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PicoScope-9404A-25
PicoScope-9404A-25 SXRTO PQ355
- 4 Ch analog input
- 25 GHz bandwidth, 14 ps transition time
- 12-bit 500 MS/s ADCs
- 5 TS/s (0.2 ps) ETS
- ±800 mV full-scale input range into 50 Ω
- 10 mV/div to 0.25 V/div digital gain ranges
- PicoSample4 Windows software
- Built-in measurements, zooms, data masks, histograms, FFT
- Clock recovery trigger 6.5 Mb/s to 11.3 Gb/s (Optiona)
- Recovered clock and data outputs (Option)
- PC connection: USB3, LAN
- Wieght 1.52 Kg
- Warranty: 3 years
Specifications marked with † are valid after a 30-minute warm-up period and ±2 °C from firmware calibration temperature.
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical | |||||
| Number of input channels | 4 (all channels are identical and digitized simultaneously) | ||||
| Analog bandwidth (-3 dB)† | Full bandwidth* | DC to 6 GHz | DC to 16 GHz | DC to 25 GHz | DC to 33 GHz |
| Middle bandwidth | DC to 500 MHz | N/A | |||
| Narrow bandwidth | DC to 100 MHz | DC to 100 MHz | DC to 18 GHz | N/A | |
| Passband flatness | ±1 dB to 3 GHz | ±1 dB to 5 GHz | ±1 dB to 4 GHz | ±1 dB to 8 GHz | |
| Calculated rise time (Tr), typical
Calculated from the bandwidth. For 10 to 90%, Tr = 0.35/BW. For 20 to 80%, Tr = 0.25/BW.
|
Full bandwidth | 10 to 90%: ≤ 58.4 ps 20 to 80%: ≤ 41.7 ps |
10 to 90%: ≤ 21.9 ps 20 to 80%: ≤ 15.6 ps |
10 to 90%: ≤ 14 ps 20 to 80%: ≤ 10 ps |
10 to 90%: ≤ 10.9 ps 20 to 80%: ≤ 7.8 ps |
| Middle bandwidth | 10 to 90%: ≤ 700 ps 20 to 80%: ≤ 500 ps |
N/A | |||
| Narrow bandwidth | 10 to 90%: ≤ 3.5 ns 20 to 80%: ≤ 2.5 ns |
10 to 90%: ≤ 19.5 ps 20 to 80%: ≤ 13.9 ps |
N/A | ||
| RMS noise | Full bandwidth* | 1.8 mV max, 1.6 mV typ. | 2.4 mV max, 2.2 mV typ. | 2.9 mV max, 2.7 mV typ. | 2.95 mV max, 2.8 mV typ. |
| Middle bandwidth | 0.9 mV max, 0.75 mV typ. | N/A | |||
| Narrow bandwidth | 0.7 mV max, 0.6 mV typ. | 2.5 mV max, 2.3 mV typ. | N/A | ||
| Input ranges (sensitivity) | 10 mV/div to 250 mV/div | 10 mV/div to 200 mV/div | |||
| Adjustable in a 10-12.5-15-20-25-30-40-50-60-80-100-125-150-200-250 mV/div sequence | Adjustable in a 10-12.5-15-20-25-30-40-50-60-80-100-125-150-200 mV/div sequence | ||||
| Also adjustable in 1% fine increments or better With manual or calculator data entry, the increment is 0.1 mV/div |
|||||
| DC gain accuracy* | ±1.5% of full scale (±1.0% typical) | ±2.0% of full scale (±1.5% typical) | ±2.5% of full scale (±2.0% typical) | ||
| Position range | ±4 divisions from center screen | ||||
| DC offset range | Adjustable from −1 to +1 V in 10 mV increments (coarse) or 2 mV increments (fine) | Adjustable from −800 to +800 mV in 10 mV (coarse) or 2 mV (fine) increments | |||
| Manual or calculator data entry: increment is 0.01 mV for offsets between −99.9 and +99.9 mV, and 0.1 mV for offsets between –999.9 and +999.9 mV. (−799.9 and +799.9 mV for -25 and -33 models) Referenced to center of display graticule. |
|||||
| Offset accuracy* | ±(2 mV + 1.5%) of offset setting, max; ±(1 mV + 1%) typical | ±(2 mV + 2%) of offset setting, max; ±(1 mV + 1%) typical | |||
| Operating input voltage | ±1 V | ±800 mV | |||
| Vertical zoom and position | For all input channels, waveform memories, or functions Vertical factor: 0.01 to 100 Vertical position: ±800 divisions maximum of zoomed waveform |
||||
| Channel-to-channel crosstalk (channel isolation) | ≥ 50 dB (316:1) for input frequency DC to 1 GHz ≥ 40 dB (100:1) for input frequency > 1 GHz to 3 GHz |
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| ≥ 36 dB (63:1) for 3 GHz > input frequency ≥ 5 GHz | ≥ 36 dB (63:1) for 3 GHz > input frequency ≥ 16 GHz | ≥ 40 dB (100:1) for 3 GHz > input frequency ≥ 16 GHz ≥ 36 dB (63:1) for 16 GHz > input frequency ≥ 25 GHz |
TBD | ||
| Delay between channels | ≤ 10 ps, typical, between any two channels, full bandwidth, random sampling | ||||
| ADC resolution | 12 bits | ||||
| Hardware vertical resolution | 0.5 mV/LSB without averaging | 0.4 mV/LSB without averaging | |||
| Overvoltage protection | ±1.4 V (DC + AC peak) | ±1.5 V (DC + AC peak) | |||
| Input impedance* | 50 ± 1.5 Ω. 50 ± 1 Ω, typical | ||||
| Input match | Reflections for 70 ps rise time: 10% or less | Reflections for 50 ps rise time: 10% or less | Reflections for 20 ps rise time: 10% or less | ||
| Input coupling | DC | ||||
| Input connectors | SMA (f) | 2.92 mm (K) (f), compatible with SMA | |||
| Attenuation ( Attenuation factors are optional scaling factors that can be used to scale the oscilloscope if external attenuators are connected to the channel inputs.) | |
|---|---|
| Range | 0.0001:1 to 1 000 000:1 |
| Units | Ratio or dB |
| Scale | Volt, watt, ampere, or unknown |
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal | |||||
| Timebase | Internal timebase common to all input channels | ||||
| Timebase range
Full horizontal scale is ten divisions.
