Section 3: Functions and features
Model 2461 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument Reference Manual
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2461-901-01 A/November 2015
Linear staircase sweep
When you use a linear staircase sweep, the voltage or current source increases or decreases in fixed
steps. Each source-measure point is equally spaced between the start and stop.
The Model 2461 sends a buffer clear command at the start of a sweep; if you do not want this action,
you can change the sweep trigger model to eliminate the clear block.
The sweep begins with a start voltage or current and ends with a stop voltage or current. A
measurement is made at each point after the delay. The figure below shows an increasing linear
staircase sweep.
When a linear staircase sweep is triggered to start, the output goes from the bias level to the start
source level. The output then changes in equal steps until the stop source level is reached. A
measurement is performed at each source step (including the start and stop levels). With trigger
delay set to zero, the time duration at each step is determined by the source delay and the time it
takes to perform the measurement (the NPLC setting). Note that the delay is the same for all steps in
the sweep.
Figure 111: Model 2461 sweep linear staircase