Tektronix Water System TDS520A User Manual

Performance Verification  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A  
Digitizing Oscilloscopes  
070-8712-01  
Please check for change information at the rear  
of this manual.  
First Printing: July 1993.  
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WARRANTY  
Tektronix warrants that this product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three (3) years from  
the date of shipment. If any such product proves defective during this warranty period, Tektronix, at its option, either will repair  
the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product.  
In order to obtain service under this warranty, Customer must notify Tektronix of the defect before the expiration of the  
warranty period and make suitable arrangements for the performance of service. Customer shall be responsible for  
packaging and shipping the defective product to the service center designated by Tektronix, with shipping charges prepaid.  
Tektronix shall pay for the return of the product to Customer if the shipment is to a location within the country in which the  
Tektronix service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for paying all shipping charges, duties, taxes, and any  
other charges for products returned to any other locations.  
This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by improper use or improper or inadequate  
maintenance and care. Tektronix shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting  
from attempts by personnel other than Tektronix representatives to install, repair or service the product; b) to repair damage  
resulting from improper use or connection to incompatible equipment; or c) to service a product that has been modified or  
integrated with other products when the effect of such modification or integration increases the time or difficulty of servicing  
the product.  
THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY TEKTRONIX WITH RESPECT TO THIS PRODUCT IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER  
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF  
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. TEKTRONIX’ RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR  
REPLACE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER FOR  
BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT,  
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER TEKTRONIX OR THE  
VENDOR HAS ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  
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Welcome  
This is the Performance Verification for the TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, and 544A  
Oscilloscope. It contains procedures suitable for determining if the instrument  
functions, was adjusted properly, and meets the performance characteristics  
as warranted.  
Also contained in this document are technical specifications for these oscillo-  
scopes.  
The following documents are related to the use or service of the digitizing  
oscilloscope.  
Related Manuals  
The TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A User Manual (Tektronix part number  
070–8710–01).  
The TDS Family Programmer Manual (Tektronix part number  
070–8709–01) describes using a computer to control the digitizing oscillo-  
scope through the GPIB interface.  
The TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, 544A, & 644A Reference (Tektronix part  
number 070–8711–01) gives you a quick overview of how to operate your  
digitizing oscilloscope.  
The TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Service Manual (Tektronix part  
number 070–8713–01) provides information for maintaining and servicing  
your digitizing oscilloscope to the module level.  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Welcome  
Welcome  
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Table of Contents  
Safety Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
v
Performance Verification Procedures  
Brief Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-1  
General Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Self Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-1  
1-2  
1-4  
Verify Internal Adjustment, Self Compensation, and  
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-4  
1-6  
1-6  
1-9  
1-10  
1-12  
Functional Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Verify All Input Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Verify the Time Base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Verify the Main and Delayed Trigger Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Verify the File System (Optional on TDS 520A and 540A) . . .  
Performance Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-15  
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Equipment Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Test Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Signal Acquisition System Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Check Accuracy of Offset (Zero Setting) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Check DC Gain and Voltage Measurement Accuracy . . . . . .  
Check Analog Bandwidth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Check Delay Between Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Time Base System Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-15  
1-16  
1-19  
1-23  
1-23  
1-25  
1-32  
1-36  
1-39  
Check Accuracy for Long-Term Sample Rate, Delay Time,  
and Delta Time Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-39  
Trigger System Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-42  
Check Accuracy (Time) for Pulse-Glitch or Pulse-Width  
Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Check Accuracy, Trigger-level or Threshold, DC Coupled . . .  
Sensitivity, Edge Trigger, DC Coupled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Output Signal Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-42  
1-45  
1-48  
1-54  
Check Outputs — CH 3 and Main and Delayed Trigger  
(TDS 540A and 544A only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Check Probe Compensator Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Option 05 Video Trigger Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Check Video Trigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
1-54  
1-57  
1-61  
1-61  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Table of Contents  
Specifications  
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2-1  
General Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
General Purpose Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Signal Acquisition System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Horizontal System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Trigger System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Acquisition Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
On-Board User Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Autoset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Measurement Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Cursor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Measure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Storage and I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2-1  
2-2  
2-2  
2-2  
2-3  
2-3  
2-3  
2-4  
2-5  
2-6  
2-6  
2-6  
2-6  
2-6  
2-6  
2-7  
2-7  
2-7  
2-8  
2-8  
Nominal Traits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Warranted Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Typical Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
2-9  
2-15  
2-21  
Contents  
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Safety Summary  
Please take a moment to review these safety precautions. They are provided  
for your protection and to prevent damage to the digitizing oscilloscope. This  
safety information applies to all operators and service personnel.  
These two terms appear in manuals:  
Symbols and Terms  
statements identify conditions or practices that could result in  
damage to the equipment or other property.  
statements identify conditions or practices that could result in  
personal injury or loss of life.  
These two terms appear on equipment:  
CAUTION indicates a personal injury hazard not immediately accessible  
as one reads the marking, or a hazard to property including the equip-  
ment itself.  
DANGER indicates a personal injury hazard immediately accessible as  
one reads the marking.  
This symbol appears in manuals:  
Static-Sensitive Devices  
These symbols appear on equipment:  
DANGER  
High Voltage  
Protective  
ground (earth)  
terminal  
ATTENTION  
Refer to  
manual  
TDS 620A, 640A, & 644A Performance Verification  
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Safety Summary  
Observe all of these precautions to ensure your personal safety and to pre-  
vent damage to either the digitizing oscilloscope or equipment connected to it.  
Specific Precautions  
Power Source  
The digitizing oscilloscope is intended to operate from a power source that will  
not apply more than 250 V  
between the supply conductors or between  
RMS  
either supply conductor and ground. A protective ground connection, through  
the grounding conductor in the power cord, is essential for safe system  
operation.  
Grounding the Digitizing Oscilloscope  
The digitizing oscilloscope is grounded through the power cord. To avoid  
electric shock, plug the power cord into a properly wired receptacle where  
earth ground has been verified by a qualified service person. Do this before  
making connections to the input or output terminals of the digitizing oscillo-  
scope.  
