New Product UCD-500 • DisplayPort 2.0 Video Generator and Analyzer

ACA TMetrix is pleased to introduce Unigraf’s UCD-500, a new video generator and analyzer unit for testing DisplayPortTM 2.0 sinks and sources up to 8K@60Hz (16K@60 Hz with DSC) video modes with UHBR 20 max bit rate capability. Test devices include graphic chipsets, monitors, televisions and VR glasses. The UCD-500 supports DP 2.0 features like Panel Replay, Adaptive Sync, DSC, FEC and LTTPR.

Compliance test tool

The UCD-500 is a reliable compliance test tool for validating DP 1.4a and DP 2.0 link layers on DP sinks and sources. DP 2.0 link layer CTS will be added when VESA releases compliance test specifications. The UCD-500 is also a compliance test tool for HDCP 2.2/2.3 on DP transmitters, receivers and repeaters.

Dolby Vision™, HDR 10 and HDR 10+

The UCD-500 is capable of playback functionality on the source side to output HDR formats such as Dolby Vision™, HDR 10 and HDR 10+ for resolutions up to 16K@60 Hz. Playback of compressed audio formats, including Dolby Atmos™, is supported.

Capturing video and SDP, including audio packets, provides data for validation of HDR and Dolby Vision.

The UCD-500 is ideal for developers of DisplayPort 2.0 silicon, VR/AR goggles, TV and gaming monitors that support HDR formats and want their products certified for Dolby Vision. New Product UCD-500

R&D and test automation

The UCD-500 supports both hands-on debugging and running extended automated test sequences. The UCD Console GUI is a preview and test application for desktop use. Each interface function has a well-structured dialog for superior at-a-glance viewability.

Unigraf TSI is test software API that provides the system integrator a fast and reliable way to ensure the functionality of the tested equipment.

UCD-500 highlights

  • DP 1.4a and DP 2.0 link layer CTS tool for sinks and sources
  • Support for HDCP 2.2/2.3, including compliance testing
  • 16K reference DP sink and source
  • 10/13.5/20 Gb/s link rates
  • Playback and capture Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR 10 and HDR 10+
  • MST (4 streams)
  • DSC, FEC and LTTPR
  • Panel Replay and Adaptive Sync

For more information or to request a quote, please contact us.

About Unigraf

Unigraf is a leading video electronics testing company based in Finland. Unigraf specializes in hardware and software test tools for testing USB-C™, DisplayPort™, and HDMI™ interfaces. Unigraf’s technological strengths are a deep understanding of the aforementioned interfaces in R&D, test automation and compliance test environments. The world’s leading electronics manufacturers use Unigraf’s tools to test smartphones, laptops, tablets, monitors and more in the R&D development phase and production line testing.

New Product UCD-500

 

New Supplier – Germany-Based FRT GMBH

ACA TMetrix is pleased to announce that we now have a new supplier—Germany-based FRT, one of the fastest growing metrology suppliers in the semiconductor industry. Our agreement with FRT gives us exclusive rights to the sale of FRT products in Canada.

A FormFactor company

In fall 2019 long-time ACA TMetrix supplier FormFactor acquired FRT, strengthening FormFactor’s leadership in test and measurement by expanding its market into 3D surface metrology and extending the optical applications scope of its engineering systems business.

FRT metrological surface measuring systems

FRT offers a comprehensive range of metrological surface measuring systems for the non-destructive investigation of topography, profile, film thickness, roughness, abrasion and many other properties. More than 500 international companies from the automotive, semiconductor, MEMS, optical, photovoltaic and many other industries equip their R&D and production departments with FRT metrology systems.

MicroProf® series

FRT’s metrological surface measuring systems can help solve the most challenging measurement tasks—even those at the edge of what is physically possible. FRT’s powerful multi-sensor measuring instruments, led by its flagship MicroProf® series, provide non-contact and non-destructive measurement of roughness, profiles, topography and film thickness. In modern 3D surface metrology, the MicroProf® by FRT is the global standard for conducting a wide range of measurement tasks quickly, efficiently and intuitively.