|
Total available range | 50 ps/div to 1000 s/div | 20 ps/div to 1000 s/div | 10 ps/div to 1000 s/div | |
| Real-time sampling | 10 ns/div to 1000 s/div | ||||
| Random equivalent-time sampling | 50 ps/div to 5 μs/div | 20 ps/div to 5 μs/div | 10 ps/div to 5 μs/div | ||
| Roll | 100 ms/div to 1000 s/div | ||||
| Segmented | Total number of segments: 2 to 1024. Rearm time between segments: < 1 µs (trigger hold-off setting dependent) | ||||
| Horizontal zoom and position | For all input channels, waveform memories or functions Horizontal factor: From 1 to 2000 Horizontal position: From 0% to 100% non-zoomed waveform |
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| Timebase clock accuracy (500 MHz timebase clock) | Initial set tolerance @ 25 ± 3 °C | ±0.5 ppm | |||
| Overall frequency stability over operating temperature range | ±2 ppm | ||||
| Aging (over 10 years @ 25 °C) | ±3 ppm | ||||
| Timebase resolution (with random sampling) | 1 ps | 0.4 ps | 0.2 ps | ||
| Delta time measurement accuracy* | ±(0.5 ppm × reading + 0.1% × screen width + 2 ps) | ||||
| Pre-trigger delay | Record length / current sampling rate maximum at zero variable delay time | ||||
| Post-trigger delay | 0 to 4.28 s. Coarse increment is one horizontal scale division, fine increment is 0.1 horizontal scale division, manual or calculator increment is 0.01 horizontal scale division | ||||
| Channel-to-channel deskew range | ±50 ns range. Coarse increment is 100 ps, fine is 10 ps. With manual or calculator data entry the increment is four significant digits or 1 ps | ||||
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition | |||||
| Sampling models | Real-time | Captures all of the sample points used to reconstruct a waveform during a single trigger event | |||
| Random | Acquires sample points over several trigger events, requiring the input waveform to be repetitive | ||||
| Roll | Acquisition data is displayed in a rolling fashion starting from the right side of the display and continuing to the left side of the display (while the acquisition is running) | ||||
| Maximum sampling rate | Real-time | 500 MS/s per channel simultaneously | |||
| Random | Up to 1 TS/s, or 1 ps trigger placement resolution | Up to 2.5 TS/s, or 0.4 ps trigger placement resolution | Up to 5 TS/s, or 0.2 ps trigger placement resolution | ||
| Record length | Real-time | From 50 S/ch to 250 kS/ch for one channel, to 125 kS/ch for two channels, to 50 kS/ch for three and four channels | |||
| Random sampling | From 500 S/ch to 250 kS/ch for one channel, to 125 kS/ch for two channels, to 50 kS/ch for three and four channels | ||||
| Duration at highest real-time sampling rate | 0.5 ms for one channel, 0.25 ms for two channels, 0.125 ms for three and four channels | ||||
| Acquisition modes | Sample (normal) | Acquires first sample in decimation interval and displays results without further processing | |||
| Average | Average value of samples in decimation interval. Number of waveforms for average: 2 to 4096 | ||||
| Envelope | Envelope of acquired waveforms. Minimum, Maximum or both Minimum and Maximum values acquired over one or more acquisitions. Number of acquisitions is from 2 to 4096 in ×2 sequence and continuously | ||||
| Peak detect | Largest and smallest sample in decimation interval. Minimum pulse width: 1/(sampling rate) or 2 ns @ 50 µs/div or faster for single channel | ||||
| High resolution | Averages all samples taken during an acquisition interval to create a record point. This average results in a higher-resolution, lower-bandwidth waveform. Resolution can be expanded to 12.5 bits or more, up to 16 bits | ||||
| Segmented | Number of segments: 1 to 1024, rearm time: < 3 μs or user defined holdoff time, whichever is larger (minimum time between trigger events). User can view selected segment, overlaid segments or selected plus overlay. Search segments: step through, gated block and binary search. Segments are delta and absolute time-stamped | ||||
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trigger | |||||
| Trigger sources | Internal from any of four channels, external direct, external prescaled (if available) | ||||
| Trigger mode | Free run | Triggers automatically but not synchronized to the input in absence of trigger event | |||
| Normal (triggered) | Requires trigger event for oscilloscope to trigger | ||||
| Single | Software button that triggers only once on a trigger event. Not suitable for random sampling | ||||
| Trigger holdoff mode | Time or random | ||||
| Trigger holdoff range | Holdoff by time: Adjustable from 500 ns to 15 s in a 1-2-5-10 sequence or in 4 ns fine increments. Random: This mode varies the trigger holdoff from one acquisition to another by randomizing the time value between triggers. The randomized time values can be between the values specified in the min holdoff and max holdoff |
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| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internal trigger | |||||
| Trigger style | Edge | Triggers on a rising and falling edge of any source within frequency range DC to 2.5 GHz | |||
