®
R&S
RT-ZVC
Multi-Channel Power
Probe
User Manual
(=JEW2)
1326213902
Version 03
User Manual
This user manual describes the following R&S®RT-ZVC models:
●
R&S®RT-ZVC04 2x4 voltage/current channels for R&S®RTO2000/RTE
(1326.0259.04 )
●
R&S®RT-ZVC02 2x2 voltage/current channels for R&S®RTO2000/RTE
(1326.0259.02 )
●
R&S®RT-ZVC04 2x4 voltage/current channels for R&S®CMWrun
(1326.0259.24 )
●
R&S®RT-ZVC02 2x2 voltage/current channels for R&S®CMWrun
(1326.0259.22 )
●
R&S®RT-ZVC04A 2x4 voltage/current channels with autoranging for
R&S®CMWrun (1326.0259.34 )
●
R&S®RT-ZVC02A 2x2 voltage/current channels with autoranging for
R&S®CMWrun (1326.0259.32 )
© 2018 Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG
Mühldorfstr. 15, 81671 München, Germany
Phone: +49 89 41 29 - 0
Fax: +49 89 41 29 12 164
Email: info@rohde-schwarz.com
Internet: www.rohde-schwarz.com
Subject to change – Data without tolerance limits is not binding.
R&S® is a registered trademark of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG.
Trade names are trademarks of the owners.
1326.2139.02 | Version 03 | R&S®RT-ZVC
The following abbreviations are used in this manual: R&S®RT-ZVC is abbreviated as R&S RT-ZVC.
R&S®CMWrun is abbreviated as R&S CMWrun. R&S®RTO2000 and R&S®RTE are abbreviated as
R&S RTx. R&S®RTO-B1E and R&S®RTE-B1E are abbreviated as R&S RTx-B1E.
R&S®RT-ZVC
Contents
Contents
1 Product Description.............................................................. 5
1.1 Prerequisites......................................................................................... 6
1.2 Key Characteristics.............................................................................. 6
1.3 Unpacking the Instrument....................................................................8
1.4 Instrument Overview............................................................................ 9
1.4.1 Probe Box............................................................................................. 10
1.4.2 Cables and Accessories....................................................................... 13
1.5 Optional Accessories......................................................................... 14
2 Putting into Operation.........................................................17
2.1 Test Setup with Oscilloscope............................................................ 19
2.2 Test Setup with R&S CMWrun........................................................... 20
2.3 Connecting the Probe to the DUT..................................................... 22
3 Measurement Principles..................................................... 24
3.1 Solder-In Connection..........................................................................24
3.2 Signal Integrity.................................................................................... 26
3.2.1 Ground Connection...............................................................................27
3.2.2 Electromagnetic Interference................................................................ 27
3.2.3 Accuracy............................................................................................... 28
3.2.4 Dynamic Range and Operating Window...............................................28
3.3 Probing Philosophy............................................................................ 29
3.3.1 Signal Flow for Oscilloscope Operation................................................ 29
3.3.2 Signal Flow for R&S CMWrun Operation (USB IF Only).......................30
3.3.3 Internal Shunt Operation.......................................................................31
3.3.4 External Shunt Operation......................................................................32
3.3.5 Autoranging Mode.................................................................................33
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R&S®RT-ZVC
Contents
4 Maintenance and Service....................................................35
4.1 Service Strategy..................................................................................35
4.2 Returning the Probe for Servicing.................................................... 35
4.3 Cleaning...............................................................................................35
4.4 Calibration Interval............................................................................. 36
4.5 Discarding the Probe..........................................................................36
Index..................................................................................... 37
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R&S®RT-ZVC
Product Description
1 Product Description
The R&S RT-ZVC is a multi-channel power probe with integrated 2- or 4-channel
amperemeter and 2- or 4-channel voltmeter. It provides parallel measurements of
analog or digital, voltage/current signals with excellent 18-bit resolution. Integrated post-processing logic calculates power and statistical results with high accuracy.
The R&S RT-ZVC is a useful measurement instrument for such applications as
for example:
●
Embedded electronics
●
Battery-driven devices (wearables, smartphones)
●
Power supply of integrated circuits
●
Battery life-time measurements
●
Power consumption measurements
●
Energy-harvesting
The multi-channel power probe is developed for tests with R&S CMWrun and for
operation with an oscilloscope.
Table 1-1: Variants of setup with R&S RT-ZVC
Operation with an oscilloscope Standalone device with R&S CMWrun
Embedded electronics/circuit measurements,
sophisticated processing
●
Data transferred via digital interface at full
sample rate of 5 MSa/s
●
Probe powered by scope
System-level power measurements using
R&S CMWrun, reduced sample rate via USB
●
Data transferred via USB to the
R&S CMWrun controller PC
●
Externally powered
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R&S®RT-ZVC
Product Description
Key Characteristics
1.1 Prerequisites
●
Operation with oscilloscope
– Oscilloscope of type R&S RTO2000 equipped with R&S RTO-B1E or
– R&S RTE equipped with R&S RTE-B1E is required.
