curve tracer
Characteristic recorders record and display physical quantities in relation to each other. Inelectronics, voltage values and the associated current values of a component are recorded and shown on a display as an I-V characteristic.
An important field of application is the characterization of semiconductor components in the form of I-V characteristics. Oscilloscopes are often used as characteristic recorders. In a two- channel oscilloscope, the second channel is switched to horizontal deflection for this purpose.
In XY mode, the voltage on channel 1 serves as a deflection in the X direction and the voltage on channel 2 in the Y direction. A slow sine or triangle voltage is used to sweep through the X-voltage ranges and an image of an XY-characteristic curve is displayed on the screen as seen by the human eye. For example, a diode characteristic can be displayed on the oscilloscope by connecting the diode voltage to channel 2 and the voltage representing the diode current to channel 1.
The digital oscilloscopes in use today can store characteristics for later viewing or output to a printer.