Keithley announces lowest cost SMU instrument

The electrical test instruments specialist says the Model 2401 SourceMeter has been optimised for high precision test applications such as current vs voltage (I V) characterisation of photovoltaic (solar) cells, high brightness leds, low voltage materials and semiconductor devices, as well as resistance measurements. The device operates within 1A/20V range boundaries and integrates a dc power source with a true instrument-grade 5-1/2 or 6-1/2-digit multimeter in a single enclosure. It has been designed to act as a voltage source, a current source, a voltmeter, an ammeter and an ohmmeter – and provides four quadrant bipolar and automatic source/sink operation. Robert Green, Keithley Instruments' senior market development manager, said the entry level device provides advanced source and measurement capabilities at 20V and 1A signal levels and at an 'unprecedented' low price. "The Model 2401 is the test and measurement industry's lowest cost standalone source measurement instrument with a complete set of measurement ranges, features and programmable operating modes. With the burgeoning wireless devices market, the need to meet specifications requires very low sleep mode currents. With this entry level device, we can offer an economical alternative to test systems configured with separate programmable power supplies and digital multimeters – or applications for which precision programmable power supplies lack sufficient accuracy, signal range, or resolution." According to Green, the Model 2401 is suitable for a variety of system applications with low voltage requirements and with limited test hardware budgets.