Re: Curve Tracers

On a sunny day (Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:32:32 -0000 (UTC)) it happened Cursitor
Doom <cd999666@notformail.com> wrote in <vhkhcg$2ip8$2@dont-email.me>:

Gentlemen,
>
Curve tracers reveal useful info about the dynamic characteristics of
semiconductors and make designing for same much more predictable and
dependable than relying on spice models and simulation alone. But they're
typically rare beasts and expensive to come by and boat anchor varieties
are seriously heavy and bulky.
I think therefore that a curve tracer would make an excellent project,
using the X&Y inputs of a scope as the display. Has anyone here attempted
this? I'd be interested to know what the main challenges are likely to be.

Sure, build several in the early seventies
Note that if you use continuous tracing you may blow up the object under test
due to overheating.
So use intermittent or on-time-with storage tracing.
Ramp generator, some fast HV power transistors, current sensors..
controlled current sources..
not much to it.
But then again :-)
Pity I no longer have the circuit diagrams, only paper in those days..
too simple to archive.
Did one for my boss too IIRC..