Easily Generate Structure Functions and Determine Thermal Resistance

Capabilities previously only available in an expensive, single-purpose instrument are now available when the Vektrex SpikeSafe SMU is ordered with the optional BIAS function. Now included with the SMU’s BIAS function is support for logarithmic scaling. Logarithmic scaling makes it easy to measure component, circuit board, or luminaire thermal resistance using the JESD51-14 method. When log scaling mode is selected, the SMU’s digitizer continuously captures and boxcar averages samples. Vektrex’s Control Panel software application then time-tags and saves the data in a compact log data file. This log file may then be imported into free thermal analysis software tools to create thermal transient plots and calculate thermal resistance.

About Jeff Hulett

Jeff Hulett is the Founder and CTO of Vektrex Electronic Systems, Inc. Because of his vision and leadership, the company grew from a start-up to the market leader. Currently, Hulett is the Chief Architect for Vektrex products placing the highest emphasis on technology and quality. Hulett holds a BSEE from the Illinois Institute of Electronics, and has been awarded four U.S.patents. He is a member of the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and chairs the IESNA LM-80 working group that is focused on LED flux maintenance testing. He has been active in the LED testing and reliability field since 2004.

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