XPOW U-120
Nicslab XPOW U-120 (XPOW-120AX) 120-Channel Unipolar Multichannel Source Measurement Unit
Compact 120-channel unipolar source measurement system with 0–34 V voltage and 0–300 mA current sourcing per channel for low-power testing.
- Channels / Output Quadrant
- 120/ Unipolar (single-quadrant, source only)
- Measurement Time
- 393 ms
- Voltage Sourcing Range
- 0–5 V / 0–10 V / 0–20 V / 0–40 V (34 V)
- Voltage Resolution
- 0.15 – 0.6 mV (range-dependent)
Overview
The Nicslab XPOW U-120 (SKU base XPOW-120AX) is a compact 120-channel unipolar source measurement system for low-power automated testing, from simple electronic circuits to complex photonic integrated circuits. Each of the 120 channels is controlled independently and sources in a single quadrant.
Two control configurations are offered. The CCvCV version (XPOW-120AX-CCvCV) provides independent voltage or current sourcing and measurement per channel, with Constant Current from 0 to 300 mA and Constant Voltage from 0 to 34 V. The CV Only version (XPOW-120AX-CV) sources voltage per channel and measures voltage and current, with the current set by the connected load up to an unregulated maximum of 300 mA.
Voltage control uses 16-bit resolution over software-selectable unipolar ranges of 0–5 V, 0–10 V, 0–20 V and 0–34 V. The Basic version runs on the fixed 0–34 V range; the sub-ranges are part of the Premium software tier. Outputs are arranged in three rows of 40 channels on the front panel, for connection to the device under test by cable or an optional multi-connector.
Control and software
The instrument is operated over USB through a GUI for Windows, macOS and Linux, or through SCPI commands from Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW or C#. A GPIO header gives direct access to the microprocessor for external control and monitoring. The Premium tier adds configuration save and upload, CV or CC/CV sequence automation, data recording, per-channel voltage and current limits, reading-speed settings and notes. The unit is powered from a single external DC supply of up to 36 V and complies with CE and RoHS3 (2015/863).
Key Features
- 120 independently controlled channels
- Unipolar, single-quadrant sourcing from 0 to 34 V
- CCvCV configuration: Constant Current 0–300 mA and Constant Voltage 0–34 V per channel
- CV Only configuration: Constant Voltage 0–34 V with load-determined current up to an unregulated 300 mA compliance
- 16-bit voltage control with software-selectable ranges 0–5 V, 0–10 V, 0–20 V and 0–34 V
- 16-bit current control (CCvCV version)
- Real-time voltage and current reading on every channel
- Maximum output power of 10 W per channel
- Control via GUI or SCPI commands (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, C#)
- Windows, Mac and Linux support
- USB connectivity (USB 2.0 minimum; USB 3.0 Type-B cable included)
- GPIO header for external control and monitoring
- Short circuit protection
- USB port with line termination, filtering and ESD protection
- Bi-directional EMI filtering
- IEC61000-4-2 ESD protection for the USB port
- Premium features: configuration save/upload, sequence automation, data recording, per-channel voltage/current limits, notes
- Basic version operates on a fixed 0–34 V output range; sub-ranges are a Premium feature
- CE and RoHS3 (2015/863) compliant
Specifications
Electrical Specifications
| Channels / Output Quadrant | 120/ Unipolar (single-quadrant, source only) |
|---|---|
| Measurement Time |
393 ms
Single channel
|
| Voltage Sourcing Range |
0–5 V / 0–10 V / 0–20 V / 0–40 V (34 V)
Basic version fixed at 0–34 V; sub-ranges are a Premium feature
|
| Voltage Resolution | 0.15 – 0.6 mV (range-dependent) |
| Voltage Accuracy | ±0.04 – ±0.25 %FSR (range-dependent) |
| Slew Rate |
4 V/µs
All ranges except 0–5 V
|
| Current Sourcing Range |
0 – 300 mA (unipolar, source only)
CV Only version: current determined by the load, unregulated maximum compliance 300 mA
