Product Brochure

PXI LCR Meters
ni.comContents
PXI LCR Meters
Detailed View
Key Features

SoftwareSupporting Documentation
Configure a Custom NI System

What is PXI?
PXI Instrumentation
Hardware Services

ni.comPXI LCR Meters
PXIe-4190

FIGURE 1
PXIe-4190 LCR Meter and SMU

Femtofarad-class LCR measurements

Femtoamp-class SMU measurements

Stimulus frequency up to 2 MHz

Source/sink up to ±40 V, ±100 mA

Stimulus amplitude up to 7.07 Vᵣₘₛ, 70.7 mAᵣₘₛ

Current sensitivity down to 1 fA

DC bias up to ± 40 V (AC + DC)

Software: Includes interactive soft front panel, API supportfor LabVIEW and text-based languages, shipping examples,and detailed help files

Coaxial, triaxial, and DSUB breakout cables

Built for Automated Test and Measurement∠NI LCR meters combine high-accuracy LCR measurements, including complex impedance (|Z| & θ) and various mathematical derivativevalues, with high-precision source measure unit (SMU) capabilities into a single instrument. With the combination of LCR and SMU
capabilities into a small footprint you can use the same instrument for both DC and impedance measurements without a switch, simplifying
connectivity and ease of use. Additionally, the NI-DCPower driver API gives you flexible configuration options to optimize your LCR
measurements for accuracy or speed. You can use this combination of features of the NI LCR meters in a wide range of applications forvalidating, characterizing, or testing passive components (e.g. multi-layer ceramic capacitors, integrated passive devices, etc.), MEMS
structures, ultrasonic ADAS sensors, and wafer parametric research/test.
NI LCR meters are optimized for building automated test systems, with hardware features to reduce test execution time and tight software
integration to reduce development effort. Built on the modular PXI platform, NI LCR meters can be combined with other instruments such as
oscilloscopes, RF generators and analyzers, and digital instruments to build mixed-signal test systems with multi-core processors and low
latency communication. Additionally, the modularity and channel density of these instruments allow you to build systems that test multiple
devices in parallel and improve the throughput of each tester.

ni.comPXI LCR Meters01Table 1. PXI LCR Meters Options

Maximum AC Stimulus Frequency (MHz)PXIe-4190

PXIe-4190

20.5

Maximum AC Stimulus Amplitude (Vᵣₘₛ)

7.07

Maximum AC Current (mAᵣₘₛ)

7.07

Maximum DC Bias Voltage – AC + DC (V)40

LCR Measurement Basic Accuracy (%)
SMU Maximum DC Voltage (V)

0.05
40

SMU Maximum DC Current (mA)SMU Current Sensitivity (fA)

1010100

10.001

SourceAdapt Custom Transient Response●

2nd Order Noise Rejection●Connectivity

DSUB with breakouts for Coaxial and Triaxial

Detailed View of a PXI LCR MeterI/O Connector including
HIPOT, HI CUR , LO POT, andLOCUR
Timing andsynchronization
Data streaming through
PCI Express

PXI ejector handle

FIGURE 2
PXIe-4190

ni.comPXI LCR Meters02

Key Features
Channel Density and Scalability
LCR and SMU channel density is increasingly important for multi-site testing and for improving test throughput in applications like production
test of multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) or integrated passive devices (IPDs). The modularity of the PXI platform allows you tooptimize the size of your test system and number of parallel LCR or SMU channels by choosing the appropriate chassis and instruments. In asingle PXI chassis, you can add up to 17 LCR meter and SMU channels with the PXIe-4190 or combine with other types of instruments to build
tightly integrated mixed signal test systems. For even larger systems, you can mount multiple chassis in an automated test rack and combine
them together with PXI remote control modules.

FIGURE 3
You can add up to 17 LCR meter and SMU channels in a single 4U, 19-inch PXI chassis.

