Path: ...!eternal-september.org!feeder2.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: Phil Hobbs Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design Subject: Re: Curve Tracers Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:46:03 -0000 (UTC) Organization: A noiseless patient Spider Lines: 52 Message-ID: References: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Injection-Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:46:03 +0100 (CET) Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="960abb1a9f078f497601b9c648873acc"; logging-data="252817"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX1/3fQTbblNoel2r8T9wrbUh" User-Agent: NewsTap/5.5 (iPhone/iPod Touch) Cancel-Lock: sha1:uLwuJruecHkQN0wQ1zR0eBYwjxU= sha1:TufplMnC6sKwlSy9ivCICPi5URE= Bytes: 2988 Joe Gwinn wrote: > On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 07:40:08 -0800, john larkin wrote: > >> On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:32:32 -0000 (UTC), Cursitor Doom >> wrote: >> >>> Gentlemen, >>> >>> Curve tracers reveal useful info about the dynamic characteristics of >>> semiconductors and make designing for same much more predictable and >>> dependable than relying on spice models and simulation alone. But they're >>> typically rare beasts and expensive to come by and boat anchor varieties >>> are seriously heavy and bulky. >>> I think therefore that a curve tracer would make an excellent project, >>> using the X&Y inputs of a scope as the display. Has anyone here attempted >>> this? I'd be interested to know what the main challenges are likely to be. >>> >>> -CD >> >> I've considered it. It would be much more valuable if it traced >> capacitances too. >> >> The display should be on a computer and the data archived. >> >> I often just set up a breadboard and test parts. Last week I blew out >> some power mosfet gates. Some have internal zeners; this one doesn't. >> >> Most mosfets drain avalanche, but the voltage is never specified, in >> fact deliberately hidden. I have to measure that. A good curve tracer >> should measure that too. >> >> Currents should go down to picoamps. >> >> The fact that there aren't many curve tracers for sale suggests a >> small market. > > I think that the function is now done by a Fluke Data Bucket (or > equivalent) in an ATE (Automatic Test Equipment) that controls > collection of data, which is later plotted in a computer. > > Joe Gwinn > Nah, real men use an HP 4145B. Exceptionally Good Medicine. Cheers Phil Hobbs -- Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics