Keysight Technologies B2900A Series User manual

Demo Guide

Keysight Technologies

Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization

using SMU

B2900A Precision Source/Measure Unit

02 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

Introduction

Keysight’s B2900A Series Precision Source/Measure Unit (SMU) is a compact and

cost-effective bench-top SMU with the capability to output and measure both voltage

and current. The B2900A SMU enables you to make a wide range of current versus

voltage (IV) measurements more accurately and quickly than ever before. In addition, the

B2900A SMU comes with an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and free PC-based

application software that make it easy for you to begin making productive measurements

immediately.

In general, bipolar transistor (BJT) characterization requires the application of different

voltages and currents under either constant or swept conditions to the transistor

terminals. The B2902A and B2912A have two SMU channels, with each channel

possessing accurate IV measurement capabilities as well as the ability to supply either

constant or swept voltage/current. This makes the B2902A and B2912A excellent

choices for accurate IV characterization of BJTs.

This demonstration guide shows how easily you can undertake BJT characterization

using the B2900A SMU.

Required Instrument and Accessories

All of the accessories required to perform the demos described in this demonstration guide

are provided as a low current demo kit that is included with some of Keysight B2902A/12A

demo units.

B2902A/12A 2 Ch Source/

Measure Unit

N1295A Test Fixture

Bipolar Transistor 16494A-001 Triax Cable x4

N1294A-001 Banana-to-Triax

Adapter x2

03 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

Measurement Concept

An IV characteristics measurement of a BJT (Gummel Plot) is made based on the

following:

– Sourcing a voltage from two channels to activate a transistor.

– The two channels work simultaneously to make measurements.

– The limit value feature prevents the instrument from sourcing too much even if the

Source value is increased.

– Stepping voltages from start voltage to stop voltage to make current measurements

at each voltage step.

– Voltage steps are sourced from internal voltage sources.

– Current measurements are made by internal current meters.

– Complicated measurements can be easily configured using the Intuitive Graphical

User Interface (GUI).

– The current-voltage curve can be easily seen by changing View mode.

1.E-12

1.E-10

1.E-08

1.E-06

1.E-04

1.E-02

1.E+00

0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9

Current [A]

Voltage [V]

Gummel Plot

Base Collector

Triaxial Cable

Low Force

High Force

Low Force

High Force

Ch1

Ch2

N1294A-001 Triaxial Cable

Close the fixture cover

Emitter

Collector

Base

Figure 1. Gummel Plot

Figure 2. Connection diagram

04 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

Setup

1. Put the device on the device socket in the fixture (The BJT Emitter, Base and Collector are

connected to 1, 2 and 3 respectively).

2. Put the N1294A-001 on the Ch 1 output terminals of the B2900A SMU.

3. Put the N1294A-001 on the Ch 2 output terminals of the B2900A SMU.

4. Connect the N1294A-001 Ch 1 Low terminal to the fixture terminal 1 with a triaxial cable.

5. Connect the N1294A-001 Ch 1 High terminal to the fixture terminal 2 with a triaxial cable.

6. Connect the N1294A-001 Ch 2 Low terminal to the fixture terminal 4 with a triaxial cable.

7. Connect the N1294A-001 Ch 2 High terminal to the fixture terminal 3 with a triaxial cable.

8. Connect terminals 1to 4on the fixture with a black Pin-Plug Cable.

9. Close the fixture cover.

There is no space between the adaptor

and the output terminals

There is some space between the adaptor

and the output terminals

Proper connection Improper connection

LooseOK

Triaxial Cable

Low Force

High Force

Low Force

High Force

Ch1

Ch2

N1294A-001 Triaxial Cable

Close the fixture cover

Emitter

Collector

Base

Make sure that the connection between the output terminals and the N1294A-001

Banana to Triax Adaptor is secure, because a loose connection can affect the

measurement results.

05 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

LAB: Make Bipolar Transistor Characterization using

SMU

Demonstration

1. Change the View mode to the Channel 1 Single View

1) Press repeatedly until the Channel 1

Single View is displayed.

2. Configure the Channel 1 condition to source and measure

1) Press to edit the Source function, and then select to set the Source

function to Voltage source.

