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DualPath Explained

ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH introduces the DualPath architecture, which utilizes two A/D converters for independent signal paths in power analyzers, allowing simultaneous wideband and narrowband measurements without aliasing effects. This innovation addresses the limitations of conventional power analyzers that rely on a single A/D converter, ensuring more precise results and improved measurement reliability. The document also clarifies misconceptions about competing technologies that do not achieve the same level of accuracy as DualPath.

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13 views2 pages

DualPath Explained

ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH introduces the DualPath architecture, which utilizes two A/D converters for independent signal paths in power analyzers, allowing simultaneous wideband and narrowband measurements without aliasing effects. This innovation addresses the limitations of conventional power analyzers that rely on a single A/D converter, ensuring more precise results and improved measurement reliability. The document also clarifies misconceptions about competing technologies that do not achieve the same level of accuracy as DualPath.

Uploaded by

amoreno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH

Tabaksmühlenweg 30 • 61440 Oberursel


Tel. +49 6171 628750 • Fax +49 6171 52086
www.zes.com • [email protected]

DualPath explained
Why one A/D converter per channel is not (always) sufficient
In conventional power analyzers, a Due to the limitation to a single A/D time-consuming. If one variant is
signal first undergoes analog converter, there are inherently some skipped in order to save time, the
conditioning. Then the output is downsides to be factored in with results are inevitably error-prone. If
optionally fed through an anti- conventional devices. If the goal is to the filter remains activated to avoid
aliasing filter (AAF) before it gets measure RMS power both over the aliasing with the FFT, bandwidth gets
digitized by an A/D converter and entire bandwidth and at the sacrificed when measuring RMS
awaits further processing. fundamental frequency, unfiltered values. Switching off the AAF voids
The decision for or against the AAF and filtered measurements could be the FFT. If it is carried out
has to be taken before sampling, as alternated – in theory. In practice, it nevertheless, the quality of the
this is when aliasing occurs. It cannot is of utmost difficulty to exactly results is questionable. An aliasing
be undone later on. RMS values can reproduce the same operating point error of 50%, for instance, is easily
be determined without risk of aliasing twice. Unless this can be guaranteed, detected, however a deviation of
due to their statistical nature, all all comparisons between results are 0.5% could go unnoticed.
other measurements need to be void due to lack of repeatability.
handled with care. Besides, this procedure is extremely

In the end, all of the aforementioned measurement


methods are merely unsatisfactory compromises.
This is why ZES ZIMMER has fundamentally
redesigned signal processing and developed the
DualPath architecture. The analog side is the same
as in conventional measuring devices, however the
subsequent digital processing has been
revolutionized. Only power analyzers of the LMG600
series are equipped with two A/D converters in two
independent signal paths for each current and
voltage channel. One, for the filterless
measurement of the wideband signal, and another,
for the narrowband signal at the output of the anti-
aliasing filter. The parallel processing of the
digitized sample values gives the user access to
both measurements of the same signal, without
risking aliasing effects.

This unique procedure avoids all of the downsides


of previous approaches and guarantees the most
precise result in the shortest time possible.

ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH | 05 2015 Page 1 of 2


Frequently asked questions
1. Manufacturer X claims his instruments have been capable of displaying RMS power and harmonics in parallel for
years – isn’t this basically the same as DualPath? No, it merely means the customer does not have to switch
between measurement modes to see all desired values at the same time. This parallel view is convenient for the
user, but a closer look reveals that the shown RMS values omit important portions of the power spectrum. The
culprit is the AAF, whose activation is required to ensure the validity of the harmonics analysis. This filter limits
bandwidth to several hundred kilohertz, which also affects the displayed RMS values. Those are not, like in case of
the LMG600, true broadband values comprising the entire power spectrum between DC and 10 MHz. Especially
when looking at PWM signals with a switching frequency of up to 20 kHz, like those occurring at the output of
frequency converters, the portion from 300 kHz to 10 MHz should not be neglected.

2. The instruments of manufacturer Y are sampling with all filters removed, and allow you to apply digital filtering
later on in order to isolate narrowband values – does this not achieve the same results as DualPath? No, it merely
proves the Nyquist-Shannon theorem and the subject of aliasing have not been properly grasped. Frequency
portions for whom the sampling rate is insufficient according to the theorem need to be removed prior to filtering,
as they can no longer be identified after sampling. E.g. a signal at 50 Hz below the sampling rate would show up at
50 Hz after sampling. This signal, which has been created by undersampling, is indistinguishable from the original
signal, since part of the original information has been wiped out due to the insufficient sampling rate.

The following picture illustrates this effect:

The green line represents a high-frequency (2 MHz) signal before sampling, the red dots show the result of
undersampling – here with a rate slightly higher than the signal frequency (2.125 MHz). The erroneous sampling
process, since too slow according to the Nyquist-Shannon theorem, creates a “phantom signal” at a frequency of
(2.125 MHz – 2 MHz = 125 kHz), which is merely 1/16 of the original frequency and can no longer be distinguished
from the genuine signal content around 125 kHz. In that range, e.g. harmonics of a frequency converter’s
switching frequency might appear, which would in turn be distorted by the “phantom signal”. The knowledge that
part of the power measured around 125 kHz stems from the undersampled 2 MHz signal is irretrievably lost. The
above values are merely examples, the erroneous frequency components might as well appear near the
fundamental of the unit under test.
Trying to identify these components after the fact and to remove them would be as futile as striving to identify
blue objects on a color photography reduced to black and white – the information “color“ is irretrievably lost, the
remaining information “brightness“ is by no means equivalent.

ZES ZIMMER Electronic Systems GmbH | 05 2015 Page 2 of 2

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