Without the protective ground connection, all parts of the digitizing oscillo-  
scope are potential shock hazards. This includes knobs and controls that may  
appear to be insulators.  
Use the Proper Power Cord  
Use only the power cord and connector specified for your product. Use only a  
power cord that is in good condition.  
Use the Proper Fuse  
To avoid fire hazard, use only the fuse specified in the parts list for your  
product, matched by type, voltage rating, and current rating.  
Do Not Remove Covers or Panels  
To avoid personal injury, do not operate the digitizing oscilloscope without the  
panels or covers.  
Electric Overload  
Never apply to a connector on the digitizing oscilloscope a voltage that is  
outside the range specified for that connector.  
Do Not Operate in Explosive Atmospheres  
The digitizing oscilloscope provides no explosion protection from static dis-  
charges or arcing components. Do not operate the digitizing oscilloscope in  
an atmosphere of explosive gases.  
Safety  
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Performance Verification  
Procedures  
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Brief Procedures  
The Self Tests use internal routines to confirm basic functionality and proper  
adjustment. No test equipment is required to do these test procedures.  
The Functional Tests utilize the probe-compensation output at the front panel  
as a test-signal source for further verifying that the oscilloscope functions  
properly. A standard-accessory probe, included with this oscilloscope, is the  
only equipment required.  
Besides the Brief Procedures, the set of procedures that can be used to verify  
oscilloscope performance includes the Performance Tests, found later in this  
section. You may not need to perform all of these procedures, depending on  
what you want to accomplish:  
General Instructions  
To rapidly confirm that this oscilloscope functions and was adjusted  
properly, just do the procedures under Self Tests, which begin on  
page 1-4.  
Advantages: These procedures are quick to do, require no external  
equipment or signal sources, and perform extensive functional and accu-  
racy testing to provide high confidence that the oscilloscope will perform  
properly. They can be used as a quick check before making a series of  
important measurements.  
To further check functionality, first do the Self Tests just mentioned; then  
do the procedures under Functional Tests that begin on page 1-6.  
Advantages: These procedures require minimal additional time to per-  
form, require no additional equipment other than a standard-accessory  
probe, and more completely test the internal hardware of this oscillo-  
scope. They can be used to quickly determine if the oscilloscope is  
suitable for putting into service, such as when it is first received.  
If more extensive confirmation of performance is desired, do the Perform-  
ance Tests, beginning on page 1-15, after doing the Functional and Self  
Tests just referenced.  
Advantages: These procedures add direct checking of warranted specifi-  
cations. They require more time to perform and suitable test equipment is  
required. (See Equipment Required on page 1-15.)  
If you are not familiar with operating this oscilloscope, read the TDS 520A,  
524A, 540A, 544A, & 644A Reference or the TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A  
User manual. These contain instructions that acquaint you with the use of the  
front-panel controls and the menu system.  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Brief Procedures  
Throughout these procedures the following conventions apply:  
Conventions  
Each test procedure uses the following general format:  
Title of Test  
Equipment Required  
Prerequisites  
Procedure  
Each procedure consists of as many steps, substeps, and subparts as  
required to do the test. Steps, substeps, and subparts are sequenced as  
follows:  
1. First Step  
a. First Substep  
First Subpart  
Second Subpart  
b. Second Substep  
2. Second Step  
In steps and substeps, the lead-in statement in italics instructs you what  
to do, while the instructions that follow tell you how to do it: in the exam-  
ple step below, “Initialize the oscilloscope” by doing “Press save/recall  
SETUP. Now, press the main-menu button...”.  
Initialize the oscilloscope: Press save/recall SETUP. Now, press the  
main-menu button Recall Factory Setup; then the side-menu button  
OK Confirm Factory Init.  
Where instructed to use a front-panel button or knob, or select from a  
main or side menu, or verify a readout or status message, the name of  
the button or knob appears in boldface type: “press SHIFT; then AC-  
QUIRE MENU”, “press the main-menu button Coupling”, or “verify that  
the status message is Pass.  
The symbol at the left is accompanied by information you must read  
to do the procedure properly.  
Performance Verification Procedures  
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Brief Procedures  
Refer to Figure 1-1: “Main menu” refers to the menu that labels the seven  
menu buttons under the display; “side menu” refers to the menu that  
labels the five buttons to the right of the display. “Pop-up menu” refers to  
a menu that pops up when a main-menu button is pressed.  
Position of Waveform  
Record Relative to  
the Screen and Display  
General Purpose  
Knob Readout  
Brief Status  
Information  
Graticuleand Waveforms  
Waveform Reference  
Symbols:GroundLevels  
and Waveform Sources  
Vertical Scale,  
Horizontal Scale, and  
Trigger Level Readouts  
Side menu area.  
Readouts for  
measurements  
move here when  
CLEAR MENU is  
pressed.  
Pop-up Menu  
Main menu display area. Readouts in  
lower graticule area move here when  
CLEAR MENU is pressed.  
Figure 1-1: Map of Display Functions  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Brief Procedures  
This procedure uses internal routines to verify that this oscilloscope functions  
and was adjusted properly. No test equipment or hookups are required.  
Self Tests  
Verify Internal Adjustment, Self Compensation, and  
Diagnostics  
Equipment Required: None.  
Prerequisites: Power on the Digitizing Oscilloscope and allow a 20 minute  
warm-up before doing this procedure.  
Procedure:  
1. Verify that internal diagnostics pass: Do the following substeps to verify  
passing of internal diagnostics.  
a. Display the System diagnostics menu:  
Press SHIFT; then press UTILITY.  
Repeatedly press the main-menu button System until Diag/Err is  
highlighted in the pop-up menu.  
b. Run the System Diagnostics: Press the main-menu button Execute;  
then press the side-menu button OK Confirm Run Test.  
c. Wait: The internal diagnostics do an exhaustive verification of proper  
oscilloscope function. This verification will take up to two minutes. At  
some time during the wait, a “clock” icon (shown at left) will appear  
on-screen. When the verification is finished, the resulting status will  
appear on the screen.  
d. Confirm no failures are found: Verify that no failures are found and  
reported on-screen.  
e. Confirm the three adjustment sections have passed status:  
Press SHIFT; then press UTILITY.  
