Keysight Technologies B2900B Series User manual

Keysight B2900B Series
Precision Source/Measure Unit
Quick Reference
Preparing the Instrument for Use
To position the instrument:
1. Grab the handle by the sides and pull outward.
2. Rotate the handle.
3. Position the instrument.
To turn the instrument ON:
1. Connect the power cord from AC input connector to an AC power outlet at your site.
2. Press the line switch.
To set the power line cycle:
1. Press the More > System > PLC function keys.
2. Press the 50 Hz or 60 Hz key to specify the power line cycle at the site.
To connect the device under test (DUT), optional:
1. B2900 terminals use banana
jacks. Prepare test leads
that use banana plugs.
2. Connect the test leads as
shown in the figures.
For using 4-wire connection, set the Sensing Type to 4-WIRE on the Output Connection dialog box. With the
default setting, it is set to 2-WIRE.
The dialog box is opened by pressing the Config > Source > Connection function keys.
Latest Information
To get the latest firmware, software, manuals, and
support information, go to www.keysight.com.
You can then search them by product number.
2-wire connection
High Sense
High Force
Low Force
Low Sense
DUT
4-wire connection
High Force
Low Force
DUT
B2901BL/B2910BL
B2901B/B2902B
B2911B/B2912B

1. Line switch: Turns the instrument on or off.
2. USB-A connector: Used to connect a USB memory.
3. Auto key: Starts a repeat measurement or aborts the repeat measurement.
4. Trigger key: Starts a single measurement, aborts a repeat measurement, or initiates trigger system.
5. Assist keys: Five keys for setup assistance. Mode, Source, Limit, Measure, More, etc.
6. Numeric/alpha keys: Used to enter the value of setup parameters specified by the field pointer.
7. Rotary knob:
In MOVE (blue) status: Turning it moves the field pointer. Pressing it fixes the pointer position.
In EDIT (green) status: Turning it changes the field pointer parameter value. Pressing it fixes the value.
8. Left and right keys:
In MOVE (blue) status: Moves the field pointer.
In EDIT (green) status: Changes the field pointer parameter value. If the field pointer is on a numeric
value entry field, pressing the key changes the pointer to a digit pointer.
9. Channel 1 terminals: High Force, Low Force, High Sense, Low Sense, Guard, and chassis ground
10. On/Off switch(es): Used to enable or disable the channel. Turns the channel off if it is in the output status
even if it is in the remote status. Two switches on 2-channel models. The switch turns green if the channel
is enabled. The switch turns red if the channel is in the high voltage state.
11. View key: Changes the display mode.
12. Cancel/Local key:
Cancels the setup operation if the instrument is in the local status.
Returns the instrument to the local status if it is in the remote status.
13. Function keys: Six keys for detail setup of several functions. Config, Function, Trigger, Result, File, Program,
I/O, System, and More.
14. Channel 2 terminals: Only on 2-channel models.
15. GPIB interface connector: Connects to GPIB interface of an external computer or equipment.
16. USB-B connector: Connects to USB interface.
17. LAN interface connector: Connects to 10/100 Base-T interface. Left LED indicates activity. Right LED
indicates link integrity.
18. Digital I/O connector: D-sub 25 pin female connector for general purpose I/O (GPIO). For trigger input/
output, interface to a handler, interface to an interlock circuit, etc. If the interlock terminals are open, the
instrument output is limited to ±42 V.
19. AC input connector: AC power cord is connected to this receptacle.
1
3
5 6
7
9
12 1113
14
10
28
4
15
14
16
19
18
17

Graph
G
Single Ch1
1
Roll
R
Dual
D2
Single Ch2
B2912B
Graph
G
Single
1
B2901B/B2901BL/B2910BL
Graph
G
Single Ch1
1
Dual
D 2
Single Ch2
B2902B
Graph
G
Single
1
Roll
B2911B
Trigger auto
Trigger active
High voltage
Floating
Remote
Local lockout
Error
MOVE/EDIT
LXI LAN status indicator
View mode
12
34
MOVE status EDIT status
1
Press to select
MOVE status
2EDIT status 3 4
Select
Press to fix
Fix
R
Editing the Setup
Changing the View Mode
Status Information

