Step 2. Configure S-Parameter Test Settings

After setting up the PD1000A hardware (E5080A ENA, B2902A/B SMU, Bias T networks, and test fixture), the next step is to configure the test settings.

Configure General Settings

  1. On the left side of the screen, select the tab for the kind of S-parameter test you want:
    -or-

  2. In the upper left corner of the main software screen, click on Settings to open the Settings menu.

  3. (Optional) If you want to use previously saved settings:

    1. Select Settings > Load Settings from File. (See Load Settings from or Save Settings to File for more information.)

    2. Skip the rest of this procedure and continue with Step 3. Calibrate the E5080A/B ENA.

  4. Select Hardware Configuration for OFF-State S-Parameter Measurement Control to open the Hardware Configuration dialog.

  5. Fill out the information in the Hardware Configuration dialog. (See below for information on what to enter.)

    Use the Connection Expert utility in Keysight IO Libraries Suite to identify the VISA Address. See the PD1000AStartup Guide for more information.

    • Network Analyzer Configuration

      • Network Analyzer Type: Select the Keysight Network Analyzer used in the S-Parameter test - either E5080A, E5080B, or E5061B. For E5080A/B Calibration information, see Step 3. Calibrate the E5080A/B ENA. For information on using and calibrating teh E5061B, see Using a Keysight E5061B ENA Vector Network Analyzer

        ENA IP Address: Enter the IP Address of the Network Analyzer.

        ENA VISA Address: Enter the VISA address of the E5080A Network Analyzer. (Use the Connection Expert utility in Keysight IO Libraries Suite to get the VISA address.)

      • ENA VISA Timeout sec: Enter the general timeout period, in seconds, for the E5080A ENA. If the ENA does not respond to any command within the timeout period, the test aborts with an error message. (Default is 20 s.)

    • B2902A/B Configuration

      Use these settings for on-state (Biased)S-parameter measurements only.

      • B2902A/B IP Address: Enter the IP address of the B2902A/B Source Measure Unit (SMU).

      • B2902A/B VISA Address: Enter the VISA address of the B2902A/B Source Measure Unit (SMU). (Use the Connection Expert utility in Keysight IO Libraries Suite to identify the VISA Address.)

      • B2902A/B VISA Timeout sec: Enter the general timeout, in seconds, for the B2902A/B SMU. If the SMU does not respond to any command within the specified timeout period, the test aborts with an error message.

      • Drain SMU: Use the drop-down menu to choose which channel the B2902A/B SMU uses for biasing the DUT drain / collector. (Typically, this is Channel 2.)

      • Gate SMU: Use the drop-down menu to choose which channel the B2902A/B SMU uses for biasing the DUT Gate. (Typically, this is Channel 1.)

      • Room temperature: Enter the temperature in °C for the room in which the tests are made. This information is used in the output .mdm file. See Output File Structure for more information.

  6. Click the X in the dialog header to accept the settings and close the dialog.

Configure S-Parameter Settings

Fill out the Network Analyzer Settings and SMU Settings to match your DUT.

For more details on the network analyzer or SMU instrument settings; refer to the documentation supplied with those instruments.

  • Offline Mode: (Optional, formerly Demo Mode) 

  • Setup the Network Analyzer before measurement:

    • If this box is checked (default), the test uses the Network Analyzer Settings to configure the network analyzer before the test.

    • If the box is unchecked, the Network Analyzer Settings area is hidden, and you must setup up the network analyzer manually.

Network Analyzer Settings

  • Reset VNA before measurement: sets the option to recalibrate the analyzer when you run a new test/measurement.

    • If this box is checked (default), the software prompts you to calibrate the network analyzer when you start a measurement. You must recalibrate:

      • Before your first use of the system.

      • Any time you have changed the configuration settings (frequency, power, sweep type, filter bandwidth, trace level, frequency sweep).

      • Periodically because test fixture contacts may degrade slightly over time, especially with frequent use.

    • Deselect (uncheck) this box only if you want to skip the option to calibrate the network analyzer. This can save time if you want to measure identical DUTs using the same measurement settings. You can simply connect another DUT between each measurement.

    See Step 3. Calibrate the E5080A/B ENA for more information.

  • VNA Channel: Channels contain traces. The analyzer can have up to maximum 500 independent channels. Channel settings determine how the trace data is measured . All traces that are assigned to a channel share the same channel settings.

  • Start Frequency (KHz): Specifies the start frequency of the swept measurement range.

  • Stop Frequency (MHz): Specifies the end frequency of the swept measurement range.

  • Bandwidth (KHz): Sets the bandwidth of the digital IF filter to be used in the measurement.

  • Trace Level (dBm): Sets the power level for the specified network analyzer port.

  • Number of Points: Enter the number of data points to be displayed.

  • Frequency Sweep: Select either Linear or Logarithmic display.

SMU Settings

  • Remote SMU:

    • If this box is checked (default), the test uses all of the following SMU setting fields to configure the B2902A/B SMU for the test.

    • If the box is unchecked, you must set up the SMU manually and fill out only Gate Voltage (V) and Drain Voltages (V) fields.

The Gate Voltage (V) and Drain Voltages (V) fields are required for recording the S-parameter device characterization data to the output directory.

  • Gate Voltage (V): Enter the voltage for SMU Channel 1 (front panel) of the B2902A/B SMU. Typically, this connects to the Gate of the FET or IGBT.

  • Gate Current Limit (A):Enter the Current Limit for SMU Channel1 (front panel) of the B2902A/B SMU.

  • Drain Voltage (V): Enter the voltage for SMU Channel 2 (rear panel) of the B2902A/B SMU. Typically, this connects to the drain of the FET or collector of the IGBT.

  • Drain Current Limit (A): Enter the Current Limit for SMU Channel 2 (rear panel) of the B2902A/B SMU.

Type of Data to Display

Just above the grid display area, you can select if you want to display the S-Parameter data or Capacitance data (Cgd, Cds, or Cgs). You can also select these after running the test.

(Optional) To save set-up time, you can save all configuration settings and general settings to a file that you can re-use to skip the configuration process.

  1. Click on Settings on the main screen.

  2. Select Save Settings to File. This displays a file save dialog.

  3. Use the dialog to browse to the directory where you want to store the settings.

  4. Type a file name for the settings file using one of the following filenames:

    • IVCV.kts - for IV-CV tests
    • ONSTATE.kts - for on-state S-parameter tests
    • OFFSTATE.kts - for off-state S-parameter tests

  5. Click Save. This saves your current PD1000A settings into a Keysight Test Settings file (.kts).

Next Steps:

Step 3. Calibrate the E5080A/B ENA

Step 4. Run the S-Parameter Device Characterization Test

See Also:

Step 1. S-Parameter Hardware Setup

Offline Mode