The M.I.T. Microelectronics Device Characterization lab (or Parameter Analyzer) is a remote laboratory. It enables users to measure the current-voltage characteristics of various microelectronics devices at any time, from any physical location, using a Java-enabled web browser.
The Parameter Analyzer is one of the laboratories available under the iLabs project which is dedicated to the proposition that online laboratories - real laboratories accessed through the Internet - can enrich science and engineering education by greatly expanding the range of experiments that students are exposed to in the course of their education. Unlike conventional laboratories, iLabs can be shared across a university or across the world. The iLabs vision is to share expensive equipment and educational materials associated with lab experiments as broadly as possible within higher education and beyond.
The major goal of the Parameter Analyzer project is to deliver the educational benefits of hands-on experimentation to students anywhere, at any time. This project provides the technology to make microelectronics test equipment available over the Internet. Students are able to enjoy the complete laboratory experience which can be delivered to any conventional Java-enabled web browser. Today, web browsers are ubiquitous; therefore, through this project, students can take current-voltage measurements on transistors and other devices in real time from anywhere and at anytime. In addition, expensive equipment and educational materials associated with lab experiments are shared as broadly as possible within higher education and beyond.
Some of the devices available for I-V characterization include pn diodes, nmos/pmos field effect transistors, and npn/pnp bipolar junction transistors. The user is able to change the operating conditions of the experiment such as bias voltages and currents, compliance values, voltage and current sweep ranges, etc using a simple graphical interface. The results of the experiments are immediately displayed as graphs in the Parameter Analyzer applet console, and can be downloaded as a comma separated file for post processing using matlab or any spread sheet application.
Click to learn more about the Microelectronics Device Characterization Lab.
Discussion Forum
The forum below is dedicated to the sharing of information and learning between users of the Microelectronics Device Characterization Lab. Educators, please log into your own discussion forum by clicking on the 'For Educators' link below.
Note: There is another Discussion Forum for Educators who currently use, or are interested in using iLabs. You can access this forum by clicking on the 'Educators' link at the bottom of this page.
Resources
Below is some information about the Microelectronics Device Characterization Lab.
- Detailed Tutorial - An in-depth overview of how to use the Device Characterization Lab
- Manual for the Device Characterization Lab
- Assignments - Assignments handed out at different schools, based off the Device Characterization Lab
- Papers and Theses about the Microelectronics Device Characterization lab
- System Requirements for the Device Characterization Lab
- Device Specifications of the devices typically found in the 4155B Parameter Analyzer
Below is some educational material based off the Microelectronics Device Characterization lab:
Note: Access to the link above is restricted to Educators. If you are an Educator and wish to be granted acess to the Educators' page, please follow the instructions here .