Nicslab XPOW U-8 8-channel unipolar source measurement unit
Nicslab / Multichannel SMU / XPOW
XPOW U-8

Nicslab XPOW U-8 (XPOW-8AX) 8-Channel Unipolar Source Measurement Unit

Compact 8-channel unipolar source measurement unit with 0–34 V and 0–300 mA per channel for low-power automated testing.

Channels / Output Quadrant
8/ 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-8 (SKU family XPOW-8AX) is a compact 8-channel unipolar source measurement system intended for low-power applications, from simple electronic circuits to photonic integrated circuits. Each of the eight channels is controlled independently and sources in a single quadrant from 0 to 34 V.

Two control configurations are offered. The CCvCV configuration provides independent voltage and 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 configuration provides independent voltage sourcing with voltage and current measurement per channel; current is determined by the connected load, with an unregulated maximum compliance of 300 mA.

Either configuration is available with a male pin-header interface for connection by cables or jumper wires, or with SMA connectors, which also keep a pin output available.

Software and control

The instrument connects to a PC over USB and is operated through a GUI or through SCPI commands from Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW or C#. A GPIO header allows external control and monitoring. The Basic version operates on a fixed 0–34 V output range; the Premium tier adds software-selectable voltage sub-ranges (0–5 V, 0–10 V, 0–20 V), configuration save and upload, CV or CC/CV sequence automation, data recording, per-channel voltage and current limits and notes.

Key Features

  • 8 independently controlled channels
  • Unipolar output, single-quadrant sourcing (0 to 34 V)
  • CC+CV configuration: Constant Current 0–300 mA and Constant Voltage 0–34 V
  • CV Only configuration: Constant Voltage 0–34 V with an 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)
  • 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
  • Bi-directional EMI filtering
  • IEC61000-4-2 ESD protection for the USB port
  • Windows, Mac and Linux support
  • Optional Premium features: configuration save/upload, sequence automation, data recording, per-channel voltage/current threshold limits, notes
  • CE and RoHS3 (2015/863) compliant

Specifications

Electrical Specifications
Channels / Output Quadrant 8/ 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)
Current Resolution 10 µA (range-dependent)
The CCvCV manual lists a current control resolution of 4.5 µA 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 (16-bit)
The CCvCV manual states real-time voltage reading resolution of 1.25 mV (16-bit)
Current Measurement 0–300 mA range, 10 µA resolution (16-bit)
The CCvCV manual states real-time current reading resolution of 5 μA (16-bit)
Max. Output Power 10 W per channel
Voltage Control Resolution
0 – 40 V (34 V) range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 0.6 mV
Default range
0 – 20 V range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 0.3 mV
Premium
0 – 10 V range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 150 μV
Premium
0–5 V range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 76 μV
Premium
Current Control Resolution
0 – 300 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 4.5 µA
Default range; other ranges set by Nicslab on request
0 – 200 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 3.05 µA
0 – 100 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 1.52 µA
0 – 50 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 0.76 µA
0 – 25 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 0.38 µA
0 – 12.5 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 0.19 µA
0 – 6.25 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 95 nA
0 – 3.125 mA range
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 47 nA
DAC Voltage Performance
Resolution 16 Bits
Min.
Integral nonlinearity (INL) -1 / ± 0.5 / 1 LSB
Min/typ/max; all ranges, except 0 to 40
Differential Nonlinearity (DNL) -1 / ± 0.5 / 1 LSB
Min/typ/max; specified 16-bit monotonic
Total unadjusted error -0.1 / ± 0.01 / 0.1 %FSR
Min/typ/max; all ranges
Gain error -0.1 / ± 0.02 / 0.1 %FSR
Min/typ/max; 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
DAC Current Performance
Resolution
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 16 Bits
Total Unadjusted Error
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 ± 0.4 / ± 1.4 %FSR
Typ/max; 300 mA Range
Gain Error
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 ± 0.3 / ± 0.9 %FSR
Typ/max; 300 mA Range
Offset Error Current
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 ± 0.1 / ± 0.4 %FSR
Typ/max
VDROPOUT
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 1.15 / 1.751 V
Typ/max; 300 mA Range
Hi-Z Output Leakage Current
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 0.1 / 1 µA
Typ/max
tSET
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV
 4.7 µs
Typ.; settling time, Full-Scale 200 mA range
Power Requirements
DC Power Supply Input 12 V to 36 V (≥1 A Current Compliance)
The manual states DC supply max 36 V with a minimum power supply setting of 10 V and 0.5 A
Required Headroom 1.4 – 2 V
Operating Conditions
Room Temperature 0 ~ 40 ºC
Humidity 5 ~ 80 % (No Condensing)
Calibration period 2 years
Interfaces
Host interface USB (USB 2.0 minimum)
USB 3.0 Type-B cable included
SCPI baud rate 115200
GPIO GPIO header for external control and monitoring
Mechanical Specifications
Dimensions (H×W×L)
Male Header
 61.1 x 106 x 164 mm
Dimensions (H×W×L)
SMA
 91 × 141 × 186.99 mm
Weight 0.7 kg

Applications

  • Low-power electronic circuit testing
  • Photonic integrated circuit biasing and characterization
  • Automated multichannel source and measurement

Included

  • XPOW-8AX box
  • DC power line cord (Red, Black), 2 pcs
  • USB 3.0 Type-B cable
  • USB flash disk with GUI, specification and manual, test report, serial keys, software library (Premium) and CSV templates

Options & Accessories

Option Description
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV-BASIC XPOW U-8, CCvCV, Male Header, Basic
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV-PREMIUM XPOW U-8, CCvCV, Male Header, Premium
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV-SMA-BASIC XPOW U-8, CCvCV, SMA, Basic
XPOW-8AX-CCvCV-SMA-PREMIUM XPOW U-8, CCvCV, SMA, Premium
XPOW-8AX-CV-BASIC XPOW U-8, CV-only, Male Header, Basic
XPOW-8AX-CV-PREMIUM XPOW U-8, CV-only, Male Header, Premium
XPOW-8AX-CV-SMA-BASIC XPOW U-8, CV-only, SMA, Basic
XPOW-8AX-CV-SMA-PREMIUM XPOW U-8, CV-only, SMA, Premium

Documents & Resources

Product Reference Manual XPOW-8AX-CCvCV v15.6
manual · PDF
Product Reference Manual XDAC-8AX-CCvCV-SMA v15.6
manual · PDF
Product Reference Manual XPOW-8AX-CV v3.4
manual · PDF
Product Reference Manual XPOW-8AX-CV-SMA v3.4
manual · PDF