Keithley Instruments has announced ACS Basic Edition, characterization and curve tracer software for component test applications.

The latest addition to Keithley's Automated Characterization Suite (ACS) family is targeted for bench-top component test applications that don’t require integrated probers yet still need the measurement and software automation power provided by the ACS platform.

ACS Basic Edition integrates with Keithley's SourceMeter Instrument family and together replace obsolete curve tracers with a system that performs basic curve tracing as well as parametric test.

ACS Basic Edition provides an extensive library of pre-configured component test routines to shorten start-up time, reduce programming code development and simplify the process of test. It also provides a variety of tools that makes it simple to reconfigure for different component types.

It performs with the ease-of-use of a curve tracer, but also provides the tabular data in spreadsheet form. This additional functionality is complemented by a "formulator" that allows mathematical or parametric extractions to be performed on the raw curve tracer data.

This advanced capability means that parametric characterization is as easy as using a curve tracer. In those cases when more than a single test is needed, ACS Basic Edition provides a powerful multi-test capability that allows the user to string together a number of different tests on a single device.

Keithley's System SourceMeter Instruments provide the source-measure power behind ACS Basic Edition. ACS Basic Edition can be configured with any Series 2400, Series 2600, or Series 2600A instruments to provide high power or low-level characterization, from a powerful 1KW pulse to a sensitive 1fA measurement resolution.

More information: http://keithley.acrobat.com/acsbasic/