September 24, 2012. Keithley Instruments Inc. has introduced three new economical source measurement unit (SMU) instruments suited for bench-top and R&D applications as well as a 5-1/2-digit dual-display digital multimeter, which is optimized for a variety of general-purpose system and bench design applications.
For researchers, educators, R&D engineers, and others who must deal with ever-tighter instrumentation budgets, Keithley has added three dual-channel SMUs to the Series 2600B line. The new Models 2604B, 2614B, and 2634B are optimized for bench-top research, product development, student labs, and other settings where tightly integrated operation and high accuracy are important, but leading-edge, system-level test automation is not.
The Series 2600B SMU line offers both single- and dual-channel models that combine the capabilities of a precision power supply, true current source, 6-1/2-digit multimeter, arbitrary waveform generator, pulse generator, and electronic load in one tightly integrated instrument. The Series 2600B line provides a variety of features:
- 6-1/2-digit measurement resolution allows Series 2600B instruments to provide resolution to 0.1 fA for the Models 2635B and 2636B.
- Model 2400 software emulation makes the Series 2600B compatible with test code developed for Keithley’s Model 2400 SourceMeter SMU instrument; in addition, it provides a migration path from SCPI programming to Keithley’s TSP (Test Script Processor) technology, which can improve test times.
- A back-panel USB 2.0 connector expands the interface options available for communicating with an external PC, and Series 2600B instruments give users a variety of PC communication buses from which to choose, including USB, LAN/LXI, GPIB, and RS-232.
- Embedded Plug & Play I-V Testing capability enables the Series 2600B instruments to offer embedded, Java-based test software that supports true plug-and-play I-V characterization through any web browser, on any computer, from anywhere in the world.
The Series 2600B line builds upon the capabilities of its predecessor, the Series 2600A line, with which it is fully backward compatible. The Series 2600B’s onboard TSP embeds complete test programs into nonvolatile memory within the instrument itself to provide high test throughput by eliminating the GPIB traffic problems common to systems dependent on an external PC controller. In addition, for large, multi-channel applications, Keithley’s TSP-Link inter-unit communication and expansion bus works in tandem with the TSP to enable high speed, SMU-per-pin parallel testing. Because Series 2600B instrument channels are fully isolated and do not require a mainframe, they can be easily reconfigured and redeployed as new test applications are developed.
Prices for the 2600B instruments range from $6,000 to $13,700.
Economy 5-1/2-digit DMMs
Keithley also introduced the Model 2110 5-1/2-digit dual-display digital multimeter, which is optimized for a variety of general-purpose system and bench design applications. System features such as external triggering, a built-in reading buffer, and an optional GPIB interface enhance ease of use. The Model 2110’s capabilities include DC voltage (up to 1,000 V) and current (up to 10 A), AC voltage (up to 750 V) and current (up to 10 A), two- and four-wire resistance (up to 100 MΩ), temperature, frequency (10 Hz to 300 kHz) and period, and capacitance (1 nF to 100 µF ranges) measurements. A variety of mathematical functions and diode and continuity test functions are also included. Programmable A/D converter and filter settings simplify optimizing the Model 2110’s signal-to-noise ratio to improve measurement accuracy. At the fast 4-1/2-digit setting, it takes up to 50,000 readings/second.
The instrument’s dual display can show the results from two measurements simultaneously, such as DC voltage and temperature, so users can monitor temperature fluctuations without interrupting other measurements. Its intuitive front panel makes it easy enough for students to use without sacrificing measurement performance or flexibility. Model 2110 includes support for making temperature measurements with RTDs, NTC thermistors, and B, C, E, J, K, N, R, S, and T-type thermocouples. A built-in cold junction compensator ensures higher thermocouple measurement accuracy without the need for additional plug-ins.
To simplify the process of converting raw measurement data into usable information, the Model 2110 includes the most often-used mathematical functions: percentage, average, min/max, null, limits, mX+B, dB, and dBm. The KI-Tool and KI-Link software tools included help users to control the instrument remotely, record measurements, and display time-series plots of the results, then import them into either Microsoft Word or Excel files for creating reports. LabVIEW, and IVI drivers provide further programming flexibility.
With USB-only or USB/GPIB control options, the Model 2110 is simple to integrate into test systems with other instruments, such as Keithley’s line of Series 2200 DC Power Supplies. The TMC-compliant USB remote interface and the optional GPIB interface allow easy re-use of existing SCPI programs.
The Model 2110 DMM serves applications in manual, semi-automatic, and automatic testing of low-cost electronic devices, circuits, modules, electrical components, and semiconductor components. Production, R&D, and test engineers, scientists, and students can employ the instruments in the portable, bench, and system applications. List price of the Model 2110 5-1/2-Digit Dual-Display DMM is $595 for the USB-only version and $725 for the USB/GPIB option.