The Keysight (Agilent) 4156C Precision Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer is a highly accurate laboratory instrument designed for the detailed characterization and parametric testing of semiconductor devices, materials, and processes. Equipped with four built-in high-resolution Source/Monitor Units (HRSMUs), two Voltage Monitor Units (VMUs), and two Voltage Program Units (VPUs), it offers exceptional current resolution down to 1 fA, making it ideal for low-leakage measurements, transistor curve tracing, and reliability evaluations.
Specifications
General
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Interfaces | GPIB, LAN (10Base-T), Parallel (Centronics) |
| Display | 8.4-inch color active matrix LCD (640 × 480 VGA) |
| Required Warm-up Time | 40 minutes |
Physical
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Supply | 90 V to 264 V AC, 47 Hz to 63 Hz, 450 VA maximum |
| Operating Temperature | 10 °C to 40 °C |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 426 mm × 235 mm × 524 mm |
| Weight | 21 kg |
System Configuration & Channels
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of High-Resolution SMU (HRSMU) Channels | 4 |
| Voltage Monitor Unit (VMU) Channels | 2 |
| Voltage Program Unit (VPU) Channels | 2 |
| Ground Unit (GNDU) Configuration | 1 (Standard) |
| Ground Unit Max Sink Current | 1.6 A |
SMU Source & Measurement Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| HRSMU Maximum Voltage Force Range | ±100 V |
| HRSMU Maximum Current Force Range | ±100 mA |
| HRSMU Voltage Force Resolution | 2 µV (on 2 V range) |
| HRSMU Current Force Resolution | 10 fA (on 10 pA range) |
| HRSMU Voltage Measurement Range | ±2 V to ±100 V |
| HRSMU Current Measurement Range | ±10 pA to ±100 mA |
| HRSMU Voltage Measurement Resolution | 2 µV (on 2 V range) |
| HRSMU Current Measurement Resolution | 1 fA (on 10 pA range) |
| Maximum Output Power per HRSMU Channel | 10 W |
| Guarding and Shielding Configuration | Kelvin (force, sense, and guard triaxial outputs) |
VMU & VPU Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| VMU Voltage Measurement Range | ±2 V, ±20 V |
| VMU Maximum Voltage Measurement Resolution | 0.2 µV (on 2 V range) |
| VMU Input Impedance | ≥ 10 GΩ |
| VPU Output Voltage Range | ±40 V |
| VPU Maximum Current | 100 mA |
| VPU Pulse Output Modes | DC, Pulse, Dual-channel Pulse |
| VPU Pulse Width Range | 20 µs to 10.4 s |
| VPU Pulse Period Range | 100 µs to 20 s |
Measurement Modes & Functions
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Sweep Measurement Modes | Linear, Logarithmic, Single, Double |
| Maximum Number of Sweep Steps | 1001 |
| Sampling Measurement Points | 1 to 10001 |
| Minimum Sampling Interval | 60 µs |
| Integration Time Settings | Short, Medium, Long |
| Hold Time Range | 0 to 655.35 s |
| Delay Time Range | 0 to 65.535 s |
| Stress Force Modes | DC, Pulse |
Controller & User Interface
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Internal Storage Drive Type | 3.5-inch Floppy Disk Drive (FDD), 1.44 MB |
| Supported Storage File Formats | HP LIF, DOS/MS-DOS |
| Internal Programming Language Support | Instrument BASIC (IBASIC) |
| Keyboard Interface Port | PS/2 mini-DIN |
Connectivity & Interfaces
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| SMU Connector Type | Triaxial |
| VMU Connector Type | BNC |
| VPU Connector Type | BNC |
| GNDU Connector Type | Triaxial |
| Interlock Connector Type | 6-pin circular |
| GPIB Interface Port | 24-pin IEEE-488 |
Environmental & Safety Compliance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Humidity Range | 20% to 70% RH (non-condensing) |
| Storage Temperature Range | -20 °C to 60 °C |
| Cooling Method | Forced-air cooling (internal fan with rear exhaust) |
Environmental
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Operating Altitude | 2,000 m |
| Maximum Storage Altitude | 4,572 m |
Compliance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Safety Compliance Standards | EN61010-1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 1010.1 |
| EMC Compliance Standards | EN55011 Group 1 Class A, EN50082-1 |
Connectivity
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| R-Box Control Port | 15-pin D-sub |
| Selector Control Port | 9-pin D-sub |
| Trigger Input Port | BNC |
| Trigger Output Port | BNC |
Interfaces
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| LAN Interface | 10Base-T (RJ-45) port |
| Parallel Interface | 25-pin Centronics parallel port |
Power Supply
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| AC Line Voltage | 90 V to 264 V |
| AC Line Frequency | 47 Hz to 63 Hz |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 450 VA |
System Compatibility
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Expander Compatibility | Supports Agilent 41501A/B SMU and Pulse Generator Expander |
Measurement Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Sampling Time Stamp Resolution | 100 µs |
| Differential VMU Voltage Ranges | ±0.2 V and ±2.0 V |
Technology
Precision Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer
Applications
Semiconductor device characterization, parametric testing, low-current measurement, transistor curve tracing, and device reliability testing