82A04B Datasheet Phase Reference Module for the DSA8300 Sampling Oscilloscope

Features & Benefits

• Extremely Low Jitter <100 fs_RMS
• Flexible Operation
• Triggered
• Untriggered (Free-running) Acquisition Without Trigger Signal
• Support for Enhanced Acquisition Modes (FrameScan^®)
• Wide and Continuous Frequency Range 2 GHz - 60 GHz
• Small Module Implementation Allows:
• Acquisition on Six Other Channels
• Placement Close to the DUT with Module Extender Cable
• Fast Acquisition Rate

Applications

• Design, Verification, and Manufacturing of Computer, Telecom, and Datacom Components and Systems Operating at 10 Gb/s and Faster

Extremely Low Jitter, Flexible Signal Acquisition Solution

The 82A04B Phase Reference Module extends the capability of the DSA8300*¹ Digital Serial Analyzer sampling oscilloscope mainframe by providing extremely low jitter/drift sample position information to the mainframe. This sample position information is based on the phase of a clock the user provides to the 82A04B input.

The benefits of using the sample position information based on a clock signal are two-fold – an extremely low jitter of <100 fs_RMS, and the possibility of a triggerless acquisition. The typical application is the acquisition and analysis of very high-speed optical and electrical signals in high-speed communication devices and systems and similar areas.

The 82A04B together with the DSA8300 implements the phase reference time-base functionality in a novel way, giving the user the freedom to select from time base and acquisition modes without compromises; any phase-reference frequency within the operating range is accommodated, and even the advanced features, such as FrameScan^®, remain available. The separate DSP per acquisition slot architecture of the DSA8300 enables the acquisition rate in the Phase Reference mode to reach over 180 kS/s*².

*¹ Also compatible with DSA8200, TDS/CSA8200 sampling oscilloscopes.

*² Typical performance, some settings will lower the throughput.

Modes of Operation

The operation of the phase reference is based on the acquisition of a clock synchronous to the signal under observation. This clock can be a user-supplied signal (for example, a clock from a BERT), or the clock output of one of the DSA8300 clock recovery or optical modules.

Phase Ref Free-Run - With no external trigger to the DSA8300 mainframe needed, the 82A04B module can, together with the mainframe, create a time base based on the phase of the reference clock (effectively the time base of the instrument functions as a “Phase-base” instead). The signal displayed on the screen will therefore repeat after one period of the reference clock. All user controls remain enabled, even while the horizontal position has relative meaning only. The timing information presented by the oscilloscope is based solely on the phase reference clock frequency as entered by the user in the Input Freq field of the Phase Reference Setup dialog.

Phase Ref Triggered - By providing the phase reference clock to both the phase reference module and the Clock Input of the instrument, the DSA8300's Advanced Trigger feature (Option ADVTRIG) can acquire repetitive pattern data (as opposed to only eye diagrams or clock signals) with very low jitter.

Characterize - To operate properly in either the Phase Ref Triggered or the Phase Ref Free-Run modes the Phase Reference module has to first characterize the phase reference signal. The signal needs to be stable during the characterization and afterward. The instrument indicates when characterization is necessary.

Performance You Can Count On

Depend on Tektronix to provide you with performance you can count on. In addition to industry-leading service and support, this product comes backed by a one-year warranty as standard.