Hardware-Timed Sequencing and Triggering
NI LCR meters have a hardware-timed, deterministic sequencing engine that allows the instrument to execute commands and acquire data
without any intervention from the host software. This eliminates the software overhead and jitter associated with software-controlled
sequences and reduces the execution time of your overall test. Within these hardware-timed sequences, you can modify over 30 properties
such as AC stimulus frequency, AC stimulus amplitude, DC voltage bias, measurement time, and impedance range to optimize each step
within your sequence.
Each LCR meter has numerous triggers and events such as source trigger, measure trigger, and measure complete, that you can share via
the backplane of the PXI chassis to communicate between different instruments. This allows you to synchronize the start of multiple LCR
meters, create nested sweeps, or send/receive commands from other instruments like oscilloscopes and RF analyzers.

High-Speed Measurement and Update Rate
The NI PXIe-4190 provides flexible measurement time settings, including preset options (100 ms for slow, 10 ms for normal, and 1 ms for fast)
and the ability to choose custom values outside of these three preset values. This allows you to review the measurement noise specs andchoose an acceptable level of noise to optimize between measurement accuracy and speed.

ni.comPXI LCR Meters

03

FIGURE 4
Choose the right balance of speed and accuracy by customizing the measurement time.

As an SMU, the NI PXIe-4190 can sample up to 600 kS/s and source up to 100 kS/s, which adds new functionality to a traditionally DC
instrument. The high-speed sampling rate allows you to use the SMU as a high voltage or current digitizer to capture transient behavior ormonitor current consumption over time. The fast update rate allows you to step through large sequences very quickly or use the SMU togenerate arbitrary waveforms at low frequencies. Since NI SMUs communicate and share data via a high bandwidth, low latency PCI express
interface, you can use the full update and sampling rate of the instrument to stream data to and from the host PC. This functionality istransparent to the user and does not require you to configure a buffer, allocate memory, or pause your acquisition and wait for data totransfer from the instrument to the host.

High-Precision, High-Accuracy Measurements
NI LCR meters are built with a combination of off-the-shelf high-speed and high-precision data converter technology to provide low noise
measurements across a wide range of LCR meter stimulus frequencies and SMU measurement speeds. This design results in high-accuracy
LCR measurements at higher AC stimulus frequencies (10 kHz to 2 MHz) and low frequencies (<10 kHz). Additionally, you can perform short,open, and load compensation routines to compensate errors caused by residual impedance (L, R) or stray admittance (C, G) of the signalpath.

FIGURE 5
Perform short, open, and load compensation routines to compensate for impedance of the signal pathni.com

PXI LCR Meters04

NI LCR meters include a built-in self-calibration feature that corrects for time and temperature drift by recalculating certain internalreference values, gains, and offsets. This method significantly improves accuracy over the full operating temperature range of the device byreducing sources of error such as gain and offset error for voltage and current. For high accuracy devices with +/- 1 °C specifications, the selfcalibration routine helps ensure your device is operating within 1 degree of its calibrated temperature and that you can apply the tighter
accuracy specifications. The self-calibration routine takes less than 10 seconds to complete and can be called programmatically from yourapplication software.

SourceAdapt Digital Control Loop Technology
SourceAdapt is a digital control loop technology that gives you the ability to optimize the SMU response for any device under test (DUT). This
provides fast and stable measurements for a variety of loads, even highly capacitive or inductive loads, and prevents damage to your DUT by
removing harmful overshoots and oscillations. By allowing complete customization of the SMU response, this technology allows you toremove unwanted characteristics of the instrument while still maintaining a fast settling time – all without adding any custom circuitry
between the instrument and the load. Because this capability is handled programmatically, you can quickly reconfigure your SMU for highspeed or high stability testing and maximize the usage of your instrument.

FIGURE 6
SourceAdapt gives you the ability to optimize the SMU response for any DUT.

Software
NI-DCPOWER API
In addition to the soft front panel, the NI-DCPower driver includes a best-in-class API that works with a variety of development options suchas LabVIEW, C/C++, C#, and others. To ensure long-term interoperability of LCR Meters and other power instruments, the NI-DCPowerdriver API is the same API used for all past and current power instruments. The driver also provides access to help files, documentation, anddozens of ready-to-run shipping examples you can use as a starting point for your application.

