KEI Keithley Instruments, Inc.

CLEVELAND, Nov. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Keithley Instruments, Inc. (NYSE: KEI), a world leader in advanced electrical test instruments and systems, will broadcast a free, web-based seminar titled "How to Make Electrical Resistivity Measurements of Bulk Materials:  Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors" on Thursday, November 18, 2010.  During this one-hour presentation, participants will learn the fundamentals of making resistivity measurements on bulk materials, as well as the various resistivity methods and techniques used to achieve optimal results.  The on-line event also features an interactive question and answer session.  To register, visit www.keithley.com/events/semconfs/webseminars.

Electrical resistivity is a basic material property and is a very common electrical measurement.  Specific resistivity measurement methods are used depending upon the type of material, whether conductor, insulator, or semiconductor.  Some of the specific methods include making four-wire resistance measurements of metals, volume and surface resistivity measurements of insulators, and four-point collinear probe and van der Pauw measurement methods of semiconductor materials.  In addition to discussing these methods, measurement techniques that pertain to the method are also detailed.  Some of the many techniques and sources of error discussed include electrostatic interference and shielding, leakage current and guarding, thermoelectric EMFs and offset compensation, and others.  Along with using the proper method and techniques, the appropriate instrumentation must also be used to make the desired measurements.

"How to Make Electrical Resistivity Measurements of Bulk Materials: Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors" is recommended for materials researchers, research labs, physicists, universities, and companies who need to test resistivity of their products (solar cells, plastics, paper, tires, semiconductors, etc.).

About the Presenter.

Mary Anne Tupta, a lead applications engineer at Keithley Instruments, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio, will present the seminar.  Mary Anne has a Masters of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Science in Physics/Electronic Engineering from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.  She has been an engineer at Keithley for more than 20 years.

Registration Information.

"How to Make Electrical Resistivity Measurements of Bulk Materials: Conductors, Insulators, and Semiconductors" will be broadcast on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 15:00 CET (9:00 a.m. EST) for the European audience and at 2:00 p.m. EST for the North American audience.  The event is free to the public, but participants must register in advance at www.keithley.com/events/semconfs/webseminars.  The seminar will also be archived on Keithley's website for those unable to attend the original broadcast.

For More Information.

For more information on Keithley or any of its test solutions, visit www.keithley.com or contact the company at:

About Keithley Instruments, Inc.

With more than 60 years of measurement expertise, Keithley Instruments has become a world leader in advanced electrical test instruments and systems.  Our customers are scientists and engineers in the worldwide electronics industry involved with advanced materials research, semiconductor device development and fabrication, and the production of end products such as portable wireless devices. The value we provide them is a combination of products for their critical measurement needs and a rich understanding of their applications to improve the quality of their products and reduce their cost of test.

Products and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

SOURCE Keithley Instruments, Inc.