MicroProf series

With FRT’s multi-sensor technology, different optical measuring methods can be combined in one tool. The MicroProf® enables a fast overview measurement of the entire sample, as well as high-resolution detail measurements. The measuring ranges can vary from meters to sub-nanometers. With FRT software, the measuring tasks are individually configured and implemented either manually or fully automatically.

For more information or to request a quote, please contact us.

Germany-Based FRT GMBH

Application: Operational Testing of Multiple-circuit Protective Relays

Protective equipment at power plants and electrical substations detect earth faults and lightning strikes and issue instruction signals to circuit breakers for them to trip when the situation calls for it. For this reason, equipment such as protective relays must be regularly maintained and ready to serve when needed.
Maintenance work includes the verification of correct operation, which can be done using a data acquisition device or waveform recorder that can simultaneously measure control and operating signals for multiple circuits. DAQs also capture operating signal timing while using a command signal as the reference.
MR8827setup.png
As protective equipment become more complex, so do the number of control circuits, and a measuring instrument that can capture data from multiple channels is indispensable.  The Hioki MR8827 Memory HiCorder presents a solution by delivering the following benefits:
  • High-speed, simultaneous sampling across multiple channels
  • Maximum 32 analog + 32 logic channels
  • Capture signals from multiple circuits with voltages ranging from high to low

Read the entire application note here.

New DisplayPort 2.0 Video Generator and Analyzer • UCD-500

Unigraf’s new DisplayPort 2.0 compliant UCD-500 is a complete tool in the development and compliance testing of DP 1.4a and 2.0 devices. UCD-500 is a Video Generator & Analyzer for verifying Sink and Source devices up to 8K@60 Hz (16K@60 Hz with DSC) video mode. UCD-500 supports Link Rates up to UHBR 20 and DP 2.0 features like Panel Replay, Adaptive Sync, DSC, FEC and LTTPR.

Compliance Test Tool

UCD-500 is a platform for DP 1.4a Link compliance attestation. Tests for DP 2.0 Link validation will be available when introduced by VESA. UCD-500 is also a Compliance Test Tool for HDCP 2.2 / 2.3 on DP Transmitter, Receivers and Repeaters.

Dolby Vision, HDR 10 and HDR 10+

The new UCD-500 makes for an ideal tool for developers of DisplayPort 2.0 compliant ASICs and devices like PCs, graphics cards, gaming monitors and VR/AR goggles.With UCD-500 the user can source HDR formats such as Dolby Vision, HDR 10 and HDR 10+ up to 16K@60Hz. Various audio formats from LPCM to compressed formats like Dolby Atmos™ are supported. In DisplayPort Analyzer mode, UCD-500 can capture video, audio and the necessary metadata for validation of HDR and Dolby Vision operation.

Key Features

  • DP 1.4a & DP 2.0 Link Layer CTS Tool for Sinks & Sources
  • Support for HDCP 2.2 / 2.3 including Compliance Testing
  • 16K capable DP Reference Sink & Source
  • 10 / 13.5 / 20 Gb/s Link Rates
  • Playback and capture Dolby Vision, HDR 10, HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos
  • MST support (4 streams)
  • DSC, FEC, and LTTPR support
  • Panel Replay and Adaptive Sync

Availability Information

Unigraf is in joint development with industry-leading companies for DisplayPort™ 2.0 Hardware and Software Test Tools including UCD-500. Early access hardware for UCD-500 will be available in August 2020.

For more information, please visit UCD-500 Webpage

 

DC Power Supplies: What are They? How do They Work?

All electronics turn on, a process that requires the delivery of electrical power of the appropriate format and voltage to their circuits. The power they need, however, is usually not AC power —alternating current, which comes from the mains, alternates its polarity 50-60 times per second, and is useable directly by devices like motors and lights.

