6487

Features that Expand Test and Measurement Flexibility with Keithley 6487

The 5½-digit 6487 Picoammeter/Voltage Source improves on the measurement capability of the award-winning Keithley 6485, and adds a high-resolution 500 V source. It provides higher accuracy and faster rise times than the 6485, as well as a damping function for use with capacitive devices. With eight current measurement ranges and high-speed auto-ranging, this cost-effective instrument can measure currents from 20 fA to 20 mA, take measurements at speeds up to 1000 readings per second, and source voltage from 200 µV to 505 V.

The Keithley 6487’s 10 fA resolution, superior sensitivity, voltage sweeping, and Alternating Voltage resistance measurements make it well-suited for characterising low-current devices. Using the latest current measurement technology, it is significantly less expensive than other instruments that perform similar functions, such as optical power meters, tera-ohmmeters, competitive picoammeters, or user-designed solutions. With a price that’s comparable to a high-end DMM, the Keithley 6487 makes picoamp-level measurements affordable for virtually any laboratory or production floor.

Low Voltage Burden and Higher Accuracy

While DMMs typically employ shunt ammeter circuitry to measure current, the Keithley 6487 is a feedback picoammeter. This design reduces voltage burden by several orders of magnitude, resulting in a voltage burden of less than 200 µV on the lower measurement ranges. The low voltage burden makes the 6487 functions much more like an ideal ammeter than a DMM, so it can make current measurements with high accuracy, even in circuits with very low source voltages.

Successor to the Keithley 487

The 6487 builds on the strengths of one of Keithley’s most popular picoammeters, the 487, offering an additional 20 mA measurement range, as well as much higher measurement speeds, up to 1000 readings per second. It simplifies device characterisation with built-in voltage sweeping capability and the Alternating Voltage method for high resistances. A time-stamped 3000 reading data buffer provides minimum, maximum, and standard deviation statistics. A built-in emulation mode makes it possible to control the 6487 with any custom code written to control the 487.