Agilent Technologies 90B manual Digitally Controlled Power Sources, Digital Voltage Source DVS

Figure 31. Bipolar Power Supply/Amplifier Drawn as a CV/CC Power Supply.

The rear terminal strip on BPS/A instruments includes numerous control terminals to facilitate remote resistance programming of the CV or CC output in the power supply mode or remote dc or ac programming in the amplifier mode.

Digitally Controlled Power Sources

Digitally controlled power sources (DCPS's) are designed specifically for use in modern automated systems which require power supplies capable of being programmed by a digital controller. Although tailor-made for computer-based automatic test systems, DCPS interface circuitry can be readily modified to permit control by a programmable calculator, coupler, or other digital data source. The basic function of the DCPS is to convert the digital signals from the controller into analog form with speed and accuracy.

Agilent Technologies’ family of DCPS's includes several digital voltage sources and one current source.

Digital Voltage Source (DVS)

The DVS is a Constant Voltage/Current Limiting power source that can be continuously programmed throughout its bi-polar output voltage range. Figure 33 is a simplified block diagram showing a typical DVS manufactured by Agilent. The unit consists basically of a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter followed by a bi-polar power amplifier.

55