The National Instruments PXIe-4138, identified by part number 782856-01, is a high-performance PXI Source Measure Unit (SMU) optimized for precision voltage and current sourcing and measurement. This versatile unit supports DC voltage ranges of 600 mV, 6 V, and 60 V, along with DC current sourcing and sinking capabilities across multiple ranges: ±1 μA, ±10 μA, ±100 μA, ±1 mA, ±10 mA, ±100 mA, ±1 A, and ±3 A, ensuring exceptional current control. With a voltage resolution of as low as 1 μV and an accuracy of 0.02% + 100 μV, as well as a current resolution of 100 pA with an accuracy of 0.03% + 12 nA at a reference temperature of 23 °C, the PXIe-4138 delivers remarkable precision and low noise performance.

This instrument is equipped with configurable input trigger lines for enhanced synchronization, supporting 0 to 7 PXI trigger lines with a minimum pulse width of 100 ns. It also offers output trigger events such as source complete, measure complete, and pulse complete, among others, with configurable pulse widths between 250 ns and 1.6 μs. Safety features are integral to the design, including overvoltage, overcurrent, and overtemperature protection, which ensures reliable operation through automatic shutdown and the opening of the output disconnect relay.

The PXIe-4138 requires 2.5 A from the 3.3 V rail and 2.2 A from the 12 V rail for operation. It has compact physical dimensions of 2.0 cm × 13.0 cm × 21.6 cm (0.8 in. × 5.1 in. × 8.5 in.) and weighs 419 g (14.8 oz). The unit functions optimally in temperatures ranging from 0 °C to 55 °C with a humidity range of 10% to 90% (noncondensing) and can be stored in conditions between -40 °C and 71 °C, with humidity levels of 5% to 95% (noncondensing). It is designed for operation at altitudes up to 2000 meters and possesses a pollution degree of 2. The device also endures operating shock conditions of 30 g (half-sine, 11 ms pulse) and operates within a vibration range of 5 Hz to 500 Hz at 0.3 g RMS, making it a robust choice for demanding industrial environments.