Power devices are widely employed in the growing energy and automotive markets. During their manufacture, quick and accurate failure analysis and quality assurance testing is absolutely essential. Typically these tests are performed using a curve tracer, but the process is very manual and time consuming, requiring engineers to physically switch instrument connections to make the different types of IV measurements required.

With its new 3 kV/20-, 500- and 1500-Amp IV only curve tracer packages, the B1506A now serves as an advanced and low-cost replacement to traditional curve tracers. Its ability to automatically switch between different types of IV measurements, without having to make any connection changes, means that overall measurement time is dramatically reduced. And, because the B1506A has factory-supported thermal test solutions, evaluation engineers don't have to create their own custom thermal test set-ups. In fact, the B1506A is the only commercially available solution that supports full thermal test from -50 to +250 degrees C and can characterize all key IV parameters for packaged and on-wafer devices.

"When it comes to evaluating power devices, traditional curve tracers typically fall short in terms of accuracy and their inability to automatically measure multiple device parameters and perform standardized thermal tests," said Masaki Yamamoto, general manager of Keysight's Hachioji Semiconductor Test Division. "With their advanced functionality and entry-level price point, our new curve tracer packages provide power device and power electronics equipment manufacturers with a solution that overcomes the shortcomings of traditional curve tracers.

To ensure it is future proof, Keysight's new B1506A IV only curve tracer packages can be upgraded to include gate charge (Qg) and automated device capacitance (Ciss, Coss, Crss) measurements. Existing customers can also upgrade the 20- and 500-Amp packages to a higher current level.