| Divide | The trigger source is divided down four times (/4) before being applied to the trigger system. Maximum trigger frequency 6 GHz | ||||
| Clock recovery (optional) | Triggers on the rising edge of the recovered clock | ||||
| 6.5 Mb/s to 5 Gb/s | 6.5 Mb/s to 8 Gb/s | 6.5 Mb/s to 11.3 Gb/s | |||
| Bandwidth and sensitivity | Low sensitivity | 100 mV p-p DC to 100 MHz, increasing linearly from 100 mV p-p at 100 MHz to 200 mV p-p at 6 GHz. Pulse width: 80 ps @ 200 mV p-p typical |
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| High sensitivity* | 30 mV p-p DC to 100 MHz, increasing linearly from 30 mV p-p at 100 MHz to 70 mV p-p at 6 GHz. Pulse width: 100 ps @ 70 mV p-p |
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| Level range | −1 to +1 V in 10 mV increments (coarse). Also adjustable in fine increments of 1 mV | ||||
| Edge trigger slope | Positive | Triggers on rising edge | |||
| Negative | Triggers on falling edge | ||||
| Bi-slope | Triggers on both edges of the signal | ||||
| RMS jitter*
Combined trigger and interpolator jitter.
|
Edge and divided triggers | 1.5 ps + 0.1 ppm of delay, maximum 1.2 ps + 0.1 ppm of delay, typical Tested at 2.5 GHz/600 mV p-p sine wave for edge trigger, and at 6 GHz/600 mV p-p sine wave for divided trigger |
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| Clock recovery trigger (optional) | 2 ps + 1.0% of unit interval + 0.1 ppm delay, maximum | ||||
| Coupling | DC | ||||
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External prescaled trigger | |||||
| Coupling | N/A | 50 Ω, AC coupled, fixed level zero volts | |||
| Bandwidth and sensitivity* | 100 mV p-p from 1 GHz to 16 GHz | 100 mV p-p from 1 GHz to 20 GHz | |||
| RMS jitter*
For trigger input slope > 2 V/ns. Combined trigger and interpolator jitter.
|
1.5 ps, maximum. 1.2 ps, typical | ||||
| Prescaler ratio | Divided by 8, fixed | ||||
| Maximum safe input voltage | ±3 V (DC + AC peak) | ||||
| Input connector | SMA (f) | ||||
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| External direct trigger | |||||
| Style | Edge | Triggers on a rising and falling edge of any source from DC to 2.5 GHz | |||
| Divide | Trigger source divided by 4 before input to the trigger system. Max. trigger frequency 6 GHz |
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| Clock recovery (optional) | Triggers on the rising edge of the recovered clock. | ||||
| 6.5 Mb/s to 5 Gb/s | 6.5 Mb/s to 8 Gb/s | 6.5 Mb/s to 11.3 Gb/s | |||
| Coupling | DC | ||||
| Bandwidth and sensitivity | Low sensitivity* | 100 mV p-p DC to 100 MHz, increasing linearly from 100 mV p-p at 100 MHz to 200 mV p-p at 6 GHz Pulse width: 80 ps @ 200 mV p-p typical |
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| High sensitivity | 30 mV p-p DC to 100 MHz, increasing linearly from 30 mV p-p at 100 MHz to 70 mV p-p at 6 GHz Pulse width: 80 ps @ 70 mV p-p |
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| Level range | −1 to 1 V in 10 mV coarse increments or 1 mV fine increments | ||||
| Slope | Rising, falling, bi-slope | ||||
| RMS jitter | Edge and divided* | 1.5 ps + 0.1 ppm of delay, maximum 1.2 ps + 0.1 ppm of delay, typical Tested at 2.5 GHz/600 mV p-p sine wave for edge trigger, and at 6 GHz/600 mV p-p for divided trigger |
|||
| Clock recovery (optional) | 2 ps + 1.0% of unit interval + 0.1 ppm of delay, maximum | ||||
| Maximum safe input voltage | ±3 V (DC + AC peak) | ||||
| Input connector | SMA (f) | ||||
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Off | No persistence |
| Variable persistence | Time that each data point is retained on the display. Persistence time can be varied from 100 ms to 20 s | |
| Infinite persistence | In this mode, a waveform sample point is displayed forever | |
| Variable gray scaling | Five levels of a single color that is varied in saturation and luminosity. Refresh time can be varied from 1 s to 200 s | |
| Infinite gray scaling | In this mode, a waveform sample point is displayed forever in five levels of a single color | |
| Variable color grading | With variable color grading selected, historical timing information is represented by a temperature or spectral color scheme providing "z-axis" information about rapidly changing waveforms. Refresh time can be varied from 1 to 200 s | |
| Infinite color grading | In this mode, a waveform sample point is displayed forever by a temperature or spectral color scheme | |
| Style | Dots | Displays waveforms without persistence, each new waveform record replaces the previously acquired record for a channel |
| Vector | This function draws a straight line through the data points on the display. Not suited to multi-value signals such as an eye diagram | |
| Graticule | Full | Full grid |
| Axes | Displays axes with tick marks | |
| Frame | Displays frame with tick marks only | |
| Off | No graticule | |
| Format | Auto | Automatically places, adds or deletes graticules as you select more or fewer waveforms to display |
