Source/measure units (SMUs) come in many form factors, and selecting the correct type to optimize performance for a given application is not always a simple task.
What is a SMU?
As its name implies, a SMU can force voltage or current and simultaneously measure voltage and/or current.
You can loosely classify SMUs into one of three categories.
1 – SMUs available as options for a modular benchtop instrument
Benchtop instruments focused on certain applications (such as multi-channel precision bias sources, DC power analysis, or semiconductor parametric tests) typically include one or more types of SMUs as module options.
In these cases, you can only select SMUs compatible with the instrument under consideration, so it is important to understand both the modular instrument’s overall features and the SMUs that it supports.
2 – Stand-alone benchtop SMUs
The Keysight B2900 Series of SMUs are standalone benchtop instruments focused on device and material characterization. All the B2900 SMUs support four quadrant operation and have a front panel interface.
In addition, the higher-performance models can achieve measurement resolution down to 10 femtoamps. The “BL” models are single-channel, and the “B” models are available in both one- and two-channel versions.
3 – PXI-based SMUs functioning as building blocks for PXI-based systems
PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) systems utilize the compact version of the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) standard, which originated in the early 1990s to enable the easy addition of internal components to desktop computers.
Besides providing a small form factor, a nice feature of PXI is that an industry consortium defines its hardware, electrical, software, power, and cooling standards to ensure interoperability between components from different companies. Keysight has a family of PXI SMUs that support many different application needs.
Need help selecting the SMU that best meets your needs? Contact us, we can help!