Source Measure Unit
A Source Measure Unit ( SMU ) is an electronic multifunctional device that is used both in the laboratory and in production (as Automatic Test Equipment (ATE)). Depending on the manufacturer, the abbreviation stands for source measurement unit or source meter unit (both in German for "source and measurement unit"). SMUs have been available since around 1990 and are integrated systems alongside the previously known highly modular test systems.
An SMU consists of two essential components:
- an electronically controlled laboratory power supply with regulated supply generators for current and voltage and
- an electronic multimeter .
SMMU ( source measurement multiplex unit ) are also available with an additional multiplexer , which both feeds the voltages / currents of the power supply unit into the DUT and establishes the connection between the DUT and the measuring system.
SMMUs are used for functional tests (FKT) and in-circuit tests (ICT) in corresponding test systems.