|
| Current Resolution |
10 µA (range-dependent)
Datasheet lists 4.5 µA control resolution on the 0 – 300 mA range
|
| Current Accuracy |
±0.4 – ±1.4 %FSR
Total unadjusted error, 300 mA range
|
| Voltage Measurement |
0–34 V range, 1 mV resolution
Datasheet states real time voltage reading 16-bits resolution = 1.25 mV
|
| Current Measurement |
0–300 mA range, 10 µA resolution
Datasheet states real time current reading 16-bits resolution = 5 μA
|
| Max. Output Power | 10 W per channel |
Voltage Control Resolution
| 0 – 40 V (34 V) range |
0.6 mV
16-bit; default range
|
|---|---|
| 0 – 20 V range |
0.3 mV
Premium version
|
| 0 – 10 V range |
150 μV
Premium version
|
| 0–5 V range |
76 μV
Premium version
|
Current Control Resolution
|
0 – 300 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
4.5 µA
16-bit; default range
|
|---|---|
|
0 – 200 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
3.05 µA
Current range set by Nicslab on request; not user-changeable
|
|
0 – 100 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
1.52 µA
Current range set by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 50 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
0.76 µA
Current range set by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 25 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
0.38 µA
Current range set by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 12.5 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
0.19 µA
Current range set by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 6.25 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
95 nA
Current range set by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 3.125 mA range
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
47 nA
Current range set by Nicslab on request
|
|
Current value resolution, 0 – 300 mA
XPOW-120AX-CV
|
4.5 µA
Fixed range; current adjusts automatically based on the load
|
DAC Voltage Performance
| Resolution |
16 Bits
Min
|
|---|---|
| Integral nonlinearity (INL) |
-1 min, ± 0.5 typ, 1 max LSB
All ranges, except 0 to 40
|
| Differential Nonlinearity (DNL) |
-1 min, ± 0.5 typ, 1 max LSB
Specified 16-bit monotonic
|
| Total unadjusted error |
-0.1 min, ± 0.01 typ, 0.1 max %FSR
All ranges
|
| Unipolar offset error |
-0.03 min, ± 0.015 typ, 0.03 max %FSR
All unipolar ranges
|
| Unipolar zero-code error |
0 min, 0.04 typ, 0.1 max %FSR
All unipolar ranges
|
| Full-scale error |
-0.2 min, ± 0.075 typ, ± 0.2 max %FSR
All ranges
|
| Gain error |
-0.1 min, ± 0.02 typ, 0.1 max %FSR
All ranges
|
| Unipolar offset error drift |
±2 ppm of FSR/oC
Typ; all unipolar ranges
|
| Gain error drift |
±2 ppm of FSR/oC
Typ; all ranges
|
| Output voltage drift over time |
5 Ppm of FSR
Typ; TA = 40 oC, Full-scale code, 1900 hours
|
| Output Voltage Settling Time |
12 µs
Typ; ¼ to ¾ and ¾ to ¼ scale setting time to ± 1 LSB, ±10 V range, RL = 5 k, CL = 200 pF
|
| Slew Rate |
4 V/µs
Typ; all ranges except 0 to 5 V
|
| Power-on glitch magnitude |
0.3 V
Typ; power-down to active DAC output, Midscale code, RL = 5 k, CL = 200 pF
|
| Output noise |
15 µV p-p
Typ; 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz, Midscale code, 0 to 5 V range
|
| Output noise density |
78 nV/√Hz
Typ; 1 kHz, Midscale code, 0 to 5 V range
|
| AC PSRR |
1 LSB/V
Typ; Midscale code, frequency = 60 Hz, amplitude 200 mVpp superimposed on VDD, VCC, or VSS
|
| DC PSRR |
1 LSB/V
Typ; Midscale code, VDD = 5 V, VCC = 20 V ±5 %, VSS = 20 V
|
| Code change glitch impulse |
4 nV-s
Typ; 1 LSB change around the major carrier, 0 to 5 V range
|
| Channel to Channel AC crosstalk |
4 nV-s
Typ; 0 to 5 V range, measured channel at midscale, full-scale swing on all other channels
|
| Channel to Channel DC crosstalk |
0.25 LSB
Typ; 0 to 5 V range, measured channel at midscale, all other channels at full-scale
|
| Digital feedthrough |
1 nV-s
Typ; 0 to 5 V range, Midscale code, FSCLK = 1 MHz
