Keithley Instruments Inc. introduces the Model 2308 Portable Device Battery/Charger Simulator, a dual-channel battery- and charger-simulating power supply designed to provide the lowest cost testing of both the growing range of mobile phones with new, complex transmission schemes and other types of new portable devices that consume extremely low amounts of power. The Model 2308’s fast transient output response maximizes production yields by maintaining a stable voltage level under dynamic loading conditions. In addition, its measurement engine enables more accurate characterization of both full power operation and low current sleep modes for quantifying power consumption so that design and manufacturing can ensure that battery life of the latest portable electronic devices is maximized. The Model 2308 is optimized for ultra-fast test times, allowing manufacturers to lower their cost of test.

Unlike conventional power supplies, the Model 2308 features extremely fast recovery even when load currents change by a factor of 10 or greater. This can happen when a portable device or component transitions near-instantaneously from a sleep or standby state to a full power operating state and then returns to the original state. If the load pulse is too short, the conventional power supply may never return to its stable output level during the pulse. Even with long test leads, which add substantial inductance to the load circuit between the power supply and the device under test (DUT), the Model 2308 maintains a stable output voltage in response to pulse loads with a transient voltage drop of under 90 mV and a transient recovery time of under 35 μs. This is critical for mobile phones with pulsed-mode operation such as new EDGE, WiMAX and future LTE mobile devices. Maintaining a constant output voltage ensures that the DUT does not turn off during testing and that it draws sufficient power to operate properly, thus avoiding false failures due to inadequate sourcing. Furthermore, an excessive overshoot voltage transient can damage components leading to premature device failures. The unique, specialized, Model 2308 has the fast transient response essential for maximizing production yield and product quality by preventing false failures related to conventional sourcing, which cannot provide the high speed response necessary to maintain a constant output under fast-changing loads.

The Model 2308 is particularly well-suited for design and test of low-power, battery-operated devices, such as 3G mobile phones, smart phones, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets, PDAs and portable GPS receivers. The Model 2308 is also optimized for components and sub-systems, such as baseband/power control chipsets, RF power amplifiers, RF power transistors, transmitters and transceivers.

The Model 2308 Portable Device Battery/Charger Simulator is priced at $2,795 USD, and availability is three weeks.