Keysight Essential Benchtop Source Measure Units

Videos

This video introduces Keysight Essential Source Measure Units (SMUs), designed to provide enhanced sourcing and measurement capability in an entry‑level benchtop instrument. Essential SMUs combine six key instruments into one compact form factor—including a 5.5‑digit digital multimeter, power supply, current source, electronic load, arbitrary waveform generator, and digitizer—allowing engineers to consolidate bench equipment and perform comprehensive electronic testing with a single device. These SMUs deliver reliable, high‑performance operation for evaluating components, sensors, materials, and circuits across educational, research, and general R&D environments.

With true 4‑quadrant operation, Essential SMUs can source and sink both voltage and current, enabling realistic characterization of active and passive devices in conditions that mirror real‑world load behavior. Built‑in math functions offer immediate parameter extraction—such as resistance, power, and derived measurements—without exporting raw data to external software. User‑defined pass/fail limit testing allows quick validation of device behavior and supports automated workflows for repetitive testing or basic production screening.

Flexible connectivity options—including USB, LAN, and GPIB—enable seamless integration into both manual and automated test setups. Essential SMUs are compatible with Keysight specialty software suites for remote control, logging, automation, visualization, and advanced measurement sequencing. With 5.5‑digit resolution, up to 210 V sourcing capability, up to 1.5 A output, current‑measurement resolution down to 10 fA, and a 20 kSa/s sampling rate, Essential SMUs offer a powerful entry point into precision electronic testing. These capabilities make them well‑suited for students, educators, early‑stage design teams, and engineers handling foundational or moderate‑complexity device evaluation.

Key features include:

  • 6‑Instruments‑In‑1: Consolidate a DMM, power supply, current source, electronic load, AWG, and digitizer into one compact SMU.
  • 4‑Quadrant Operation: Source and sink voltage and current for full device characterization under real‑world load conditions.
  • Built‑In Math: Perform calculations such as resistance or power extraction directly on measured data.
  • Pass/Fail Limit Testing: Define automated limits for fast go/no‑go validation of device performance.
  • Flexible Connectivity: USB, LAN, and GPIB interfaces support integration into automated or remote‑control setups.
     

Essential SMUs offer integrated functionality, precision measurement, 4‑quadrant operation, and automation‑ready connectivity—delivering the accuracy, capability, and efficiency required for early‑stage design, educational labs, and foundational R&D test applications.