PXI-4132 Theory of Operation

In a dual control loop where voltage and current work together through the power amplifier stage, the PXI-4132 can operate in either constant voltage mode or constant current mode. In constant voltage mode, the PXI-4132 acts as a precision voltage source, and, regardless of the load, the voltage across the output terminals is held constant at the programmed value up to the programmed current limit. In constant current mode, the PXI-4132 acts as a precision current source, and, regardless of the output voltage, the current through the load is held constant at the programmed value up to the programmed voltage limit.

A measurement circuit on the PXI-4132 can simultaneously read the voltage and current values present at the output terminals. These measurements are performed by two delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters which are synchronized at all times. Additionally, the auto zero feature of the PXI-4132 can be used to improve the measurement quality.

Additionally, the PXI-4132 features Guard and Sense terminals on the output connector. You can use Guard terminals to implement guarding techniques in cabling and test fixtures. You can use Sense terminals when remote sense is enabled (constant voltage mode only) to compensate for current-resistance loss drops due to cables and switches.