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Virginia Tech

Design and automation of MEDUSA (Materials and Electronic Device Universal System Analyzer)

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

MEDUSA (Materials and Electronic Devices Universal System Analyzer) is a computer controlled automated workstation capable of conducting eight different experiments, under different independent parameters, and plotting twenty-eight different graphs representing basic semiconductor diode and transport characteristics. This thesis discusses the methodology of computer automation, and the development of the MEDUSA experimental test station. MEDUSA is divided into four different sections: a controlling batch file, a parameter selection routine (PARAMETER), an experimental running routine (RUNIT), and a data manipulation/plotting routine (GRAPHICS). MEDUSA conducts these eight experiments (capacitance and conductance versus time, voltage, current versus voltage, van der Pauw, and four-point resistivity) over a temperature range of 10-600K, with minimal operator interaction. The graphics routines, using elemental semiconductor equations, process the data, and plots high quality graphs suitable for publication. Device and material results are shown to substantiate the validity of this automated system.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1990

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Johnson, Phillip
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Burton, Larry C.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Stephenson, F. William
  • Onishi, Shinzo

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-03242009-040444
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/41751

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Johnson, Phillip. Design and automation of MEDUSA (Materials and Electronic Device Universal System Analyzer). masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1990. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/41751