Many manufacturers have in recent years have introduced oscilloscopes with integrated test instrumentation. This means that the smaller and lighter oscilloscope enclosure actually houses about five additional test instruments. An example is the Tektronix MDO3000 Series which includes a digital voltmeter, arbitrary function generator, spectrum analyzer, logic analyzer, and protocol analyzer. All this integrated test […]
oscilloscope measurements
Understanding sampling modes in digital oscilloscopes
In a digital oscilloscope, the analog signal is at the input, after attenuation/amplification and preliminary filtering such as for ac coupling, goes to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Each channel has a separate ADC, each with an external clock. Analog-to-digital conversion takes place by means of sampling. The samples are taken at specific rates and the […]
First 56-GBd optical probes for real-time scopes help troubleshoot 400G PAM4 components
The industry’s first 56 GBd 400G PAM4 optical probe is designed for use with Tektronix DPO70000SX Series real-time oscilloscopes. The new 59 GHz DPO7OE2 single-mode optical probe delivers the performance and advanced debug capabilities designers need to troubleshoot 400G PAM4 components and reduce time to market. Compared to 100G with NRZ modulation, 400G with PAM4 […]
Scope optical modules boast high sensitivity, low noise
Two new optical modules for the Tektronix DSA8300 sampling oscilloscope offer the industry’s highest sensitivity and lowest noise, helpful for analyzing 400G designs moving into production. Tektronix also announced enhanced support for the latest 400G PAM4 TDECQ measurements with a software package optimized for 4 channel parallel processing for high throughput manufacturing test. “As 400G […]
Testing and debugging the I2C digital data bus
“Bus” is an old term derived from conductive elements that are part of an electrical distribution system, generally referring to short specialized conductors separate from the overhead or underground cable. Typically, the old-style buses consist of bare copper bars, often having a rectangular cross-section, firmly mounted in an enclosure and capable of carrying current at […]
Characterizing digital logic signals with an oscilloscope
Transistor-transistor logic (TTL) and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) logic are the principal types of integrated circuit-based logic gates implemented in digital circuitry. TTL employs bipolar junction transistor technology while CMOS uses the field-effect transistor concept at the input. TTL consumes far more power than CMOS, which is one reason CMOS has eclipsed TTL as […]
Basics of measurement resolution
In electronic instrumentation, resolution is a measure of the distance in amplitude at which we can distinguish between two points on a waveform. This is not the same as accuracy, which is a measure of how closely a waveform as displayed or measured agrees with the signal at the instrument’s input. One of the principal […]
Basics of operating oscilloscope arbitrary waveform generators
An arbitrary function generator (AFG) produces oscillating energy that takes the form of periodic or one-shot waves. We should begin by asking: What is the difference between an AFG and an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG)? Also, what is meant in these contexts by “arbitrary?” Arbitrary as applied to waveform generation means that the user can […]
Making best use of acquisition memory in digital storage oscilloscopes
A typical computer contains at least two separate memory substructures: random-access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) also has two types of memory: acquisition and display memory, but beyond that the comparison is tenuous. In talking about a DSO, memory generally refers to acquisition memory. The highly complex interaction between […]
Care and maintenance of a digital storage oscilloscope
Today’s Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (DSOs) such as the Tektronix MDO3000 are capable of a wide range of complex operations, often involving substantial voltages from power sources having high available current. With proper care and maintenances, these instruments will last indefinitely. They seem never to wear out. Here are some suggestions for maximizing accuracy and longevity: […]