Metrology LCR Analysis

Keysight E4990A Impedance Analyzer

A precision impedance analyzer designed for accurate characterization of electronic components and materials. It covers a wide frequency range (20 Hz to 120 MHz) with exceptional accuracy, ideal for evaluating capacitors, inductors, and dielectric materials.

Keysight E4990A
Frequency 20 Hz – 120 MHz
Accuracy ± 0.08%
DC Bias ±40V / ±100mA
Impedance Range 25 mΩ – 40 MΩ

System Capabilities

The Keysight E4990A provides industry-leading accuracy (typical ±0.045%) for impedance measurements over a vast frequency range. It features built-in DC bias capability (voltage and current modes) to characterize devices under realistic operating conditions.

With its 10.4-inch touchscreen and multi-channel trace display, users can perform real-time equivalent circuit analysis to extract R, L, C, and Q parameters for simulation and design verification.

Operating Modes

LCR Sweep

Sweeps Z, R, L, C, D, and Q against frequency to characterize component behavior across the spectrum.

DC Bias Sweep

Measures impedance variations vs. DC voltage or current to evaluate bias-dependent materials.

Equivalent Circuit

Automatically fits measurement data to R-L-C network models for parameter extraction.

Limit Line Test

Pass/Fail testing with user-defined limits per frequency point for production quality assurance.

Technical Specifications

Frequency Range 20 Hz to 120 MHz
Basic Accuracy ± 0.08% (Typical ± 0.045%)
Impedance Range 25 mΩ to 40 MΩ (10% Accuracy Range)
Measurement Parameters |Z|, |Y|, θ, R, X, G, B, L, C, D, Q
DC Bias Source 0 to ±40 V, 0 to ±100 mA
Interface 10.4" Touchscreen, GPIB/LAN/USB

Comparison: Impedance Analyzer vs. LCR Meter

Comparing the E4990A Analyzer against a standard benchtop LCR Meter.

Feature E4990A Analyzer Standard LCR Meter
Frequency Sweep Continuous (Sweep) Discrete Points (Fixed)
Analysis Graphical (Plots & Trends) Numerical (Single Value)
Bandwidth Wide (20 Hz - 120 MHz) Limited (typ. < 1 MHz)
Application R&D / Characterization Quick Sorting / QC

Common Applications

Passive Components Detailed characterization of capacitors, inductors, and EMI filters.
Dielectric Materials Measuring permittivity and loss tangent of substrates and insulators.
Sensor Evaluation Analyzing resonant circuits and transformer performance vs. frequency.
Production QA Automated binning and pass/fail testing for component manufacturing.