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Equipment spotlight: Keysight B1505 Power Device Analyser 

Date: 27.03.2025

Topics: Electrification

Electronic equipment in a metal rack, with Keysight B1505 Power Device Analyser displaying a graph and connected by various cables. - CSA Catapult
A rack with the Keysight B1505 Power Device Analyzer and cables; a caution sign is displayed on one unit. - CSA Catapult

At CSA Catapult, we have a suite of state-of-the-art equipment and expertise across our power electronics, advanced packaging, radio frequency (RF) and microwave and photonics laboratories.  

 

Here, Dr Konstantinos Floros, senior power electronics engineer, provides an insight into the Keysight B1505 Power Device Analyser, a key enabler of CSA Catapult’s power electronics capability.  

What is it?

 

The Keysight B1505 Power Device Analyser is a specialised instrument designed to measure the electrical characteristics of semiconductor devices. It is an all-in-one solution, integrating high-voltage, high-current, and precision measurement capabilities into a single platform. It can be used on devices inside electric vehicles, renewable energy supplies, industrial motors, and power supplies. 

The Keysight B1505 utilises Source Measure Units (SMUs), which can simultaneously source and measure voltage or current, enabling accurate and efficient device characterisation across a broad range of conditions. It allows for automated switching between SMUs, a feature very useful when multiple signals are required during a measurement. The system also supports fully automated testing routines and advanced result processing, allowing efficient execution of measurements and rapid data visualisation and analysis. 

The analyser can perform DC, pulsed I-V (current-voltage), and C-V (capacitance-voltage) tests with high precision, supporting measurements up to 10 kV (voltage) and 1500 A (current). This capability makes it ideal for assessing the performance of devices intended for high-power applications. Advanced measurement options, including gallium nitride (GaN) current collapse and gate charge testing, are also available, enabling precise evaluation of key performance metrics in wide-bandgap semiconductor devices. 

Devices can be tested in advanced packaging or directly on semiconductor wafers, under a comprehensive variety of environmental conditions. For wafer-level testing, we also utilise the MPI TS2000 Probe Station, enabling accurate, reliable, and efficient on-wafer characterisation. 

Keysight B1505 Power Device Analyser with a monitor displaying a graph and various wires in a server rack. - CSA Catapult

Who is it for?

 

The Keysight B1505A enables us to support a variety of companies focused on developing advanced semiconductor technologies and power electronics. These include semiconductor manufacturers, electric vehicle suppliers, renewable energy firms, industrial motor and drive companies, and designers of power supplies and electronics. Our team also provides expertise and advanced measurement capabilities to academia to accelerate innovation, optimise performance, and ensure compliance with industry standards across high-power applications. 

The Keysight B1505 helps our customers reduce their device time to market by offering fast and accurate device characterisation, essential for developing precise device simulation models. The system also enables our team to develop, validate, and optimise fabrication processes for advanced packaging solutions. At CSA Catapult, we provide expertise and support in developing application-specific measurements, helping our customers better understand and validate the performance of power devices in their end-use cases. 

How is it unique? 

 

  • The Keysight B1505 integrates high-voltage (up to 10 kV), high-current (up to 1500 A), and precise measurements into one comprehensive testing solution. 
  • Its modular design enables automated switching between Source Measure Units (SMUs), significantly accelerating device testing and reducing manual intervention. 
  • It can seamlessly perform comprehensive testing of both on-wafer and packaged devices under various environmental conditions. 
  • It enables sophisticated automated testing routines with advanced data visualisation and analysis. 
  • It delivers exceptional precision and accuracy, which are essential for developing reliable device simulation models. 
  • Overall, it helps our customers accelerate innovation and shorten their device time-to-market. 

 

Accelerating compound semiconductor technology of the future  

 

As power electronics has become increasingly central to energy efficiency and goals such as Net Zero, helping to accelerate the validation of these technologies is pivotal in shaping the industry.  

CSA Catapult is enabling this by accelerating the development of compound semiconductor technology and applications. 

If you’re interested in learning more about equipment at CSA Catapult, get in touch with us today.

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