Tektronix 370B and 371B Programmable Curve Tracers with High-resolution DC Parametric Measurements and High Voltage Current Sourcing

• High-resolution DC Parametric Measurements With the 370B (Resolution Down to 1 pA or 2 µV)
• High Voltage and Current Sourcing With the 371B (Up to 3,000 V or 400 A)
• Built-in Cursor Measurements - Dot, Window and Function Line
• Kelvin Sense Measurements
• Sweep Measurement Mode
• Waveform Comparison and Averaging
• Fully Programmable
• 1.44 MB Floppy Drive Stores Setup and Bitmap of Curves
• Direct Hardcopy with Third-party Printer

• Parametric Characterization of Semiconductors
• Failure Analysis
• Data Sheet Generation
• Manufacturing Test
• Process Monitoring and Quality Control
• Incoming Inspection
• Component Matching

Tektronix curve tracers offer power and versatility to test the DC characteristics of semiconductor devices. The 370B and 371B curve tracers combine a simple-to-use front panel, digital acquisition and display, and programmability to serve a variety of application needs.

In the R&D lab, Tektronix curve tracers are used for characterization of new designs, extraction of SPICE parameters, failure analysis and data sheet generation. In manufacturing test, Tektronix curve tracers are used to verify device quality and process monitoring. They are also used for incoming inspection to verify device performance, perform failure analysis and match components.

370B

The 370B, the world standard for high-resolution curve tracers, provides up to 20 A/2,000 V sourcing capability combined with 1 pA and 50 µV measurement resolution. The 370B performs DC parametric characterization of integrated circuits, transistors, thyristors, diodes, SCRs, MOSFETs, electro-optic components, solar cells, solid-state relays and other semiconductor devices. It has pushbutton source and measurement configuration so it's easy to change from one test to the next.

371B

The 371B, the industry leader in high-power curve tracers, 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 3,000 volts. The pulsed high-current collector mode provides output current pulses greater than 400 amps peak to test On-Characteristics and permits high-power testing up to 3,000 watts. In the sweep measurement mode, the 371B 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 control of all 370B and 371B measurements is accomplished from the full-featured front panel or over the GPIB. Every operating parameter can be controlled using the GPIB controller. 370B and 371B Series LabView drivers are available at the Tektronix.com web site. These drivers have many of the building blocks to create a custom measurement solution.

Up to 80 digitized characteristic curves can be stored on a diskette or in internal non-volatile memory 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 370B and 371B system memory, the built-in 1.44 MB floppy drive, or sent externally via the GPIB controller.

The 370B and 371B provide three cursor measurement modes. The dot cursor provides 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.

In the sweep measurement mode, the curve tracer automatically constructs a family of curves. The 371B achieves this with low duty-cycle pulses. With this capability, power curves can be displayed without excessive heating of the device.

Curve output data can be sent directly from the 370B and 371B to a Citizen iDP-3240 thermal printer. Printing can continue while the 370B and 371B perform the next tasks.

Available Peak Power
16, 80 and 400 V Range - 0.08, 0.4, 2, 10, 50, 220 W.
2,000 V Range - 0.08, 0.4, 2, 10, 50 W.

Variable Collector Supply Settings
As a % of Maximum Peak Voltage - 0 to 100% in 0.1% increments.

Looping Compensation (typical)
Range - at least 100 pF.

Accuracy
Incremental - 1.5%.
Absolute - Less than 1.5% of total output + 3% x STEP AMPLITUDE setting + 1 mV or 1 nA.

Offset Control Range
Variable from -10 to +10 times STEP AMPLITUDE.

Resolution
STEP AMPLITUDE setting x 1%.

Amplitude Range
50 nA to 200 mA in a 1-2-5 sequence of 21 steps.

Maximum Current
20x STEP AMPLITUDE setting, 10x STEP AMPLITUDE setting when control is set to 200 mA.

Maximum Voltage
At least 10 V.

