Model 4200A-SCS Parameter Analyzer Reference Manual
Section 1: Introduction
4200A-901-01 Rev. C / February 2017
1-3
Source-Measure Unit (SMU)
The fundamental instrument module used by the 4200A-SCS is the source-measure unit (SMU). The
basic function of a SMU is to perform one of the following source-measure operations:
•
Source voltage and measure current voltage
•
Source current and measure voltage current
The source of the SMU can be configured to sweep or step voltages or currents, or to output a
constant bias voltage or current.
There are two models of source-measure units available. The 4200-SMU is a medium power (2 W)
source-measure unit, and the 4210 is a high power (20 W) SMU. The following table lists the
maximum limits of the two SMUs.
Source-measure units
Model
Maximum Voltage
Maximum Current
Maximum Power
4200-SMU
210 V
105 mA
2.2 W
4210-SMU
210 V
1.05 A
22 W
Preamplifier
A 4200-PA preamplifier adds five low current source-measure ranges to a SMU. Without a
preamplifier, the 100 nA range (100 fA resolution) is the lowest current source-measure range for a
SMU. With a preamplifier installed, the 10 nA, 1 nA, 100 pA, 10 pA, and 1 pA source-measure ranges
are added.
If preamplifiers are ordered, the 4200A-SCS will be shipped from the factory with the preamplifiers
installed on the rear panel of the mainframe. The preamplifiers can be removed from the rear panel
and mounted remotely in order to reduce the effects of long cables on measurement quality (long
cables can add noise to low current measurements and can cause oscillation with some devices).
An installed preamplifier is matched to the SMU to which it is connected. Therefore, if you disconnect
the preamplifiers to mount them at a remote location, you must ensure that you reconnect each one
to its matching SMU.
For details, refer to
Source measure unit (SMU) with Model 4200-PA overview
(on page 3-11).
Pulse source-measure hardware
Keithley Instruments’ pulse source-measure hardware for the 4200A-SCS includes one or more pulse
Keithley pulse cards. Refer to
Pulse measure and pulse generator units
(on page 5-1) for details.
Ground unit (GNDU)
The ground unit on the rear panel of the 4200A-SCS provides a convenient method of making ground
connections. This eliminates the need to use a SMU for this purpose. For details, refer to
(on page 3-19).
Capacitance-voltage (CVU) hardware
Keithley Instruments’ capacitance-voltage hardware for the 4200A-SCS includes up to one
capacitance-voltage unit (CVU). Refer to
Multi-frequency capacitance-voltage unit
(on page 4-1) for
details.