b. Press the Mode assist key. c. Press the VOLTS (V) assist key.
1: Single
2 Set the Limit value.
d. Press the Source
assist key.
e. Edit the value as follows or in the same way as for 2-b.
a. Press the Limit assist key. Limit value is set to
+10 mA.
b. Edit the value as follows or in the same way as for 1-e.
3. Press the Ch1 switch to enable channel 1. This turns the switch green. Channel 1 starts applying
the voltage specified by the Source value. Changing the setup changes channel output immediately.
Performing Measurement
Disabling the Channel
Press the Ch1 switch to disable channel 1.
This turns off the switch light.
Measured value
a. Press the View key to
display the Single view.
Press to start a single measurement.
Press to start a repeat measurement.
* You can change the measurement parameter by
using the Measure assist key.
B2900 applies a constant voltage of +500 mV by the following procedure.
1. Set the source mode and the Source value.
Source is set to +500 mV.
Applying DC Output
This is the measurement example for a 1 kWresistor.
(1) Change the value
(2) Press the unit assist
key to fix value
(1) Move the digit pointer
(2) Change the value
(3) Press the rotary
knob to fix the value

Performing Low Current Measurements
For performing low current measurements accurately, use the triaxial cable. It can reduce the affect of leakage
current, external noise, and such caused by the extended measurement path. For using the triaxial cables, the
Keysight N1297A/N1297B banana to triaxial adapter is required. This adapter can convert the B2900 source/
measure terminals to the triaxial connectors.
1. Press the key to display the Single view.
2. Set the Source mode, Limit value, and measurement mode
as shown in "Applying DC Output".
3. Set the sweep parameters.
a. Press the More assist key to change the assist keys.
b. Press the Show Sweep assist key to display the Sweep
setup parameters.
c. Press the rotary knob to change the pointer status to EDIT (green).
d. Press the LINEAR SINGLE assist key to set the linear single
sweep mode.
The source shape indicator shows the staircase icon, and the status
changes to MOVE (blue).
e. Use the rotary knob, arrow keys, or numeric/alpha keys to set the
Start (sweep start), Stop (sweep stop), and
Step (sweep step) or Points (number of sweep steps) values.
4. Press the key to display the Graph view.
5. Press the Ch1 switch to enable channel 1. This turns the switch green.
Channel 1 starts applying the voltage specified by the Source value.
6. Press the key to start a single sweep measurement.
The measurement results will be displayed on the graph.
7. Press the Auto Scale assist key to fit the trace in
the graph scale.
8. Press the Ch1 switch to disable channel 1.
This turns off the switch light.
Performing Sweep Measurements
This is the measurement example for a 1 kW resistor.
B2900 applies a staircase sweep voltage and measures the current at each step voltage by the following procedure.
G: Graph
N1297A Bad connectionGood connection (no space)
Note for attaching the adapter on the B2900 terminals: Push the adapter in firmly until it locks
in-place (< 1 mm spacing). If there is some space as shown in “Bad connection”, the contact is not enough.

1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11
12
13
1. Channel number. 1 or 2.
2. Latest measurement data
3. Over voltage/current status indicator (OV or OC)
4. High capacitance mode indicator (HC)
5. Remote sensing (4-wire connection) status indicator
6. Source function. VOLTS or AMPS.
7. Source shape indicator. DC, pulse, sweep, or pulsed sweep. DC does not show the indicator.
8. Source output value, 5½ digit resolution on B2901B/B2902B/B2901BL/B2910BL, and 6½ digit resolution on
B2911B/B2912B
9. Limit (Compliance) value
10. Measurement speed. AUTO, SHORT, MEDIUM, NORMAL, LONG, or MANUAL.
11. Aperture time in seconds or PLC (power line cycle, number of power line cycles per measurement).
Only for the MANUAL speed.
12. Primary measurement data
13. Secondary measurement data or limit test result Pass or Fail
Single View
Range Setup
Sweep Setup
Pulse Setup
Trigger Setup
Source Volts: Spot
Measure Amps
Source Amps: Spot
Measure Volts
Measure Ohms
Constant voltage output range
Current measurement range
Constant current output range
Voltage measurement range
Resistance measurement range
Sweep Parameters
Start
Stop
Points
Step
Sweep mode. LINEAR SINGLE, LINEAR
DOUBLE, LOG SINGLE, or LOG DOUBLE
Sweep start value
Sweep stop value
Number of sweep steps
Sweep step value
Pulse
Peak
Delay
Width
Pulse output ON or OFF
Pulse peak value
Pulse delay time
Pulse width
Trigger
Count
Delay
Period
Trigger
Trigger type. AUTO, SYNC, TIMER, or
MANUAL
Trigger count (number of triggers)
Trigger delay time
Trigger period
Trigger source. AUTO, BUS, TIMER, INTn
(n=1 or 2), LAN, or EXTm (m=1 to 14)
Pulse base value is the same as the Source output value.
(Available for B2901B/B2902B/B2911B/B2912B)
(More > Show Sweep)
(More > Show Pulse)
(More > Show Trigger)
3

