6-GHz DSOs Up Real-Time Bandwidths To 20 Gsamples/s

Aug. 18, 2003

The four-channel, 6-GHz 8620A digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) and the SDA 6020 four-channel, 6-GHz serial data analyzer DSO, both hailing from LeCroy, got a boost in real-time sampling rate to...

Roger Allan

The four-channel, 6-GHz 8620A digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) and the SDA 6020 four-channel, 6-GHz serial data analyzer DSO, both hailing from LeCroy, got a boost in real-time sampling rate to 20 Gsamples/s per channel. The scope's other advanced capabilities include a 6-GHz bandwidth, 75-ps rise time, and memory up to 48 million points per channel.

LeCroy's X-Stream technology enables a wide range of measurements to be made up to 100 times faster than other oscilloscopes. Users can insert customized waveform math or parameter calculation routines directly into the instrument's processing stream. The 6020 is designed specifically to evaluate the physical-layer characteristics of both optical and electrical serial data signals up to 3.5 Gbits/s.

The 8620A lets users create customized parameter measurements or waveform math functions and insert them into the DSO's user interface. Users can write a visual basic script, Matlab, Mathcad, or Excel function and integrate it seamlessly into the 8620A's processing chain.

The 8620A and 6020 feature clock accuracy of 1 ppm, sample rate and delay time accuracy better than 1 ppm (for a 10-second interval), and trigger jitter of less than 2.5 ps. Both also have a 5-GHz trigger bandwidth and offer a choice of acquisition memory lengths, starting with 2 Mpoints/channel (8 Mpoints for the 6020) and extending to 48 Mpoints/channel. A host of software packages and accessories are available for use with both.

The 8620A with 2 Mpoints/channel costs $69,500, while the 6020 with 8 Mpoints/channel is $77,500. Delivery is within four to six weeks.

LeCroy Corp.www.lecroy.com (800) 553-2769

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.