News

20 March 2009

 

Keithley upgrades Model 4200-SCS semiconductor characterization system

Keithley Instruments Inc of Cleveland, OH, USA has introduced hardware, firmware, and software enhancements to its Model 4200-SCS semiconductor characterization system. The Keithley Test Environment Interactive (KTEI) V7.2 upgrade includes nine new solar cell test libraries, an expanded frequency range for the system’s Capacitance-Voltage (C-V) measurement capability, and support for the company’s new nine-slot Model 4200-SCS instrument chassis.

The new test libraries included in KTEI V7.2 expand the Model 4200-SCS’s capabilities for solar cell I-V, C-V, and resistivity testing applications, says Keithley Instruments. The software upgrade also supports Drive-Level Capacitance Profiling (DLCP), a new solar cell testing technique that was difficult to perform accurately using earlier test solutions, adds the firm. DLCP provides defect density information on thin film solar cells. Existing Model 4200-CVU Capacitance-Voltage Unit cards can be readily modified to support this testing technique.

To support DLCP testing, the Model 4200-CVU’s frequency range has been expanded to 1kHz–10MHz. This extended frequency range also expands the system’s applications, providing support for testing flat panel LCDs and organic semiconductors such as OLEDs.

The V7.2 upgrade also provides support for a nine-slot instrument chassis. Previously, the Model 4200-SCS had eight slots to hold a growing array of source-measure units (SMUs), pulse generation and scope cards, and capacitance-voltage cards. Existing Model 4200-SCS systems can be upgraded to support nine slots; all new mainframes will have nine slots.

In support of the V7.2 upgrade, Keithley has also introduced a new high performance triaxial cable kit for connecting the Model 4200-SCS to a prober, designed to simplify the process of switching between DC I-V, C-V, and pulse testing configurations. According to the firm, the cable kit eliminates the need for recabling. Two versions of the cable kit are available, one for Cascade Microtech probers and the other for use with SUSS MicroTec probers.

Visit: www.keithley.com