Tektronix 370A Data Sheet

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

370A
Characteristics

Collector Supply

Polarity Modes – AC, DC, Leakage, Recti-

fied Sine.

Range – 16 V, 80 V, 400 V, 2000 V.
Max Peak Current –10 A, 2 A, 0.4 A, 0.05 A.
Peak Current Pulsed –20 A, 4 A, 0.8 A, 0.1 A .
Minimum Series Resistance – 0.26 Ω,

6.4 Ω, 160 Ω, 20 kΩ.
Maximum Series Resistance – 800 Ω,

20kΩ, 500kΩ, 12.5MΩ.
Peak Power Wattage – 0.08W, 0.4W, 2W,

10W, 50W, 220W.

Step Generator

Current Mode –

Amplitude range: 50 nA to 200 mA in 1-2-5
sequence in 21 steps.
Maximum current: 20X STEP AMPLITUDE,
except for 2 A with switch set to 200 mA.
Maximum voltage: At least 10 V.
Maximum opposing offset current: 10X
STEP AMPLITUDE.
Maximum opposing volts: Less than 7 V.
Ripple plus noise: Less than 0.5% X STEP
AMPLITUDE + 1 nA.

Voltage Mode –

Amplitude switch range: 50 mV to 2 V, in
1-2-5 sequence.
Maximum voltage: 20 X STEP AMPLITUDE.
Max current: At least 500 mA at 10 V or
less, or 10 mA at 40 V.

Accuracy (current or voltage steps including
offset) –
Incremental: 2%.
Absolute: Less than 2% X total output +3%
X AMPLITUDE setting.

Offset Control Range – Variable from –10 to
+10 X STEP AMPLITUDE, with 0.1% resolu­tion.

Short Circuit Current Limiting – 500 mA.

Maximum Opposing Offset

Volts – 10X STEP AMPLITUDE.
Maximum Opposing Current – Less than

20mA.
Step Rates – 2X line frequency (1X line fre-

quency in AC collector supply). Steps occur
at 0 collector voltage.

Pulsed Steps – 80 µs or 300 µs wide ±10%.
Steps and Offset Polarity – Same as collec-

tor supply polarity when STEP GENERATOR
POLARITY INVERT is disabled. Opposite to
collector supply polarity when STEP GENER­ATOR POLARITY INVERT is selected or CON­FIGURATION is set to BASE GROUNDED,
STEP GENERATOR POLARITY INVERT is dis­a b l e d .

Number of Steps – Selectable from 0 to 10.
Auxiliary Supply –

Range: From –40 to +40 V with 20 mV reso­lution.
Accuracy: Greater than 50 mV +2% of total
output.
Output current: ±20 V, at least 100 mA;
±40V, at least 10 mA.

Nonstore Mode Collector Current Range –

1 A/div to 2A/div in 1-2-5 sequence of 20
steps. X10 MAG extends maximum sensitiv­ity to 100 nA/div. Both unmagnified and
magnified accuracy are within 3%

Step Generator Display Range – 1 to 10
steps/division, or 1 step/10 divisions.
Unmagnified and magnified accuracy are
within 3%.

Display Offset – Vertical offset of display
centerline value up to 10 divisions in 21
half-division steps.

Digital Storage Vertical Acquisitions

A/D Converter –

Resolution: 10 bits for 10.24 divisions, 100
counts per division. Maximum data points
are 1024.
Maximum sampling rate: Line frequency X

1024.
Minimum sampling rate: Line frequency X 2.

Collector Current Range – 1 A/div to
2A/div in 1-2-5 sequence of 20 steps. X10
MAG extends maximum sensitivity to
100nA/div (1 nA resolution). Unmagnified
accuracy is within 1.5% of readout +0.05
div of setting with DOT cursor.

Emitter Current Range – 1 nA/div to
2mA/div in 1-2-5 sequence of 20 steps.
X10 MAG extends maximum sensitivity to
100 pA/div (1 pA resolution). Unmagnified
accuracy is within 1.5% of readout
+0.05div of setting + 1 nA with DOT
cursor.

Nonstore Horizontal Deflection System

Collector Volts Range – 50 mV/div to

500V/div in 1-2-5 sequence of 13 steps.
X10 MAG extends maximum sensitivity to
5mV/div (50 µV resolution). Unmagnified
and magnified accuracy (NONSTORE) are
within 3%.

Base/Emitter Volts Range – 50 mV/div to
5V/div in 1-2-5 sequence of 6 steps. X10
MAG extends maximum sensitivity to
5mV/div (50 µV resolution). Unmagnified
and magnified accuracy (NONSTORE) are
within 3%.

Step Generator Display Range – 1 or 10
steps/division, or 1 step/10 divisions.
Unmagnified and magnified accuracy (NON­STORE) are within 3%.

