Software enhances oscilloscopes vertical resolution

Users can adjust the bandwidth of the lowpass filter from 10 kHz to 500 MHz as needed to match the characteristics of the applied signal. The lower the filter bandwidth, the higher the resolution.

The higher resolution leads to a sharper waveform display, showing signal details that would otherwise be masked by noise. To be able to analyse these waveforms in detail, the input sensitivity of the oscilloscopes has been increased to 500 µV/div. A low-noise frontend and the highly accurate single-core A/D converter, means the R&S RTO and R&S RTE oscilloscopes have an excellent dynamic range and measurement accuracy. Switching on high definition mode allows users to benefit from even more precise measurement results.

The unique digital trigger system from Rohde & Schwarz is sensitive enough to trigger on the highest-resolution signal. Each of the up to 16-bit samples is checked against the trigger conditions and can initiate a trigger. This means that Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscopes are capable of isolating even the smallest signal events for detailed analysis.

Switching on the high definition mode does not compromise measurement speed or functions. Since the digital filtering, which improves resolution and noise suppression, is implemented in realtime in the oscilloscope’s ASIC, the acquisition and processing rates remain high. The oscilloscope enables smooth operation and measurement results are available quickly. Furthermore all analysis tools, such as automatic measurements, FFT and the history mode, can also be used in high definition mode.

The R&S RTO-K17 and R&S RTE-K17 high definition software options are now available from Rohde & Schwarz.