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PDN Probes
Documentation
Version 1.54, August 2022
Copyright © 2014-2023 Picotest
All Rights Reserved

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Summary of Contents for Picotest P2104A

  • Page 1 PDN Probes Documentation Version 1.54, August 2022 Copyright © 2014-2023 Picotest All Rights Reserved...
  • Page 2 The PDN Cables are compliant with REACH EC 1907/2006. Information for disposal and recycling The Picotest Probes and Cables and all its accessories are not intended for household use. At the end of its service life, do not dispose of the test set with household waste! For customers in EU countries (incl.
  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Chapter 1 - Overview ...................... 4 Welcome ............................4 P2104A 1-Port Browser PDN Probe ................... 5 P2102A 2-Port Browser PDN Probe ................... 7 P2105A 1-Port Browser PDN Probe ................... 9 P2106A 1-Port Resistive Divider Probe ..................12 What’s Included with Your Probe ....................
  • Page 4: Chapter 1 - Overview

    Welcome Thank you for purchasing Picotest’s PDN ‘Browser’ probes. The Picotest PDN probes are precision passive transmission line ‘Browser’ probes that support a variety of measurements including impedance (1-Port Reflection and 2-Port Series and Shunt-Through), 3-Port Voltage/Current, Step Load, Ripple, Noise, TDT/TDR, PCB Resonances, Clock Jitter, and the Non-Invasive Stability Measurement (‘NISM’)
  • Page 5: P2104A 1-Port Browser Pdn Probe

    P2104A 1-Port Browser PDN Probe The P2104A 1-port probe is available in various probe tip spacings (50mil, 60mil, 70mil, and 100mil) allowing good connectivity to various component sizes. It also comes in one of four attenuations (1X, 2X, 5X, or 10X).
  • Page 6 Overview Figure 1: P2104A 1-port probe Figure 2: The P2104A 1-port probe comes in fixed pitch widths of 50, 60, 70, and 100mils. A probe holder is a useful accessory. P2104A 1-Port Probe Feature and Benefit Summary • High bandwidth - > 6 GHz (uncorrected) Note: USABLE BANDWIDTH FOR VNA WITH CALIBRATION IS HIGHER •...
  • Page 7: P2102A 2-Port Browser Pdn Probe

    Overview • Supports Browsing Measurement on Multiple Rails o Impedance, Ripple, Noise TDT/TDR, 2 port impedance (using two P2104A probes), PCB resonances, Clock Jitter and Non-invasive Stability • Applications: Power Integrity, Power Electronics, Signal Integrity • Available in various attenuations and pin pitches: Optimized for sensitivity and SNR •...
  • Page 8 Overview Figure 3: P2102A 2-port probe. The probes are compatible with all equipment including VNAs, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers. The P2102A probe is designed to work with the J2102B common mode transformer, or the J2113A ground loop isolator, which eliminates instrument DC ground loops in low impedance measurements.
  • Page 9: P2105A 1-Port Browser Pdn Probe

    The center pin is always signal and provides a reference using the probe tip label side. When used with a TDR, getting it backwards won’t normally result in any damage. The P2104A and P2105A can do damage if connected backwards to an active power rail.
  • Page 10 Overview Figure 4: P2105A TDR probe. The P2105A 1-port probe comes in fixed pitch widths of 31, 40, 50, 60, 70, 100mils and GSG SMA. Custom pitches are also available.
  • Page 11 • 15GHz Single-Ended Precise High Bandwidth Probe for all Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Applications • Compatible with the Picotest J2154A PerfectPulse TDR • Fixed pitches available: 31, 40, 50, 60, 70, 100 mils and GSG SMA • Compatible with all 50 ohm Instruments •...
  • Page 12: P2106A 1-Port Resistive Divider Probe

