High-Sample-Rate Multiprocessor-Based Oscilloscopes

The design of the HP 54615B and 54616B oscilloscopes (Fig. 1) focused on adding higher sample rate and extended memory depth to the attributes of the HP 54600 product family.1 Increasing the sample rate to 1 GSa/s and 2 GSa/s, respectively, broadens the confidence that narrow signal transients will be acquired and, combined with very responsive front-panel controls, presents a visually dense image of the acquired waveform. To provide reliable acquisitions over even the slowest time base settings, special hardware can be engaged to detect and capture peaks as narrow as 1 ns in width.