| Single XT | All waveforms are superimposed and are eight divisions high | |
| Dual YT | With two graticules, all waveforms can be four divisions high, displayed separately or superimposed | |
| Quad YT | With four graticules, all waveforms can be two divisions high, displayed separately or superimposed | |
| When you select dual or quad screen display, every waveform channel, memory and function can be placed on a specified graticule | ||
| XY | Displays voltages of two waveforms against each other. The amplitude of the first waveform is plotted on the horizontal X axis and the amplitude of the second waveform is is plotted on the vertical Y axis | |
| XY + YT | Displays both XY and YT pictures. The YT format appears on the upper part of the screen, and the XY format on the lower part of the screen. The YT format display area is one screen and any displayed waveforms are superimposed | |
| XY + 2YT | Displays both YT and XY pictures. The YT format appears on the upper part of the screen, and the XY format on the lower part of the screen. The YT format display area is divided into two equal screens | |
| Tandem | Displays graticules to the left and to the right | |
| Colors | You may choose a default color selection, or select your own color set. Different colors are used for displaying selected items: background, channels, functions, waveform memories, FFTs, TDR/TDTs and histograms | |
| Trace annotation | The instrument gives you the ability to add an identifying label, bearing your own text, to a waveform display. For each waveform, you can create multiple labels and turn them all on or all off. Also, you can position them on the waveform by dragging or by specifying an exact horizontal position | |
| Save/Recall | |
|---|---|
| Management | Store and recall setups, waveforms and user mask files to any drive on your PC. Storage capacity is limited only by disk space |
| File extensions | Waveform files: .wfm for binary format, .txt for verbose format (text), .txty for Y values formats (text) Database files: .wdb Setup files: .set User mask files: .pcm |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows 7, 8 and 10, 32-bit and 64-bit; Windows 11, 64-bit |
| Waveform save/recall | Up to four waveforms may be stored into the waveform memories (M1 to M4), and then recalled for display |
| Save to/recall from disk | You can save or recall your acquired waveforms to or from any drive on the PC. To save a waveform, use the standard Windows Save as dialog box. From this dialog box you can create subdirectories and waveform files, or overwrite existing waveform files. You can load, into one of the Waveform Memories, a file with a waveform you have previously saved and then recall it for display |
| Save/recall setups | The instrument can store complete setups in the memory and then recall them |
| Screen image | You can copy a screen image into the clipboard with the following formats: Full screen, full window, client part, invert client part, oscilloscope screen |
| Autoscale | Pressing the Autoscale key automatically adjusts the vertical channels, the horizontal scale factors, and the trigger level for a display appropriate to the signals applied to the inputs The Autoscale feature requires a repetitive signal with a frequency greater than 100 Hz, duty cycle greater than 0.2%, amplitudes greater than 100 mV p-p. Autoscale is operative only for relatively stable input signals |
| Markers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marker type | X-marker | Vertical bars (measure time) |
| Y-marker | Horizontal bars (measure volts) | |
| XY-marker | Waveform markers | |
| Marker measurements | Absolute, delta, volt, time, frequency and slope | |
| Marker motion | Independent | Both markers can be adjusted independently |
| Paired | Markers can be adjusted together | |
| Ratiometric measurements | Provide ratios between measured and reference values. Results in such ratiometric units as %, dB and degrees | |
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measurements | |||||
| Automated measurements | Up to ten simultaneous measurements are supported | ||||
| Automatic parametric | 53 automatic measurements available | ||||
| Amplitude measurements | Maximum, minimum, top, base, peak-peak, amplitude, middle, mean, cycle mean, DC RMS, cycle DC RMS, AC RMS, cycle AC RMS, positive overshoot, negative overshoot, area, cycle area | ||||
| Timing measurements | Period, frequency, positive width, negative width, rise time, fall time, positive duty cycle, negative duty cycle, positive crossing, negative crossing, burst width, cycles, time at maximum, time at minimum, positive jitter p-p, positive jitter RMS, negative jitter p-p, negative jitter RMS | ||||
| Inter-signal measurements | Delay (8 options), phase deg, phase rad, phase %, gain, gain dB | ||||
| FFT measurements | FFT magnitude, FFT delta magnitude, THD, FFT frequency, FFT delta frequency | ||||
| Measurement statistics | Displays current, minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation on any displayed waveform measurements | ||||
