SMU vs. DAQ

[pogor]

Hello to everyone, 

thanks in advance for all you can suggest to me.

I am wondering about the purchase of 2 SMUs vs. DAQ.

What is the real advantages of using a SMU instead of a multifunction data acquisition ?

(I have seen for example the NI X series Multifunction data acquisition systems).

G.

[crossrulz]

They are two completely different types of equipment.  An SMU is a Source Measuring Unit.  You can think of it as a very precise power supply.  A DAQ is a Data Acquisition.  It only reads voltage, usually in many channels at a time.

So the real question is what are you trying to do?

[pogor]

Hi Crossrulz, thank you for your reply.

What I am trying to do a basic characterization of a standard transistor (3-terminal device) making output (Ids vs. Vds, at different fixed Vgs)  and transfer curves (Ids vs. Vgs, at a fixed Vds). I was thinking that, beacause i do not need to apply high voltage as the SMU can make (till 60V, 3A) but I need a max of 1V, a DAQ can work well for what I need: DAQ can also apply voltages <10V, right? can I use those channels to apply DC bias...I can then record the output voltages by the DAQ and use another board (PXIe 4071) to read currents .... it look to me such a system giving more flexibility than SMU...am I doing something wrong??? thank you! GG.

[crossrulz · Accepted solution]

The problem you might have with the analog outputs of a DAQ is that they have a really small current limit.  I would use 2 SMUs for my input and a DMM to measure the output.  I am sure you can find an SMU with a lot lower voltage range.  Just a quick look and I see a PXIe-4144, which has 4 outputs at 6V, 500mA.  So I would go with that and a PXIe-4081 DMM.

[pogor]

Hi again Crossrulz, and thanks for the suggestion, that looks very very great...

It seems a very good solution...

G.