User manual
5-34 Delta, Pulse Delta, and Differential Conductance Model 6220/6221 User’s Manual
Return to Section 5 topics
When using Sweep output, use the SOUR:DEL command to set the Pulse 
Delta cycle time period (in seconds) for a linear or log sweep. For a custom 
sweep, use the SOUR:LIST:DEL command to cycle time (in seconds). See 
Section 4 for details on sweeps.
4. When using a Fixed output, use the SOUR:PDEL:RANG command to set the 
source range. When using a Sweep output, use the SOUR:SWE:RANG com-
mand to set range.
5. After setting up Pulse Delta using the setup commands, the :ARM command 
arms Pulse Delta. During the arming process, the Model 622x communicates 
with the Model 2182A.
When armed, Pulse Delta will start when the Model 6221 is triggered. Pulse 
Delta can be “un-armed” by sending the following command:
SOURce:SWEep:ABORt.
The query form for the arm command (SOUR:PDEL:ARM?) is used to deter-
mine if Pulse Delta is armed. A returned “1” indicates that Pulse Delta is 
armed. A “0” indicates that Pulse Delta is not armed.
If the Model 6221 is already armed for another action (e.g., Differential Con-
ductance or Delta), the Pulse Delta arm command will “un-arm” the other 
action and arm Pulse Delta.
Differential Conductance
Differential measurements can be used to study the individual slopes of an I-V (or 
V-I) curve. By applying a known differential current (dI) to a device, differential volt-
age (dV) measurements can be performed. With dI and dV known, differential 
conductance (dG) and differential resistance (dR) can be calculated.
Model 622x measurement process
This measurement process is used to eliminate the effects of thermal EMFs, and 
a 3-point moving average calculation algorithm is used to provide more accurate 
readings.
The differential measurement process is shown in Figure 5-10. The Model 622x is 
configured to output a stepped sweep with a specified Delta, which is the differen-
tial current (dI). As shown in the illustration, Delta is added to and subtracted from 
each subsequent step in the sweep. The solid line is the actual output of the 
Model 622x.
As shown, each differential voltage calculation (dV Calc) uses the three previous 
Model 2182/2182A A/D measurement conversions. Keep in mind that dI (Delta) is 
the same for all calc points. With dI known and dV calculated, the Model 622x can 
also calculate, display, and store the differential conductance (dG) or differential 
resistance (dR) for each calculated point.