Display Offset – Horizontal offset of display
center-line value up to 10 divisions in 21
half-division steps.

page 4

Digital Storage Horizontal Acquisition

A/D Converter Acquisition –

Resolution: 10 bits for 10.24 divisions, 100
counts per division.
Sampling rate: 2X line frequency.

Collector Volts Range – 50 mV/div to
500V/div in 1-2-5 sequence of 21 steps.
X10 MAG extends maximum sensitivity to
5mV/div (50 µV resolution). Unmagnified
accuracy is within 1.5% of readout
+0.03div of setting with DOT cursor.

Acquisition Modes – Normal, Envelope,
and Average. Envelope is Vertical or Hori­zontal. Average is moving average with
weight of 1/16.

CRT and Readout

CRT – 7-inch diagonal (173 mm), electro-

static deflection, P31 phosphor.
Readout – Automatic on-screen display.

Over-range is shown by a flashing display.
100 pA to 2 A per vertical division; 5 mV to
500V per horizontal division; 5 nA to
200mA and 5 mV to 2 V per step.

BETA or Gm –

BETA: 500 nano to 400 Mega.
Gm: 50 ns to 400 s.
Cursor: 4-digit horizontal and vertical val­ues without X10 MAG: 5-digit with MAG.
Offset: 4-digit value.
Auxiliary supply: –40 V to +40 V.

page 5

371A
Characteristics

Collector Supply

Modes (positive and negative polarities for

both modes) –
High Current: 250 s pulses with maximum
peak of 30 V.
High Voltage: Full rectified sine with maxi­mum peak of 3000 V (positive and negative
polarities for both modes).

Output –

High-Current (pulsed) Mode:

Peak Peak Maximum
Voltage Current m Power

30 V +10%, –5% 400 A 3 kW
30 V +10%, –5% 40 A 300 W

High-Voltage Mode:

Peak Peak Maximum
Voltage Current m Power

3 kV +10, –0% 40 mA ±20% 30 W
3 kV +10, –0% 4 mA ±20% 3 W
300 V +15%, –0% 4 mA ±20% 300 mW
300 V +15%, –0% 0.4 mA ±20% 30 mW

Polarities –

NPN+: Positive.
NPN–: Negative.

Variable Collector Supply Range – Contin­uously variable from 0% to 100% in 0.1%
resolution.

Pulsed Collector Supply Pulse Width –

250 µs 10%.

Pulsed Collector Repetition Rate –

3 kW: 0.25 times line frequency.
300 W: 0.5 times line frequency.

Loop Compensation (High Voltage mode) –
Stray capacitance between collector termi­nal and ground is compensated for up to a
maximum of 100pF.

Circuit Breakers – Both the high-voltage
and the high-current supplies have breakers
which operate independently. The high-cur­rent output breaker opens automatically in
an over-current condition. Both breakers
can be operated manually.

Vertical Display System Collector Current Measurement

Vertical Range (in 1-2-5 increments) –

3 kW maximum: 1 A/div to 50 A/div.
300 W maximum: 500 µA/div to 5 A/div.
30 W maximum: 100 µA/div to 500 µA/div.
3 W, 300 mW maximum: 10 A/div to
500A/div.
30 mW maximum: 1 µA/div to 50 µA/div.

Accuracy – Within 0.1 vertical division.
Cursor Accuracy (nonstore mode, window

cursor) – Readout X 2% plus 0.2 div of ver­tical setting.

Horizontal Display System Collector Voltage
Measurement

Vertical Range (in 1-2-5 increments) –

3 kW, 300 W maximum: 100 mV/div to
5V/div.

30 W, 3 W maximum: 50 V/div to
500V/div.

300 mW, 30 mW maximum: 5 V/div to
50V/div

Step Generator Voltage Range (VBE) –

100 mV/div to 5 V/div (in increments of
1-2-5).

Accuracy – Within 0.1 horizontal division.
Cursor Accuracy (nonstore mode, window

cursor) – Readout times 2% plus 0.2 div of
the horizontal setting.

Step Generator

Current Mode –

High-Current (pulsed) Mode:

Step Range Maximum Maximum
and Waveform Current m Voltage

1 mA/step to Step/offset 10 V
2 mA/step amplitude ±20%
pulsed setting X 20,

maximum
20 A at
2A/step

High-Voltage Mode:

Step Range Maximum Maximum
and Waveform Current m Voltage

1 µA/step to Step/offset 10 V
2 mA/step amplitude ±20%
stairstep setting X 20,

maximum
20 A at
2A/step

Ripple, Noise –Step/offset amplitude set­ting X 1% plus 10 nA.

Pulse Width (collector supply high-current
mode, 1 mA/step step/offset amplitude set­ting) – 500 s ±10%.

