Scientific instruments and temperature sensors manufacturer Lake Shore Cryotronics has unveiled its test instrument for characterising nanoscale and other low-power semiconductor devices. The SMU-10 source measure unit adds to Lake Shows measureready M81-SSM synchronous source measurement (SSM) system and allows engineers to source and measure signals normally swamped by electrical noise.

It is best applicable for low-power test situations with challenging signal-to-noise ratios. Primary applications include I-V characterisation of transistors in special sensors, nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), quantum computer readout electronics, and emerging specialised and integrated circuit nanoscale semiconductor-based devices.

Manufacturers have been scaling and shrinking semiconductors devices. Each new generation of devices is characterised by a reduction in voltage, current, and power levels as new smaller devices operate at lower signal levels. The speed of nanoscale semiconductor materials and devices will increase the low-level signal trends.

Sourcing and measuring at extremely low levels presents new instrumentation and measuring signal difficulties. Background electrical ambient and test setup-induced noise can be greater than the wanted signals.

A low-noise optimised source is used by the M81-SSm to address these challenges. This is integrated with a highly sensitive and selective measurement capability, using synchronous AC detection methods and advanced filtering.

Chuck Cimino, senior product manager for Lake Shore, said: “The new SMU-10 makes highly sensitive, selective AC detection technology used in research labs conveniently available to semiconductor design and test engineers. Using the familiar four-instruments-in-one SMU format, they can easily make extremely sensitive, low-noise measurements.”

A lock-in amplifier is used to avoid noise and extract very small usable signals. This technology has been used by scientists for decades. The signal source is set to AC at a user-determined amplitude and references frequency, locking on to this frequency and ignoring all others.

Testing across a wide range of user-selectable frequencies is possible due to the M81-SSM’s maximal signal bandwidth of 100kHz. Ultra-low sensitivity of synchronous AC measurements significantly reduces the stimulus signal power applied to devices, eliminating unwanted thermal effects that may change the device’s baseline characteristics. Users can switch between AC and DC measurement modes without the need of a physical setup.

Measurements are taken using a very low source and measure noise high sensitivities of below 10 nV/Hz AC and below 100fA DC with a maximum voltage and current of +10V and +100mA DC/peak. The M81-SSM modules leverage noise performance as it is a purely analogue mode. All modes are remote from the instrument, housing the high-speed digital processing and data converter circuitry.

The SMU-10 modules also have synchronised sampling for precise timing when used in combination with other modules. This is possible as M81-SSM instruments sample all source outputs and measure inputs at 375 kilosamples per second. Measuresync then syncs the data and eliminates any errors. 

Scientific instruments and temperature sensors manufacturer Lake Shore Cryotronics has unveiled its test instrument for characterising nanoscale and other low-power semiconductor devices. The SMU-10 source measure unit adds to Lake Shows measureready M81-SSM synchronous source measurement (SSM) system and allows engineers to source and measure signals normally swamped by electrical noise.

It is best applicable for low-power test situations with challenging signal-to-noise ratios. Primary applications include I-V characterisation of transistors in special sensors, nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), quantum computer readout electronics, and emerging specialised and integrated circuit nanoscale semiconductor-based devices.

Manufacturers have been scaling and shrinking semiconductors devices. Each new generation of devices is characterised by a reduction in voltage, current, and power levels as new smaller devices operate at lower signal levels. The speed of nanoscale semiconductor materials and devices will increase the low-level signal trends.

Sourcing and measuring at extremely low levels presents new instrumentation and measuring signal difficulties. Background electrical ambient and test setup-induced noise can be greater than the wanted signals.

A low-noise optimised source is used by the M81-SSm to address these challenges. This is integrated with a highly sensitive and selective measurement capability, using synchronous AC detection methods and advanced filtering.

Chuck Cimino, senior product manager for Lake Shore, said: “The new SMU-10 makes highly sensitive, selective AC detection technology used in research labs conveniently available to semiconductor design and test engineers. Using the familiar four-instruments-in-one SMU format, they can easily make extremely sensitive, low-noise measurements.”

A lock-in amplifier is used to avoid noise and extract very small usable signals. This technology has been used by scientists for decades. The signal source is set to AC at a user-determined amplitude and references frequency, locking on to this frequency and ignoring all others.

Testing across a wide range of user-selectable frequencies is possible due to the M81-SSM’s maximal signal bandwidth of 100kHz. Ultra-low sensitivity of synchronous AC measurements significantly reduces the stimulus signal power applied to devices, eliminating unwanted thermal effects that may change the device’s baseline characteristics. Users can switch between AC and DC measurement modes without the need of a physical setup.

Measurements are taken using a very low source and measure noise high sensitivities of below 10 nV/Hz AC and below 100fA DC with a maximum voltage and current of +10V and +100mA DC/peak. The M81-SSM modules leverage noise performance as it is a purely analogue mode. All modes are remote from the instrument, housing the high-speed digital processing and data converter circuitry.

The SMU-10 modules also have synchronised sampling for precise timing when used in combination with other modules. This is possible as M81-SSM instruments sample all source outputs and measure inputs at 375 kilosamples per second. Measuresync then syncs the data and eliminates any errors.