5-2 Return to Section Topics 2600S-901-01 Rev. C / January 2008
Section 5: Sweep Operation Series 2600 System SourceMeter® Instruments Reference Manual
Overview
Section overview
Following a brief “"Sweep overview"” of the types of sweeps (linear staircase, logarithmic
staircase, custom, and pulse), the documentation in this section provides detailed information on
characteristics, commands, and programming for each type of sweep as follows:
• "Sweep overview"
• "Sweep characteristics"
• "Sweep functions"
• "Running sweeps"
Sweep overview
As shown in Figure 5-1, the Keithley Instruments Series 2600 System SourceMeter
®
can generate
several types of sweeps using the factory sweep scripts.
Linear staircase sweep – With this sweep type, the voltage or current increases or decreases in
specific steps, beginning with a start current and ending with a stop current.
Figure 5-1A shows an
increasing linear staircase sweep.
Logarithmic staircase sweep – In this case, the current or voltage increases or decreases
logarithmically, beginning with a start voltage or current and ending with a stop voltage or current.
Figure 5-1B shows an increasing logarithmic staircase sweep.
Custom (list) sweep – The custom sweep allows you to program arbitrary sweep steps anywhere
within the output voltage or current range of the Series 2600.
Figure 5-1C shows a typical custom
sweep with arbitrary steps.
Pulse sweeps – Two sweeps can also be performed as a pulse sweep: fixed current pulse or fixed
voltage pulse. These pulse sweeps are similar to those outlined above except that a pulse of a
specific width is generated at each point instead of a constant level.
NOTE The Pulse Sweep information provided in this section applies to the
pulse functions of the KIGeneral factory script. For firmware revisions
1.2.0 and later, significantly enhanced pulse capabilities are available
with the KIPulse factory script. Refer to
Section 13 for more
information on both the KIGeneral and KIPulse factory scripts.