The Mixed Signal Oscilloscope
Oscilloscopes are the tool of choice for the vast majority of mixed-signal designers. However, the traditional
two- and four-channel digital oscilloscope is often inadequate to solve today’s mixed-signal problems.
Consider the A/D or D/A converter. These devices can be found in various embedded devices from MP3
players to automobiles. If a designer wants to analyze the A/D’s input while monitoring the 8-bit output,
his oscilloscope will run out of channels. All too often, we find ourselves thinking, “If my oscilloscope only
had more channels….”
Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes (also referred to as MSOs) utilize the same form factor and user interface
of a traditional oscilloscope. The oscilloscope is enhanced for mixed-signal analysis by the integration
of basic logic analyzer functionality. MSOs operate like oscilloscopes but with the added advantage of 16 digital channels.
Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes Offer a Tool You Already Know How to Use
How often have you heard someone say, “I’m tired of having to get the manual out every time I use this piece of
equipment?”. Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes primarily operate like an oscilloscope. However, unlike your oscilloscope,
MSOs provide 16 digital channels. The simplicity and utility of mixed signal oscilloscopes make them the ideal
instrument for your lab. They are simple to use and easy to setup. This is not to say MSOs do not offer a full
complement of powerful features, they just operate as your current oscilloscope does. Features like Autoset
automatically position and set the right scale factors for both the analog and digital waveforms. All of the menus
stay the same, but now the 16 digital channels show up in the channel selection. This tight integration between
the oscilloscope and 16 digital channels creates the ultimate all-in-one tool for embedded design.
Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes Offer Peace of Mind
For many designers, Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes offer a form of digital insurance. There is a peace of mind knowing
you have more than four channels when your application requires them.
Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes, the Ideal Mixed Signal Tool
Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes are a tool unlike any other. You get a high performance portable oscilloscope and a
basic logic analyzer, all in a single portable box. This tight integration between analog and digital makes it possible
to display, trigger and analyze both types of signals in the same instrument. Unlike the logic analyzer mixed signal solution, Mixed Signal
Oscilloscopes operate in real-time allowing continuous updates of the analog and digital waveforms. How often have you seen something that just did not look right when
using logic analyzer? Next thing you knew you were looking for your oscilloscope to verify what was going on. With an
MSO if things don’t look the way you expect, you have the analog channels at your disposal all the time.
Another attribute of Mixed Signal Oscilloscopes that make them the ideal tool for mixed signal design is their
ability to trigger on serial buses. Unlike logic analyzers that primarily focus on parallel buses, MSOs can trigger
on and decode buses like I2C, SPI, RS-232 and CAN. Combine this with the MSO’s parallel bus triggering and
no bug will go unfound.
MSO4000 Series The ultimate all-in-one debug tool for embedded design
Mixed Signal Debug
Conveniently visualize and correlate analog and digital signals on a single instrument:
Broader system visibility
Time-correlated display of both analog and digital data
Serial and parallel bus support
Setup and hold bus triggering
View multiple logic families at the same time with independent thresholds on each digital channel
Ease of Use
Familiar operation and innovative user-friendly features designed to make your work easier:
Drives like the tool engineers already know how to use
Wave Inspector® extended for digital channels
Large 10.4 in. (264 mm) XGA screen
Slim form factor (only 5.4 in. [137 mm] deep) frees up valuable benchtop space
New, innovative digital probe
Next-generation digital waveform display
Performance
Industry-leading specifications give you the power to solve problems quickly:
2 / 4 analog +16 digital channels
10M record length on all channels (analog and digital), all the time
MagniVu™ - provides 60.6 ps timing resolution (16.5 GS/s) on digital channels with 10,000 point record length (positioned around the trigger)
Can I upgrade my DPO4000 to an MSO4000?
No, you cannot upgrade a DPO4000 to an MSO4000.
Will my DPO4000 application keys work in my MSO4000?
Yes, all the application keys for the DPO4000 will work with the MSO4000 and vice versa.
Will SignalExpress™ Tektronix Edition work with the MSO4000?
Yes, SignalExpress TE will work with the MSO4000. However, only analog channels can be transferred.
How do the MagniVu specs compare to the main digital acquisition?
The MagniVu sample rate is 16.5 GS/s and the record length is 10,000 points centered on the trigger. The main acquisition has a sample rate of 500 MS/s and a record length of 10M points.
Can the position of MagniVu be moved?
No, MagniVu is always centered around the trigger point.
If stopped do you have to reacquire to get MagniVu data?
No, MagniVu is acquired every acquisition. You can switch between the MagniVu record and main record at any time, running or stopped.
Can you display the main and MagniVu trace at the same time?
No, you can view the MagniVu trace or the main, but not both at the same time.
What are the white edges on my MSO4000?
The MSO4000 has multiple transition detection hardware. When the system detects multiple transitions, the user will see a white edge on the display. White edges indicate that more information is available by zooming in or acquiring at faster sampling rates. In most cases zooming in will reveal the pulse that was not viewable at the previous settings. If the white edge is still present after zooming in as far as possible, this indicates that increasing your sample rate on the next acquisition will reveal higher frequency information than your previous settings could acquire.
Does the DPO4000 offer parallel buses?
No, parallel buses are only offered on the MSO4000.
Can you create a serial and parallel bus using both analog and digital channels?
Yes, both parallel and serial buses can use a mix of both analog and digital channels. This capability is available for display, search, and triggering functionality.
Why is the digital trace high green and low blue?
The digital channels are coded green for all high (logical one) and blue for low (logical zero). This makes it easy to know the state of your logic when zoomed in far enough that no edges transition on screen.
Can automated measurements be made on the digital channels?
No, cursors are the only way to measure the digital channels.
On the P6516 digital probe, why is one of the wires on each pod blue?
The first channel is blue to make it easy to find.
Does the common ground use a standard automotive spade connector?
Yes, this is a standard automotive spade connector. This was done so customers can easily create their own grounds.
The P6516 has two ground connections, which should I use?
The common ground connector is adequate for applications up to ~20 MHz. All other applications should use the ground located at the probe tip.
What is the probe loading of the P6516 MSO probe?
3 pF, 20 kOhm. Can TLA logic analyzer probes be used with the MSO4000, or can the P6516 MSO probe be used on the TLA logic analyzer?
No. The delay of the P6516 is matched to the delay of the P6139A and the connector is designed to minimize the front panel connector size.
Oscilloscopes use a 5X over-sampling rule, does this rule also apply for digital channels?
No, it is recommended you use at least 10X over- sampling on digital channels to obtain maximum timing resolution.
Does the MSO4000 support Mictor connectors?
Yes, order NEX-HD2HEADR. This adapter breaks out all 34 channels to square pin headers.
Can the MSO4000 do synchronous clocking?
No, the MSO4000 only supports Asynchronous clocking. If the application requires synchronous clocking the customer should purchase a TLA logic analyzer.
The Agilent MSO has one threshold per 8 channels. Does the MSO4000 have this limitation?
No, the MSO4000 can set an individual threshold for each channel.
What is the system bandwidth of the DPO4000 or MSO4000 with a TDP0500 and TDP1000?
A DPO4104 or MSO4104 with a TDP0500 has a system bandwidth of ~450 MHz. A DPO4104 or MSO4104 with a TDP1000 has a system bandwidth of ~700 MHz. Either probe with any other DPO4000 or MSO4000 is ~350 MHz.
How does the DPO4000 get the new capabilities mentioned in TABLE 3, p.11.?
Via a new firmware version available on Tek.com on MSO4000 PA date. This firmware is free for current DPO4000 Series customers.
