SMU and Power Supply Set-up, Control, and Optimization Course Overview

The SMU and Power Supply Set-up, Control, and Optimization course enables Test and Validation Engineers to source and measure voltage and current in order to meet their test needs. The course will focus on how NI SMUs and Power Supplies can be leveraged to perform common device tasks and tests, such as power-up and I-V characterization. The course will guide the learner through the complete test workflow: from configuration and cabling, to calibration, debugging, and optimizing for speed and precision.

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Available formats

On-Demand

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Course Objectives

SMU and Power Supply Set Up, Control, and Optimization Course Overview

Configure and control power supplies and SMUs both interactively in InstrumentStudio, and programmatically in LabVIEW or .NET/C#
Power up your DUT by sourcing voltage or current to it
Perform SMU sweeps to capture I-V characteristics of your DUT
Synchronize your power supply or SMU with other instruments in your system
View transient behavior of your DUT by stimulating it with an SMU waveform and measuring the waveform back
Improve speed and stability of measurements by analyzing SMU transient response
Choose the proper cabling to ensure measurement precision
Take accurate and repeatable measurements using offset null and remote sense
Debug your software and hardware to resolve errors and reduce noise

Course Details

Duration

On-Demand: 4 hours

Audience

Test and Validation Engineers requiring source and measurement capabilities for their devices under test (DUTs)

Prerequisites

Basic LabVIEW or .NET/C# programming experience

NI Products Used

If you take the course On-Demand:

NI PXI/PXIe Programmable Power Supplies and SMUs
InstrumentStudio 2024 Q1
LabVIEW 2023
NI-DCPOWER Driver 2023 Q3

Training Materials

On-demand training includes digital course materials delivered through the NI Learning Center, available for the access duration of your subscription

Cost in Credits

On-Demand: Included with software subscription and enterprise agreements, or 5 Education Services Credits, or 2 Training Credits

SMU and Power Supply Set Up, Control, and Optimization Course Outline

Lesson	Overview	Topics
Exploring DC Power Instruments	Exploring NI DC Power instrument classes and applications.	NI DC Power Instruments Sourcing and Sinking Capabilities NI Programmable Power Supplies and Use Cases NI SMUs and Use Cases
Identifying and Configuring DC Power Instruments	Connecting, configuring, and testing the instruments in NI MAX.	Identifying and Configuring DC Power Instruments
Interactively Controlling DC Power Instruments	Interactively controlling DC Power Instruments from InstrumentStudio to take basic measurements.	Introduction to InstrumentStudio Controlling Instruments in InstrumentStudio
Controlling Instruments with the NI-DCPower API	Programmatically configuring the instruments using the NI-DCPower API.	NI-DCPower Programming flow Open a Session Configure the Device Initiate Generation and Acquisition Measure and Query, or Fetch Close the Session Abort Simplifying Code with Import/Export Configurations
Sourcing Voltage or Current to Power a DUT	Exploring sourcing voltage or current from SMU or PPS to power a DUT.	Powering a DUT Cascading SMU Channels
Acquiring DUT I-V Characteristics	Performing a sweep with SMU to acquire the I-V characteristics.	Characterizing a DUT Exploring Type of Sequences Configuring Pulsed Sequence Configuring Advanced Sequence Executing Multiple Advanced Sequences
Synchronizing with Other Instruments	Utilizing events and triggers to synchronize DC Power Instruments with other instruments.	Exploring Triggers and Events Exploring Event Flow in Sequence Source Mode Configuring Triggers
Stimulating a DUT with an SMU Waveform and Measuring a Digitized Response	Configuring the SMU to source an AC waveform and measure the digitized response.	Introduction to Sourcing Waveform Generating a Sine Wave Exploring the Digitizer Mode
Analyzing Transient Response	Analyzing the transient response of an SMU and adjusting parameters to improve its speed and stability.	Introducing Transient Response Exploring SourceAdapt Technology Configuring Transient Response in LabVIEW
Improving Measurement Accuracy	Using cable selection, offset compensation, guarding, and remote sense to ensure accurate and repeatable measurements.	Compensating for Noise Compensating for Offset Voltages Guarding Against Leakage Current and Parasitic Capacitance Accounting for Lead Resistance with Remote Sense
Calibration and Uncertainty	Describing how the calibration affects uncertainty and identifying when to perform self and external calibration.	Performing Self-Calibration and External Calibration Exploring the Effects of Temperature on Measurements
Debugging SMU and Power Supply Applications	Applying debugging techniques and best practices to resolve errors and unexpected measurements.	Exploring Compliance and Hardware Protection Errors Debugging in LabVIEW with Instrument Handle Probe Debugging from InstrumentStudio

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