Large display “re-defines” industrial oscilloscope design
Two oscilloscopes from Tektronix have large displays and intuitive touchscreen user interfaces. The 3 Series mixed domain oscilloscope (MDO) and 4 Series mixed signal oscilloscope (MSO) join the 5 and 6 Series MSOs by Tektronix. They are claimed to have the largest display sizes in their class and advanced analysis capabilities.
The 3 and 4 Series share a user interface design with touchscreens and front panels that keep key controls close at hand. It uses the touchscreen for search, for example, rather than multiple menus to find settings, the user can double-tap the appropriate readout or measurement on the display.
The 4 Series MSO has a large display and up to six Flex Channel inputs. Large oscilloscope displays can speed up debugging and analysis tasks, says Tektronix. The 13.3-inch display has 1920 x 1080 HD resolution. This is claimed to be the largest and highest resolution in its class. The oscilloscope offers bandwidths up to 1.5GHz and uses 12-bit ADCs for what is claimed to be the highest vertical resolution in its class. The six input channels and FlexChannel technology allows any input channel to be converted from analgue to eight digital channels simply by connecting a logic probe.
Bandwidths start at 200MHz and there is a selection of options available, including serial decode and analysis, an arbitrary/function generator and a DVM/frequency counter. The new Spectrum View feature offers time correlated frequency domain analysis with independent spectrum controls. A power analysis package is available to automate AC line, switching device, ripple and sequencing measurements.
Bandwidth and options are all field upgradeable. All models deliver 6.25Gsample per second rate on all analogue and digital channels. Standard record length is 31.25Mpoints with the option for 62.5Mpoints.
The 3 Series MDO is a compact, versatile desktop instrument. It has an 11.6-inch display, the largest in its class, says Tektronix and has full high-definition resolution. It uses the same intuitive user interface as the rest of the portfolio with a similar set of knobs and buttons but takes up less than six inches of depth on a bench.
The 3 Series MDO can cover a wide range of debugging and validation tasks. It offers an optional spectrum analyser up to 3GHz, with a separate RF input and specifications comparable to a standalone analyser. This enables engineers to quickly debug wireless components in their designs or quickly track down sources of unwanted EMI emissions without having to use another instrument. There are 16 digital input channels available for mixed signal analysis together with serial protocol debugging and triggering options, optional power measurement and an optional advanced force gauge (AFG). A DVM/frequency counter is included, at no additional charge, with product registration.
The 3 Series MDO is available in bandwidths from 100MHz to 1.0GHz. Models are available with 2.5 or 5Gsamples per second on all analogue and digital channels. Standard record length is 10Mpoints. Bandwidths and options are field-upgradeable to preserve investment, adds Tektronix.
Both the 3 Series MDO and 4 Series MSO use the TekVPI probe interface, giving access to the full range of Tektronix differential voltage probes, active voltage probes, and current probes, plus the recently-introduced power rail probes and optically-isolated differential probes.
