Entering an era of more convenient power measurement

Tektronix has introduced a new easy-to-use graphical source measure unit (SMU) instrument for optimizing and analyzing the characteristics of high-power materials, devices and modules.

Keithley 2461 High Current Source Meter SMU Instrument provides many advanced features for creating precisely controlled 10 A/100 V, 1000 W high current pulses, minimizing the thermal effects of power devices and maintaining device integrity. Dual 18- bit high-speed analog-to-digital converters make it easy to measure the characteristics of the device under test and display them graphically directly on the front panel for immediate analysis. Based on the popular 2450 and 2460 SMU platforms, the 2461 has the highest DC and pulse source and sink performance in its class, allowing users to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of their designs.

Researchers, scientists and design engineers developing next generation high power materials and devices must be able to measure over a wide range of DC and pulsed powers to verify device performance while minimizing device self-heating, which often leads to device or module failure. This applies to markets such as materials research, semiconductor devices, circuit protection devices, advanced lighting technologies, energy storage and generation devices, and power management electronics used in consumer electronics.

Like other Keithley graphical SMUs from Tektronix, the 2461 offers a simple and intuitive Touch, Test, Invent® ^user experience that minimizes learning curves, speeds up test setup, and gets you the information you need faster. With a graphical touchscreen interface, users can interact directly with results on the front panel using natural gestures, just like on smartphones and tablets, quickly zooming in and out of data while performing detailed analysis. A built-in open source scripting language enables users to create reusable, customizable test software libraries for specialized measurement applications.

The 2461’s 10A/100V, 1000W pulse power allows engineers to apply more power to the DUT in a shorter period of time, minimizing the self-heating effects of the DUT, compared to DC current testing, which can mask the true characteristics of the DUT. DC testing can also damage the DUT if the current is applied for too long. With 18-bit dual 1 MS/s analog-to-digital converters, the 2461 can simultaneously measure and view DUT characteristics, waveforms, and transient events of current and voltage. The new fast “Contact Check” feature helps users minimize measurement errors and reduce product misjudgments related to contact fatigue, probe tip contamination, loose or disconnected connections, and relay failures. These features give users more confidence in test results, allowing them to make design and engineering decisions faster.

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