FIGURE 7
LabVIEW VI using the DC-Power API.

ni.comPXI LCR Meters05

NI Software-The Right Tool for the Job
NI has a variety of software for engineers working on research, validation, and production test applications. Learn about our software thathelps engineers perform quick ad-hoc tests, build an automated test system, automate data analysis and reporting, develop test sequences,and more.

LabVIEW

DIAdemTestStand

Graphical programming environment thatengineers use to develop automatedresearch, validation, and production testsystems.

Data analytics software for measurement
data search, inspection, analysis, andautomated reporting.

Test executive software that accelerates
system development for engineers invalidation and production.

Acquire data from NI and third-party
hardware and communicate using
industry protocols
Use configurable, interactive display
elements
Take advantage of available analysis
functions

Display data in multiple 2D-axis
systems
Perform calculations with a simple
point-and-click interface
Automate your measurement data
analysis workflow, from import toanalysis

Call and execute tests in LabVIEW,
Python, C/C++, or .NETConduct complex tasks, such asparallel testing
Create customer operator interfaces
and robust tools for deployment anddebugging

G Web

FlexLogger™

InstrumentStudio™

Development software that helps
engineers create web-based userinterfaces wihtout the need for traditional
web development skills.

No-code data acquisition software
engineers use to build validation andverification test applications.

Application software that simplifies setup
and configuration of NI PXI hardware

Data transfer APIs for connecting tosystems written in LabVIEW, Python,or C#Pre-built objects for data display anduser input
Included hosting on SystemLink™
Cloudni.com

Interactive visualization tools formonitoring tests with drag-and-dropcharts, graphs, and controls
Ability to set alarms that monitor
single channels or groups forunexpected behavior

Customizable layouts for monitoring
multiple instruments at once
Interactively debug in tandem withcode
TDMS file export containing
instrument settings, measurements,
and raw data

PXI LCR Meters06

Supporting Documentation
Table 2. PXI LCR Meter Documentation
Document Type

ModelGetting Started Guide

PXIe-4190

Specifications

PXIe-4190

Configure a Custom NI System
NI’s online system advisors help you create a custom system based on your specific requirements. Use the advisor to choose compatible
hardware, software, accessories, and services and then save your selections as configurations for easy quoting and purchasing later. Visitni.com/advisor to learn more.

ni.comPXI LCR Meters07

What Is PXI?
A Platform Approach to Test and Measurement
Powered by software, PXI is a rugged PC-based platform for measurement and automation systems. PXI combines PCI electrical-busfeatures with the modular, Eurocard packaging of CompactPCI and then adds specialized synchronization buses and key software features.
PXI is both a high-performance and low-cost deployment platform for applications such as manufacturing test, military and aerospace,machine monitoring, automotive, and industrial test. Developed in 1997 and launched in 1998, PXI is an open industry standard governed by
the PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA), a group of more than 70 companies chartered to promote the PXI standard, ensure interoperability, andmaintain the PXI specification.

Software

Timing and Synchronization

Test Management and Code Development
Code sequencing, database reporting, usermanagement, operator interface, parallel
execution, signal processing. LabVIEW,C/C++, .NET, Python

PXI Chassis
PCI Express Gen 3 throughput up to 24 GB/s
sub-nanosecond latency, P2P streaming,
integrated triggering

Computer

InstrumentationPXI Embedded Controller
Windows and Real-Time OS options, IntelXeon processing, peripheral ports, display
output, integrated hard drive

PXI Modules
DC to mmWave, oscilloscope, programmablepower supply, switch/MUX, DMM, VSA, VSG,VST, AWG, SMU, DAQ

Integrated with the Latest Commercial Technology
By leveraging the latest commercial technology for our products, we can continually deliver high performance and high-quality products toour users at a competitive price. The latest PCI Express Gen 3 switches deliver higher data throughput, the latest Intel multicore processors
facilitate faster and more efficient parallel (multisite) testing, the latest FPGAs from Xilinx help to push signal processing algorithms to theedge to accelerate measurements, and the latest data converters from TI and ADI continually increase the measurement range andperformance of our instrumentation.

