Source Measure Unit
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Reliable and intuitive PC software, designed to help speed up your research, is provided at no extra cost. The latest versions are always available to download via our website.
Ossila Front Panel 1.3.1
The latest version of the Front Panel software for the Source Measure Unit.
Download (58.6 MB)
Minimum System Requirements
Operating System Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)
CPU Dual Core 2 GHz
RAM 4 GB
Available Drive Space 166 MB
Connectivity USB 2.0, Ethernet (requires DHCP)
For USB drivers and more software that can be used with the Source Measure Unit, please see our software page.
Source Measure Unit User Manual
Product manual for the Source Measure Unit.
Programming Documentation
Source Measure Unit programming documentation
Precision, Versatility, Integrated I-V Measurement
Source Voltage and Measure Voltage & Current with the Ossila SMU, Reliably and Easily
Overview | Specifications | Software | Resources and Support
The Ossila Source Measure Unit is one of our most adaptable and fundamental pieces of equipment. With the Ossila SMU, you can measure the I-V characteristics of many devices including photovoltaics, LEDs and OLEDs, transistors and more.
- Contains 5 independent channels:
- 2 SMU channels to output voltage while measuring current and/or voltage.
- 2 separate Voltage measurement channels to measure voltage sourced by external components.
- Shutter/Trigger Channel for external control and programming.
- 10 different speed/resolution settings
- 5 different current ranges
- Many control options e.g. Front panel software, I-V Curve Measurement Software, compatible with many coding languages, trigger channel for external control.
The source measure unit is versatile and easily controlled, so it can fit seamlessly into your laboratory.
This product is covered by our FREE 2-year warranty and is eligible for FREE worldwide shipping.
Two-Year Warranty
Covered by the Ossila Warranty
Compact
Space Saving design
Voltage
Voltage range from -10 V to + 10V
Ossila Software
Easily Controlled from a PC
Specification
The source measure unit contains four instruments on one board — two SMUs (voltage source, current sense) and two precision voltage sense channels. There is also a general-purpose shutter/trigger which enables it to control (or be controlled by) other instruments.
Source Measure Units (SMU 1 & SMU 2)
The SMUs output a voltage and then measure both the voltage and current. The output voltage is always measured on the output to the BNC, rather than assuming it is at the set voltage. This is to account for any load effects, for example, short circuiting the output, or low impedance causing a small drop in voltage. Each source measure unit has multiple current ranges, so that you can measure both large and small currents with accuracy.
Voltage source specifications
Range | Accuracy | Precision | Resolution |
---|---|---|---|
±10 V | 10 mV | 333 µV | 170 µV |
Voltage measure specifications
Range | Accuracy | Precision | Resolution |
---|---|---|---|
±10V | 10 mV | 50 µV | 10 µV |
Current measure specifications
Range | Max Current | Accuracy1 | Precision2 | Resolution | Burden |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ±200 mA | ±500 µA | 10 µA | 1 µA | <20 mV |
2 | ±20 mA | ±10 µA | 1 µA | 100 nA | <20 mV |
3 | ±2 mA | ±1 µA | 100 nA | 10 nA | <20 mV |
4 | ±200 µA | ±100 nA | 10 nA | 1 nA | <20 mV |
5 | ±20 µA | ±10 nA | 1 nA | 0.1nA | <20 mV |
1Accuracy has been measured at the maximum current of the range.
2Precision has been measured at the highest OSR (9).
Precision Voltage Meter Specifications (Vsense 1 and Vsense 2)
The voltage meters are designed to accurately sense small voltages while also having a wide dynamic range (±10 V).
Range | Accuracy | Precision | Resolution |
---|---|---|---|
±10 V | 10 mV | 50 µV | 10 µV |
Shutter/Trigger
The Shutter/Trigger can be used either as an input or an output. It can be used to send a trigger signal to other instruments or configured to wait for a trigger from other instruments. The voltage level of this BNC is 5V - any higher may cause damage to the port.
Programming Languages
The X200's user-friendly design will work almost any programming language (at least anything that supports either serial COMs or Ethernet, which is nearly everything commonly used). Common languages that can be used to interface to it are:
- Python
- LabVIEW™
- >MATLAB
- Java
- VB
- Fortran
- C / C++
- Perl
Physical Specifications
Computer Connectivity | USB-B and Ethernet |
---|---|
Measurement Connections | BNC connector |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | 125 mm x 55 mm x 185 mm (4.92" x 2.17" x 7.28") |
Source Measure Unit Features
The Ossila Source Measure Unit features dual source measure and voltmeter channels and is perhaps our most versatile piece of equipment to-date.
Five current ranges
Choose between five separate current ranges to suit your experimental needs
Flexible & scalable communication
Connect the Source Measure Unit via USB or use several units at the same time via Ethernet connection
User-friendly PC software
No coding experience required! The included PC software comes with pre-set modes, allowing you to perform simple measurements
Portable data exports
All test data can be saved in .csv format for convenient analysis in your favourite software package
Software-controlled current ranges
For safety and convenience, the current range switches can be controlled using the included PC software - no need for manual adjustment
Wide language compatibility
All common programming languages (LabVIEW, Matlab, C, Java, Fortran, Python, Perl etc) are compatible with the unit
Source Measure Unit Gallery
Testimonials
The Source Measure Unit is a professional alternative to old-fashioned and outdated bench top source-measure units at a fraction of cost. Ossila's product was thoroughly tested by us, it had to compete with state-of-art devices and to our surprise it won the race in all categories: precise PV measurements, networking capabilities, flexibility of programming language and smooth operation in pretty tough chemical/material science laboratories. The Ossila team has delivered a game changer for all of the PV community.
Adam Surmiak, PhD Student in Excitonic Systems for Solar Energy Conversion
Monash University, Australia
Software
The Ossila Source Measure Unit includes a software Front Panel that enables you to start taking measurements as quickly as possible. With the program you can control each SMU and Vsense channel independently, allowing you to perform many of the most common electrical measurements.
Included with the Ossila Source Measure Unit
The standard items included with the Ossila Source Measure Unit are:
- The Ossila Source Measure Unit
- 24 V / 2 A DC power adapter
- USB-B cable
- User manual and QC data
- USB drivers and Front Panel software installer
Applications
The Ossila Source Measure Unit, designed for use by scientists and engineers working on the next generation of electronic devices, is perhaps our most versatile piece of equipment. The device can be used in a wide range of applications to understand the electrical characteristics of any device at DC or low frequency over a voltage range from -10 V to + 10V with current flow from 10 nano-amps (nA) to 200 milliamps (mA). This covers most lab-scale devices that require electrical characterisation
Understanding how a vast number of materials and devices conduct electricity, ranging from carbon nanotubes and quantum well heterostructures to biomembranes and biosensors, requires a source measure unit.
We have used our SMU to develop systems for measurements for sheet resistance (Four-Point Probe), IV curves and OLED lifetime (OLED Lifetime System and Solar Cell IV Test System), and cyclic voltammetry (the Ossila Potentiostat).