Agilent | What Is an SMU?
What Is an SMU?
Question:
What is an SMU?
Answer:
The SMU (Source Monitor Unit) is the fundamental resource for parametric measurement. The SMU
typically has two (mutually exclusive) modes of operation: force voltage and measure current, or force
current and measure voltage. Mode selection is achieved via software control. Some SMUs have
additional modes, such as COMMON (force an output voltage of zero and sink/source current in order to
achieve a ground unit function). Since one terminal of the SMU is tied to common, the SMU is
essentially a one-terminal device. Other related acronyms often encountered are MPSMU (Medium
Power SMU), HPSMU (High Power SMU), and HRSMU (High Resolution SMU).
Other related acronyms often encountered are MPSMU (Medium Power SMU), HPSMU (High Power
SMU), and HRSMU (High Resolution SMU).
A simplified schematic of the SMU is shown below:
file:///F|/03work/HTML_converted_files/files_to_pdf/All_others_htmls/What_is_an_SMU.htm [5/18/2001 9:52:02 AM]