Controlled impedance test system
  CITS800s4  - information only

Replaced by CITS900s4

CITS800s Controlled impedance test system

 
  CITS800s4 Brochure (Screen resolution)
  CITS800s4 Brochure (Print resolution)
Accessories and spare parts
Important note - contact Polar before purchasing a pre owned CITS as you will need to relicense the software.

 
Protecting the CITS from electrostatic discharge 

AP8500
Sensitive electronic test equipment like the Polar Controlled Impedance Test Systems can prove vulnerable to damage from static electricity if proper anti-static procedures are not followed. Application Note AP8500 note looks at the best ways to prevent the build up of static charge in the work area — and avoid expensive repairs to your CITS.
As a PCB manufacturer, you are almost certainly now producing controlled impedance PCBs for your customers - it is estimated that within a few years these types of boards may account for some 70% of the market. But how do you verify the PCBs' characteristics, control your production process and demonstrate quality conformance to your customers?

  CITS800s
Click picture for application view

 CITS800s8 - 8 Channels
Single ended 
and differential

CITS800s4 - 4 Channels
Single ended 
and differential

 CITS800s2 - 2 Channels
Single ended 
and differential
(limited availability)


Suitable for applications with a large mix of coupon types or mixed single ended and differential coupons

  Polar produces a comprehensive range of special impedance-matching test probes, including the IPD-100 differential model shown here. An innovative variable pitch model, known as the IP-50V, is also available for laboratory use. 

 Impedance measurement made easy

Designed for PCB production environments
Ideal for CEM inwards inspection
Measures PCBs and test coupons
Customer conformance reports
Automatic data logging
Enhanced accuracy for close coupled traces

CITS800s4 is the sixth generation of Impedance test system from polar, and typically the most popular model for customers who are new to impedance control. CITS800s4 provides both differential and single ended measurement capability along with 4 channels to provide flexible probe connection.

CITS800s8 is designed for high volume fabricators with a high mix of single ended and differential impedance controlled PCB production, the CITS800s8 is may also be used in conjunction with a RITS520a flying probe impedance test system for maximum repeatability and throughput.

If you need to test coupons or coupons in boards in significant volumes please refer to the RITS510a automatic coupon test system or the RITS520a Flying probe impedance test system.

Controlled impedance PCBs are used across a broad range of applications to help ensure high frequency signal integrity. Designers invariably specify these types of PCBs whenever the edge speeds of digital signals are faster than 1ns, or analog signals climb above 300MHz.

The characteristic impedance of a PCB trace is determined by the dimensions of the trace and the properties of the PCB material - which can vary from batch to batch. To control trace impedance, PCB manufacturers usually vary trace width to compensate for different batches of PCB material. Historically, they were then forced to use specialist laboratory equipment, such as a time domain reflectometer (TDR), to measure the characteristics of a representative trace etched on the board or a test coupon. This approach was complex, expensive, and far from ideal in a production environment.

Many electronics designers - especially those pushing performance boundaries in the defense/aerospace, communications and IT industries - are now taking controlled impedance PCBs a stage further, by using differential signals and balanced traces to improve noise immunity and reduce timing errors on very high speed interconnects. For PCB manufacturers serving these rapidly-growing electronics sectors, verifying the differential impedance of these balanced traces is now a simple task.

Exceptional ease of use

CITS impedance test systems are exceptionally easy to use. Powerful Windows-based software automates every aspect of testing, enabling the entire process to be controlled by a single click of a mouse or footswitch. You simply position the microstrip probes, select a test file containing the normal PCB test impedance and tolerance, and press the footswitch. There is no requirement to perform any of the adjustments that are conventionally associated with complex TDR measurements, such as setting-up vertical gains, pulse time delays and timebase values. For maximum throughput, the CITS can execute a series of impedance tests automatically, prompting you to reposition the probes as appropriate.

Test results are simple to understand - the CITS automatically processes the data to produce an unambiguous display of characteristic impedance vs distance, and provides clear visual indication of pass/fail status.

Automatic datalogging enables test results - together with system set-up data and measurement criteria - to be easily exported to a wide variety of third-party database or spreadsheet packages for real-time statistical process control. The pass/fail status of each test is also made available via opto-isolated signals on the instrument's rear panel, facilitating integration with other factory automation equipment.

Flexible test control

Traceable measurement accuracy complements the CITS simplicity of operation.. Furthermore, QA specialists still have the freedom to specify complex measurement parameters such as velocity of propagation and loss compensation, as well as standard test functions like pass/fail limits, result handling and data logging.

You can print test results to provide conformance reports for your customers, store the data on disk for archive purposes or future analysis, or export it for real-time SPC purposes. An optional macro report generator accommodates a wide variety of standard forms, for simplicity of reporting. A barcode reader is also available as an option, which enables PCB identification labels to be scanned-in during the test process, reducing handling time and eliminating error.

Design and process control

When considering starting impedance controlled production you will also find the Polar Si8000m controlled impedance design system helps you tailor your customers designs to your production process. It is also ideal in helping your front end team to optimise the incoming data for maximum controlled impedance yield.  Working with both CITS and Si8000m will give you a complete solution for impedance test and process control.