2) Press to edit the Source value then enter 0 V to set the Source value to 0 V.

3) Press to edit the Limit value then enter 100 mA to set the Limit value to

100 mA.

4) Press to configure the Measurement parameter then select to set the

Measurement parameter to Current.

Objective

This demo explains how to make

a voltage sweep measurement

simultaneously using 2 channels

to make a bipolar transistor IV

characterization.

Procedure

1. Change the View mode to the

Channel 1 Single View.

2. Configure the Channel 1

condition to source and

measure.

3. Change the View mode to the

Channel 2 Single View.

4. Configure the Channel 2

condition to source and

measure.

5. Change the View mode to

Graph View.

6. Perform the measurement.

7. View the measurement result

graph

8. View the list of measurement

results

9. Store the measurement

data to a USB flash memory

device

10. Copy the Graph View screen

dump to a USB flash memory

device.

06 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

5) Rotate to select the Current minimum measurement range and press to edit it.

Then press to set the Current minimum measurement range to 10 nA.

6) Press to change the keys shown in Assist keys then press to set the

Measurement Speed Parameter.

7) Press then press to set the Measurement Speed to LONG (10 PLC).

If you do not want to make the sub-nA current measurement, “AUTO” Measure Speed

should be selected. It makes the measurement much faster.

8) Press to show Sweep Sub-Panel.

9) Press , then press to turn on the Single Linear Sweep Mode. After turning on

the Single Linear Sweep Mode, you can see the Source Shape which shows the single

linear sweep mode.

07 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

10) Rotate to select the Channel 1 Sweep Parameters and set them up as below.

(Start: 0 V, Stop: 0.85 V, Points: 86, Step: 10 mV)

3. Change the View mode to the Channel 2 Single View

1) Press repeatedly until the Channel 2

Single View is displayed.

4. Configure the Channel 2 condition to source and measure

1) Press to edit the Source function then select to set the Source

function to Voltage source.

2) Press to edit the Source value then enter 0 V to set the Source value to 0 V.

3) Press to edit the Limit value then enter 100 mA to set the Limit value to

100 mA.

08 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

4) Press to configure the Measurement parameter then select to set the

Measurement parameter to Current.

5) Press to change the keys shown in Assist keys then press to show

Range Sub-Panel.

6) Rotate to select the Current minimum measurement range and press to

edit it. Then press to set the Current minimum measurement range to 10 nA.

7) Press to set the Measurement Speed Parameter.

If you do not want to make the sub-nA current measurement, “AUTO” Measure Speed

should be selected. It makes the measurement much faster.

8) Press then press to set the Measurement Speed to LONG (10 PLC).

09 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

9) Press to show Sweep Sub-Panel.

10) Press , then press to turn on the Single Linear Sweep Mode. After

turning on the Single Linear Sweep Mode, you can see the Source Shape which

shows the single linear sweep mode.

11) Rotate to select the Channel 2 Sweep Parameters and set them up as below.

(Start: 0 V, Stop: 0.85 V, Points: 86, Step: 10 mV)

5. Change the View mode to Graph View

1) Press repeatedly until Graph View

is displayed.

6. Perform the measurement

1) Press Ch1 and Ch2 to turn on both Channel Output relays.

2) Press to perform a sweep measurement.

(The status information will show during the measurement.)

10 | Keysight | Making Bipolar Transistor Characterization using SMU - Demo Guide

7. View the measurement result graph

1) Press to adjust the scale of the graph after finishing the measurement.

Now you can see the measurement result on the GUI of the B2900A SMU as below.

2) To change the Graph scaling of the Y-axis from LINEAR to LOG, rotate and

press to select the Y-axis scaling.

3) To change the Graph scale value of the Y-axis, rotate and press to modify the

Y-axis scale value.

8. View the list of measurement results

The measurement results can be viewed by following the steps below:

1) If you are not at the top of the Function menu, press repeatedly to return to

the top level.

At the top level of the Function menu

In the middle level of the Function menu

No tree structure can be seen

Some tree structure can be seen

(1) Press Result

(2) Press Measure

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