What electric circuits usually require is DC power—direct current, which only flows in one direction. And to get circuits the DC power they require you need a DC power supply, a unit that, in most cases, converts AC current (120 volts in North America) to DC current. Common DC power supply output voltages are 3.3, 5, 12, 15, and 24 V. Other typical DC supply voltages are 1.2, 1.8, 6, and 48V.
DC Power Supplies

What are the Components of a DC Power Supply?

DC Power Supplies_1A DC power supply, sometimes called an inverter, can be a separate standalone piece of equipment or it can be built into the load appliance that they power, such as in a desktop computer or other consumer electronics device. This article is focused on the former. Generally, such units convert AC to DC with appropriate voltage using the following components:

1) Transformer: A transformer is a static device that, in most cases, steps down 120-volt AC to lower-voltage AC. Electrical current enters the primary coil of the transformer and induces a current in the secondary coil, which has fewer coils, resulting in a lower voltage.

2) Rectifier: A rectifier is a circuit that straightens out (rectifies) the periodically reversing AC current, making it DC. The input power supply may be either a single-phase or a multi-phase supply with the simplest of all the rectifier circuits being that of the half-wave rectifier.

3) Filter: When AC power changes to DC, it still has waves that need smoothing out. The filter circuit does not completely smooth out the waves, but it does reduce them considerably. The output from the filter is unregulated power.

4) Regulator: A voltage regulator reduces the ripple voltages left by the filter, getting rid of any voltage surges or drops that could damage devices plugged into the power supply.

A DC power supply is one of the most useful tools you could possibly have on an electronics workbench. For engineers and technicians working with electronics it is essential. A DC power supply can be used for a multitude of tasks involving electronics, including development of prototypes, maintenance of existing electronics, measurement and testing.

DC Power Supplies_2

Three Types of DC Power Supplies

Constant Voltage/Current Power Supply

The constant voltage/constant current power supply does exactly what its name indicates: provides constant voltage and constant current. It is the most common type of power supply. When they operate in constant current mode, these power supplies maintain their set current even as the resistance of the load changes. Constant voltage/constant current power supplies frequently have features such as remote sensing, master/slave connections, and analog programming (remote programming terminals). 

Multiple Output DC Power Supply

Multiple output power supplies typically have two, three or even four outputs. If you often use multiple voltages while testing, a multiple output power supply is the cost-effective choice. Many users opt for a triple-output power supply that provides one output for digital logic and two outputs for bipolar analog circuitry. Some common features include timed operation, settable voltage limitations, storage registers for up to fifty instrument states, and the ability to connect two channels in parallel or series for higher current or voltage.

 

 

AIM-TTI MX100Q Quad Output DC Power Supply

 

Programmable DC Power Supply

 

Since they are generally used in conjunction with a computer-operated system for production and testing, programmable power supplies are often referred to as “system” power supplies. System power supplies have used a number of computer interfaces in the past, two of which — IEEE-488, or GPIB (general purpose interface bus), and RS-232 serial communications — have been widely used. Ethernet and USB interfaces have also been quite common. Most benchtop DC power supplies come with test sequences, or at least some amount of programmability, which allows you to change the output voltage at set times so that you don’t have to fiddle with your power supply while running your test. This allows testing to be conducted safety over extended periods of time, ensuring the validity of the testing process.

 

TDK-LAMBDA GENESYS+ 3U 15KW Programmable DC Power Supply outputs from 10V (0-1500A) to 600V (0-25.5A)

 

In addition, these power supplies have command languages for sending instructions to the instrument through the digital interface. These languages include proprietary, SCPI (standard commands for programmable instruments), and SCPI-like. The ability to control a programmable power supply via your computer, instead of pushing keys on the instrument’s front panel, makes this type of power supply especially useful when working on complex setups.

