So we should have the basics - we know that we are not satisfied with a manual meter, that we need to measure at this or that frequency and that we are interested in such and such parameter. But at this point, another set of questions often comes up: is it possible to measure a given parameter at a continuously varying frequency (i.e., frequency sweep)? How to measure correctly on voltage or current dependent samples? What are the possibilities of contacting the samples under test?
Let's go in order: if the key requirement is the analysis of a test sample over a certain frequency band, there are basically two options - the first is to choose a higher category of instrument, namely, for example, the LCR analyzer IM3570 or IM3590, which allow you to set the frequency range directly in the instrument and then display not only a numerical listing of the measured values of a given parameter for a specific frequency, but above all the complete waveform in a graph directly on the display. These two models are designed for testing, for example, piezoelectric elements, multilayer ceramic capacitors and electrochemical materials and components (typically in the battery industry). A second, significantly more economical option for frequency measurement is to use the freeware LCR Meter Sample Application, which allows the user to predefine the frequencies over which he needs to measure a given parameter and then simply use one of the LCR meter's communication interfaces to start the measurement from a connected PC. The output of such a measurement is then a set of values from which a graph can easily be created in Excel (or other program using a csv file exported by the application). Below is a window from this application, in which the key parameters for frequency sweep are defined (of course it is also possible to use Voltage and Current Sweep modes):

A common issue is also the so-called biasing, or applying voltage (e.g. for electrolytic or ceramic capacitors) or current (e.g. for inductors) to a given sample before the actual measurement. Due to the usually limited internal power supply of RLC meters, an external power supply is usually used for this purpose; the RLC meter itself must be supplemented with a special adapter in this case. This measurement setup (RLC meter + power supply) can then be controlled using the again freeware program Sequence Maker:

The last of the above key issues is usually the issue of sample contacting. When it comes to manual measurements of common electronic components with physically easy to reach pins (resistors, coils, capacitors), the solution is usually easy - there are different types of probes to choose from for the standard four-wire measurement method used in RLC meters. All that is needed is to select a probe corresponding to the desired frequency range of measurement. Alternatively, tweezers are also available (in this case the contacting is done in a two-wire way).



In addition to these, let's say fully manual probes, another variant is the test fixturing, which still allows manual clamping of the sample to be measured (typically miniature SMD components) in a precisely defined position, but the way the sample is clamped is in a way a semi-automated solution. This largely eliminates the risk of incorrect contacting. Finally, there is the last option, a fully automated solution used on production lines. This option is usually part of a complex solution where the customer defines the contacting method according to its own internal regulations and outsources the production of the test station to specialized manufacturers of single-purpose equipment.