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A G R E AT E R M E A S U R E O F C O N F I D E N C E
Keithley Model 2306-VS
conditions, such as when cellular phones are
placed under charger conditions. Similarly,
DC stress voltages are sometimes used to
check quickly for die bond quality.
Power Sources for
The power source should also function as
a read-back power supply to measure volt-
age, fixed currents, and pulse load currents
RFIC Power Amplifier
accurately. This eliminates the need for a
separate instrument to measure power con-
sumption. In addition to standby and trans-
Testing mission mode currents, the power supply
should have sufficient resolution to monitor
sleep mode currents. In today's battery oper-
ated products, a measurement resolution as
Jerry Janesch low as 100nA is often required .
Keithley Instruments, Inc.
Avoiding the GPIB Bottleneck
T
The power source features just described
HE RFIC power amplifier (RFIC- high volumes, it's imperative that manufac- are essential, but other production test is-
PA) is a critical element of most turers minimize production test time. This sues, especially execution times, must be
wireless devices. Therefore, each calls for a special purpose DC power source considered when selecting equipment. Meas-
production unit must undergo that satisfies the unique requirements of urement speed and test throughput depend to
thorough functional testing that RFICPA functional testing. a great extent on how different elements of
requires both DC and RF measurements. In Foremost of these power source require- the test system are integrated and controlled.
addition, performance must be tested in a ments is wide bandwidth for "burst" com- In automated test systems, using a PC for to-
way that accurately simulates portable (bat- munication protocols, such as TDMA and tal control of all instruments may result in
tery) operation. For example, the DC power GSM. Load currents can jump virtually in- substantial and unpredictable latencies as-
supply used to source voltage to the amplifier stantaneously from milliamp standby levels sociated with Windows