Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
How to make a list sweep measurement
This material shows how to perform a list sweep measurement through an example of the Photovoltaic Cell IV
measurement. Figure 1 illustrates the connection and condition supposed in the example of measuring Photovoltaic Cell
using the B2901/02/11/12A.
B2901/02/11/12A
A
V
High Force
DUT
-
Low Force
Figure 1. Connection and condition supposed in the example
Figure 2 shows the timing chart for the list sweep measurement with the front panel operation. In this case, the specified
source value is sourced immediately after turning on
. Then, when you press
, the instrument will
make a list sweep measurement. If it is necessary, you can specify any measurement trigger delay time which is the wait
time after sourcing each source value and before making a measurement. The measurement time consists of
Measurement Speed and some overhead time. Measurement Speed is the parameter specified by the user. Overhead
time includes the time to change the measurement range, etc.
TP : Trigger Period
TMD : Measurement Trigger
TM : Measurement Time
Delay Time
V or I
TMD
TM
:Measurement
V2 Value
TMD
TM
V4 Value
TMD
V3 Value
Source Value
TMD
TM
TM
V1 Value
TP
Output
Off State
Press
Output ON Trigger
TP
Internal
Trigger
TP
TP
Internal
Trigger
Internal
Trigger
Figure 2. Timing chart for the list sweep measurement
Time
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Preparing the list data in advance
When you source some complicated waveform with the List Sweep Mode of the B2901/02/11/12A, it is convenient to
create the data list on a PC using the software of your choice and then transfer the data list file to the B2901/02/11/12A
via USB flash memory. TXT, PRN and CSV file format are available for data list file.
Step 1. Develop CSV file which includes the following source list data.
(From 0 to 0.7 with 0.1 step, and from 0.71 to 1.30 with 0.01 step, and from 1.4 to 1.7 with 0.1 step)
Step 2.
Save CSV file as “listdata.csv” to the root folder of your USB flash memory device.
Step 3. Attach the USB flash memory device which “listdata.csv” file is saved to the USB port on the front panel of the
B2901/02/11/12A.
Agilent B2900A Quick I/V Measurement Software is also available to edit the data list for List Sweep Mode. Please refer
to the Agilent Web Site below for the detailed information about Agilent B2900A Quick I/V Measurement Software.
http://www.agilent.com/find/b2900a
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Performing a list sweep measurement
Step 1.
Press
Step 2. Press
source.
repeatedly until Single View for Channel 1 is shown in the display.
to edit the source function, and then select
(1) Press Mode
Step 3.
Press
Press
(2) Press VOLTS (V)
to edit the source value, and then enter 0 V to set the source value to 0 V.
(1) Press Source
Step 4.
to set the source function to the voltage
(2) Enter Source Value
to edit the limit value, and then enter 100 mA to set the limit value to 100 mA.
(1) Press Limit
(2) Enter Limit Value
Step 5. Press
to configure the measurement parameter, and then select
parameter to the current.
(1) Press Measure
(2) Press AMPS (I)
to set the measurement
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 6. Press
Sub-Panel.
to change the keys shown in Assist keys, and then press
(1) Press Show Sweep
Step 7.
Press
, then press
to show Sweep
(2) Sweep Sub-Panel appears
to change the keys shown in Assist keys.
(1) Press
(2) Press More...
Step 8. Press
to turn on List Sweep Mode. After turning on List Sweep Mode, you can see Source Shape
which shows the list sweep mode.
(1) Press LIST
Step 9.
Rotate and press
(1) Rotate and press
Start value
Source Shape
to edit Start value and press
to edit
to open Load List Sweep Data dialogue.
(2) Press Load
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 10. Rotate and press
to select “listdata.csv” file, and then press
(1) Rotate and press
listdata.csv file
to select
to load “listdata.csv” file.
(2) Press OK to load listdata.csv file
Now you have configured List Sweep Source Setup and can see the parameters bellow.
Step 11. Press
repeatedly until Graph View is shown in the display.
Step 12. Press
to source the voltage, and then press
(The status information will show
during the measurement.)
to perform a measurement.
Step 13. Press
to adjust the scale of the graph after finishing the measurement. Now you can see the
measurement result on the GUI of the B2901/02/11/12A as bellow.
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 14. Rotate and press
to edit the Y-axis maximum value, and then enter 0 A to adjust the graph scale.
(1) Rotate and press
Y-axis maximum value
Step 15. Rotate and press
to select
(2) Enter the scale such as 0 A
to edit the Y-axis minimum value, and then enter -80 mA to adjust the graph scale.
(1) Rotate and press
Y-axis minimum value
to select
(2) Enter the scale such as -80 mA
Now you can see the measurement result scaled on the GUI of the B2901/02/11/12A as bellow.
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Configuring the measurement speed
In the default setting, the instrument selects the appropriate measurement speed and range automatically to get the fine
accuracy. However, you can also specify these parameters on the GUI of the B2901/02/11/12A to meet a variety of the
requirement to the measurement conditions.
