PC based ferroelectric analyzer using modified sawyer and tower circuit

Abstract Though several modifications and improvements have been made in past in the hysteresis loop tracer suggested by Sawyer and Tower, a more versatile PC based tracer with the facility to analyse the ferroelectric parameters is designed by looking at the present trend and requirement of computer automation. The use of a PC based automated ferroelectric analyzer, in addition to performing the tasks of measurement and plotting, is also utilised for extracting the ferroelectric parameters with more accuracy and speed. It also facilitates storage and retrieval of a large amount of data. Furthermore, the loop tracer designed using solid state integrated components reduces the complexity and bulkness. In this system, the output of the modified loop tracer is given to the 2 channels of a 12 bit successive approximation ADC card interfaced to PC instead of CRO in conventional circuits. A program written in BASIC and assembly languages implement the tasks of fastest data acquisition, file creation, plotting and extraction of important parameters. The system has been tested using standard ferroelectric samples.