Press the main menu button System until Cal is highlighted in  
the pop-up menu.  
Verify that the word Pass appears in the main menu under the  
following menu labels: Voltage Reference, Frequency Re-  
sponse, and Pulse Trigger. (See Figure 1-2.)  
Performance Verification Procedures  
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Brief Procedures  
First, the CAL menu is displayed.  
Second, the adjustment  
sections are verified.  
Third, a signal path  
compensation is run and is  
verified.  
Figure 1-2: Verifying Adjustments and Signal-Path Compensation  
When doing steps f and g, do not turn off the oscilloscope until signal-  
path compensation completes. If you interrupt (or lose) power to the  
instrument while signal-path compensation is running, a message is  
logged in the oscilloscope error log. If such a case occurs, rerun  
signal-path compensation.  
f. Run the signal-path compensation: Press the main-menu button  
Signal Path; then press the side-menu button OK Compensate  
Signal Paths.  
g. Wait: Signal-path compensation runs in about one to two minutes.  
While it progresses, a “clock” icon (shown at left) is displayed on-  
screen. When compensation completes, the status message will be  
updated to Pass or Fail in the main menu (see step h).  
h. Confirm signal-path compensation returns passed status: Verify the  
word Pass appears under Signal Path in the main menu. (See  
Figure 1-2.)  
2. Return to regular service: Press CLEAR MENU to exit the system me-  
nus.  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Brief Procedures  
The purpose of these procedures is to confirm that this oscilloscope functions  
properly. The only equipment required is one of the standard-accessory  
probes and, to check the file system, a 3.5 inch. 720 K or 1.44 Mbyte floppy  
disk.  
Functional Tests  
These procedures verify functions; that is, they verify that oscillo-  
scope features operate. They do not verify that they operate within  
limits.  
Therefore, when the instructions in the functional tests that follow call  
for you to verify that a signal appears on-screen “that is about five  
divisions in amplitude” or “has a period of about six horizontal divi-  
sions”, etc., do NOT interpret the quantities given as limits. Operation  
within limits is checked in Performance Tests, which begin on  
page 1-15.  
DO NOT make changes to the front-panel settings that are not called  
out in the procedures. Each verification procedure will require you to  
set the oscilloscope to certain default settings before verifying func-  
tions. If you make changes to these settings, other than those called  
out in the procedure, you may obtain invalid results. In this case, just  
redo the procedure from step 1.  
When you are instructed to press a menu button, the button may  
already be selected (its label will be highlighted). If this is the case, it  
is not necessary to press the button.  
Verify All Input Channels  
Equipment Required: One P6139A probe.  
Prerequisites: None.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the oscilloscope controls:  
Figure 1-3: Universal Test Hookup for Functional Tests  
a. Hook up the signal source: Install the probe on CH 1. Connect the  
probe tip to PROBE COMPENSATION SIGNAL on the front panel;  
connect the probe ground to PROBE COMPENSATION GND.  
Performance Verification Procedures  
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Brief Procedures  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
2. Verify that all input channels operate: Do the following substeps test  
CH 1 first, skipping substep a since CH 1 is already set up for verification  
from step 1.  
a. Select an unverified channel:  
Press WAVEFORM OFF to remove from display the channel just  
verified.  
Press the front-panel button that corresponds to the channel you  
are to verify.  
Move the probe to the channel you selected.  
b. Set up the selected channel:  
Press AUTOSET to obtain a viewable, triggered display in the  
selected channel.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 200 s. Press CLEAR MENU to  
remove any menu that may be on the screen.  
c. Verify that the channel is operational: Confirm that the following  
statements are true.  
The vertical scale readout for the channel under test shows a  
setting of 200 mV, and a square-wave probe-compensation signal  
about 2.5 divisions in amplitude is on-screen. (See Figure 1-1 on  
page 1-3 to locate the readout.)  
The vertical POSITION knob moves the signal up and down the  
screen when rotated.  
Turning the vertical SCALE knob counterclockwise decreases the  
amplitude of the waveform on-screen, turning the knob clockwise  
increases the amplitude, and returning the knob to 200 mV  
returns the amplitude to about 2.5 divisions.  
d. Verify that the channel acquires in all acquisition modes: Press  
SHIFT; then press ACQUIRE MENU. Use the side menu to select, in  
turn, each of the five hardware acquire modes and confirm that the  
following statements are true. Refer to the icons at the left of each  
statement as you confirm those statements.  
Sample mode displays an actively acquiring waveform on-  
screen. (Note that there is noise present on the peaks of the  
square wave.)  
Peak Detect mode displays an actively acquiring waveform  
on-screen with the noise present in Sample mode “peak de-  
tected.”  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Brief Procedures  
Hi Res mode displays an actively acquiring waveform on-screen  
with the noise that was present in Sample mode reduced.  
Envelope mode displays an actively acquiring waveform on-  
screen with the noise displayed.  
Average mode displays an actively acquiring waveform on-  
screen with the noise reduced like in Hi Res mode.  
TDS 520A and 524A only: Substep e will have you repeat the pre-  
vious substeps to check all input channels. Be sure to check only CH  
1 and CH 2 when testing the TDS 520A or 524A. (Step 3 will test the  
AUX 1 and AUX 2 inputs.) When testing the TDS 540A or 544A, test  
all four channels, CH 1 through CH 4.)  
e. Test all channels: Repeat substeps a through d until all four input  
channels are verified.  
3. TDS 520A and 524A Only: Verify auxiliary inputs operate: Perform the  
following substeps when checking the AUX 1 and AUX 2 inputs only.  
a. Select an auxiliary channel:  
Press WAVEFORM OFF to remove from display the channel just  
verified.  
Press the front-panel button that corresponds to the channel you  
are to verify.  
Move probe to the channel you selected.  
b. Set up the selected channel: Press AUTOSET to obtain a viewable  
display in the selected channel.  