Voltage Mode –

High-Current (pulsed) and High-Voltage
Mode:

Step Range Maximum Maximum
and Waveform Current m Voltage

200 mV/step to 100 mA Step/offset
5 V/step +50%,–20% amplitude
stairstep setting

X 20,
maximum
50 V.

Ripple, Noise –Step/offset amplitude set­ting X 1% plus 10 mV,

Number of Steps – 0 to 10 except 0 to 5 for
the 5 V/step and 2A/step ranges.

Step Polarity – Same as collector supply
polarity. Reverse with STEP-INVERT but­ton.

Step Rate –

Pulse: 0.25 X the line frequency at 3kW,

0.5 X the line frequency at 300W.
Stairstep: 2 X the line frequency.

Offset – 0 to 10 X the step/offset amplitude
setting with 1% resolution except 0 to 5 X
at 5V/step and 2A/step settings. Polarity is
same as the step signal.

Test Fixture

Test Fixture – Designed to allow easy con-

nection to a variety of devices. Includes an
integral safety enclosure to assure operator
protection. Special patch cords are pro­vided for connecting large devices.

Metrics Software

Recommended Computer Configuration –

Minimum processor: 386DX/33 MHz IBM
compatible computer.
Free memory: 8 Mb minimum.
Disk space: At least 14 Mb.
Floppy drive: 1.44 Mb 3.5-inch.
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 3.
Interface cards: National Instruments GPIB
card.

page 6

Ordering
Information

370A High Resolution Curve Tracer

Includes: Operations Manual, A1001 Blank

Adapter, A1005 Axial Lead Diode Adapter,
A1009 Four- and Six-lead Dual-width Tran­sistor FETAdapter, 3.5-inch Floppy Disk,
Power Cord, 125 V/4 A Fuse, 250 V/2 A
Fuse.

370AOptions
Option 1R – Rackmount kit.
Option 95 – Provide test report.
Option 96 – Provide Inspection Passed cer-

tificate.

Option C5 – Five-year calibration Service

Assurance Plan.

Option R2 – Two additional years repair

Service Assurance Plan.

International Power Plug Options
Option A1 – Universal Euro 220 V, 50 Hz.
Option A2 – UK 240 V, 50 Hz.
Option A3 – Australian 240 V, 50 Hz.
Option A4 – North American 240 V, 60 Hz.
Option A5 – Switzerland 220 V, 50 Hz.

371A High Power Curve Tracer

Includes: Operations Manual, Wiring Kit,

A1002 In-line Adapter, A1003 TO-3/TO-66
Adapter, 3.5-inch Floppy Disk, Power Cord,
250 V/1 A Fuse, 250 V/2 A Fuse, 250 V/4 A
Fuse.

371AOptions
Option 1R – Rackmount kit.
Option 95 – Provide test report.
Option 96 – Provide Inspection Passed cer-

tificate.

Option C5 – Five-year calibration Service

Assurance Plan.

Option R2 – Two additional years repair

Service Assurance Plan.

International Power Plug Options
Option A1 – Universal Euro 220 V, 50 Hz.
Option A2 – UK 240 V, 50 Hz.
Option A3 – Australian 240 V, 50 Hz.
Option A4 – North American 240 V, 60 Hz.
Option A5 – Switzerland 220 V, 50 Hz.

370A/371A Optional Accessories

■ Metrics Software (core program –

requires 063-1650-00 drivers to operate
37x curve tracers) – 063-1649-00.

■ 370/371 Drivers for Metrics Software –

063-1650-00.

■ LabView for Windows – LVWIN.

■ K475 Instrument Cart.

■ HC100 Plotter for Low-cost, Four-color

Plotting.

■ A1001 – Blank adapter.

■ A1002 – TO220 Kelvin sense adapter.

■ A1003 – T03/TO066 Kelvin sense

adapter.

■ A1004 – Offset-lead Kelvin sense

adapter.

■ A1005 – Axial diode lead Kelvin sense

adapter.

■ A1006 – Long-lead, dual-width transis-

tor adapter.

■ A1007 – Bipolar and MOSFET transistor

adapter.

■ A1008 – Long-lead, dual-width, FET

adapter.

■ A1009 – 4- and 6-lead, dual-width FET

adapter.

■ A1010 – 16-pin IC, zero-insertion

adapter.

■ A1023 – SOT 23 for surface-mount

devices.

■ A1024 – TO252/SMT D-pack surface-

mount devices adapter.

page 7

For further information, contact Tektronix:

World Wide Web:
Canada
India
People’s Republic of China
United Kingdom & Eire

From other areas, contact:

Copyright © 1996, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending.
Information in this publication supersedes that in all previously published material. Specification and price change privileges reserved.
TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks.

12/96 TD/XBS 76W–10757–1

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