Curve tracers

Curve tracers are lab devices that are used to analyze performance characteristics of active devices like tubes, diodes and transistors.

They trace current/voltage characteristics, in the case of 3- or more terminal devices as a function of a third parameter such as grid voltage or base current.

Links

Curve tracer adapters
Curve Tracer Basics / Curve Tracer Buying Guide Zenwizard Studios

Documents Referencing Curve tracers

Document	Class	Title	Authors	Year	Links
062-1009-00.pdf	Book	Measurement Concepts: Semiconductor Device Measurements	John Mulvey	1969	Curve tracers • Tunnel diodes
Tekscope 1969 V1 N1 Feb 1969.pdf	Article	Curve Tracing Displays		1969	Curve tracers • 576
Tekscope 1972 V4 N3 May 1972.pdf	Article	Semiautomatic Testing with the Curve Tracer	Jack Millay	1972	576 • 172 • Curve tracers
Tektronix Curve Tracers - Device Testing Techniques.pdf	Book	Tektronix Curve Tracers - Device Testing Techniques		1985	Curve tracers • Tunnel diodes

Patents that may apply to Curve tracers

Page	Title	Inventors	Filing date	Grant date	Links
Patent US 4727318A	Apparatus for measuring characteristics of electronic devices	Ryoichi Sakai • Hisashi Tamamura	1985-09-27	1988-02-23	Curve tracers
Patent US 4818934A	Apparatus for measuring characteristics of electronic devices	Hisashi Tamamura	1988-01-05	1989-04-04	Curve tracers

Instruments

Manufacturer	Page	Description	Series	Introduced	Designers
Sony/Tektronix	370	Digital curve tracer		1986
Sony/Tektronix	370A	Digital curve tracer		1991
Sony/Tektronix	370B	Digital curve tracer		(?)
Sony/Tektronix	371	Digital curve tracer		1988
Sony/Tektronix	371A	Digital curve tracer		1991
Sony/Tektronix	371B	Digital curve tracer		(?)
Sony/Tektronix	372	Curve tracer / semiconductor tester		1992
Sony/Tektronix	377	Laser diode analyzer		(?)
Systron Donner	Systron Donner 9550	Curve tracer plug-in	500-series scopes	1971
Tektronix	560-Series Diode Curve Tracer	Curve tracer plug-in for diodes	560-series scopes	(?)
Tektronix	570	Curve tracer for tubes		1955	John Kobbe
Tektronix	571	Curve tracer		1989
Tektronix	575	Curve tracer for transistors		1957	John Kobbe • Deane Kidd
Tektronix	576	Curve tracer		1969	Jim Knapton
Tektronix	577	Curve tracer		1972	Jack Millay • Jim Knapton • Bob Herb • Bob Verrinder • Om Agrawal • Dave Rule • Gary Davis • Tom Saucy
Tektronix	5CT1N	Curve tracer plug-in	5000-series scopes	1972	Matt Zimmerman
Tektronix	7CT1N	Curve tracer plug-in	7000-series scopes	1971	Matt Zimmerman
Tektronix	TR210	Analog signature analysis instrument		(?)
Telequipment	Telequipment CT71	Curve tracer		1979
U-Tech	U-Tech 681	Curve tracer plug-in	560-series scopes	(?)
U-Tech	U-Tech 682	Curve tracer	500-series scopes	(?)
Vilnius Research	Я4С-92	Curve tracer plug-in	Soviet 7000-series clones	1979