The display obtained might not trigger stably because autoset cannot  
provide more than about  
signal  
amplitude in an auxiliary channel equipped with a 10X probe. This  
amount is less than the minimum trigger sensitivity for auxiliary  
channel trigger sources; therefore, triggering is not required.  
c. Verify that the channel is operational: Confirm that the following  
statements are true.  
The vertical scale readout for the channel under test shows a  
setting of 1 V, and a square-wave probe-compensation signal  
about  
on  
page 1-3 to locate the readout.)  
The vertical POSITION knob moves the signal up and down the  
screen when rotated.  
Turning the vertical SCALE knob counterclockwise to 10 V  
decreases the amplitude of the waveform on-screen. (The ampli-  
tude will drop to near zero when doing this substep.)  
Returning the knob to 1 V returns the amplitude to about divi-  
sion.  
d. Verify that the channel acquires in all acquisition modes: Disconnect  
the probe ground lead from the probe-compensation terminal. Do  
step 2, substep d to verify the five acquire modes.  
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Brief Procedures  
e. Test all channels: Repeat substeps a through d to verify AUX 2.  
4. Remove the test hookup: Disconnect the probe from the channel input  
and the probe-compensation terminals.  
Verify the Time Base  
Equipment Required: One P6139A probe.  
Prerequisites: None.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the oscilloscope controls:  
a. Hook up the signal source: Install the probe on CH 1. Connect the  
probe tip to PROBE COMPENSATION SIGNAL on the front panel;  
connect the probe ground to PROBE COMPENSATION GND. (See  
Figure 1-3 on page 1-6.)  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup; then press  
the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Modify default settings:  
Press AUTOSET to obtain a viewable, triggered display.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 200 s.  
Press CLEAR MENU to remove the menus from the screen.  
2. Verify that the time base operates: Confirm the following statements.  
a. One period of the square-wave probe-compensation signal is about  
five horizontal divisions on-screen for the 200 s horizontal scale  
setting (set in step 1c).  
b. Rotating the horizontal SCALE knob clockwise expands the wave-  
form on-screen (more horizontal divisions per waveform period), and  
that counterclockwise rotation contracts it, and that returning the  
horizontal scale to 200 s returns the period to about five divisions.  
c. The horizontal POSITION knob positions the signal left and right  
on-screen when rotated.  
3. Remove the test hookup: Disconnect the probe from the channel input  
and the probe-compensation terminals.  
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Brief Procedures  
Verify the Main and Delayed Trigger Systems  
Equipment Required: One P6139A probe.  
Prerequisites: None.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the oscilloscope controls:  
a. Hook up the signal source: Install the probe on CH 1. Connect the  
probe tip to PROBE COMPENSATION SIGNAL on the front panel;  
connect the probe ground to PROBE COMPENSATION GND. (See  
Figure 1-3 on page 1-6.)  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Modify default settings:  
Press AUTOSET to obtain a viewable, triggered display.  
Set the horizontal SCALE for the M (main) time base to 200 s.  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode & Holdoff.  
Press the side-menu button Normal.  
Press CLEAR MENU to remove the menus from the screen.  
2. Verify that the main trigger system operates: Confirm that the following  
statements are true.  
The trigger level readout for the main trigger system changes with  
the trigger LEVEL knob.  
The trigger-level knob can trigger and untrigger the square-wave  
signal as you rotate it. (Leave the signal untriggered.)  
Pressing SET LEVEL TO 50% triggers the signal that you just  
left untriggered. (Leave the signal triggered.)  
3. Verify that the delayed trigger system operates:  
a. Select the delayed time base:  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Time Base.  
Press the side-menu button Delayed Triggerable; then press the  
side-menu button Delayed Only.  
Set the horizontal SCALE for the D (delayed) time base to  
200 s.  
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b. Select the delayed trigger level menu:  
Press SHIFT; then press DELAYED TRIG.  
Press the main-menu button Level; then press the side-menu  
button Level.  
c. Confirm that the following statements are true:  
The trigger-level readout for the delayed trigger system changes  
as you turn the general purpose knob.  
The general purpose knob can trigger and untrigger the square-  
wave probe-compensation signal as you rotate it. (Leave the  
signal untriggered.)  
Pressing the side-menu button Set to 50% triggers the probe-  
compensation signal that you just left untriggered. (Leave the  
signal triggered.)  
d. Verify the delayed trigger counter:  
Press the main-menu button Delay by Time.  
Use the keypad to enter a delay time of 1 second (press 1 then  
press ENTER).  
Verify that the trigger READY indicator on the front panel flashes  
about once every second as the waveform is updated on-screen.  
4. Remove the test hookup: Disconnect the standard-accessory probe from  
the channel input and the probe-compensation terminals.  
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Brief Procedures  
Verify the File System (Optional on TDS 520A and 540A)  
Equipment Required: One P6139A probe and one 720 K or 1.44 Mbyte, 3.5  
inch DOS compatible disk. You can use a disk of your own or you can use the  
Programming Examples Software 3.5 inch disk (Tektronix part number  
063–1134–00) contained in the TDS Family Programmer Manual (Tektronix  
part number 070–8709–01).  
Prerequisites: None.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the oscilloscope controls:  
a. Hook up the signal source: Install the probe on CH 1. Connect the  
probe tip to PROBE COMPENSATION SIGNAL on the front panel;  
connect the probe ground to PROBE COMPENSATION GND. (See  
Figure 1-3 on page 1-6.)  
b. Insert the test disk: Insert the disk in the disk drive to the left of the  
monitor.  
Position the disk so the metal shutter faces the drive.  
Position the disk so the stamped arrow is on the top right side. In  
other words, place the angled corner in the front bottom location.  
Push the disk into the drive until it goes all the way in and clicks  
into place.  
c. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
d. Modify default settings:  
Press AUTOSET to obtain a viewable, triggered display.  
Set the horizontal SCALE for the M (main) time base to 200 s  
(one click clockwise). Notice the waveform on the display now  
shows two cycles instead of five.  
