Nicslab XPOW U-40 (XPOW-40AX) 40-Channel Unipolar Multichannel Source Measurement Unit
40-channel unipolar source measurement unit with 0–34 V and 0–300 mA per channel, USB control via GUI or SCPI.
- Channels / Output Quadrant
- 40/ 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-40 (SKU XPOW-40AX) is a compact 40-channel unipolar source measurement system for low-power automated testing, from simple electronic circuits to complex photonic integrated circuits. Each channel is controlled independently and sources in a single quadrant from 0 to 34 V.
Two control configurations are offered. The CCvCV version (XPOW-40AX-CCvCV) provides independent constant-current (0–300 mA) and constant-voltage sourcing with voltage and current measurement per channel. The CV Only version (XPOW-40AX-CV) provides independent voltage sourcing, with the current determined by the connected load up to an unregulated maximum compliance of 300 mA, and voltage/current measurement per channel.
Voltage and current are set with 16-bit resolution. Software-selectable voltage ranges of 0–5 V, 0–10 V, 0–20 V and 0–34 V are available with the Premium software tier; the Basic version operates on the fixed 0–34 V range. Maximum output power is 10 W per channel.
Software and connectivity
The instrument connects to a PC over USB and is operated through a graphical user interface for Windows, macOS and Linux, or through SCPI commands from Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW or C#. A GPIO header allows external control and monitoring. The Premium tier adds configuration save/upload, CV or CC/CV sequence automation, data recording, per-channel voltage and current limits, notes and the SCPI library.
The unit is powered from a single external DC supply of up to 36 V and complies with CE and RoHS3 (2015/863) requirements.
Key Features
- 40 independently controlled channels
- Unipolar output, single-quadrant sourcing (0 to 34 V)
- CCvCV configuration: Constant Current (0–300 mA) and Constant Voltage (0–34 V)
- CV Only configuration: Constant Voltage (0–34 V) with load-determined current and unregulated maximum compliance of 300 mA
- Software-selectable voltage ranges with 16-bit resolution: 0–5 V, 0–10 V, 0–20 V, 0–34 V (Premium)
- 16-bit current control (CCvCV)
- Real-time voltage and current reading per channel
- Maximum output power of 10 W per channel
- Control via GUI or SCPI commands (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, C#)
- 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
- Windows, Mac and Linux support
- Optional Premium features: configuration save/upload, sequence automation, data recording, per-channel voltage/current limits, notes
- CE and RoHS3 (2015/863) compliant
Specifications
| Channels / Output Quadrant | 40/ 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 operates on the fixed 0–34 V range; 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: current determined by load, unregulated maximum compliance 300 mA
|
| Current Resolution |
10 µA (range-dependent)
Manual Table 6 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
Manual states real time voltage reading 16-bits resolution = 1.25 mV
|
| Current Measurement |
0–300 mA range, 10 µA resolution
Manual states real time current reading 16-bits resolution = 5 μA
|
| Max. Output Power | 10 W per channel |
| 0 – 40 V (34 V) range |
0.6 mV
Default range
|
|---|---|
| 0 – 20 V range | 0.3 mV |
| 0 – 10 V range | 150 μV |
| 0 – 5 V range | 76 μV |
| 0 – 300 mA range |
4.5 µA
Default range; CV Only version has fixed 300 mA range
|
|---|---|
|
0 – 200 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
3.05 µA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 100 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
1.52 µA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 50 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
0.76 µA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 25 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
0.38 µA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 12.5 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
0.19 µA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 6.25 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
95 nA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
|
0 – 3.125 mA range
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
47 nA
Current range configured by Nicslab on request
|
| Resolution | 16 Bits |
|---|---|
| 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
|
| Gain error |
-0.1 min, ± 0.02 typ, 0.1 max %FSR
All ranges
|
| 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
|
| 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
|
| Channel to Channel DC crosstalk |
0.25 LSB
Typ.; 0 to 5 V range, measured channel at midscale, all other channels at full-scale
|
|
Resolution
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
16 Bits |
|---|---|
|
Gain Error
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
± 0.3 typ, ± 0.9 max %FSR
300 mA Range
|
|
Total Unadjusted Error
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
± 0.4 typ, ± 1.4 max %FSR
300 mA Range
|
|
VDROPOUT
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
1.15 typ, 1.751 max V
300 mA Range
|
|
Hi-Z Output Leakage Current
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
0.1 typ, 1 max µA |
|
tSET
XPOW-40AX-CCvCV
|
4.7 µs
Settling time, Full-Scale 200 mA range
|
| DC Power Supply Input |
12 V to 36 V (≥2 A Current Compliance)
Manual specifies DC supply max 36 V, minimum power supply setting 10 V and 1 A
|
|---|---|
| Required Headroom | 1.4 – 2 V |
| Room Temperature |
0 ~ 40 ºC
Operating and measurement conditions
|
|---|---|
| Humidity | 5 ~ 80 % (No Condensing) |
| Calibration period | 2 years |
| Interface | USB type B minimum version 2.0 |
| SCPI baud rate | 115200 |
| Compliance | CE and RoHS3 (2015/863) |
| Dimensions (H×W×L) | 102 x 232 x 333 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.9 kg |
Applications
- Low-power electronic circuit testing
- Photonic integrated circuit biasing and characterization
- Automated multichannel test systems
Included
- XPOW-40AX box
- DC power line cord (Red, Black) (2)
- USB 3.0 cable type B
- Ribbon rainbow cable (2)
- USB flash disk with GUI, specification & manual, test report, serial key, XPOW key, software library (Premium) and CSV templates
Options & Accessories
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| XPOW-40AX-CCvCV-BASIC | XPOW U-40, CCvCV control, Basic software — Constant Current and Constant Voltage control; fixed 0–34 V output range |
| XPOW-40AX-CCvCV-PREMIUM | XPOW U-40, CCvCV control, Premium software — Constant Current and Constant Voltage control; adds selectable voltage ranges, save/upload, sequence automation, recording, limits and notes |
| XPOW-40AX-CV-BASIC | XPOW U-40 (CV Only), Basic software — Constant Voltage control with load-determined current; fixed 0–34 V output range |
| XPOW-40AX-CV-PREMIUM | XPOW U-40 (CV Only), Premium software — Constant Voltage control with load-determined current; adds selectable voltage ranges, save/upload, sequence automation, recording, limits and notes |