    ‘Browser’ probe, specifically designed to be low bandwidth and resonance free. When paired with the Picotest J2180A low noise amplifier and PDN cable, the low noise measurement can be connected directly to any 50 Ohm instrument, including signal source analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and low- noise oscilloscopes.
  • Page 13 Overview compatibility • Available in various attenuations and pin pitches: Optimized for SNR • Virtually no capacitive loading (< 1pf, 420fF typical) • Rugged, ergonomic design, small form factor gets into tight places • Slim body with spring tips provides good visibility of the target and reliable connectivity •...
  • Page 14: What's Included With Your Probe

    Warranty Every Picotest product you buy from Picotest.com is backed by a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. For warranty service or repair this product must be returned to a service facility designated by PICOTEST. Please contact your local service representative for further...
  • Page 15: Chapter 2 -Pdn Probes Usage

    (see specifications table for the voltage ranges for different attenuations). The low inherent noise enables the measurement of small input signals. The P2104A and the P2102A may be used with any 50 Ohm instrument. Both are bi-directional and can be used like a traditional probe to record signals, as well as to inject stimulus (load step currents or EMI).
  • Page 16: Connecting Your Pdn Browser Probe To The Instrument And Making A Measurement

    For instance, the calibrator pads are about 20% oversized. Two 1-port P2104A probes are generally better than one 2-port P2102A probe for • coupling and pin length, but harder to use and generally require probe holders to fix the relative angle.
  • Page 17 For the P2102A, the positive pins/signals are on the side with the label. For the P2104A and the P2105A, the positive pin/signal is the pin in the center. Figure 6: A 2-port measurement using the P2102A probe. Pressure is needed to seat the four pins firmly in place.
  • Page 18 PDN Probes Figure 7: Two signal lines go on the positive side of the capacitor and two ground lines go on the ground side of the capacitor. The positive probe side is the side with the label.
  • Page 19 PDN Probes Figure 8: A 2-port measurement using a probe holder which can help supply even pressure for the four pins.
  • Page 20: Connecting Your P2105A Tdr Probe To The J2154A Tdr

    PDN Probes Figure 9: The center pin is the positive pin on the P2104 q-port probe. Connecting Your P2105A TDR Probe to the J2154A TDR For more information on connecting and using your P2105A TDR probe, please see the J2154A Differential TDR manual.
  • Page 21: Calibration

    PDN Probes Calibration Figure 10: P2100A -CAL probe calibrator board. See your instrument’s user guide for calibration instructions. The calibration process can be measurement (setup) dependent. Figure 11: Performing an SOL calibration: Short (left), Open (center), and load (50 ohm, right) calibration.
  • Page 22: Dc Blockers: When And Why To Use Them

    PDN Probes Port Saver DC Blockers: When and Why to Use Them A coaxial DC Block (or Blocker) is used when DC isolation is required to protect sensitive test equipment or RF circuitry. Since the probe impedance of 50 ohms would load low impedance sources, it is often necessary to block any DC current.
  • Page 23 PDN Probes In this case, the output impedance of a Voltage Reference is measured. The VNA, in this case the Bode 100, is used to measure the impedance at the output of the reference. The impedance is then converted to Phase margin using a simple cursor measurement, as shown below.
  • Page 24 PDN Probes Figure 14: Stability of the Infineon PS5401 at C42 is measured using NISM. Top graph is the on and off state impedance. The bottom graph is the QTg waveform. The measurement reveals the phase margin of the voltage reference to better than 71 degrees.
  • Page 25: 1-Port Probe Applications

    PDN Probes 1-Port Probe Applications The P2104A is a versatile 1-port probe that can be used to support many different tests. Here are few examples. Signal Injection – Jitter Testing using the J2150A (VRTS3 Board) The P2104A probe is bi-directional. It can both receive (traditional usage) a signal and transmit a signal.
  • Page 26: Testing Pcb Traces And Small Values Of Capacitance And Inductance

