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Keysight Technologies
Optimize Burn-in Test with the 34980A
Multifunction Switch/ Measure Unit


Application Note
Abstract
Demanding applications in process automation, power
generation and public transport require extensive device
burn-in to minimize early defect rates. Test engineers in the
power generation and large drive control business must of-
ten test 100% of the printed circuit board assemblies before
integrating them into complex products. The efficiency of
a burn-in test process is key to the management of overall
cost of test. An efficient burn-in test system design takes
into consideration instrument selection, programming, and
a creative approach to power management. This applica-
tion overview will discuss the complexities of burn-in test
and the solution created by LXinstruments, a Keysight
Technologies, Inc. solutions partner, based on the Keysight
34980A switch/measure unit.



Introduction
To maximize the reliability of complex systems used in ap- Figure 1. The LXinstruments Burn-In Test System with the Keysight
plications such as process automation, power generation 34980A Switch/Measure Unit.
and public transport, burn-in test is essential to identify
early defects. In many cases, burn-in test will be applied to
all of the circuit boards or devices used in these systems.

For accelerated life testing, the burn-in test procedures will
be executed in an environmental chamber where the tem-
perature of the device under test (DUT) can be cycled over
many hours. The DUTs may be tested passively or actively.
In both cases, power is applied; but, when testing actively,
the device is also exercised with a test routine.

The provision of individual power supplies for each DUT
can be very costly and requires considerable physical
Figure 2. Keysight 34959A breadboard module with LXinstruments
space; however, sharing a common power supply between circuitry.
all or a group of DUTs risks losing test time and data if an
early failure in one DUT compromises the power supply to
the rest.
The solution developed by LXinstruments is to create a
modular multiplexed architecture, based on the Keysight
34945A breadboard module for the 34980A Multifunction
Switch/Measurement Unit, which allows the DUT's to be
switched between common power supplies. This solution
is fully scalable allowing it to cater to a varying number of
DUTs, reducing the cost and physical space required.




2
Solution Solution details
The Keysight 34980A Multifunction Switch/Measure The power supply multiplexer utilizes the capabilities
Unit is a flexible, reliable switching and data acquisition of the Keysight 34959A breadboard module to provide 8
platform. The Keysight 34959A breadboard module can be channels of multiplexing in one 34980A mainframe slot. It
used to create custom designs inside the 34980A main- provides a high-switch count using mechanical armature
frame. The breadboard module provides access to +12 relays; each channel is fused. The multiplexer is pro-
and +5V supplies, 16 GPIO ports, and 32 relay drive lines grammed using SCPI ASCII commands, and allows direct
and can be programmed using standard read and write control, using the 34980A web browser interface.
commands in SCPI. The module faceplate has cutouts for
the most common connectors. The maximum DC voltage that can be hot switched is
30 volts; the maximum AC voltage is 50 volts. Total
LXinstruments uses the Keysight 34959A breadboard mod- continuous current is 2 amps with maximum peak current
ule to implement a custom designed multiplexer for use in of 3.5 amps. The maximum total current per module (8
its range of burn-in test systems. The multiplexer allows channels) is 16 amps. The multiplexer incorporates 5 amp
individual DUTs to be switched between common power slow fuses which can be exchanged for lower current
supplies. It provides 8 channels of power supply multiplex- versions for different applications.
ing within one slot of the Keysight 34980A mainframe and
up to 64 channels in one 34980A mainframe. All of the LXinstruments can also provide an alternative version of
power supplies can be switched individually with up to 3 the breadboard module that uses FET switches and faster
different supply voltages allowed. The supply currents for electronic fuses with programmable trip levels.
each power supply can be measured individually. LXInstruments has extensive experience using the Key-
In order to manage the in-rush currents experienced when sight 34959A breadboard module in applications including:
the DUTs are initially switched on, the system provides for