AR Introduces Electric Field Measurement System
With Outstanding Performance, Features And Accuracy

Compact Size

The compact size of the Starprobe® allows its use in locations that will not easily accommodate larger probes. Small probe size is also desirable in many free space applications, as it eliminates the field perturbation errors and the uncertainty normally introduced by reflections from larger resistive-lead-separated metal electronic housings that are exposed to the electric field.

The electric field measuring system consists of two parts, the probe and probe interface. The probe is positioned in the electric field that is to be measured. The probe interface is remotely located, and is offered in a 19” rack-mountable enclosure, 1.75” high. The two parts may be separated by up to 100 meters using fiber optic cables. They are provided together in an Electric Field Probe Kit with 10 meter fiber interconnect cables.

With or Without Computer Interface

The probe interface offers the user a variety of common electrical interfaces (USB, GPIB, RS-232 -19,200 baud) for easy access via a personal computer. The system is also supported by availability of a separate display to offer stand- alone operation without a computer interface. The display can work with one to four electric field probe kits.

Uncompromising Performance

AR’s many years of experience with field probes for EMC applications has led to this measurement system which was developed with no compromises in quality, features or performance. The excellent Starprobe® flatness from 0.5 MHz to 2.4 GHz is matched by outstanding analytical-angle-rotation-isotropy of +- 0.5 dB over this frequency range. To maintain this performance in the user lab environment, each Starprobe® is individually compensated for temperature over the amplitude range. The probe is calibrated to report directly the volts per meter of a sine wave field. Calibration factors can be applied to further extend the usable frequency range; down to 100kHz and up to 4.2 GHz.

A Variety of Useful, Accurate Reports

The Electric Field Probe Kit reports corrected individual (x, y, z) axis field levels plus composite field levels, all in ASCII format, and all within a fast response time of 40 ms. This allows the electric field to be sampled at a rate of up to 25 samples per second in this new offering base model. To facilitate use in reverberation chamber testing, the timing of the electric field measurement sample window is fully detailed in the user’s manual

Laser-Powered for Continuous Operation

The ability of the Starprobe’s microcontroller and support circuitry to operate continuously - without a battery or wires to the probe - is achieved by using a fiber optic cable to supply infrared laser light power, from a laser in the probe interface, to the probe. The same fiber optic cable carries commands to the probe, including the command that starts the field-reading sequence based on the user’s most recent request for a new field measurement. In operation, the laser light is contained within the fiber cable. Laser safety features are thoughtfully implemented to disable the laser and protect the user from exposure to potentially hazardous laser light in the event of disconnected or broken fiber.

Starprobe® has facility for tripod-mount alignment to each major (x, y or z) axis. To accommodate analytical-angle mounting, the probe includes a tripod mounting hole (1/4-20) with its axis at the analytic angle, sometimes referred to as the magic angle. Each axis sensor is clearly marked with the axis letter identification.

This small light-weight probe used in the electric field probe kit offers calibrated measurement sensitivity down to a desirable 0.5V/m electric field over its accurate frequency range. Each of the probe’s three axis dipole sensors (x, y, z) uses a pair of detector diodes. Though the probe is calibrated only for sine wave electric field measurement, the use of two diodes per sensor axis offers a more consistent response to complex waveforms.

These and additional features of the new electric field measurement system combine to offer an outstanding product for electric field measurement. For full information on this product refer to the product specification available from AR.

The new Starprobe® is backed by AR’s global support network and “second-to-none, best-in-the business” 3-year warranty.

For more information contact AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation, 160 School House Rd. Souderton, PA, phone: 215-723-8181, website: www.ar-worldwide.com.

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