A Source Meter or Source Measure Unit (SMU) is a high-precision electronic instrument that integrates the capabilities of a power supply and a digital multimeter (DMM) into a single device. Unlike standard equipment, it can precisely source (apply) voltage or current while simultaneously measuring voltage and/or current at the same terminals.
Common Applications include Semiconductor Testing: Used to characterize I-V curves for diodes, transistors (MOSFETs, GaN, SiC), and LEDs; Energy Storage: Simulating battery charging/discharging and testing solar cell efficiency; Materials Research: Measuring the resistance and conductivity of nanomaterials like graphene or carbon nanotubes; Low-Power ICs: Testing power consumption in microcontrollers and IoT devices during sleep and active modes.