Press CLEAR MENU to remove the menus from the screen.  
e. Save the settings:  
Press SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Save Current Setup; then press the  
side-menu button To File.  
Turn the general purpose knob to select the file to save. Choose  
TEK?????.SET (or fdo:). With this choice, you’ll save a file  
starting with TEK, then containing 5-numbers, and a .SET exten-  
sion. For example, the first time you run this on a blank, for-  
matted disk or on the Example Programs Disk, the TDS will  
assign the name TEK00000.SET to your file. If you ran the  
procedure again, the TDS would increment the name and call the  
file TEK00001.SET.  
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Brief Procedures  
Press the side-menu button Save To Selected File.  
2. Verify the file system works:  
Press AUTOSET to restore the 500 s time base and the five  
cycle waveform.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Saved Setup; then press the  
side-menu button From File.  
Turn the general purpose knob to select the file to recall. For  
example, if you followed the instructions above and used a blank  
disk, you had the TDS assign the name TEK00000.SET to your  
file.  
Press the side-menu button Recall From Selected File.  
Verify that Digitizing Oscilloscope retrieved the saved setup from  
the disk. Do this by noticing the horizontal SCALE for the M  
(main) time base is again 200 s and the waveform shows only  
two cycles just as it was when you saved the setup.  
3. Remove the test hookup:  
Disconnect the standard-accessory probe from the channel input  
and the probe-compensation terminals.  
Remove the disk from the disk drive. Do this by pushing in the  
tab at the bottom of the disk drive.  
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Performance Verification Procedures  
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Performance Tests  
This subsection contains a collection of procedures for checking that TDS  
520A, 524A, 540A, and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscopes perform as warranted.  
Since the procedures cover models with both two full-featured channels (TDS  
520A and 524A) and four full-featured models (TDS 540A and 544A),  
instructions that apply only to one of the model types are clearly identified.  
Otherwise, all test instructions apply to both the two and four channel models.  
The procedures are arranged in four logical groupings: Signal Acquisition  
System Checks, Time Base System Checks, Triggering System Checks, and  
Output Ports Checks. They check all the characteristics that are designated  
as checked in Section 2, Specifications. (The characteristics that are checked  
appear in boldface type under Warranted Characteristics in Section 2.)  
These procedures extend the confidence level provided by the basic  
procedures described on page 1-1. The basic procedures should be  
done first, then these procedures performed if desired.  
Prerequisites  
The tests in this subsection comprise an extensive, valid confirmation of  
performance and functionality when the following requirements are met:  
The cabinet must be installed on the Digitizing Oscilloscope.  
You must have performed and passed the procedures under Self Tests,  
found on page 1-4, and those under Functional Tests, found on page 1-6.  
A signal-path compensation must have been done within the recom-  
mended calibration interval and at a temperature within  
C of the  
present operating temperature. (If at the time you did the prerequisite Self  
Tests, the temperature was within the limits just stated, consider this  
prerequisite met.)  
The Digitizing Oscilloscope must have been last adjusted at an ambient  
temperature between +20 C and +30 C, must have been operating for  
a warm-up period of at least 20 minutes, and must be operating at an  
ambient temperature between +4 C and +50 C. (The warm-up require-  
ment is usually met in the course of meeting the first prerequisite listed  
above.)  
Related Information — Read General Instructions and Conventions that  
start on page 1-1.  
Equipment Required  
These procedures use external, traceable signal sources to directly check  
warranted characteristics. The required equipment list is shown in Table 1-1.  
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Performance Tests  
Table 1-1: Test Equipment  
Item Number and  
Description  
Minimum Requirements  
Example  
Purpose  
1
2
3
4
5
Attenuator,10X  
Ratio: 10X; impedance 50  
;
Tektronix part number  
Signal Attenuation  
(three required) connectors: female BNC input, 011–0059–02  
male BNC output  
Attenuator, 5X  
Ratio: 5X; impedance 50  
connectors: female BNC input, 011–0060–02  
male BNC output  
;
Tektronix part number  
Signal Attenuation  
Terminator, 50  
Impedance 50 ; connectors: Tektronix part number  
female BNC input, male BNC 011–0049–01  
output  
Signal Termination  
for Channel Delay  
Test  
Cable, Precision 50 , 36 inch, male to male  
50 Coaxial  
(two required)  
Tektronix part number  
012–0482–00  
Signal Interconnec-  
tion  
BNC connectors  
Connector, Dual- Female BNC to dual banana  
Banana (two  
required)  
Tektronix part number  
103–0090–00  
Various Accuracy  
Tests  
6
7
8
Connector, BNC Male BNC to dual female BNC Tektronix part number  
Checking Trigger  
Sensitivity  
“T”  
103–0030–00  
Coupler, Dual-  
Input  
Female BNC to dual male  
BNC  
Tektronix part number  
067–0525–02  
Checking Delay  
Between Channels  
Generator, DC  
Calibration  
Variable amplitude to 10 V; Data Precision 8200, with  
Checking DC Offset,  
Gain, and Measure-  
ment Accuracy  
accuracy to 0.1%  
1 kV option installed  
1
9
Generator, Cali- 500 mV square wave calibra- PG 506A  
To check accuracy  
of the CH 3 Signal  
Out (TDS 540A and  
544A only)  
bration  
tor amplitude; accuracy to  
0.25%  
10 Generator, Lev- 200 kHz to 250 MHz; Variable Tektronix SG 503 Leveled Sine Checking Trigger  
1
eled Sine Wave, amplitude from 5 mV to  
Wave Generator  
Sensitivity at low fre-  
quencies  
Medium-Fre-  
quency  
5.5 V into 50  
p-p  
11 Generator, Lev- 250 MHz to 500 MHz; Variable Tektronix SG 504 Leveled Sine Checking Analog  
1
eled Sine Wave, amplitude from 500 mV to  
Wave Generator with its Level- Bandwidth and Trig-  
High-Frequency 4 V into 50 ; 6 MHz  
ing Head  
ger Sensitivity at  
high frequencies  
p-p  
reference  
12 Generator, Time Variable marker frequency  
Tektronix TG 501 Time  
Checking Sample-  
Rate and Delay-time  
Accuracy  
1
Mark  
from 10 ms to 10 ns; accuracy Mark Generator  
within 2 ppm  
1
13 Generator, Cali- 500 mV square wave calibra- PG 506A  
Use to check accu-  
racy of the CH 3  
Output  
bration  
tor amplitude; accuracy to  
0.25%  
1
Requires a TM 500 or TM 5000 Series Power Module Mainframe.  
