Two-Port (or Transistor Parameter) Analyzers (Curve Tracers)

Two-port analyzers (TPAs) characterize the voltage-current characteristics of circuits or devices with one or two ports. These include amplifiers of all kinds, transistors, semiconductor devices in general, resistive devices, and even electron tubes. They consist of two or more source-measure units (SMUs) that both source and measure voltages or currents. A microcomputer coordinates measurements of the SMUs, processes data, and presents it in useful forms.

A TPA consists of 2 coordinated SMUs: an input-port SMU, and an output-port SMU.

Three types of SMUs: 

V source, I sense - typical TPA OUTput port

I source, V sense - typical TPA INPut port

V or I source, V & I sense - complete SMU

OVDR

Output Voltage Drive

 

IVDR

Input Voltage Drive

OIDR

Output Current Drive

IIDR

Input Current Drive

OVSN

Output Voltage Sense

 

IVSN

Input Voltage Sense

OISN

Output Current Sense

IISN

Input Current Sense

Range values are full-scale. Additional range is added by the ADC or DVM to extend total range to zero-scale.

μC interface: DR (drive) command inputs (from DACs); SN (sense) feedback voltages (to ADCs)

Isolation types:

Isolated: no conductive paths (wired connections) to grounded circuits

Floating: grounded circuits connected to floating circuits with separated grounded and floating currents

Grounded: all circuits are referenced to a COMmon ground

Measured Transistor Parameters: β0, α0, ro, VA, rm, re, BVCEx

The TPA202 project has reached design completion and the TPA202 Manual is available to Assistants; request the TPA202 Manual and design modification options that might better fit your interest. A μC version of the TPA202 is the TPA204, both based on amplifiers in the Floating Differential Source.

The TPA204 is being adapted from the Floating Differential Source (FDS). The FDS is a specialized kind of TPA. It has reached Design Completion and the FDS Manual is available. Assistants interested in marketing the FDS should inquire about additional information for the DAS testing market.

TPA240 and TPA242 are the simplest TPAs of the 200 series, in prototype phase - good starting TPA projects. They are similar and together count as a single project for Assistants.

TPA200 Series

TPA240

TPA242

TPA201

TPA202

TPA203

TPA204

TPA205

Priority,phase

2, C2

1, D1

3, C1

0, D4

5, C1

4, D0

6

Port COM

grounded

grounded

grounded

grounded

floating

floating

grounded

IISN, OISN

high, high

high, high

high, high

high, low

low, low

low, low

high, low

IDR

±20 mA

±1 mA, ±10 mA,

±100 mA

±200 μA, ±6 mA, ±200 mA

±10 V

±10 V

±40 μA, ±2 mA,

±100 mA

±100 nA, ±1 μA,

±10 μA, ±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA, ±100 mA

IVSN

±10 V

±24 V

±0.4 V, ±12 V

±10 V

±1 V, ±10 V

±10 V

±2 V,

±20 V

IISN

±20 mA

±1 mA,

±10 mA,

±100 mA

none

±100 nA, ±1 μA,

±10 μA, ±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA,

±100 mA

±2 μA, ±100 μA, ±5 mA, ±200 mA

±10 μA, ±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA, ±100 mA

±100 nA, ±1 μA,

±10 μA, ±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA, ±100 mA

Max inp I, V

±10 V

±24 V

±12 V

±0.1 A

±0.2 A

±10 V

±20 V

Output-Port Power

2 W

24 W, 1 ms

12 W, 1 ms

3.5 W

30 W, 1 ms

3.5 W

50 W, 1 ms

ODR

±10 V

±24 V

±12 V

±35 V

±25 V, ±250 V

±35 V

±10 V, ±25 V, ±100 V, ±250 V

Max out I, V

±0.2 A

±1 A

±1 A

±0.1 A

±2 A

±100 mA

±1 A, ±10 V

OVSN

±10 V

±24 V

none

±35 V

±25 V, ±250 V

±35 V

±10 V, ±25 V, ±100 V, ±250 V

OISN

±0.2 A

±10 mA,

±100 mA,

±1 A

±1 mA,

±33 mA,

±1 A

±100 nA, ±1 μA,

±10 μA, ±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA,

±100 mA

±20 μA, ±1 mA, 

±50 mA, ±2 A

±10 μA, ±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA,

±100 mA

±1 μA,

±10 μA,

±100 μA,

±1 mA, ±10 mA,

±100 mA, ±1 A

Power Supply

±12 V, 0.25 A

5 V,  0.25 A

 

28 V, 0.2 A

31 V, 0.7 A

5 V, 0.25 A

12 V, 0.2 A

±15 V, 1.4 A

+5V, 50 mA

+12V(F), 10 mA

+20V(F), +40V(F),

0.12 A

±12V, 0.12 A

±5V, 25mA

±12 V, 0.23 A 

+28 V, 1 A

253 V, 0.1 A

5 V, 200 mA

–5 V, 10 mA

40 V & 20 V, 0.13 A

±12 V, 85 mA,

±5 V, 15 mA

405 V(F), 0.125 A

205 V, 0.25 A

45 V, 0.125 A, 10 V, 5 A

±12 V, 50 mA ; 5 V, 100 mA

Front-Panel

FP1, DSO

4-digit LED + units,

4-sw, DSO

16-char LCD, DSO

analog FP,

3.3-digit

LED

6-digit LED,

4-sw, DSO

4-digit LED, digiknob,

4-sw, SCI

Graphic LCD, 4-sw, digiknob

μC

MiniDAS

ATmega328

MiniDAS

ATmega328

ATmega328

no μC

μM

ATmega328

ATmega8515

ATmega328

Notes

±BJT out,

1 range,

1 PG2A,

PS-sw pol out for both ports,

2 PG2A

Low-VDR,

min PS,

Rs-sw range

Manual FP, FDS ampls

Gen-purpose TPA

250 V ODR

FDS-derived

High-V xltrs in 1 PG2A

 

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