Note, that old R&S RTx-B1 boards cannot run R&S RT-ZVC.
●
Operation with R&S CMWrun
– R&S CMWrun, version 1.8.8 and later. The option R&S CMW-KT051 of
R&S CMWrun for general-purpose tests is required.
– Windows supported operating system includes Windows 7 and Windows
10 (32-bit or 64-bit version).
– A Rohde & Schwarz-specific driver is required to be installed at the run
PC, to support USB3.0 SuperSpeed (SS) interface.
With the installed driver, no additional connection configuration is required.
The probe acts as a plug-and-play device.
The driver is delivered with the R&S CMWrun SW.
1.2 Key Characteristics
The R&S RT-ZVC probe houses integrated voltmeter, amperemeter, and postprocessing logic. The probe performs built-in A/D conversion and signal post-processing. Within integrated post-processing, the R&S RT-ZVC calculates power
and statistical results (min/max/avg/RMS). It measures the differential and common mode AC and DC signals simultaneously.
The following figure illustrates the scheme of a probe with four voltage and four
current channels.
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R&S®RT-ZVC
Product Description
Key Characteristics
+
-
+
-
+
-
4x Amperemeter
+
-
+
-
+
-
+
4x Voltmeter
-
+
-
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
Figure 1-1: Electrical scheme
D
Power Supply
DC/DC
D
D
USB
D
D
Post-
processing
Logic
HDMI
Connector
AC/DC
Adapter
To CMWrun
(PC)
To Scope
D
D
CLK
D
There are separate A/D converters for each channel that allow for parallel and
fully synchronous data acquisition.
The key characteristics of the probe are the following:
Table 1-2: Technical data
Voltmeter (V) Amperemeter (I) Power (internal mul-
tiplier)
No. of channels 2 or 4 2 or 4 2 or 4
Measurement resolu-
18 bit 18 bit 32 bit
tion
Sampling rate with
5 MSa/s per channel 5 MSa/s per channel 5 MSa/s per channel
R&S RTx
Sampling rate with
R&S CMWrun
50 kSa/s per channel 50 kSa/s per channel 50 kSa/s per channel
(synchronous multiplication of V and I)
For detailed specification and derating information, consider the data sheet.
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R&S®RT-ZVC
1.3 Unpacking the Instrument
Product Description
Unpacking the Instrument
Figure 1-2: Carrying case (model for R&S CMWrun)
Inspecting the contents
The carrying case contains the following items:
●
Basic voltage and current leads (1), length 16 cm, one lead per each instrument channel
●
USB 3.0 cable (2) (only for R&S CMWrun)
●
Ground cable (3) with 4 mm plugs
●
R&S RT-ZVC probe box (4)
●
Ground clip (5) for connection to the DUT
●
AC power adapter (6) (only for R&S CMWrun)
●
PCB solder-in cables (7):
– Blue and red round 1.02 mm, length 5 cm, one pair per each current chan-
nel
– Blue and red square 0.64 mm, length 5 cm, one pair per each voltage
channel
●
Exchangeable clips for AC power plugs (8) for UK, US, Australian and European standard
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R&S®RT-ZVC
●
Solder-in contacts (9):
– 8x round headers 1.02 mm
– 4x shorting links, round 1.02 mm, spacing 5.08 mm
●
Blue flat oscilloscope interface cable (10) (only for R&S RTx)
●
User manual
Inspect the package for damage
Keep the package and the cushioning material until the contents have been
checked for completeness and the device has been tested.
If the packaging material shows any signs of stress, notify the carrier and your
Rohde & Schwarz service center. Keep the damaged package and cushioning
material for inspection.
Inspect the product
Product Description
Instrument Overview
If the content is incomplete, damaged, or defect or if the R&S RT-ZVC multi-channel power probe does not operate properly, notify your Rohde & Schwarz service
center.
Calibration certificate
The calibration certificate is not included in the standard shipping. The document
is available for download at https://gloris.rohde-schwarz.com/calcert.
1.4 Instrument Overview
The probe R&S RT-ZVC consists of the following parts:
●
The probe box
●
Leads and accessories for connection to the DUT. See also Chapter 2.3,
"Connecting the Probe to the DUT", on page 22
●
Variant for operation with R&S CMWrun:
AC power adapter and USB 3.0 cable for connection to the PC with
R&S CMWrun application, refer to Chapter 2.2, "Test Setup with
R&S CMWrun", on page 20
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R&S®RT-ZVC
Product Description
Instrument Overview
●
Variant for operation with an oscilloscope:
Blue flat oscilloscope interface cable, refer to Chapter 2.1, "Test Setup with
Oscilloscope", on page 19
The next sections describe the main HW of the probe.
