The setup in Figure 2 illustrates the impact of poor quality connectors.  In this image, the TDR is deskewed with no cables attached to...

Because of their high ESL compared to ceramic, tantalum capacitors are not the optimum choice for high frequency decoupling. Paralleling...

With those measurement requirements as background, Sandler examines how switching frequency and duty cycle affect power supply stability...

A frequency response analyzer (‘FRA’) is often used to measure gain and phase plots of control loops (Bode plots), filter responses and...

A single tiny logic gate The first case we’ll look at is a Fairchild NC7SZ04 ultra-high-speed inverter gate. This logic gate is a single...

The non-invasive stability assessment is a method that uses an output impedance measurement to accurately determine stability without...

Although not quite as accurate as the two-port VNA impedance measurement, the current injection technique has advantages including wide...

Keep it flat Most PDN books tell you that the best performing PDN impedance looks flat over frequency.  That is because noise signals are...

The engineering community uses oscilloscopes more than any other piece of equipment, yet many of the published results are questionable...

The engineering community uses oscilloscopes more than any other piece of equipment, yet many of the published results are questionable...

The engineering community uses oscilloscopes more than any other piece of equipment, yet many of the published results are questionable...

It can measure impedance and that can get you there. We measure permeability by relating the inductance and physical core parameters such...

The simple method of calibrating the probes is to connect them both to the same signal and perform a thru calibration. Details on this...

The Bode is used in many industries including Military, Space, Medical and commercial.  NASA, Ball Aerospace, Boeing, Lockheed and ESA...

Avoiding these common pitfalls will get you better data with minimum effort. Steve Sandler takes a look at four common scope mistakes and...

Steve Sandler Answers Your PDN Questions (Power Electronics’ Q&A Series) Power Electronics received a question about why PDN is measured...

Shunt through, wideband measurements can be made from approximately 100 microohms to a few ohms. This is the measurement performed by...

Steve Sandler Answers Your Voltage Regulator Questions (Power Electronics’ Q&A Series) Power Electronics received a question about how to...

Steve Sandler Answers Your PSRR Questions (Power Electronics’ Q&A Series Follow Up) Earlier this month Power Electronics received a...

The vast majority of design issues are directly or indirectly attributable to control loop stability. The most common offenders: Linear...