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Performance Tests  
Table 1-1: Test Equipment (Cont.)  
Item Number and  
Description  
Minimum Requirements  
Example  
Purpose  
14 Probe, 10X, in-  
cluded with this  
instrument  
A P6139A probe  
Tektronix number P6139A  
Signal Interconnec-  
tion  
15 Adapter, BNC  
female to Clip  
Leads  
BNC female to Clip Leads  
Tektronix part number  
013–0076–00  
Signal Coupling for  
Probe Compensator  
Output Check  
16 Power Supply,  
Dual Output  
0–35 V and 60 V 2 A; current  
limit without foldback  
Tektronix PS 280 Power Supply Power Supply  
Troubleshooting  
17 3.5 inch, 720 K  
or 1.44 Mbyte,  
DOS-compatible  
floppy disk  
Programming Examples Soft-  
ware Disk (Tektronix part num-  
ber 063–1134–00) that comes  
with the TDS Family Program-  
mer Manual (Tektronix part  
number 070–8709–01)  
Checking File Sys-  
tem Basic Function-  
ality  
18 Generator,  
Video Signal  
Provides NTSC compatible  
outputs.  
Tektronix TSG 121  
Used to Test Video  
Option 05 Equipped  
Instruments Only  
19 Oscillator, Lev-  
eled Sinewave  
Generator  
60 Hz. Sine Wave  
Tektronix part number SG 502  
Tektronix part number PG 502  
Used to Test Video  
Option 05 Equipped  
Instruments Only  
20 Pulse Generator  
Used to Test Video  
Option 05 Equipped  
Instruments Only  
21 Cable, 75  
Coaxial  
75 , 36 inch, male to male  
BNC connectors  
Tektronix part number  
012–1338–00  
Used to Test Video  
Option 05 Equipped  
Instruments Only  
22 Termination,  
75  
Impedance 75 ; connectors: Tektronix part number  
female BNC input, male BNC 011–0102–01  
output  
Used to Test Video  
Option 05 Equipped  
Instruments Only  
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Performance Tests  
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Performance Tests  
Test Record  
Photocopy the next four pages and use them to record the performance test  
results for your instrument.  
TDS 500A Test Record  
Instrument Serial Number:  
Temperature:  
Certificate Number:  
RH %:  
Date of Calibration:  
Technician:  
Performance Test  
Minimum  
Incoming  
Outgoing  
Maximum  
Offset Accuracy  
CH1 Offset  
CH2 Offset  
CH3 Offset  
CH4 Offset  
+1 mV  
+100 mV  
+1 V  
– 1.6 mV  
– 25 mV  
250 mV  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+ 1.6 mV  
+ 25 mV  
+ 250 mV  
+1 mV  
+100 mV  
+1 V  
– 1.6 mV  
– 25 mV  
250 mV  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+ 1.6 mV  
+ 25 mV  
+ 250 mV  
+1 mV  
+100 mV  
+1 V  
– 1.6 mV  
– 25 mV  
250 mV  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+ 1.6 mV  
+ 25mV  
+ 250 mV  
+1 mV  
+100 mV  
+1 V  
– 1.6 mV  
– 25 mV  
250 mV  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+ 1.6 mV  
+ 25 mV  
+ 250 mV  
DC Voltage Measurement Accuracy (Averaged)  
CH1  
CH1  
CH1  
CH1  
CH1  
CH1  
CH2  
CH2  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
+ 1.0355 V  
– 1.0445 V  
+ 11.525 V  
– 11.675 V  
+ 107.450 V  
– 108.550 V  
+ 1.0355 V  
– 1.0445 V  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+ 1.0445 V  
– 1.0355 V  
+ 11.675 V  
– 11.525 V  
+ 108.550 V  
– 107.450 V  
+ 1.0445 V  
– 1.0355 V  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
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Performance Tests  
TDS 500A Test Record (Cont.)  
Certificate Number:  
Instrument Serial Number:  
Temperature:  
RH %:  
Date of Calibration:  
Technician:  
Performance Test  
Minimum  
Incoming  
Outgoing  
Maximum  
CH2  
CH2  
CH2  
CH2  
CH3  
CH3  
CH3  
CH3  
CH3  
CH3  
CH4  
CH4  
CH4  
CH4  
CH4  
CH4  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
+ 11.525 V  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+ 11.675 V  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
– 11.675 V  
+ 107.450 V  
– 108.550 V  
+ 1.0355 V  
– 1.0445 V  
+ 11.525 V  
– 11.675 V  
+ 107.450 V  
– 108.550 V  
+ 1.0355 V  
– 1.0445 V  
+ 11.525 V  
– 11.675 V  
+ 107.450 V  
– 108.550 V  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
– 11.525 V  
+ 108.550 V  
– 107.450 V  
+ 1.0445 V  
– 1.0355 V  
+ 11.675 V  
– 11.525 V  
+ 108.550 V  
– 107.450 V  
+ 1.0445 V  
– 1.0355 V  
+ 11.675 V  
– 11.525 V  
+ 108.550 V  
– 107.450 V  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
5 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
200 mV Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
–5 Div position setting  
1 V Vert scale setting,  
+5 Div position setting  
Performance Verification Procedures  
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Performance Tests  
TDS 500A Test Record (Cont.)  