1.4.1 Probe Box
The following section provides an overview of the control elements and sockets of
the probe box and explains how to connect external devices.
Figure 1-3: R&S RT-ZVC: upper, front, and rear view
1 = Status LEDs
2 = ID LEDs
3 = Channel LEDs
4 = Voltmeter sockets
5 = Amperemeter sockets
6 = Ground socket
7 = Socket for AC power adapter
8 = HDMI interface
9 = USB 3.0, micro B socket
LEDs
The status LEDs (1) of the probe box are located in the upper left corner of the
upper plate. They light to indicate the following detections:
●
Power: Probe is on (connected to power supply or R&S RTx).
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R&S®RT-ZVC
●
Scope: Probe is connected with oscilloscope.
●
Trigger: Trigger signal is detected on R&S RTx interface.
●
Overload: Red LED plus blinking affected channel indicate overload at particular voltage or current channel. The overload indication can be reset via a
control dialog.
During an overload at a current channel, the R&S RT-ZVC switches automatically to the next higher range. In case also the 10A range is exceeded, the
amperemeter switches to external shunt mode to protect the probe against
permanent damage. Thus, the current flow through the DUT is interrupted.
In external shunt mode, there is no automated range switching. The user must
take care that the external shunt resistor is not damaged.
Furthermore, there is no automated range switching at voltmeter channels for
overload conditions.
The ID LEDs (2) are located in the middle left part of the upper plate.
●
Probe Z1 to probe Z4: Indicates on which port of the digital extension board
R&S RTx-B1E the probe is attached to.
Product Description
Instrument Overview
Channel LEDs (3) are located in the bottom left corner of the upper plate.
●
I1 to I4: Blue LEDs for up to four current channels. LEDs indicate which channel is enabled in the GUI.
A light-dark flashing indicates active auto-ranging for the corresponding channel (only relevant for variants R&S RT-ZVC04A and R&S RT-ZVC02A).
●
V1 to V4: Green LEDs for up to four voltage channels. LEDs indicate which
channel is enabled in the GUI.
Interfaces
●
2 or 4 sockets (4) for voltage test leads AWG28. Red color at the socket
marks the position of + wire. Number of sockets depends on the instrument
model.
●
2 or 4 sockets (5) for current test leads AWG24. Red color at the socket marks
the position of + wire. Number of sockets depends on the instrument model.
The voltage and current sockets at the probe box are of different type, to avoid
the mixing of voltage and current leads. In addition, current cables have
1.02 mm round pins that allow for currents up to 10 A.
●
Ground socket (6) - to establish common ground with the DUT. For detailed
information on ground connection, refer to Chapter 3.2.1, "Ground Connec-
tion", on page 27.
●
Socket (7) for AC power adapter is used together with the USB interface.
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R&S®RT-ZVC
●
USB 3.0 interface with micro B socket (9) for connection to R&S CMWrun.
●
HDMI socket (8) for blue oscilloscope interface cable to the digital extension
board R&S RTx-B1E of an oscilloscope.
Risk of instrument damage during operation
An unsuitable test setup can damage the instrument and connected devices. When operating the probe together with the oscilloscope, only oscilloscopes of type R&S RTE and R&S RTO2000 must be used.
Amperemeter
The current measurement is performed with a shunt-amperemeter, i.e. the current
measurement is reduced to a measurement of a voltage drop on a resistor where
the current is flowing through. It has digitally adjustable gain. There are three
built-in shunts that can be switched in series to the circuit under test. For using
internal shunts, the circuit under test needs to be interrupted so that the current
can flow through the probe.
Product Description
Instrument Overview
In addition to internal shunts, the amperemeter can work as a sensitive voltmeter
to measure voltage drops on external shunts mounted directly in the circuit under
test (external shunt mode). The maximum input voltage range is 450 mV to GND.
For details, refer to:
●
Chapter 3.3.3, "Internal Shunt Operation", on page 31
●
Chapter 3.3.4, "External Shunt Operation", on page 32
●
Data sheet
Voltmeter
The voltmeter measures both differential and common mode, not floating signals.
The input voltage range is ±15 V to GND. The signal can be attenuated or amplified depending on the selected range. Refer to the data sheet.
Power multiplier (only via USB for R&S CMWrun)
Within the integrated post-processing of R&S RT-ZVC, the internal multiplier uses
the measured values of the voltmeter and amperemeter and provides high precise statistical results. The minimal, maximal, average and RMS current and voltage values are internally calculated with the sampling rate of 5 MSa/s per chan-
12User Manual 1326.2139.02 ─ 03
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