Configure InstrumentStudio™ With PXIe-4139 SMU for IV Characterization

In the electronics and semiconductor industry, I-V curve measurement is often done as it allows engineers to perform failure analysis and parametric characterization of devices such as diodes.

An I-V curve (short for 'current-voltage characteristic curve'), is a graphical representation of the relationship between the voltage applied across an electrical device and the current flowing through it. It is one of the most common methods of determining how an electrical device functions in a circuit. Some of the devices that require this measurement are diodes, solar cells, LEDs, transistors, etc. 

As an example, NI PXIe-4139 SMU is used together with NI InstrumentStudio™ 2022 to measure the IV curve of an LED. The intended audiences are users who require to perform failure analysis and parametric characterization of devices such as diodes, solar cells, LEDs, and transistors. This example will show how to configure InstrumentStudio™ Single-Channel Sweep which sweeps through configured voltage steps and measure the corresponding current to make the IV curve measurement. 

1. Open the InstrumentStudio™ and select the Manual layout as highlighted.
2. Select PXIe-4139 as Large panel (small panel will not be able to see the IV curve)
3. Select Single-Channel Sweep as highlighted in the picture below. (Single-Channel Sweep - Sweeps through configured current or voltage steps)
4. Set the Function to be voltage.
5. For example, the START LEVEL and STOP LEVEL is set at 0 and 5 V respectively with the CURRENT LIMIT of 100mA.
6. Set the number of POINTS to 5.
7. Click RUN
8. The graph is not smooth as the number of points is insufficient. The maximum voltage did not reach 5V due to the current limit of 100mA which limits the voltage to around 4.12V.
9. To see a better IV curve, the number of points can be increased. Increase the number of POINTS to 100 and a better result is shown.

 

These steps show how an I-V curve measurement can be set up easily for LED characterization. Other device can also be used with some modification in the setting such as the start and stop level. Other model of PXIe SMU can also be used if the InstrumentStudio™ is able to support it.