significantly worsening low current performance of the measurement instrument.