The Hand Applied Probe combined with the RM3000+ is a high quality four point probe measurement system which incorporates the Jandel Cylindrical probe head. The system can be used to measure a wide range of materials with varying shapes and sizes.
The Hand Applied Probe is ideally suited for use in measuring large substrates and flat panels, however, it can be used to measure wafers and even small samples as well. When measuring small samples, you will sometimes need another piece or two of the same thickness of material underneath the back side of the probe body so that the entire unit rests on the material in the same plane, i.e., to keep it level. A discussion of using the Hand Applied Probe on small samples can be seen on page four of the following PDF file:
https://four-point-probes.com/jandel-hap.pdf
Hand Applied Probe General Description
The unit comprises a Teflon body containing a cylindrical brass mass sufficient to cause the probe needles of the 4-point head (loaded up to 200g each) to be completely retracted. The Teflon body incorporates a lead about 1m long to connect to the associated electronic measuring equipment. There is a toggle switch marked ‘S’ (shorted) and ‘R’ (read) which permits the probe head to be raised off the sample, or placed on it, with no sparking. The current source is shorted at position ‘S’ on the hand applied probe independent of the FWD, SBY, REV switch on the power supply. Of course, when the probe head is in position the FWD/REV positions can be used in the usual way to observe forward and reverse readings.
Hand Applied Probe Operation
The probe head should be installed so that its acrylic insulating pad (adjacent to the projecting probe needles) lies in the same plane as the lower Teflon surface. Rotate the probe head so that its needles lie at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the Teflon holder, and clamp firmly with the two red screws. To present the probe head to the specimen it is best to make contact with the rear end of the block (where the switch is) and rock the block downwards so that it effectively pivots about the rear. In this way the probe points will retract without scrubbing on the specimen surface. The actual position of the probe points can be seen via the cutaway.
High Temperature Option for the Hand Applied Probe
The Jandel Hand Applied Probe is available in a version that can withstand temperature of up to 200oC in an oven. The “read/standby” switch is removed and the Cylindrical Probe Head is modified to withstand 200oC. A complete four point probing system consists of the Hand Applied Probe shown above, combined with either the RM3 Test Unit or the HM21 Hand Held Meter.
Specifications:
| Dimensions: | Length: | Approximately 125 mm (4.9″) front to rear |
| Width: | 75 mm (3″) | |
| Height: | Approximately 80mm (3.15″). The wire from probe head projects an additional 30mm (1.18″) upwards. | |
| Weight: | Approximately 1.6kg (3.5 lbs) | |
| Downward Force: | Approximately 1.1 Kg (2.4 lbs) – suffient to easily retract 4 needles with 200g load. | |
| Material: | Virgin Teflon body with nickel plated brass weight to accept Jandel cylindrical probe Ø 25.4mm | |
| Electrical: | 4-point probe with Teflon screened lead and Lemo 5-way plug and socket. Toggle shorting switch. Teflon screened lead to 180 degree x 5-way DIN plug. | |
The RM3000+ Test Unit is a specialty electronics instrument designed specifically for the four point probe measurement. It features high accuracy, an excellent range, and many features which simplify the four point probing measurement. The following are features of the RM3000+ Test Unit:
- The sheet resistance range of the RM3000+ Test Unit is from 1 milliohm-per-square (10^-3) to 10^8 ohms-per-square with 0.3% accuracy. The volume resistivity range is from 1 milliohm-cm (10^-3) up to 10^6 ohms-cm, however, that resistivity range refers to measuring a bulk material directly as opposed to measuring a thin film and converting to volume resistivity using the software. For example, a thin layer of copper (1.68 x 10^-6 ohm-cm) up to about 16 microns thick can be measured. The RM3000+ can determine the volume resistivity value if one enters the film thickness.
- The RM3000+ includes PC control software which can be used for measurement logging (storing data in CSV format) and can save measured values as sheet resistance or volume resistivity.
- The RM3000+ display reads-out the input current as well as either ohms-per-square (sheet resistance), ohms-cm (volume resistivity), or millivolts, without requiring the use of the included PC software. The volume resistivity readout requires entering thickness for a wafer or thin film, or tip spacing if measuring a bulk sample.
- The RM3000+ has onboard non-volatile memory so that up to 50 measurements can be stored internally and then downloaded and saved all at one time using the software. Alternately, each measurement can be saved to a PC as it is made using the included software.
- The RM3000+ has an auto-range button that can be used to automatically determine the optimum input current for a given material without using the trial and error method.
- The RM3000+ has forward (FWD) and reverse (REV) buttons to reverse the direction of current flow. A common way to determine if a measurement is valid is to reverse the direction of current flow and then check to see if the forward and reverse voltage readings correlate well, i.e., the values should be similar, but with the reverse current voltage being a negative value.
- The RM3000+ allows the input of a correction factor for samples that need to be corrected for size.
- The RM3000+ has a date and time stamp feature
Superior Current Source
- 10nA to 100mA (99.999mA) current source selectable in steps to 3 decimal place resolution
- Current set numeric keypad
- 4 default preset current programs (user programmable)
Superior Inbuilt DVM
- Input Impedance 1,000,000,000,000 ohms
- Input Bias current 4pA
- DVM 1300mV range and 130mV range
- 130mV accuracy
- 0.2% +/- 5uV resolution (10uV or 1uV) range
- 1300mV accuracy 0.2%+/-100uV resolution
- 100uV Ohms/Square
- Rapid Zeroing null function for DVM
Features
- 28 Key high quality Keypad
- 16×2 line LCD Display for simultaneous indication of Set Current and either Ohms/Sq or mV
- Auto-Ranging capability to determine the optimum input current based upon the material being measured.
- Intuitive operation
- Microprocessor controlled
- Reduced Footprint
- Robust Attractive ABS Case
- Accurately measures down to 10’s of milliohms/square without external meter
- 4mm socket facility to connect an external meter
- RS232/USB connectivity for control and for collecting data in CSV format
- Automatic compliance voltage limit protects your sample which reduces maximum voltage as higher currents are set 5-40V
- Warning messages when compliance limit is reached, or DVM input exceeded
- Self test facility
- Flash upgradeable software
- CE Marked
- AD/DA converters and amplifiers for the DVM and setting the Current source and DVM, are Burr Brown 110V or 240V operation (selectable)
Cylindrical Probe Head
The Cylindrical probe head, one of which is included with the Hand Applied Probe , can withstand temperatures from 77K up to 120C in it’s standard configuration. A modification to the Cylindrical probe will allow it to withstand temperatures from 77K up to 200C (in an oven). The Cylindrical probe head is built to high standards of quality and accuracy.
Downloads
![Hand Applied Probe with the RM3000+ Test Unit brochure [216K PDF file]](/images/pdf.jpg){kind=small}
We Recommend
If you do not require as great a measurement range as the RM3000+ Test Unit provides, you might be interested in the:
Hand Applied Probe combined with HM21 Hand Held Meter.
Four-Point-Probes is a division of Bridge Technology. To request further information please call Bridge Technology at (480) 219-9007 or send e-mail to Joshua Bridge at: sales@bridgetec.com
