July 14, 2009

One of the most convenient aspects of the Precision Premier II is its ability to operate an internal high voltage amplifier, allowing test voltages up to 200V with no external circuitry or amplifiers. A Premier II without the internal amplifier will operate between +10V and -10V up to 100kHz. With a 100V internal amplifier, the Premier II will execute 100V tests up to 10kHz. With the 200V internal amplifier, the Premier II will operate tests up to 5kHz. This performance range is perfect for testing thin film MEMs devices. To test leaky multiferroic materials, you may request the Multiferroic option on the Premier II, extending the test frequencies to 30kHz with the 200V internal amplifier or 50kHz with the 100V internal amplifier.

The two optional internal amplifiersdraw their power from the +/-15V power supply of the tester. High speed DC-to-DC converters generate the higher voltages that supply both sides of a PA85 high speed operational amplifier. While this architecture creates a compact amplifier that fits within the tight confines of the Premier II enclosure, DC-to-DC converters inject digital noise into the system ground. This noise becomes apparent when testing small value capacitors in the higher amplification levels below 10 volts.

Beginning in August 2008, all Premier II test systems were shipped with a software controlled power switch that allows you to turn the internal high voltage amplifier ON or OFF from the Vision menu bar. Below is a photograph of the internal power switch for the internal high voltage amplifier.

The switch is controlled via I2C communications from the FX2 microprocessor that runs the tester. The software ON/OFF control may be found in the TOOLS menu in Vision.

During the process of communcating with the switch, Vision will display a progress bar.

Vision automatically checks if an I2C Power Switch is installed in the tester on startup and will return the amplifier to its last state prior to the power down.

Things you should know:

1) If your system was purchased before August 2008, it will not have the I2C Power Switch and the software control in Vision will be disabled.

2) If you do not have the switch, you may upgrade your tester for a small fee. We must install a new front panel with the switch and insert extra cabling. Please contact Michelle Bell at Radiant for more information.

3) If your system was delivered without an internal amplifier, it will not have the I2C Power Switch installed either.

]4) If your system does not have an internal ampliifer and you need that capability, you may purchase the 100V or 200V amplifier from Radiant. The system will have to be returned to Radiant as we will also have to install the new front panel and I2C Power Switch along with the internal amplifier.

Please contact Radiant with any questions.

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