Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU_Fundamentals c20130117 [1].pdf part of Agilent Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU Fundamentals c20130117 [1] Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU_Fundamentals c20130117 [1].pdf, Agilent Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU_Fundamentals c20130117 [1].pdf text manual preview

Text preview for : Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU_Fundamentals c20130117 [1].pdf part of Agilent Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU Fundamentals c20130117 [1] Agilent Source Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals 3-SMU_Fundamentals c20130117 [1].pdf

Back to : Source Monitor Unit (SMU) | Home

Excerpt Edition
This PDF is an excerpt from Chapter 3
of the Parametric Measurement Handbook.
The
Parametric Measurement
Handbook

Third Edition
March 2012
Chapter 3: Source/Monitor Unit (SMU) Fundamentals
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your
grandmother." -- Albert Einstein

SMU overview
Introduction
The primary measurement resource for parametric test is the source/monitor
unit or SMU. This is also sometimes also referred to as a source/measurement
unit, although the acronym ends up the same. The SMU can force voltage or
current and simultaneously measure voltage and/or current. The diagram below
shows a simplified SMU equivalent circuit:

A
V

Figure 3.1. Simplified SMU schematic.

Since SMUs must measure very low currents (1 fA or less), they always have
triaxial outputs for the reasons discussed in the previous chapter.

There are a variety of different types of SMUs. The most common SMU is the
medium-power SMU (MPSMU); as the name implies this SMU can supply
moderate levels of voltage and current (