Measurement basics
R&S
®
ESW-K58
16
User Manual 1179.0880.02 ─ 03
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Measurement basics
Some background knowledge on basic terms and principles used in Multi CISPR APD
measurements is provided here for a better understanding of the required configuration
settings.
The Amplitude Probability Distribution (APD) is a statistical measurement that shows
the "cumulative distribution of the probability of time that the amplitude of disturbance
exceeds a specified level" (CISPR 16-1-1, Amendment 1:2005). So, basically, the mea-
surement determines the likelihood that a disturbance is above a specified level at a
particular frequency (the measurement is usually performed on a fixed frequency).
The amplitude of the disturbance is expressed in terms of the corresponding field
strength or voltage at the receiver input.
The APD is measured at the output of the envelope detector. Therefore, the APD
yields the probability information over the entire disturbance envelope within the mea-
surement bandwidth and a particular period of time.
The APD function has the following advantages:
●
It provides an alternative way to present peak and average measurements (for
example for microwave ovens in accordance with CISPR 11).
●
It is able to calculate true average values.
●
It shows high sensitivity and allows you to measure, for example, a single impulse.
●
It allows you to measure unsteady levels.
The Multi CISPR APD application allows you to measure up to 20 channels at 1 MHz
bandwidth and up to 67 channels at 120 kHz bandwidth in parallel, thus saving a signif-
icant amount of measurement time. Traditional measurement methods only allowed to
measure the APD at one frequency at a time.