370A and 371A Digital
370A High-Resolution
Programmable Curve Tracer
The 370A high-resolution
curve tracer performs DC
parametric characterization
of transistors, thyristors,
diodes, SCRs, MOSFETs,
opto-electronic components,
solar cells, solid-state displays, and other semiconductor devices. The 370A is a
versatile workhorse in many
labs and production stations
with up to 20 A/2000 V
sourcing capability combined with 1 pA and 50 V
measurement resolution. It
has pushbutton source and
measurement configuration
so it’s easy to change from
one test to the next.
Storage Curve Tracers
Fully Programmable Digital Curve
Tracers with Cursors and Hardcopy
High-resolution DC Parametric Measurements with the 370A
High Voltage and Current Sourcing
with the 371A
Metrics Software and LabView
Drivers Available to Enhance Operation
CE Certified
The 370A High-Resolution Programmable Curve Tracer (left) and the 371A High-Power Programmable Curve
Tracer (right).
Introduction
Nothing compares to a curve
tracer when power, versatility, and ease of use are
needed to test the DC characteristics of semiconductor
devices. The Sony/Tektronix
370A and 371A curve tracers
combine a simple-to-use
front panel, digital acquisition and display, and programmability to serve many
application needs. The 370series digital curve tracers
offer several advantages over
analog curve tracers:
• Higher voltage and current
sourcing capability (up to
3000 V and 400 A)
• Higher resolution voltage
and current measurements
(down to 1 pA and 50 µV)
• View a family of curves
without flicker
• Display a reference curve
to measure variations due
to temperature, etc.
• Voltage, current, DC beta,
and slope measurement
with built-in cursor measurements
• Store curves and setups for
consistent tests and measurements based on reference curves
• Full-color printouts using
an HPGL plotter instead of
expensive Polaroids
• Automate tests with computer and software (e.g.,
Metrics, LabView, etc.)
Copyright © 1996 Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved.
371A High-Power Programmable
Curve Tracer
The 371A high-power curve
tracer performs DC parametric characterization on a
wide variety of power semiconductors including thyristors, SCRs, IGBTs, and power
MOSFETs. The high-voltage
collector mode permits testing the Off-Characteristics of
a device up to 3000 volts.
The pulsed high-current collector mode provides output
current pulses greater than
400 amps peak for testing
On-Characteristics. It also
permits high-power testing
up to 3,000 watts. In the
sweep measurement mode,
the 371A automatically constructs a family of curves
while stimulating the device
with low-duty-cycle pulses.
With this capability, power
curves can be displayed
without excessive heating of
the device.
Interactive, Programmable
Control
Interactive control of all
370A/371A measurements is
accomplished from the full
featured front panel or over
the GPIB. Every operating
parameter can be controlled
using a GPIB controller. For
interactive control, Metrics
software provides complete
control and analysis without
having to program the instrument. 370/371-series Lab-
View drivers are available
from the Tektronix BBS.
These drivers have many of
the building blocks for creating a custom measurement
solution.
Store and Recall Setups and
Digitized Curves
Up to 64 digitized characteristic curves can be stored on
a diskette and recalled at the
touch of a button. A live
curve can then be compared
with a previously stored
curve to assess temperature
drift or other changes in
operating parameters. To
help identify the data, up to
24 characters of text may be
used to label or annotate the
curve data.
Operating parameters can be
adjusted, stored, and recalled
using several storage methods including the 370A/371A
non-volatile memory, the
built-in DOS compatible
floppy disk, or to an external
GPIB controller.
Built-in Cursor Measurements
The 370A/371A provides
three cursor-measurement
modes. The Dot cursor pro-
vides direct screen readout of
voltage, current, gm, or DC
beta at any point. The Window cursor can be positioned
between two curves to measure small-signal beta or gm,
and can also be used for
visual go/no-go tests. The
Function Line cursor provides screen readout of a
slope or intercept value.
Test Fixturing
A test fixture which provides
safe device enclosure to
ensure operator protection
during measurements is provided as a standard accessory. The test fixture accommodates standard A1001
through A1005 adapters with
Kelvin sensing, 3-pin
adapters without Kelvin
sensing, and the A1023 and
A1024 surface-mount
adapters.
Direct Hardcopy
Plotter output data can be
sent directly from the
370A/371A without the need
for an external controller.
Plotting can continue while
the 370A/371A performs the
next tasks.
Test and Measurement Software
Metrics ICS Interactive Characterization Software (Tektronix PN 063-1649-00) combined with the 370/371
driver (Tektronix PN
063-1650-00) offers computer-controlled DC parameter characterization and analysis of numerous semicon-
page 2
Define Test
1
Setup 2
Setup, capture, and measurement with Metrics ICS software.
Press the Measure
Button to Capture Data 3
Plot the Data and Make
Measurements
ductor devices. Every aspect
of instrument control and
data analysis is available
through a set of interactive
dialog boxes that are configured in a graphics-oriented
Microsoft Windows environment. Metrics ICS can make
measurements that are not
available on a manually
operated instrument, including the ability to sweep any
supply. Extensive data management capabilities include
project files, data export,
DDE links, and search capa-
bilities. Metrics ICS built-in
automation capabilities
include conditional pass/fail
testing and result logging.
Labview™ Driver
370A and 371A drivers for
National Instruments Lab-
View software is available
from the Tektronix Bulletin
Board Service. These drivers
allow setting most controls
in the instrument, saving
data to disk, and displaying
the data on the computer
screen. Since LabView is a
graphical programming language, the drivers can be
modified to suit a particular
measurement requirement.
To download either driver,
set your modem for N,8,1,
19,200 baud and dial
503-627-5658. Once logged
in, select the download
option and type TEK370.ZIP
to download the 370 driver
or TEK371.ZIP to download
the 371 driver.
Labview ATEdemo incorporates many of the 370/371 control VIs.
page 3
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