| Method of top-base definition | Histogram, min/max or user-defined (in absolute voltage) | ||||
| Thresholds | Upper, middle and lower horizontal bars settable in percentage, voltage or divisions. Standard thresholds are 10–50–90% or 20–50–80% | ||||
| Margins | Any region of the waveform may be isolated for measurement using left and right margins (vertical bars) | ||||
| Measurement mode | Repetitive, single-shot | ||||
| Counter | Source | Internal from any of four channels, external direct, external prescaled (if available) | |||
| Resolution | 7 digits | ||||
| Maximum frequency, internal or external direct trigger | 6 GHz | ||||
| Maximum frequency, external prescaled trigger | N/A | 16 GHz | 20 GHz | ||
| Measurements | Frequency, period | ||||
| Time reference | Internal 250 MHz reference clock | ||||
| Spectrum/FFT | |
|---|---|
| Frequency span | Span = sample rate / 2 = Record length / (2 × timebase range) |
| Frequency resolution | Frequency resolution = Sample rate / record length |
| Windows | Rectangular, Hamming, Hann, flat-top, Blackman-Harris, Kaiser-Bessel Windows allow optimization of frequency resolution, transients and amplitude accuracy |
| Marker measurements | Frequency, delta frequency, magnitude, delta magnitude |
| Automated measurements | Magnitude, delta magnitude, THD, frequency, delta frequency |
| Math channels | ||
|---|---|---|
| Waveform math | Up to four math waveforms can be defined and displayed, using math functions F1 to F4 | |
| Categories and math operators | Arithmetic | Add, subtract, multiply, divide, ceil, floor, fix, round, absolute, invert, common, rescale |
| Algebra | Exponentiation (base e, 10 or arbitrary), logarithm (base e, 10 or arbitrary), differentiate, integrate, square, square root, cube, arbitrary power, inverse, square root of sum | |
| Trigonometry | Sine, cosine, tangent, cotangent, arc sine, arc cosine, arc tangent, arc cotangent, hyperbolic sine, hyperbolic cosine, hyperbolic tangent, hyperbolic cotangent | |
| FFT | Complex FFT, FFT magnitude, FFT phase, FFT real part, FFT imaginary part, complex inverse FFT, FFT group delay | |
| Boolean operators | AND, NAND, OR, NOR, XOR, XNOR, NOT | |
| Miscellaneous | Autocorrelation, correlation, convolution, track, trend, linear interpolation, sin(x)/x interpolation, smoothing | |
| Formula editor | Build math waveforms from the above operators using the formula editor control window | |
| Operands | Any channel, memory waveform, math function, spectrum or constant can be selected as a source for one of two operands | |
| Histogram | |
|---|---|
| Axes | Horizontal or vertical Both vertical and horizontal histograms allow statistical distributions to be analyzed over any region of the signal |
| Measurements | Scale, offset, hits in box, waveforms, peak hits, peak-peak, median, mean, standard deviation, mean ±1/2/3 standard deviations, min, max, max-max |
| Windows | Histogram windows determine the part of the database used to plot the histogram. The window can be set to any size within the horizontal and vertical scaling limits of the scope |
| Eye diagrams | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | PicoSample can automatically characterize an NRZ or RZ eye pattern. Measurements are based on statistical analysis of the waveform | |
| Measurements | NRZ | X: area, cycle area, bit rate, bit time, crossing time, duty cycle distortion (%, s), eye width (%, s), rise time, fall time, frequency, period, jitter (peak-peak, RMS) Y: RMS, AC RMS, noise (peak-peak, RMS; one, zero) crossing %, crossing level, eye amplitude, eye height (linear, dB), max, min, mean, mid, positive overshoot, negative overshoot, zero level, one level, peak-peak, signal-to-noise ratio (linear, dB) |
| RZ | X: Area, cycle area, bit rate, bit time, eye width (%, s), rise time, fall time, jitter (peak-peak, RMS; rise, fall), positive crossing, negative crossing, positive duty cycle, pulse width, pulse symmetry Y: RMS, AC RMS, noise (peak-peak, RMS; one, zero), contrast ratio (dB, %, ratio), eye amplitude, eye high (linear, dB), max, min, mean, mid, eye opening factor, zero level, one level, peak-peak, signal-to-noise ratio |
|
| PAM4 | X: Eye width (upper, middle and lower), eye skew (upper, middle and lower), level ISI (3, 2, 1, 0), level skew (3, 2, 1, 0), eq. bit rate, symbol rate, unit interval Y: eye height (2-3, 1-2, 0-1), eye level (2-3, 1-2, 0-1), level mean (3, 2, 1, 0), level RMS (3, 2, 1, 0), level pk-pk (3, 2, 1, 0), linearity, level deviation, ES2 level, ES1 level, level thickness, peak-to-peak, overshoot, undershoot Optical: Transmit rise time, transmit fall time, average power, extinction ratio, OMA outer, TDECQ |
|
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask tests | |||||
| Overview | Acquired signals are tested for fit outside areas defined by up to eight polygons. Any samples that fall within the polygon boundaries result in test failures. Masks can be loaded from disk, created automatically or created manually. The following gives an overview of the available masks. For a full list, see the 9400A User's Guide | ||||
