Tektronix Simplifies Power Efficiency Testing with New Double Pulse Test Software

Tektronix, Inc. announced the availability of a new software plugin for its AFG31000 Arbitrary / Function Generator that makes it possible to perform crucial double pulse testing in less than a minute, saving a significant amount of time when compared to alternative methods.

With the new Double Pulse Test software, engineers can quickly define pulse parameters from a single window on the AFG31000's large touchscreen display and then generate the pulses they need to perform testing – all in under a minute. The application offers impedance adjustment of pulse width and the time gap between each pulse, up to 30 pulses. Pulse widths can range from 20 ns to 150 µs.

Double pulse testing is used by researchers and design and test engineers in the power and semiconductor industries to measure and evaluate the switching parameters and dynamic behavior of power devices, including those made from wide bandgap materials such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN). To perform a double pulse test, an engineer needs to precisely generate at least two voltage pulses with varying pulse widths and timing to trigger a MOSFET or IGBT power device. Measurements are taken with an oscilloscope like a Tektronix 5 Series MSO (more info).