New Hand-Held 2 kV Electrostatic Voltmeter Launched by TREK

TREK, INC., a designer and manufacturer of high-voltage power amplifiers and high-performance electrostatic instruments, sensors and monitors, announces the introduction of a new hand-held 2 kV electrostatic voltmeter which enables high-accuracy voltage measurement – in contacting or non-contacting mode – with virtually zero charge transfer.

This level of technical capability is important to the semiconductor manufacturing industry, in materials research, and for applications sensitive to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Model 821HH will be featured at the Materials Research Society’s 2013 MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit in Boston. Visit Trek at Booth #831.

Model 821HH expands Trek’s Infinitron® product line which leverages the company’s groundbreaking ultra-high impedance voltmeter technology. The Infinitron® technology was developed to meet a market need for effective contacting measurement – without charge transfer – of site-specific voltage on devices and materials sensitive to ESD, during their handling and processing. There is no charge transfer because the technology assures that the probe tip assumes the voltage level of the measured object’s surface as the tip approaches, resulting in no current flow at the time of contact and therefore no change in surface potential. This capability distinguishes Model 821HH from other measurement systems which can transfer charge during measurement, resulting in disruption to the surface, inaccurate readings, and potential damage to the surface/device due to ESD events.

Applications for Model 821HH include semiconductors, photovoltaics, LEDs, and other electronic devices as well as materials research which can impact a diverse group of industries. This unit can be used to measure both conductive and insulative surfaces. As the trend in device miniaturization continues, the ability to do real-time, non-disruptive, non-loading, site-specific voltage measurement – made possible via Trek’s Model 821HH and its Infinitron® technology – will enable advancements in surface characterization and ESD prevention/control.

Specifications for Model 821HH include measurement range of 0 to +/-2 kV DC or peak AC, input resistance greater than 1x10E+14 ohms, input capacitance less than 1x10E-14 farads, speed of response less than 500 µs for a 1 kV step, and voltage display accuracy of better than 1% of full scale.

Operational versatility is enhanced by data storage (voltage, temperature and humidity), easy-to-read LCD display, data graphing capabilities (when connected to a PC) and battery or line operation. The unit is CE compliant.