Maximum Opposing Offset Current
10x STEP AMPLITUDE.

Maximum Opposing Volts
Less than 15 V.

Ripple Plus Noise
Less than 0.5% x STEP AMPLITUDE + 10 nA.

Amplitude Switch Range
50 mV to 2 V, in a 1-2-5 sequence of 6 steps.

Maximum Voltage
20x STEP AMPLITUDE.

Maximum Current
At least 500 mA at 10 V or less, at least 200 mA at 15 V, at least 10 mA at 40 V.

Short Circuit Current Limiting
500 mA, +50%, -20%.

Maximum Opposing Offset Current
10x STEP AMPLITUDE.

Maximum Opposing Current
Less than 20 mA.

Ripple Plus Noise
Less than 0.5% x STEP AMPLITUDE + 10 mV.

Step Rates
2x line frequency (1 x line frequency in AC collector supply mode). Steps occur at 0 collector voltage.

Pulsed Steps
80 µs or 300 µs wide, ±10%.

Steps and Offset Polarity
Corresponds to Collector Supply Polarity when STEP GENERATOR POLARITY INVERT is disabled. Opposite to Collector Supply Polarity when STEP GENERATOR POLARITY INVERT is selected or CONFIGURATION switch is set to BASE COMMON. BASE COMMON configuration disables STEP GENERATOR POLARITY INVERT.

Number of Steps
Ranges from 0 to 10.

Range
From -40 to +40 volts, with 20 mV step resolution.

Accuracy (typical)
Within 50 mV + 1.5% of total output.

Output Current
At least 100 nA at ±20 V.
At least 10 mA at ±40 V.

Ripple Plus Noise
Less than 50 mVp-p.

Modes (positive and negative polarities for both modes)
High current: 250 µs pulses with maximum peak of 30 V.
High voltage: Full rectified sine wave with maximum peak of 3,000 V.

Polarity Modes
NPN +.
PNP -.

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

Looping Compensation (high voltage mode)
Stray capacitance between collector terminal and ground is compensated for up to a maximum of 100 pF.

Pulsed Collector Supply Repetition Rate
3 kW: 1/4 (0.25 x) line frequency.
300 W: 1/2 (0.5 x) line frequency.

Pulse Width (half amplitude)
250 µs ±10% (more than 30% of collector supply).

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.

Offset Control Range
Variable 0 to 10 times STEP/OFFSET AMPLITUDE setting. However, 0 to 5 times when STEP/OFFSET AMPLITUDE is 5 V or 2 A.

Number of Steps
0 to 10. However, 0 to 5 when STEP/OFFSET.

Step Polarity
Positive, Negative.

Step Rate
Pulse:
3 kW: 1/4 (0.25x) the line frequency, 300 W: 1/2 (.5X) the line frequency.
Stairstep:
300 W, 3 W, 300 mW, 30 mW: 2x the line frequency.

Amplitude Range
Normal Step - 1 µA to 2 mA in 1-2-5 sequence. COLLECTOR SUPPLY HIGH VOLTAGE MODE (30 W/3 W and 300 mW/30 mW).
Pulsed Step - 1 mA to 2 A in 1-2-5 sequence. COLLECTOR SUPPLY HIGH CURRENT MODE (3 kW/300 W).

Maximum Current
20 x step amplitude, except 10 times STEP/OFFSET AMPLITUDE when control is set to 2 A per step.

Maximum Voltage
12 V ±30%.
Accuracy: At least 5 V.

Ripple Plus Noise
Within 1% of STEP AMPLITUDE + 10 nA.

Step Amplitude Range
200 mV to 5 V in 1-2-5 sequence.

Short Circuit Current Limiting
100 mA +50%, -20%.

Maximum Voltage
10 x STEP AMPLITUDE, with 5 V setting.
20 x STEP AMPLITUDE, except 5 V setting.

Ripple Plus Noise
Within 1% of STEP AMPLITUDE + 10 mV.