Source Measure Unit (SMU)

APPLICATIONS

You can find application examples in the sub categories:
High voltage, High current, Multi-channel and PXI SMU

WHAT IS A SOURCE MEASURE UNIT?

Source and Measurement Units (SMUs) are devices that generate voltages or currents and can measure them simultaneously using the integrated measurement units (VMU, CMU).

We differentiate between the following SMU types:
  • High current SMUs operate as a regulated power source and are able to generate very high output currents as pulses.
  • High-voltage SMUs work as a regulated voltage source and are able to generate very high output voltages.
  • Multi-channel SMUs usually have a number of identically structured voltage or current sources.
  • PXI Source Measurement Units are implemented as a plug-in card and additionally require a PXI chassis and a system controller.

Please choose between one of the following categories:

VX INSTRUMENTS PARTICULARITIES

VX Instruments SMUs are characterized by high flexibility. The generator unit (source) and the measurement devices for current (CMU) and voltage (VMU) can be used completely independent. For example, it is possible to operate the generator in a high current range and at the same time measure currents in the nano-ampere range. It is also possible to measure the voltage not directly on the generator, but via sense lines at any point in the circuit.

High Current SMU
The potential-free High Current SMUs of the AXC family are characterized by their very fast, low-noise analog power amplifiers. This allows fully regulated current pulses to be realized under one millisecond at peak currents above 1,000 A. Devices of the AXC76xx family are also able to generate DC currents up to 2,000 A.

Functions such as the start of a pulse can be activated by hardware triggers and thus guarantee very short response times. The throughput in the test procedure is significantly increased and at the same time less energy is introduced into the component to be tested. This leads to less heating in the component itself, which is crucial, for example, for the test of bare dies.

The extremely compact design of the devices in 19“ format with only 6 U saves space in the test system.

High Voltage SMU
The potential-free High Voltage SMUs of the AXV family can output regulated DC voltages or voltage pulses in the range from -1,500 to +2,500 V. The signal curve is very linear and is characterized by very short rise and fall times. The extremely fast regulation prevents the output signal from overshooting, which enormously shortens test times.

With the integrated measurement units for current and voltage, current and voltage can also be measured on the device while testing during a pulse.

Due to the high resolution of the current measurement in the pA range, in connection with the active guarding outputs (avoidance of leakage currents in the cabling), the device is ideally suited for the measurement of leakage currents.

Multi-Channel SMU
The potential-free Multi-Channel SMUs of the AXS family can output regulated DC voltages or voltage pulses in the range from -50 to +400 V. The signal curve is very linear and is characterized by very short rise and fall times. The extremely fast regulation prevents the output signal from overshooting, which shortens test times enormously.

Functions such as the start of a pulse can be activated by hardware triggers and thus guarantee very short response times.

With the integrated switching matrix, the individual functional units (generator, VMU and CMU) can be flexibly connected to the test items. This means that basically three different devices are available for each channel. Complex test scenarios can thus be implemented with just one device. A wide range of switching options are available to the user via additional I/Os for controlling external relays.

PXI SMU
The potential-free PXI SMUs of the PX/PXS family are characterized by the four-quadrant operation (4Q operation) and the high slew rate. They can therefore be used flexibly as a quick source or sink.

The current voltage and the current can be read back statically. The digitizer option allows you to record curves.
The arbitrary generator option enables the generation of dynamic voltage and current curves.

External devices or relays can be activated via digital I/O port at the front panel.

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