The growing power density of servers, AI systems, and data centers is changing how manufacturers develop and test power equipment. Power converters must not only meet efficiency requirements but also maintain stable operation under rapidly changing load conditions. Testing therefore requires measurement systems capable of capturing multiple signals simultaneously and detecting transient events that occur within very short time intervals.
To address these requirements, Chroma has added Rohde & Schwarz MXO oscilloscopes to the ATS 8000 automated test platform, alongside the other hardware options already supported by the system.
ATS 8000: Chroma's Automated Test Platform
The ATS 8000, or Power Conversion Device Automated Test System Model 8000, is an automated test platform designed for power conversion devices.
The system is built to perform testing procedures for a wide range of power devices. Depending on the test requirements, the ATS 8000 can integrate different types of hardware to form a complete test configuration.
Chroma ATE has added support for Rohde & Schwarz MXO oscilloscopes on the ATS 8000 platform. This integration brings the MXO's waveform acquisition and analysis capabilities into automated testing procedures for power conversion devices, power supplies, and high-power systems.
For Rohde & Schwarz, the integration allows MXO oscilloscopes to be used within Chroma's automated power testing workflows. This expands the application of the oscilloscopes to integrated test systems for power conversion equipment.
The integration also reflects a broader trend toward connecting measurement instruments with automated test platforms. Instead of operating each instrument separately, manufacturers can build a unified test system in which power sources, loads, measurement instruments, and control software operate according to a defined sequence.
PowerPro 5 Controls the Test Process
The ATS 8000 is operated through Chroma's PowerPro 5 software.
The software is used to create and control test sequences. Users can define individual test steps, control equipment within the system, and collect test results according to a predefined procedure.
PowerPro 5 also supports the integration of external programs developed in C# or Python. This allows engineers to add processing or analysis steps based on the requirements of a specific product or test procedure.
PowerPro 5 therefore serves not simply as a result-display tool but as the software layer that connects the hardware components of the ATS 8000 into an automated test workflow.
With MXO support added to the platform, oscilloscope waveform measurements can be incorporated into this workflow.
High Measurement Accuracy for High-Voltage Testing
Voltage and current measurements under steady-state conditions do not always provide a complete picture of power supply operation.
When the load changes or a converter switches between operating states, the signal may exhibit voltage drops, transient pulses, oscillations, or noise over very short time intervals. These events need to be observed directly in the waveform.
The MXO series uses the MXO-EP ASIC architecture and provides a waveform acquisition rate of up to 4.5 million waveforms per second. The high acquisition rate reduces the time between waveform updates, increasing the probability of capturing infrequent or short-duration events.
MXO oscilloscopes also use a digital trigger system to identify events of interest. When integrated with the ATS 8000, waveform acquisition can become part of the automated test sequence rather than being performed as a separate measurement step.
In HD mode, the MXO can provide up to 18-bit vertical resolution, with input sensitivity down to 0.5 mV/div. The high resolution allows small signal variations to be observed more clearly, particularly when analyzing control signals or other low-amplitude signals.
Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Signals
High-power systems often contain multiple conversion stages and modules operating simultaneously.
When an abnormal condition occurs, observing a single channel may not be sufficient to identify the cause. Engineers need to examine the timing relationship between voltage, current, and control signals at different points in the system.
MXO models are available with up to 8 input channels. The ScopeSync technology enables multiple oscilloscopes to be synchronized, expanding the measurement capability to as many as 24 channels.
Synchronized data helps engineers determine the sequence of events. For example, when the output voltage changes, the engineer can compare it with load and control signals to determine which event occurred first.
This capability is particularly useful for power systems consisting of multiple modules operating in parallel, such as power systems used in servers and data centers.
From Automated Testing to Failure Analysis
Automated test systems are commonly used to perform repeatable tests according to predefined sequences and evaluate results against specified technical limits.
However, a pass/fail result only indicates whether the device has exceeded a given limit. When a failure occurs, engineers still need additional data to determine its cause.
Waveform data provides further information about the device's behavior during the test. A fault that occurs only at a specific load level or during a particular switching condition can be analyzed more effectively when waveform data is captured alongside other test results.
Integrating MXO into the ATS 8000 allows waveform measurements to become part of the same automated test procedure. Engineers can correlate test results with signal data without having to perform the measurements as separate operations.
Expanding the Power Testing Ecosystem
Chroma's support for Rohde & Schwarz MXO oscilloscopes allows the instruments to be integrated into the ATS 8000 as a hardware option for waveform measurement.
For Chroma, this adds a high-performance oscilloscope option to its automated test platform.
For Rohde & Schwarz, the integration enables MXO oscilloscopes to be used in automated test systems for power conversion devices.
The integration also reflects a broader trend in power electronics testing: power sources, loads, measurement instruments, and control software are increasingly connected within a unified test workflow. Instead of performing individual measurements separately, the system can automatically change test conditions, acquire data, and evaluate results according to a predefined sequence.
For power supplies used in servers, AI systems, and data centers, this type of test architecture supports more demanding evaluations of system dynamic behavior.
The combination of an automated test platform and an oscilloscope allows waveform data to be incorporated into the same test workflow. This is the key value of integrating MXO into ATS 8000, particularly for testing power supplies and power electronics.