| Standard masks | SONET/SDH | From: STM-0/OC-1 (51.84 Mb/s) | |||
| To: STM-64/OC-48 with FEC (2.6666 Gb/s) | To: STM-64/OC-192 with FEC (10.664 Gb/s) | To: FC-1600 (14.025 Gb/s) | |||
| Fibre channel | From: FCC133 (132.8 Mb/s) | ||||
| To: FC2125E (2.125 Gb/s) | To: 10x Fibre channel (10.5188 Gb/s) | ||||
| Ethernet | From: 100Base-BX10 (125 Mb/s) | ||||
| To: 10GBase-CX4 (3.125 Gb/s) | To: 10xGb Ethernet (12.5 Gb/s) | ||||
| InfiniBand | From: 2.5G Infiniband (2.5 Gb/s) | ||||
| To: 5.0G Infiniband (5.0 Gb/s) | To: FDR (14.0845 Gb/s) | ||||
| XAUI | XAUI near end, far end; XAUI-E near, far (3.125 Gb/s) | ||||
| ITU G.703 | DS1, 100 Ω twisted pair (1.544 Mb/s) to 155 Mb, 75 Ω coax (155.520 Mb/s) | ||||
| ANSI T1.102 | DS1 (1.533 Mb/s) to STS3 (155.52 Mb/s) | ||||
| RapidIO | RapidIO from 1.25 Gb/s to 3.125 Gb/s | ||||
| PCI Express | From: R1.0a/R1.1a 2.5G (2.5 Gb/s) to R2.0/R2.1 5.0G (5 Gb/s) | ||||
| Serial ATA | 1.5G (1.5 Gb/s) and 3.0G (3 Gb/s) | ||||
| USB | From: USB 2.0 low, full and high speed (1.5, 12 and 480 Mb/s) | ||||
| N/A | To: USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gb/s) | ||||
| CEI_OIF | N/A | CEI 11G LR/MR and SR (11.1982 Gb/s) | |||
| SFF | N/A | SFF-8431 (10.3125 Gb/s) | |||
| Mask margin | Available for industry-standard mask testing | ||||
| Automask creation | Masks are created automatically for single-valued voltage signals. Automask specifies both delta-X and delta-Y tolerances. The failure actions are identical to those of limit testing | ||||
| Data collected during test | Total number of waveforms examined, number of failed samples, number of hits within each polygon boundary | ||||
| Trigger output | |
|---|---|
| Timing | Positive transition equivalent to acquisition trigger point. Negative transition after user holdoff |
| Low level | −0.2 V ± 0.1 V into 50 Ω |
| Amplitude | 900 mV ± 200 mV into 50 Ω |
| Rise time | 10 to 90%: ≤ 0.45 ns 20 to 80%: ≤ 0.3 ns |
| RMS jitter | ≤ 2 ps |
| Output delay | 4 ns ± 1 ns |
| Output coupling | DC |
| Output connector | SMA (f) |
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clock and data recovery (optional) | ||||
| Recovered data output | ||||
| Data rate | 6.5 Mb/s to 5 Gb/s | 6.5 Mb/s to 8 Gb/s | 6.5 Mb/s to 11.3 Gb/s | |
| Eye amplitude | 250 mV p-p, typical | |||
| Eye rise/fall time (20 to 80%, typical) | 75 ps | 50 ps | ||
| RMS jitter | 2 ps + 1% of unit interval | |||
| Output coupling | AC | |||
| Output connector | SMA (f) | |||
| Recovered clock output | ||||
| Output frequency (half-full-rate clock output) | 3.25 MHz to 3 GHz | 3.25 MHz to 4 GHz | 3.25 MHz to 5.65 GHz | |
| Output amplitude | 250 mV, typical | |||
| Output coupling | AC | |||
| Output connector | SMA (f) | |||
| PicoScope model | PicoScope 9404A-06 | PicoScope 9404A-16 | PicoScope 9404A-25 | PicoScope 9404A-33 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | ||||
| Power supply voltage | +12 V ± 5% | |||
| Power supply current | 2.7 A max. | 2.8 A max. | 2.4 A max. | 2.5 A max. |
| Power supply protection | Automatic shutdown on excess or reverse voltage | |||
| AC-DC adaptor | Universal adaptor supplied | |||
| PC connection | USB 2.0 (high speed). Compatible with USB 3.0 Ethernet LAN |
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| Software | Windows 7, 8 and 10 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) Windows 11 (64-bit only) |
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| PC requirements | Processor, memory and disk space: as required by the operating system | |||
| Ambient temperature range | Operating: +5 to 40 °C for normal operation; +15 to 25 °C for quoted accuracy Storage: −20 to +50 °C |
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| Humidity range | Operating: Up to 85 %RH (non-condensing) at +25 °C Storage: Up to 95 %RH (non-condensing) |
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| Altitude range | Up to 2000 m | |||
| Pollution degree | EN 61010 pollution degree 2: "Only nonconductive pollution occurs except that occasionally a temporary conductivity caused by condensation is expected" | |||
| Dimensions | 244 × 54 × 233 mm | |||
| Net weight | 1.52 kg | |||
| Compliance | EN 61010-1 (LVD), EN61326-1 (EMC), CFR-47 (EMC) | |||
| Warranty | 3 years | |||
| Specifications | A new class of sampling scopeThe PicoScope 9400A Series combines the huge analog bandwidth of sampling oscilloscopes with the triggering architecture of real-time oscilloscopes to create a whole new type of oscilloscope - the Sampler-Extended Real-Time Oscilloscope (SXRTO). Packed with featuresThe PicoScope 9400A Series random equivalent-time sampling architecture is ideal for measuring high speed interfaces, such as gigabit digital systems, with repetitive signals or clock streams. Unlike a traditional sampling oscilloscope, an SXRTO can capture the trigger event itself and the waveform immediately before it. With four channels available, the PicoScope 9400A Series is invaluable for validating Signal Integrity (SI) in electronics and telecoms systems designs.