1. Graph display status ON or OFF. Only on 2-channel models. [n] is for channel n.
2. Y-axis data type I (A), V (V), R (W), P (W), or MATH
3. Y-axis scale LINEAR or LOG
4. X-axis data type I (A), V (V), R (W), P (W), MATH, t (s), V1, or V2
5. X-axis scale LINEAR or LOG
6. Graph maximum value
7. Graph minimum value
8. Channel 1 and/or 2 source output value, limit value, or none (controlled by the Ch n Source, Ch n Limit, or Hide
Ch n assist key)
9. Channel 1 and/or 2 Y-axis data at the active X-cursor position. ----.---- is displayed for the no-data position.
10. Cursor data (controlled by the Show Cursors or Hide Cursors assist key)
First line Positions and distance (e.g. I1, I2, ΔA) of Y-cursors 1 and 2
Second line Positions and distance (e.g. t1, t2, Δt) of X-cursors 1 and 2
1 2 3 4 5
6
7
8
9
10
Graph View
1. Displays status ON or OFF, on B2911B
Displays status Ch 1, Ch 2, or OFF, on B2912B
Two lines can be displayed on the graph. [1] indicates the graph setup for line 1. [2] indicates the graph setup
for line 2.
2. Y-axis data type I, V, R, or P.
3. Y-axis scale per division A/div., V/div., W/div., or W/div.
4. X-axis scale per division s/div.
5. X-axis minimum value (minimum timestamp)
6. Y-axis offset values for line 1 and 2
7. X-axis maximum value (maximum timestamp)
8. See Graph View.
9. See Graph View.
10. See Graph View.
Roll View 1 2 3 4
5 6 7
8
9
10
Displays the time domain graph
for plotting the channel 1 and/or
2 measurement data.
(Only on B2911B/B2912B)
Displays the graph for plotting
the channel 1 and/or 2
measurement or math result.

*B2910-90100*
© Keysight Technologies 2020
Printed in Malaysia
Part Number B2910-90100
What is the B2900 SMU?
An SMU combines the capabilities of a current source,
a voltage source, a current meter, and a voltage meter
along with the capability to switch easily between these
various functions into a single instrument. This gives it
the ability to evaluate the IV characteristics of devices
across all four measurement quadrants without the need
for any additional equipment.
In addition to its DC operation mode, B2901B/B2902B/
B2911B/B2912B also have the ability to perform pulsed
measurements in order to prevent device self-heating
from distorting the measurement results.
-A
-V
Voltage source Current meter
Current source Voltage meter
2-Wire and 4-Wire Connections To simplify the connections, use 2-wire connection by
connecting the Force terminals only and opening the
Sense terminals.
For low resistance measurements and high current
measurements, use 4-wire connection. Connecting
the Force and Sense lines together at the terminal of the
DUT minimizes the measurement error caused by the
residual resistance of the test leads or cables.
Grounded and Floating Measurements
With the default setting, Low Force
terminal is connected to the chassis
ground. However, it can be
disconnected from the ground for
floating measurements. This setup is
effective for differential voltage
measurements which usually require
two channels as shown in the
Grounded 2 connection.
DUT
Grounded 1
DUT
Grounded 2
High Force
Low Force
DUT
Floating
SMU
High Force
Low Force
SMU
High Force
Low Force
SMU
High Force
Low Force
SMU
For the floating measurements, set the Low Terminal State to FLOATING on the Output Connection dialog box.
With the default setting, it is set to GROUNDED. The dialog box is opened by pressing the Config > Source >
Connection function keys. With the FLOATING setting, the Low Force and Low Sense terminals can be
connected to the maximum of ±250 V.
WARNING: Potentially hazardous voltages of up to ±250 V may be present at the Low Force and Low Sense
terminals. To prevent electrical shock, use accessories that comply with IEC 61010-031. The terminals and
the extended conductors must be isolated by using insulation caps, sleeves, etc.
DUT
4-Wire
DUT
High Force
Low Force
SMU
2-Wire
High Force
Low Force
SMU
High Sense
Low Sense