Communications Precision Making

Expedite your semiconductor device development with Yokogawa AQ2300 SMU

by Edwin Luijks December 5, 2024

To address the various density needs of the latest semiconductor/communication devices, our new Yokogawa AQ2300 series of high-performance, high-speed SMU (Source Measure Unit). The AQ23811A SMU (±6 V / ±600 mA) offers high-quality pulse generation alongside high-precision voltage/current generation and measurements. The inherent productivity and expandability characteristics of this 2-channel SMU module helps you save time when performing the typically complex measurement functions essential for semiconductor devices.

We can all see the growing importance of faster, higher capability technology in everyday life: the proliferation of smartphones and tablets, the rise of AI, and the expansion of autonomous vehicles. All these advances need communication infrastructure that boosts speed and addresses future power demands.

Laser devices are a case in point, where you need to keep pace with the miniaturization of next-generation products and the increasing complexity of measurements required for evaluation during development. If you’re an engineer at an R&D institute developing new advances in optical communication devices, or work in the engineering team at a manufacturer of optical semiconductor components – such as laser diodes, photo diodes, LEDs or modulators – you’ll likely be seeking new ways to help overcome key challenges.

For instance, we know from experience that you require accuracy when sourcing the mainly current signals that optimize laser control. You need to adjust inputs accordingly to measure the precise output of laser light. So, how can you expedite this task? Only an SMU with high levels of precision, functionality and modularity is up to the job.

Our new compact AQ2300 slot frame series (AQ23011A 3-slot and AQ23012A 9-slot frame) permits you to select the number of channels required (up to 18 with a 9-slot frame) to meet the needs of your system. What’s more, the new SMUs offer the ability to perform simultaneous measurements of voltage and current.

A principal benefit is the optimization of response adjustments. You can easily adjust an AQ23811A SMU to reduce rising-edge waveform overshoot and ripple/ringing. Simply enter the R (resistance), L (inductance) and C (capacitance) values for the load. Notably, you won’t need to re-enter these values when changing the range.

The response adjustment function, in combination with digital feedback technology, also supports the generation of high-quality pulse signals (50 μs minimum pulse width, 100 μs minimum cycle). In addition, high-quality waveform generation suppresses heat from the device under test, allowing you to capture more accurate measurements.

But what about interoperability, an increasingly useful function in modern development and test applications? Well, our AQ2300 series SMU has trigger ports not only on the frame side, but also on each SMU channel. You can choose from three trigger synchronization functions: synchronization of frames with external equipment; synchronization of SMU channel with external equipment; or synchronization between SMU channels.

Our innovative design also means the frame can feature a digital I/O interface that enables co-operation with external devices and saves the polling operations otherwise required to monitor the start and end timing of SMU voltage or current sourcing/generation.

Productivity, flexibility, precision, convenience: if you’re looking to expedite your development of optical communication devices or optical semiconductor components, our new high-performance, high-speed AQ2300 series SMU will make light work of this challenging task.

For further information on the AQ2300 series SMU, click here.

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