Source Measure Units
Source Measure Units
Source measure units (SMUs) are precision instruments that combine a programmable voltage or current source with an integrated measurement function in a single device. An SMU can simultaneously source a voltage while measuring the resulting current, or source a current while measuring the resulting voltage, enabling accurate characterization of the voltage-current (I-V) relationship of electronic components, semiconductors, and materials. This dual source-and-measure capability eliminates the need for separate power supplies and measurement instruments, minimizing setup complexity and improving measurement accuracy.
SMUs are essential tools in semiconductor device characterization, component parametric testing, materials research, and battery testing. They cover a wide dynamic range — from femtoampere-level leakage current measurements to multi-ampere pulsed sourcing — making them versatile for R&D and production test in electronics, photonics, energy storage, and medical device industries.
Typical Applications
- Semiconductor device I-V characterization (transistors, diodes, MOSFETs, IGBTs)
- Battery cell and electrochemical cell I-V and impedance testing
- Solar cell and photovoltaic device efficiency characterization
- LED and laser diode characterization and production screening
- Precision resistor, capacitor, and passive component parametric testing
- Wafer-level device characterization in semiconductor R&D and production
Popular Brands
Keithley (a Tektronix company) is the dominant SMU manufacturer, with the 2400 Series SourceMeter being an industry standard for parametric testing. Keysight's B2900 series and Yokogawa's GS200 are also widely used across R&D laboratories and production test environments.
