Posted to News on 31st Aug 2009, 00:00
True RMS RF power meter is powered by USB cable
National Instruments is launching the company's first USB-controlled true RMS RF power meter for automated test, measurement and monitoring applications. Highly versatile and with a small footprint, the 6GHz NI USB-5680 power meter features high measurement accuracy and wide dynamic range packaged in a size similar to a typical power head. In automated test applications, the small size frees up valuable rack space without sacrificing performance. Powered solely from the USB cable, the new power meter is also suitable for portable applications because it consumes only 100mA of current without the need for an external power supply.
Traditional power meters feature a power sensor or head located close to the unit under test and a cable to connect it to an accurate A/D converter located in a conventional instrumentation housing. Using the latest PC and A/D converter technologies, the USB-5680 combines both the sensor and the A/D converter in one package occupying less than 9.6 cubic inches – which is much smaller than the benchtop equivalent. The USB-5680 simply connects directly to an available USB port on any PC or PXI controller.
With a broad frequency range, high dynamic range and precise measurement accuracy, the USB-5680 true RMS power meter can be used for a broad range of applications.