For example, let’s try to change the measurement speed to NORMAL to make a measurement more carefully. If you select
NORMAL, the aperture time is set to 1 PLC. Here, PLC stands for power line cycle and the specified number of power line
cycles is used per a measurement.
Step 1.
Press
Step 2.
Press
repeatedly until Single View for Channel 1 is shown in the display.
to edit the measurement speed, and then select
NORMAL. (If you can’t see
in Assist keys, press
(1) Press Speed
to set the measurement speed to
to change the keys shown in Assist keys.)
(2) Press NORMAL
Configuring the measurement range operation
The parameters which configure the measurement range operation can be displayed in Range Sub-panel in Single View,
although Sweep Sub-Panel is shown at this moment. In the default setting, the B2901/02/11/12A performs the current
measurement using 1 uA current minimum measurement range with AUTO range operation. With AUTO range operation,
the B2901/02/11/12A selects the proper range for the measurement with specified minimum measurement range so
that you don’t need to take care about it. To know how to change the measurement range setting, try to configure to use
10 nA current minimum measurement range with AUTO range operation.
Step 1. Press
to show Range Sub-Panel. (If you can’t see
change the keys shown in Assist keys.)
(1) Press More... (if necessary)
in Assist keys, press
(2) Press Hide Sweep
to
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 2.
Rotate and press
to edit the current minimum measurement range, and then select
to set
it to 10 nA.
(1) Rotate and press
to edit
Current Minimum Measurement Range
(2) Press 10nA
If you’d like to fix the measurement range, you can select FIXED range operation as below.
Step 3.
Rotate and press
to edit the current measurement range operation. Then Select
to set the
current measurement range operation to FIXED.
(1) Rotate and press
to edit
Current Measurement Range Operation
(2) Press FIXED
Configuring the measurement trigger delay time
The trigger parameters including the measurement trigger delay time and the trigger period can be displayed in Trigger
Sub-panel in Single View, although Range Sub-Panel is shown at this moment. In the default setting, the trigger type is set
to the automatic trigger type (AUTO) so that you don’t need to specify these trigger parameters.
If you’d like to specify the measurement trigger delay time, take the following steps.
Step 1. Press
to show Trigger Sub-Panel. (If you can’t see
change the keys shown in Assist keys.)
(1) Press More... (if necessary)
in Assist keys, press
(2) Press Show Trigger
to
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 2.
Press
to edit the trigger type, and then select
(1) Press
Step 3.
Rotate
to set the trigger type to MANUAL.
(2) Press MANUAL
to select Channel 1 Trigger Parameters and set them up as below.
(Source Trigger Count: 72, Measurement Trigger Count: 72, Measurement Trigger Delay Time: 100ms)
Note) Source and Measurement Trigger Count should be the same number as Sweep Points.
Now you’ve configured 100 ms measurement trigger delay time.
Configuring the trigger period
If you need to control the source and measurement period strictly, the trigger period is useful to make it. In order to specify
the trigger period, take the following steps.
Step 1.
Rotate and press
(1) Rotate and press
Trigger Type
to edit the trigger type, and then select
to edit
(2) Press TIMER
to set the trigger type to TIMER.
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 2.
Rotate
to select Channel 1 Trigger Parameters and set them up as below.
(Source Trigger Period 400 ms, Measurement Trigger Period: 400 ms)
Note) Source and Measurement Period should be the same as each other.
Now you’ve configured 400 ms trigger period. However, please note that FIXED current measurement range operation will
be used to control the trigger period strictly. The measurement range is selected by Limit value. In this example, 100 mA
measurement range will be used. If using AUTO measurement range operation is prior to controlling the trigger period
strictly, you may specify MANUAL trigger type with AUTO source and measurement trigger source by the following steps.
Step 3.
Press
to edit the trigger type, and then select
(1) Rotate and press
Trigger Type
Step 4.
Rotate
to edit
to set the trigger type to MANUAL.
(2) Press MANUAL
to select Channel 1 Trigger Parameters and set them up as below.
(Source Trigger Source: AUTO, Measurement Trigger Source: AUTO)
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Viewing the list of measurement results
The measurement results including the measurement time stamp can be referred by the following steps.
Step 1.
Step 2.
If you aren’t on the top of the Function menu, press
repeatedly to return to the top level.
On the top level of the Function menu
Any tree structure can’t be seen
In the middle level of the Function menu
Some tree structure can be seen
If you’d like to see the list of measurement results, press
, then press
to open
Measure Result dialogue.
(1) Press Result
(2) Press Measure
Step 3.
Rotate and press
(1) Rotate
field
Step 4. Press
type.
to select Data Type field.
to select Data Type
(2) Press
to select Data Type
to change the keys shown in Assist keys, and then press
(1) Press More …
(2) Press TIME (t)
to select Time as the data
Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 5.
Rotate and press
(1) Rotate and press
Data field
to select Data field. Then rotate
to select
to scroll the data list.
(2) Rotate
or press Assist key
to scroll the list