Certificate Number:  
Instrument Serial Number:  
Temperature:  
RH %:  
Date of Calibration:  
Technician:  
Performance Test  
Minimum  
Incoming  
Outgoing  
Maximum  
Analog Bandwidth  
CH1  
CH2  
CH3  
CH4  
100 mV  
100 mV  
100 mV  
100 mV  
424 mV  
424 mV  
424 mV  
424 mV  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
N/A  
N/A  
N/A  
N/A  
Delay Between Channels  
N/A __________  
Time Base System  
Delay Between Channels  
__________  
250 ps  
Long Term Sample Rate/  
Delay Time @ 500 ns/10 ms  
–2.5 Div  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
+2.5 Div  
Delta Time @ 5 ns (100 MHz)  
19.760 ns  
20.240 ns  
Trigger System Accuracy  
Pulse-Glitch or Pulse-WIdth,  
Hor. scale 1 s  
Lower Limit  
2.5 ns  
2.5 ns  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
7.5 ns  
7.5 ns  
Upper Limit  
Pulse-Glitch or Pulse-WIdth,  
Hor. scale > 1 s  
Lower Limit  
1 s  
1 s  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
3 s  
3 s  
Upper Limit  
Main Trigger, DC Coupled)  
Delayed Trigger, DC Coupled)  
9.940 V  
9.940 V  
__________  
__________  
__________  
___________  
10.060 V  
10.060 V  
Output Signal Checks  
MAIN TRIGGER OUTPUT, 1 M  
MAIN TRIGGER OUTPUT, 50  
DELAYED TRIGGER OUTPUT, 50  
DELAYED TRIGGER OUTPUT, 1 M  
CH 3 SIGNAL OUTPUT, 1 M  
CH 3 SIGNAL OUTPUT, 50  
High 2.5 V  
High 1.0 V  
High 1.0 V  
High 2.5 V  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
Low 0.7 V  
Low 0.25 V  
Low 0.25 V  
Low 0.7 V  
Pk-Pk 90 mV __________  
Pk-Pk 110 mV  
Pk-Pk 55 mV  
Pk-Pk 45 mV __________  
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Performance Tests  
TDS 500A Test Record (Cont.)  
Certificate Number:  
Instrument Serial Number:  
Temperature:  
RH %:  
Date of Calibration:  
Technician:  
Performance Test  
Minimum  
Incoming  
Outgoing  
Maximum  
Probe Compensator Output Signal  
Frequency (CH1 Freq.)  
Voltage (difference)  
950 Hz  
495 mV  
__________  
__________  
__________  
__________  
1050 Hz  
505 mV  
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Performance Tests  
These procedures check those characteristics that relate to the signal-acqui-  
sition system and are listed as checked under Warranted Characteristics in  
Section 2, Specifications.  
Signal Acquisition  
System Checks  
Check Accuracy of Offset (Zero Setting)  
Equipment Required: None.  
Prerequisites: The oscilloscope must meet the prerequisites listed on  
page 1-15.  
1. Preset the instrument controls:  
a. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
Press CLEAR MENU to remove the menus from the screen.  
b. Modify the default settings:  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 1 ms.  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode; then press the side-menu  
button Hi Res.  
Press DISPLAY.  
Press the main-menu button Graticule; then press the side-menu  
button Frame.  
Press CURSOR.  
Press the main-menu button Function; then press the side-menu  
button H Bars.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
2. Confirm input channels are within limits for offset accuracy at zero offset:  
Do the following substeps — test CH 1 first, skipping substep a since  
CH 1 is already set up to be checked from step 1.  
a. Select an unchecked channel: Press WAVEFORM OFF to remove  
the channel just confirmed from the display. Then, press the front-pa-  
nel button that corresponds to the channel you are to confirm.  
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Follow these rules to match this procedure to the model of the oscillo-  
scope under test:  
Models TDS 540A, 544A Only—When using Table 1-2 to test  
CH 1—CH 4; ignore the columns for AUX 1 & AUX 2 settings and  
limits.  
Model TDS 520A, 524A Only—Use Table 1-2 to test input channels;  
use the columns for CH 1—CH 4 when testing CH 1 and CH 2; use  
the columns for AUX 1 and AUX 2 when testing those channels.  
Table 1-2: DC Offset Accuracy (Zero Setting)  
Vertical Scale  
Setting  
Vertical  
Position  
Offset Accuracy Limits  
CH 1 –  
CH 4  
AUX 1 & and Offset  
1
AUX 2  
100 mV  
1 V  
Setting  
CH 1 – CH 4  
mV  
mV  
mV  
AUX 1 & AUX 2  
mV  
mV  
1 mV  
100 mV  
1 V  
0
0
10 V  
0
V
1
Vertical position is set to 0 divisions and vertical offset to 0 V when the oscilloscope is  
initialized in step 1.  
b. Set the vertical scale: Set the vertical SCALE to one of the settings  
listed in Table 1-2 that is not yet checked. (Start with the first setting  
listed.)  
c. Display the test signal: The baseline DC test level was initialized for  
all channels in step 1 and is displayed as you select each channel  
and its vertical scale. Be sure not to use the vertical POSITION knob  
while checking any channel for accuracy of offset, since varying the  
position invalidates the check.  
d. Measure the test signal: Rotate the general purpose knob to superim-  
pose the active cursor over the baseline DC test level. (Ignore the  
other cursor.)  
e. Read the measurement results at the absolute (@:) cursor readout,  
not the delta ( :) readout on screen (see Figure 1-4).  
f. Check against limits: Do the following subparts in the order listed.  
CHECK that the measurement results are within the limits listed  
for the current vertical scale setting.  
Repeat substeps b through f until all vertical scale settings set-  
tings listed in Table 1-2 are checked for the channel under test.  
g. Test all channels: Repeat substeps a through f for all input channels.  
3. Disconnect the hookup: No hookup was required.  
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Performance Tests  
Ignore the  
inactive cursor.  
Align the active  
cursor to the DC  
baseline (no input).  
Then read the  
offset relative to  
ground reference.  
Figure 1-4: Measurement of DC Offset Accuracy at Zero Setting  
Check DC Gain and Voltage Measurement Accuracy  
Performance of this procedure requires input voltages up to  
130 VDC. Be sure to set the DC calibration generator to 0 volts  
before connecting, disconnecting, and/or moving the test hookup  
during the performance of this procedure.  