Next Steps: View Leading DC Power Supply Products and Brands

 

To learn more about DC power supply units,  view ACA-TMetrix’s inventory of DC power supplies

Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI ULTRA and EM164k

Real-time, Radiocommunication and 5G Measurements —DC to Terahertz Frequency Range

DC – 40 GHz. That’s the frequency in which Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI ULTRA is available—unless you want to extend it up to the Terahertz frequency range. Yes, that’s what external mixers can do for the TDEMI ULTRA—and for you.

Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI ULTRA

TDEMI ULTRA and external mixers

The outstanding features and advantages of the largest real-time bandwidth in the T&M market, as well as the ability to perform ultra-fast measurements, are available throughout the frequency range through the use of external mixers. This means that TDEMI ULTRA applications are not limited to ultra-fast EMI measurements, but also include radio communication testing, especially the testing of signals and frequency bands and measurements for 5G applications.

Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI ULTRA

Digital demodulation and emission measurement of an EUT in the range above 4GHz

The 685 MHz real-time bandwidth of the TDEMI ULTRA can display a fully gapless spectrogram with 300 ps POI, evaluate IQ data and perform digital demodulation. With this set-up 5G testing can be done in accordance with FCC standards. Compared with other 5G measurement solutions, the TDEMI ULTRA accelerates measurements tremendously. When combined with Gauss Instruments’ Automation Software Suite EM164k, additional novel evaluation tools and features are available, further simplifying daily testing work.

By using the TDEMI ULTRA’s unique real-time scanning feature, a measurement can be performed, displayed and recorded in the spectrogram mode over a range of several GHz in real time. By approaching the THz range, as well as with its real-time scanning capabilities, the TDEMI ULTRA opens the door to recording and visualization, exceeding current requirements for 5G testing and laying the foundation for the future.

The vast amount of recorded measurement data provides extraordinary characterization, documentation and evaluation possibilities. With the Automation Software Suite EMI64k, angle, radiation, height and polarization per frequency point can all be displayed.

In addition to their unrivaled technological advantages and range of applications, the TDEMI ULTRA and Automation Software Suite EMI64k provide significant economic benefits. By reducing overall test times and providing full EUT characterization, it’s possible to reduce testing and development costs, and to accelerate the time-to-market process of your products—all while increasing testing quality.

Request a quote

Interested in the TDEMI ULTRA or any other Gauss Instruments product? Request a quote from ACA-TMetrix.

 

Gauss Instruments’ EMI64k Automation Software: Fully Automated Emissions Measurements

Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI family of EMI receivers provides an expansive, fully CISPR-compliant, real-time bandwidth that allows you to dramatically—and simultaneously— accelerate your measurements and reduce measurement uncertainty. By using Gauss Instruments’ full automation software suite EMI164k, test procedures can be configured in accordance with the CISPR 16-2-3 standard for FFT-based measuring instruments. Compared to previous pre-scan and final measurement strategies, this greatly increases overall test quality—and reduces test times by orders of magnitude.

Previously, pre-scan and final scan test procedures were performed to reduce overall test times. Today, Gauss Instruments’ offers a novel real-time scanning feature for the TDEMI X test receiver series that provides a real-time bandwidth spanning several Gigahertz, allowing final optimization to be performed at all frequencies—simultaneously, in just one step.

With a newly designed, very powerful hardware module, such measurements across several Gigahertz can be done in the real-time spectrum analyzer mode. In the 1-18 GHz frequency range all frequency points can be directly measured at a very high resolution in time and the results can be optimized instantly.

Over the entire frequency range the results are displayed in real time. Detectors’ peak, average and RMS are all available in this mode. What’s more, video bandwidths required in accordance with the standards can be applied. Of course, all measurements in accordance with the standards CISPR 16-1-1 MIL 461 and DO 160, as well as many other national and international standards, are fully covered.

Automated Emissions Measurements

EMI64 graphical user interface

For the first time, a typical measurement in the 1-18 GHz range can be scanned in real time by testing with Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI X receiver. The DUT is rotated in just one continuous movement and the angular position and the maximum level of emission are recorded. All requirements of CISPR 16-2-3, ANSI and FCC standards are met by the TDEMI X receiver.