With these applications in mind, the free PicoSample 4 software is packed with useful measurements and features. Draw eye diagrams with ease and analyze them with one of over 200 built-in masks (or create your own), plus quickly set up measurements for RZ, NRZ or PAM4 physical layers. Then, plot trends in your data such as pulse width or period over time. Add the optional Clock and Data Recovery module and unlock measurements exactly as your transceiver would see them, plus triggering of downstream instruments.
Control of the PicoScope 9400A Series oscilloscopes can also be automated, including over USB or LAN using ActiveX control. Fast setup for fast signalsUnlike a traditional sampling oscilloscope, an SXRTO can trigger directly off the input signal. For measurements up to 6 GHz, no longer do you need a complicated set-up with an external trigger source; just plug in your signal and start measuring. For higher bandwidth signals up to 20 GHz, use a splitter to feed the signal to the external trigger. Take advantage of the effective sampling rate up to 5 TS/s and analog bandwidth up to 33 GHz without the extra complications of a traditional sampling oscilloscope.
The optional clock and data recovery module can recreate the clock and data signals up to an impressive 11.3 Gb/s - perfect for triggering other instruments in the same system.
Unlike many real-time oscilloscopes, models in the PicoScope 9400A Series maintain their 12-bit resolution throughout their bandwidth, no matter how many channels are enabled. How oscilloscopes store data A real-time oscilloscope has a free running ADC that constantly puts data into a memory buffer. Each data point consists of a time stamp and a voltage value. When a trigger happens the data is aligned on the screen around that point. The memory buffer is circular so that when it has filled up the data at the beginning starts being overwritten. Because the RTO captures data constantly, the trigger can be at any point in the data on the screen; it is just the point around which all the data is aligned. This enables you to line it all up on the left of your screen and see what happened after the trigger, or line it up on the right of your screen to see what led up to the trigger event occurring. Triggering on a real-time oscilloscope The trigger on a digital oscilloscope is typically based around a threshold. When the threshold is exceeded, the trigger will fire. The threshold in question can be quite complex, like with Pico's advanced triggering options. However, the fact remains that there will be a sample where the trigger conditions were not met, followed by a sample where those conditions were met, and so the trigger fires. A real-time oscilloscope as standard has no way of determining when, between those two samples, the trigger criteria was met. This leads to some difficulty aligning successive waveforms and places a fundamental limit on the time resolution of the system. The smearing that results is referred to as jitter. The waveform can be made to appear better using interpolation but that is fundamentally an approximation that can introduce error and uncertainty. Triggering on an SXRTO Pico's range of SXRTO models store data in the same manner as a real-time oscilloscope, using continuous capturing and a circular memory buffer. The difference between a real-time oscilloscope and an SXRTO is the triggering. A PicoScope SXRTO uses an analog trigger so it works on the input signal directly rather than a digitized version of it. The bandwidth of the oscilloscope is significantly higher than its sampling rate, which contravenes Nyquist sampling theory. However, for a repetitive signal, successive samples can be overlaid. As the oscilloscope sampling rate is random with respect to the input signal, the effective sampling rate is much higher as the oscilloscope fills in all of the gaps with successive waveforms. What is a PicoScope SXRTO?Real-Time Oscilloscopes (RTOs) - capture any signalA real-time oscilloscope has a free-running ADC. RTOs use digital triggers to record when the signal exceeds a threshold and therefore align the signals in time. RTOs rely on oversampling - the sample rate must be much higher than the maximum signal frequency. To generate an accurate view of the signal, many scopes will sample at three or even five times their maximum input bandwidth. Sequential sampling oscilloscopes - see repetitive signals far beyond NyquistA sequential sampling oscilloscope relies on repeated signals. They only capture a single sample per trigger event and this sample is at least 40 ns after the trigger event itself. The individual samples from multiple trigger events are then recombined to build up a picture of the overall signal. A sampling scope cannot trigger directly on the signal itself and instead needs a separate trigger signal from an external source. Sampling scopes rely on accurate triggering to overlay the repeated signals so that even with a sampling rate significantly below the signal frequency, they can display an accurate version of the overall signal. Sampler-Extended Real-Time Oscilloscopes combine both approachesA PicoScope SXRTO triggers on the input signal, like an RTO. It builds up a complete picture of the signal by overlaying successive captures, like a sequential sampling oscilloscope. However, the SXRTO's sampling is not synchronized with the input signal and so the captures are effectively randomly positioned in time. Using a free-running ADC and a trigger with jitter better than 1.5 ps (far more accurate than a typical RTO's digital trigger), the SXRTO can achieve bandwidths that compete with a traditional sampling oscilloscope, but with the ability to store data before and immediately after the trigger point. Key features of the PicoScope 9400A SeriesHardware featuresThe PicoScope 9400A Series is available with up to 33 GHz bandwidth, plus the following key specifications: Capture step transitions down to 14 ps and impulses down to 22 ps wide. The maximum sample rate of 5 TS/s equates to a timing resolution of 0.2 ps, using random sampling. Multiple trigger options include direct triggering on the signal or triggering on an external trigger signal, up to 20 GHz (depending on model), with trigger jitter as low as 1.2 ps + 0.1 ppm RMS (typical). 12-bit vertical resolution with a wide ±1 V/±800 mV input range (model dependent). Software featuresMeanwhile, the touchscreen-compatible PicoSample 4 software is packed with features to simplify design and test: Over 200 mask tests for common protocols including SONET/SDH, fibre channel and USB. Over 70 automatic measurements across time, frequency and histograms available, over 130 eye diagram measurement parameters, plus over 50 built-in math functions. The configurable display with multiple independent zoom regions lets you see every detail in your data - take advantage of high resolution PC monitors instead of being limited by a built-in screen. Every feature in PicoSample 4 is included with the price - no additional hidden costs. PicoSample 4 can be run in demo mode: try it out yourself to see how it can accelerate your workflow. PicoScope 9400A Series inputs, outputs and indicatorsThe front panel of the oscilloscope brings together the power indicator, the four high-bandwidth 50 Ω channel inputs and the trigger inputs and outputs.
