The Picotest Component Test Fixture (CTF) is a precision, 2-port shunt-through fixture engineered for accurate and repeatable impedance and S-parameter measurements of surface-mount components up to 3 GHz. Designed to integrate seamlessly with any VNA—especially the OMICRON Lab Bode 100/500 or Keysight E5061B —the CTF simplifies calibration, improves repeatability, adds DC bias, and ensures measurement results you can trust. Provided the VNA supports it, both impedance and full 2-port calibration are supported by the CTF.

Each CTF kit comes fully equipped for immediate use:

• Personality module matched to the supplied mounting board size
• Baseboard with built in ground loop isolation transformers
• DC Bias module for capacitor measurements from –75 VDC to +75 VDC
• High‑quality coaxial cables and connector wrenches
• Calibration and blank test boards for straightforward SOL calibration and accurate de‑embedding
• Mounted components for setup verification and confidence building

With these elements, the CTF is delivered as a fully integrated, ready‑to‑use fixture—streamlined for accuracy, repeatability, and ease of measurement.

Each fixture is supplied with dedicated calibration and blank test boards, enabling straightforward SOL calibration and accurate de-embedding. Mounted components are also included for setup verification and confidence building. Components are easily mounted on the test board and placed into the fixture, where precision pogo pins provide a stable, low-inductance, and repeatable connection to the VNA. The result is a controlled, reliable test interface with minimal residual error, preserving the accuracy of your measurement instrument.

The CTF accommodates a wide range of SMD package sizes from 0201 to 1206 with optional custom boards for non-standard, reverse-aspect, or X2Y formats. The mechanical design offers exceptional usability and repeatability, ensuring consistent DUT placement and secure contact for every measurement.

Better models. Better simulations. Better hardware.

Whether characterizing capacitors, inductors, resistors, or ferrite beads, the CTF delivers high-fidelity data ideal for SPICE model generation, PDN impedance modeling, and simulation validation. Accurate component models lead to better simulations—and better hardware correlation.

The CTF provides the most accurate and streamlined impedance-measurement solution available for Bode Analyzer users, making it an essential tool for any engineer developing, generating simulation models, and validating high-performance power distribution networks.

Solving Bode 100/500 Calibration

The Bode 100/500:

• Doesn’t offer calibration kit support
• Doesn’t use SOLT or SOLR calibration for 2-port measurements
• Doesn’t offer port extensions, fixture removal, or embedding/de-embedding

However; it uses a Z parameter calibration that is more direct. Lack of cal-kit support requires that we calibrate the measurement differently and the CTF accomplishes this.

The CTF enables you to:

• Perform an OPEN using the PCB without a component installed
• Perform a LOAD using the fixture (i.e. PCB) with a 49.9 Ohm resistor installed
• Perform a SHORT using an ISO-SHORT calibration fixture the same size as the component fixture. This shorts each port to itself and connects the grounds together

The special ISO-Short board sets the Bode 100/500 Short properly. The wire short on the ISO-Short board removes the electrical length of the component, de-embedding it.

In the end, excellent accuracy in the pH range, is achievable.

What’s included

• One (1) Component Test Fixture
• One (1) SMA torque wrench
• One (1) N torque wrench
• Known DUT kit: One (1) 1.2nH Inductor, One (1) 50 mOhm DUT, One (1) 1 mOhm DUT, One (1) Ceramic Capacitor
• Impedance calibration kit: Three (3) calibration boards – to be used with Bode 100/500
• 2-port calibration kit: Three (3) calibration boards – to be used with E5601B and other VNAs
• Five (5) blank boards (0402-1206)
• DC Bias Adapter
• Two (2) PDN cables 12” BNC-SMA
• One (1) Molex 4-pin cable *

CTF/VNA Connector and Cable Note:

* Cabling to the fixture is supplied (Molex cable) allowing you to apply a DC bias of up to 75V.

The CTF unit comes with 3.5mm connectors. 2.92mm, 3.5mm, and SMA connectors are generally compatible/mateable, but due to tolerances they can be damaged when repeatedly connected. However, since Picotest makes both, they are designed to be compatible, and the connection can be secure. Consequently, only our PDN SMA cables should be used with the 3.5mm connectors on the CTF.

Benefits

• Measure components to an accuracy and fidelity level that could not be measured before
• Achieve measurements with pH fidelity necessary for today’s PDN simulations
• Easy to use and calibrate 2-port shunt through impedance measurement
• Simple part mounting–0201-1206
• Characterized PCB enables accurate calibration and de-embedding
• Greatly enhances simulation accuracy
• Enables accurate part characterization for use with the Bode Analyzer Curve-Fitting/SPICE Modeling tool and other simulators
• Enables measurement-based models
• Fixture physically holds the DUT
• Excellent accuracy with repeatability
• Multiple component form factors
• AC and DC Bias (up to 75V)

Features

• pH Accuracy
• Offers a wide frequency range: DC to 3GHz.
• Enables measuring impedance from uΩto kΩ
• Features hand-placed DUT and quick mounting for component changes
• Includes calibrator PCBs for both impedance and full 2-port (SOL) calibration
• Supports AC (through the VNA) and DC Bias testing
• Includes the common mode transformer to alleviate ground loop issues. No additional isolator needed
• Includes transient protection to keep your instrument safe
• Complete test kit ready to go:
  • Sample test parts: One (1) 1.2nH Inductor, One (1) 50 mOhm DUT, One (1) 1 mOhm DUT, and One (1) Ceramic Capacitor
  • Three (3) calibration boards
  • Five (5) blank DUT boards (0402-1210)