Automated Emissions Measurements_1

Full 3D radiation pattern of the DUT

The upshot of all this is that EMC testing can now be more sustainable. For example, it is now possible to create an entire database and documentation with radiation patterns, test procedures and casing construction, as well as with much more information. Newly developed products and designs can be tested right from the beginning to make sure all required limits are met. This allows you to reduce the time and money you spend in the development, design and final market certification processes.

The EMI164k is not limited to CISPR applications. It also performs measurements in accordance with FCC and ANSI, or MIL-461 and DO-160 standards!

The TDEMI receiver family is ideal for all kinds of tests and applications, starting with pre-compliance, ultra-compact and mobile receivers right up to high-end EMI test solutions with up to 685 MHz real-time bandwidth and 40 GHz real-time scanning—all with the lowest noise floor available in the receiver and real-time analyzer market.

Thanks to the modular architecture of Gauss Instruments’ TDEMI EMI receivers, as well as the EMI164k automation software suite, ACA TMetrix can provide an optimized, cost-effective software solution tailored to your requirements.

Request a quote

Interested in EMI64k automation software or any other product from Gauss Instruments? Request a quote from ACA-TMetrix.

EMI64k

 

Aim-TTi Delivers Two New TGR2050 Series RF Signal Generators With Optional Built-in Complex Modulation

TGR250 Series

ACA TMetrix is pleased to highlight two next-generation RF signal generators from Aim-TTi —the TGR2051 and TGR2053. Both units offer exceptional performance and improved functionality with touch screen operation.

The TGR2050 series of high-performance RF generators feature several enhancements, including:

  • High frequency accuracy and stability;
  • High signal purity with excellent phase noise;
  • Output power levels of -127dBm to +13dBm;
  • Flexible analog and digital modulation capabilities.

Doing development, test or service work? The TGR2500 series is ideal for all three.

TGR2050 series sweep function

The sweep function enables signals of varying frequency and/or amplitude to test a full range of input conditions quickly and efficiently. Step sweeps are created according to a formula over a specified number of points, in the range 2 – 1000. Formula specifics include: start and stop values and dwell time following SYNC at each point. Sweeps can be set to run in either direction, with linear or logarithmic spacing. Alternatively, list mode can be used to analyse the response at set frequencies and amplitude—dwelling on set values for specified amounts of time.

This is useful for testing at known problematic frequencies within a setup. The list can be created within the instrument or downloaded via the remote interfaces. The sweep setups can either be run through as a single sweep or in a continuous loop and prompted by an internal, external or manual trigger. Complex sweep triggering is available to control complete sweeps and/or each point within a sweep.

TGR-U01 option 

Aim-TTis TGR-U01 option adds an extensive range of digital modulations:

  • FSK
  • GFSK
  • MSK
  • GMSK
  • HMSK
  • 3FSK
  • 4FSK
  • PSK
  • ASK
  • OOK
Built in NRZ patterns include:

  • Square wave
  • 7-bit PRBS
  • 9-bit PRBS
  • 11-bit PRBS
  • 15-bit PRBS

 

 

 

 

Digital modulation capabilities also include advanced filtering:

  • Gaussian
  • Raised Cosine
  • Root Raised Cosine
  • Half Sine
  • Grey Code
  • Binary Encoding

 

 

External digital modulation signals can be applied to the carrier waveform via the MOD in/out on the rear panel.

Advanced remote control accommodates sophisticated new automated systems and compatibility with Aim-TTI’s previous RF instruments enables incorporation into existing systems. With a small footprint and lightweight design, and the best price point / performance ratio in its class, the TGR2050 series maintains Aim-TTi’s reputation for high-quality, reliable, great-value products.

Request a Quote for Aim-TTi TGR2051 and TGR2053

Looking to purchase an Aim-TTi TGR2051 or TGR2053? Request a quote from ACA-TMetrix.