Re: Curve Tracers

On Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:43:34 -0500, bitrex wrote:

On 11/20/2024 6:32 AM, Cursitor Doom wrote:

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.
 
-CD

 
 
A bit more modern way to do this is get one of those HP data acquisition
units like a 34970A with a multiplexer card, and a multi-output PSU that
can both be controlled over GP-IB

I must admit I hadn't really thought about anything display-wise beyond
hijacking a scope's CRT for the purpose. But I can see where you're coming
from here. It would be *way* too much for *my* needs, but I can see the
merit of it for pro designers.