Agilent Technologies B2901 User manual

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.
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.
Figure 2. Timing chart for the list sweep measurement
A
-
-
V
High Force
Low Force
B2901/02/11/12A
DUT
Output ON
Source Value
Output
Off State
:Measurement
V or I
Time
V1 Value
Press
Trigger
Internal
Trigger
Internal
Trigger
V2 Value
TMD
TMD
TMD
TM
TM
TM
TPTPTP
TMD TM
TP
TMD : Measurement Trigger
Delay Time
TP
TM
: Trigger Period
: Measurement Time
V3 Value
V4 Value
Internal
Trigger

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 repeatedly until Single View for Channel 1 is shown in the display.
Step 2. Press to edit the source function, and then select to set the source function to the voltage
source.
Step 3. Press to edit the source value, and then enter 0 V to set the source value to 0 V.
Step 4. Press to edit the limit value, and then enter 100 mA to set the limit value to 100 mA.
Step 5. Press to configure the measurement parameter, and then select to set the measurement
parameter to the current.
(1) Press Mode (2) Press VOLTS (V)
(1) Press Source (2) Enter Source Value
(1) Press Limit (2) Enter Limit Value
(1) Press Measure (2) Press AMPS (I)

Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 6. Press to change the keys shown in Assist keys, and then press to show Sweep
Sub-Panel.
Step 7. Press , then press to change the keys shown in Assist keys.
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.
Step 9. Rotate and press to edit Start value and press to open Load List Sweep Data dialogue.
(1) Press Show Sweep (2) Sweep Sub-Panel appears
(2) Press More...(1) Press
(1) Press LIST Source Shape
(1) Rotate and press
Start value
to edit (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 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 to perform a measurement.
(The status information will show during the 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.
(2) Press OK to load listdata.csv file
(1) Rotate and press
listdata.csv file
to select

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.
Step 15. Rotate and press to edit the Y-axis minimum value, and then enter -80 mA to adjust the graph scale.
Now you can see the measurement result scaled on the GUI of the B2901/02/11/12A as bellow.
(2) Enter the scale such as 0 A(1) Rotate and press
Y-axis maximum value
to select
(2) Enter the scale such as -80 mA(1) Rotate and press
Y-axis minimum value
to select

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 repeatedly until Single View for Channel 1 is shown in the display.
Step 2. Press to edit the measurement speed, and then select to set the measurement speed to
NORMAL. (If you can’t see in Assist keys, press to change the keys shown in Assist keys.)
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 in Assist keys, press to
change the keys shown in Assist keys.)
(1) Press Speed (2) Press NORMAL
(1) Press More... (if necessary) (2) Press Hide Sweep

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.
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.
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 in Assist keys, press to
change the keys shown in Assist keys.)
(1) Rotate and press
Current Minimum Measurement Range
to edit
(2) Press 10nA
(2) Press FIXED(1) Rotate and press
Current Measurement Range Operation
to edit
(1) Press More... (if necessary) (2) Press Show Trigger

Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 2. Press to edit the trigger type, and then select to set the trigger type to MANUAL.
Step 3. Rotate 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 to edit the trigger type, and then select to set the trigger type to TIMER.
(2) Press MANUAL(1) Press
(2) Press TIMER(1) Rotate and press
Trigger Type
to edit

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 to set the trigger type to MANUAL.
Step 4. Rotate to select Channel 1 Trigger Parameters and set them up as below.
(Source Trigger Source: AUTO, Measurement Trigger Source: AUTO)
(2) Press MANUAL(1) Rotate and press
Trigger Type
to edit

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. If you aren’t on the top of the Function menu, press repeatedly to return to the top level.
Step 2. If you’d like to see the list of measurement results, press , then press to open
Measure Result dialogue.
Step 3. Rotate and press to select Data Type field.
Step 4. Press to change the keys shown in Assist keys, and then press to select Time as the data
type.
On the top level of the Function menu
In the middle level of the Function menu
Any tree structure can’t be seen
Some tree structure can be seen
(1) Press Result
(2) Press Measure
(1) Rotate
field
to select Data Type (2) Press to select Data Type
(1) Press More … (2) Press TIME (t)

Agilent B2901/02/11/12A Precision Source/Measure Unit
Step 5. Rotate and press to select Data field. Then rotate to scroll the data list.
(1) Rotate and press
Data field
to select (2) Rotate
to scroll the list
or press Assist key