    PDN Probes Testing PCB Traces and Small values of Capacitance and Inductance The P2104A probe can be paired with the J2154 Differential TDR to measure PCB traces and parasitic inductance and capacitance. Figure 16: The Picotest J2154A differential TDR (left) can be used with the 1-port probe to...
  • Page 27: Testing Ripple

    The P2104A probe can be used to measure power supply output ripple voltages. Figure 17: The output ripple of a power supply can be tested simply by connecting the P2104A to the output and ground (across an output capacitor) of a switching power supply.
  • Page 28: 2-Port Probe Applications

    (one of its modes of operation). It drives the Picotest J2111A current injector. This modulates the load current at the output of the regulator when the probe is applied. The P2130A DC blocker may be needed so that the scope does not load the output of the regulator.
  • Page 29: Low Impedance Pdn Power Integrity Testing (Vrts3 Board)

    PDN Probes Low Impedance PDN Power Integrity Testing (VRTS3 Board) This sample test measures the output impedance and stability of an LDO using a 2-port probe and a common mode transformer. The J2102B common mode transformer is essential here, as there is an instrument ground loop which would otherwise distort the low frequency data.
  • Page 30 PDN Probes Figure 20: The impedance data is shown to the left. The group delay is shown on the right and is converted to phase margin (stability) via a simple cursor measurement and the built- in NISM software.
  • Page 31: Chapter 3 - Accessories And Specifications

    PDN Probes Chapter 3 – Accessories and Specifications Specifications P2102A Specifications Impedance: Maximum Tip voltage VNA Port Voltage * Probe Voltage 50 ohms: 5 Vrms (1X Attenuation) 5Vrms and Impedance 100 ohms: 8.9 Vrms (2X Attenuation) 4.45Vrms for Different 250 ohms: 11 Vrms (5X Attenuation) 2.2Vrms Attenuations 500 ohms: 14Vrms (10X Attenuation)
  • Page 32 PDN Probes P2104A Specifications Impedance: Maximum Tip voltage VNA Port Voltage * Probe Voltage 50 ohms: 5 Vrms (1X Attenuation) 5Vrms and Impedance 100 ohms: 8.9 Vrms (2X Attenuation) 4.45Vrms for Different 250 ohms: 11 Vrms (5X Attenuation) 2.2Vrms Attenuations 500 ohms: 14Vrms (10X Attenuation) 1.4Vrms...
  • Page 33 PDN Probes P2105A Specifications VNA Port Voltage * Probe Voltage Impedance: Maximum Tip voltage 5Vrms and Impedance 50 ohms: 5 Vrms (1X Attenuation) Characteristic Rating Bandwidth DC-15GHz ** 31mil - 0.7874mm 40mil - 1.016mm 50mil - 1.27mm 60 mils - 1.54mm Probe Tip Size/ Probe Pitch 70 mils –...
  • Page 34 PDN Probes P2106A Specifications 1-Port Transmission Line PDN Probe P2106A-20X-20K Sizes 50, 60, and 100 mil Pitches P2106A-1X-__ P2106A-20X-20K Available in 1:1, 20:1 and User-Defined (User defined P2106A-1X-__ (User defined Attenuations resistance) Variable Resistance including 20kOhm resistance) P2106A-__X-__ Includes Calibration board and PDN Cable ®...
  • Page 35: Safety Information

    PDN Probes Port Saver P213xA Specifications (Vary by specific product number, ranges shown) Characteristic Rating Absolute Maximum Input Voltage +/-75V Frequency Range 2Hz – 500MHz (inclusive of various Port Savers) Pre-charge, Dis-charge Time Constant 10-60s Insertion Loss 0.5 – 10dB VSWR <...
  • Page 36: Handling Information

    PDN Probes Observe probe ratings Do not apply any electrical potential to the probe input which exceeds the maximum ratings of the probe, or the accessories connected to it. In a combination always the lower rating / measurement category applies to both probe and accessories connected to it. Do not operate with suspected failures Refer to qualified service personnel.

This manual is also suitable for:

P2105aP2106aP2102a

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