|
DAC Current Performance
|
Resolution
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
16 Bits
Min
|
|---|---|
|
Monotonicity
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
16 Bits
Min
|
|
Differential Nonlinearity
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
± 0.2 typ, ±1 max LSB |
|
Integral Nonlinearity
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
± 12 typ, ± 64 max LSB |
|
Offset Error Current
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
± 0.1 typ, ± 0.4 max %FSR |
|
Gain Error
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
± 0.3 typ, ± 0.9 max %FSR
300 mA Range
|
|
Total Unadjusted Error
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
± 0.4 typ, ± 1.4 max %FSR
300 mA Range
|
|
VDROPOUT
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
1.15 typ, 1.751 max V
300 mA Range
|
|
Hi-Z Output Leakage Current
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
0.1 typ, 1 max µA |
|
tSET
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
4.7 µs
Typ; settling time, Full-Scale 200 mA range
|
|
Glitch Impulse
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
180 pA.s
Typ; at Mid-Scale Transition, 200 mA Range
|
|
DAC-to-DAC Crosstalk
XPOW-120AX-CCvCV
|
150 pA.s
Typ; 100 mA to 200 mA Step, Rload = 15 Ω
|
Power Requirements
| DC Power Supply Input |
12 V to 36 V (≥3 A Current Compliance)
Datasheet: DC supply max 36 V, minimum supply setting 10 V and 2A; use only one DC power supply
|
|---|---|
| Required Headroom | 1.4 – 2 V |
| Effective voltage output range |
34 V
With DC supply max 36 V
|
| Recommended supply voltage |
Maximum output to be generated + 3 volts
To minimise the possibility of overheating
|
Environmental
| Room Temperature |
0 ~ 40 ºC
Operating and measurement conditions
|
|---|---|
| Humidity | 5 ~ 80 % (no condensing) |
| Waterproof/Dustproof | To be operated under room condition |
| Calibration period | 2 years |
Interfaces and Control
| Pin output |
40 channels per row; Row 1: Channel 1 to 40, Row 2: Channel 41 to 80, Row 3: Channel 81 to 120
Connect to DUT using cable or multi-connector
|
|---|---|
| USB | USB type B minimum version 2.0 |
| GPIO |
External control and monitoring directly to the microprocessor
GPIO output high 5V, low 0V
|
| SCPI baud rate | 115200 |
| GUI operating systems | Windows® 7 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows® 10 (32-bit, 64-bit), Windows® 11 (64-bit), macOS 11 Big Sur, Linux Ubuntu |
| Value increment setting | 0.001 to 1 |
| Reading speed |
Fast, Medium, Slow
Premium feature
|
Mechanical Specifications
| Dimensions (H×W×L) | 102 x 232 x 450 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.9 kg |
Applications
- Low-power automated testing
- Photonic integrated circuit biasing and testing
- Electronic circuit sourcing and measurement
- Multichannel device-under-test characterisation
Included
- XPOW-120AX box
- DC power line cord (Red, Black) ×2
- USB 3.0 cable type B ×3
- USB hub
- Ribbon rainbow cable ×6
- USB flash disk with GUI, specification & manual, test report, serial key, XPOW key, software library (Premium) and CSV templates
Options & Accessories
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| XPOW-120AX-CCvCV-BASIC | XPOW U-120, CCvCV control, Basic software tier — Constant Current and Constant Voltage control per channel; fixed 0–34 V output range |
| XPOW-120AX-CCvCV-PREMIUM | XPOW U-120, CCvCV control, Premium software tier — Adds voltage sub-ranges, configuration save/upload, CC/CV sequence automation, data recording, per-channel limits and notes |
| XPOW-120AX-CV-BASIC | XPOW U-120 (CV Only), Basic software tier — Constant Voltage control with current determined by the connected load; fixed 0–34 V output range |
| XPOW-120AX-CV-PREMIUM | XPOW U-120 (CV Only), Premium software tier — Adds voltage sub-ranges, configuration save/upload, CV sequence automation, data recording, voltage limits and notes |