The power/status/trigger LED is green under normal operation but is also used to indicate connection progress and trigger. You can enable any number of the four input channels without affecting the sampling rate; only the capture memory (250 kS) is shared between the enabled channels.
The external direct trigger input supports up to 6 GHz and is positioned alongside a prescale trigger input (up to 20 GHz on 25 and 33 GHz models). The trigger output connection can be used to synchronize an external device to the PicoScope 9400A’s rising edge, falling edge and end of holdoff triggers. The USB 2.0 port connects the oscilloscope to the PC. If no USB host is found, the oscilloscope tries to connect through the LAN port. However, LAN settings must be supplied initially by connecting to the USB port. Once configured, the oscilloscope uses the LAN port if no USB host is connected. Via LAN connections, the PicoSample 4 software can address up to eight PicoScope 9400 units.
The recovered clock and data from the currently selected trigger source and the built-in clock recovery module are optional features. Please see the request form at the bottom of this page to contact our applications engineers about the clock and data recovery option.
Measure fast pulses with an SXRTOA researcher contacted Pico, wanting to measure a fast laser pulse with a rise time of less than 50 ps and a pulse width of less than 200 ps. An SXRTO showed them exactly what they needed to see. To measure the output of the laser it was connected to a PicoScope 9400A Series oscilloscope via an optical-electrical adaptor. As the scope can trigger directly off the signal input, the laser pulses could be unequally spaced but would be captured in their entirety, both before and after the trigger point. The PicoScope 9404A Series has a rise time of as little as 11 ps - the customer could be confident that the pulse displayed on the screen is an accurate representation of the laser pulse with minimal influence from the measurement setup. The PicoScope 9400A-33 can also capture pulses down to 22 ps so even shorter pulses could be measured accurately. Every detail in the laser's pulse response is easy to see because the vertical resolution is 12 bits, even at the highest frequencies. Some real-time oscilloscopes will limit their resolution at higher frequencies. This might be because of limitations of the analog-to-digital hardware or because of data bandwidth limitations. Because the PicoScope 9400A Series uses random equivalent-time sampling to push the bandwidth far beyond Nyquist, neither the timebase nor the number of active channels restricts the resolution. Why should you choose an SXRTO?Digital system designWith over 200 built-in masks covering protocols such as XAUI, InfiniBand and Ethernet, plus a powerful custom mask creator, you can make sure your system design is correct from the start. Timing and phase analysisLocate the source of timing errors with confidence: the PicoScope 9400A has trigger jitter less than 1.5 ps + 0.1 ppm RMS. Then use customizable histograms to precisely characterize system performance. Telecom and radar testingCheck signal, pulse and impulse integrity of RF systems up to 33 GHz. Use instant automated measurements for PAM4, RZ and NRZ links and be confident your system meets standards before expensive compliance testing. Service and manufacturing
With quicker and simpler setup than a sequential sampling oscilloscope, an SXRTO is perfectly suited to a service environment. Save and recall setup files for common tests and reduce the time taken to repair equipment. Clock and data recoveryClock and data recovery (CDR) is available as a factory-fit optional trigger feature on the PicoScope 9400A Series oscilloscopes. High-speed serial data is often not accompanied by a separate clock signal as accumulated timing skew and jitter between the two paths would prevent accurate decoding. Instead, a receiver will recover the clock from the incoming data stream, using this locally generated version during decoding. The optional CDR option allows your PicoScope 9400A Series oscilloscope to generate a local clock from the data stream. Using a PLL-based technique, the local clock is kept in phase with the encoded signal. The recovered clock can be used to trigger the oscilloscope, providing the ultimate in eye diagram measurements and signal quality characterization by recording exactly what a receiver would “see”. In addition, the recovered clock and the data stream can be output using two SMA connectors fitted to the rear panel, allowing one clock recovery module to trigger multiple pieces of test equipment in the same setup.
The CDR module can trigger on signals up to 5, 8 or 11.3 Gb/s (6, 16 or 25/33 GHz models). |
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