ni.comPXI LCR Meters08

PXI Instrumentation
NI offers more than 600 different PXI modules ranging from DC to mmWave. Because PXI is an open industry standard, nearly 1,500
products are available from more than 70 different instrument vendors. With standard processing and control functions designated to acontroller, PXI instruments need to contain only the actual instrumentation circuitry, which provides effective performance in a small
footprint. Combined with a chassis and controller, PXI systems feature high-throughput data movement using PCI Express bus interfaces andsub-nanosecond synchronization with integrated timing and triggering.

ni.comOscilloscopes
Sample at speeds up to 12.5 GS/s with 5 GHz ofanalog bandwidth, featuring numerous triggeringmodes and deep onboard memory

Digital Multimeters
Perform voltage (up to 1000 V), current (up to3A), resistance, inductance, capacitance, andfrequency/period measurements, as well as
diode tests

Digital Instruments
Perform characterization and production test ofsemiconductor devices with timing sets and perchannel pin parametric measurement unit
(PPMU)

Waveform Generators
Generate standard functions including sine,
square, triangle, and ramp as well as userdefined, arbitrary waveforms

Frequency Counters
Perform counter timer tasks such as event
counting and encoder position, period, pulse,
and frequency measurements

Source Measure Units
Combine high-precision source and measurecapability with high channel density,
deterministic hardware sequencing, andSourceAdapt transient optimization

Power Supplies & Loads
Supply programmable DC power, with somemodules including isolated channels, output
disconnect functionality, and remote sense

FlexRIO Custom Instruments & Processing
Provide high-performance I/O and powerful
FPGAs for applications that require more thanstandard instruments can offer

Switches (Matrix & MUX)
Feature a variety of relay types and row/column
configurations to simplify wiring in automatedtest systems

Vector Signal Transceivers
Combine a vector signal generator and vector
signal analyzer with FPGA-based, real-time
signal processing and control

GPIB, Serial, & Ethernet
Integrate non-PXI instruments into a PXI systemthrough various instrument control interfaces

Data Acquisition Modules
Provide a mix of analog I/O, digital I/O,
counter/timer, and trigger functionality formeasuring electrical or physical phenomenaPXI LCR Meters09

NI Hardware Services
All NI hardware includes a one-year warranty for basic repair coverage and calibration in adherence
to NI specifications prior to shipment. PXI systems also include basic assembly and a functional test.
NI offers additional entitlements to improve uptime and lower maintenance costs with service
programs for hardware. Learn more at ni.com/services/hardware.
HardwareStandardPremium

Description

Duration at Point of Sale

1 year;included

3 years;
optional

3 years;
optional

NI enhances warranty coverage with additional service
benefits provided with a hardware service program.

Maximum Duration withRenewal< 3 years
with service
program< 3 years< 3 years

NI maintains the high performance and availability of yourhardware for up to three years with a hardware serviceprogram.

•••

NI restores your device’s functionality and includes
firmware updates and factory calibration; < 10 working
days⁴ + standard shipping.

••NI technicians assemble, install software in, and test yoursystem per your custom configuration prior to shipment.

Advanced Replacement ²•

NI stocks replacement hardware that can be shippedimmediately if a repair is needed.

System Return Material
Authorization (RMA)¹•NI accepts the delivery of fully assembled systems when
performing repair services.

•NI provides access to support resources for your hardware.

Expedited³

NI performs the requested level of calibration at thespecified calibration interval for the duration of the service
program.

Extended Repair
Coverage
System Configuration,
Assembly, and Test¹

Technical Support•Calibration Plan(Optional)•Standard

1 This option is only available for PXI, CompactRIO, and CompactDAQ systems.
2 This option is not available for all products in all countries. Contact your local NI sales engineer to confirm availability.
3 Expedited calibration is only available for the Traceable calibration level.
4 This applies to non-RF products only. Standard extended repair coverage for RF products is <15 working days + standard shipping.

PremiumPlus Service Program
NI can customize the offerings listed above or offer additional entitlements such as on-site calibration, custom sparing, and lifecycle services
through a PremiumPlus Service Program. Contact your NI sales representative to learn more.

Technical Support
NI hardware service programs and warranty include access to technical support provided by NI support agents during local business hours.
Service requests can be managed online. Additionally, take advantage of NI’s award-winning online resources and communities.

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