High performance oscilloscopes push technology boundaries

28th April 2014

Keysight Technologies (formerly Agilent)

Mick Elliott

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Agilent Technologies has today (April 29) launched two new high-performance portable oscilloscope series described by the company as “the next generation of oscilloscope technology.” The Infiniium S-Series features a 500MHz to 8GHz upgradeable bandwith and sets a new standard for signal integrity for bandwidths up to 8 GHz. The InfiniiVision 6000X Series is claimed to set a new standard for price/performance with bandwidths up to 6 GHz and, for the first time, offers localised voice control in 14 languages.

The Infiniium S-Series has the world’s fastest 10-bit ADC. Compared with traditional scopes with 8-bit ADCs, the oscilloscopes have four times the vertical resolution for precise viewing of signal detail. Coupled with a new low-noise front end, the oscilloscopes deliver an ENOB (effective number of bits) for the system of more than eight, the highest in the indust. The series includes bandwidths from 500 MHz to 8 GHz with four-channel DSO models and 16-digital-channel MSO models. Standard memory is 50 Mpts per channel or 100 Mpts per channel when interleaved, the deepest in the industry.

The S-Series features the industry’s most comprehensive application-specific measurement software, fueled by a powerful motherboard with 8GB RAM, ensuring the scope stays responsive in all operating modes. Fast boot-up time and increased reliability is made possible with its solid-state drive. The 15in (38.1-cm) multitouch capacitive display is the largest in the industry, making it easier to see results and easier to use.

The 6000 X-Series’ 2.1-inch multitouch capacitive touchscreen lets engineers visualise and isolate more anomalies with its 450,000-waveform-per-second update rate and the hardware InfiniiScan Zone touch trigger. For the first time in an oscilloscope with an embedded operating system, the oscilloscopes offer a jitter and real-time eye diagram analysis option that provides an intuitive but powerful way to visualise jitter and eye diagrams of digital signals in embedded designs. Used with the standard colour grade and histogram features, it augments engineers’ characterisation and debugging efficiency. The 14-language Llocalised voice control allows precise scope control and signal visualisation while an engineer’s hands are occupied.

The X-Series extends instrument integration to six instruments in one: oscilloscope, logic analyzer (MSO), protocol analyser, dual-channel WaveGen function/arbitrary waveform generator, digital voltmeter, and for the first time in any oscilloscope, a 10-digit counter totalizer. The new 10-digit counter has 3.2GHz bandwidth, and the totaliser counts trigger-qualified events in addition to edges.