Equipment Required: Two dual-banana connectors (Item 5), one BNC T  
connector (Item 6), one DC calibration generator (Item 8), and two precision  
coaxial cables (Item 4).  
Prerequisites: The oscilloscope must meet the prerequisites listed on  
page 1-15.  
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Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls (see Fig-  
ure 1-5):  
DC Calibrator  
Output Sense  
HI  
LO  
Dual Banana to  
BNC Adapters  
50 Coaxial Cables  
BNC T  
Connector  
Figure 1-5: Initial Test Hookup  
a. Hook up the test-signal source:  
Set the output of a DC calibration generator to 0 volts.  
Connect the output of a DC calibration generator through a  
dual-banana connector followed by a 50 precision coaxial cable  
to one side of a BNC T connector.  
Connect the Sense output of the generator through a second  
dual-banana connector followed by a 50 precision coaxial cable  
to the other side of the BNC T connector. Now connect the  
BNC T connector to CH 1.  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Modify the default settings:  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode; then press the side-menu  
button Average 16.  
Press CURSOR.  
Press the main-menu button Function; then press the side-menu  
button H Bars.  
Press DISPLAY.  
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Press the main-menu button Graticule; then press the side-menu  
button Frame.  
2. Confirm input channels are within limits for DC delta voltage accuracy: Do  
the following substeps — test CH 1 first, skipping substep a since CH 1 is  
already selected from step 1.  
a. Select an unchecked channel:  
Set the generator output to 0 V.  
Press WAVEFORM OFF to remove the channel just confirmed  
from the display.  
Press the front-panel button that corresponds to the next channel  
you are to confirm.  
Move the test hook up to the channel you select.  
b. Display the test signal:  
Press VERTICAL MENU. Press the main-menu button Position.  
Use the keypad to set vertical position to –2.5 divisions (press  
–2.5, then ENTER, on the keypad).  
c. Measure the test signal:  
Press CURSOR. Use the general purpose knob to precisely align  
the active cursor to the DC baseline level on screen.  
Set the generator output to 500 mV.  
Press SELECT. Use the general purpose knob to precisely align  
the alternate cursor to the 500 mV DC test level on screen.  
Press CLEAR MENU. Read the measurement results from the  
delta ( ) readout, not the absolute (@:) readout. See Figure 1-6  
on page 1-28.  
d. Check against limits: CHECK that the : readout on screen is within  
485 mV to 515 mV (see Figure 1-6).  
REV JULY 93  
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First align a cursor to the  
DC baseline (no input).  
Second align the second  
cursor to the DC test  
level that you input.  
Third read the  
results of the DC  
measurement here.  
Figure 1-6: Measurement of the DC Accuracy for Delta Measurements  
e. Test all channels: Repeat substeps a through d for all four channels.  
3. Reestablish the initial test hookup setup:  
a. Hook up the test-signal source:  
Set the output of a DC calibration generator to 0 volts.  
Move the BNC T connector back to CH 1.  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Modify the default settings:  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode; then press the side-menu  
button Average 16.  
Press DISPLAY.  
Press the main-menu button Graticule; then press the side-menu  
button Frame.  
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Performance Tests  
4. Confirm input channels are within limits for DC accuracy at maximum  
offset and position: Do the following substeps — test CH 1 first, skipping  
substep a since CH 1 is already selected from step 3.  
a. Select an unchecked channel:  
Press WAVEFORM OFF to remove the channel just confirmed  
from the display.  
Press the front-panel button that corresponds to the channel you  
are to confirm.  
Set the generator output to 0 V.  
Move the test hookup to the channel you select.  
b. Turn on the measurement Mean for the channel:  
Press MEASURE, then press the main-menu button Select  
Measrmnt for CHx.  
Press the side menu button more until the menu label Mean  
appears in the side menu (its icon is shown at the left). Press the  
side-menu button Mean.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
Follow these rules to match this procedure to the model of the oscillo-  
scope under test:  
Models TDS 540A, 544A Only—Use Table 1-3 to test CH 1—CH 4;  
ignore Table 1-4 AUX 1 & AUX 2 settings and limits.  
Model TDS 520A, 524A Only—Use Table 1-3 to test CH 1 and CH 2  
only; use Table 1-4 to test AUX 1 and AUX 2 only.  
c. Set its vertical scale: Set the vertical SCALE to one of the settings  
listed in Table 1-3 (and Table 1-4 for the TDS 520A and 524A) that is  
not yet checked. (Start with the first setting listed.)  
Table 1-3: DC Accuracy: CH 1–CH 4  
Scale  
Position Offset  
Generator  
Setting  
Accuracy  
Limits  
Setting Setting Setting  
(Divs)  
5 mV  
–5  
+5  
+1 V  
+1.040 V  
–1.040 V  
+11.6 V  
–11.6 V  
+108 V  
+1.0355 V to +1.0445 V  
–1.0355 V to –1.0445 V  
+11.525 V to +11.675 V  
–11.525 V to –11.675 V  
+107.450 V to +108.550 V  
–107.450 V to –108.550 V  
–1 V  
200 mV –5  
+5  
+10 V  
–10 V  
+100 V  
–100 V  
1 V  
–5  
+5  
–108 V  
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Table 1-4: DC Accuracy: AUX 1–AUX 2  
Scale  
Setting  
Positio Offset  
Generator  
Setting  
Accuracy  
Limits  
n
Setting  
Setting  
(Divs)  
100 mV –5  
+5  
+0.5 V  
–0.5 V  
+5 V  
+1.3 V  
–1.3 V  
+13 V  
+1.271 V to +1.329 V  
–1.271 V to –1.329 V  
+12.710 V to +13.290 V  
–12.710 V to –13.290 V  
+127.10 V to +132.90 V  
–127.10 V to –132.90 V  
1 V  
–5  
+5  
–5  
+5  
–5 V  
–13 V  
10 V  
+50 V  
–50 V  
+130 V  
–130 V  
d. Display the test signal:  
Press VERTICAL MENU. Press the main-menu button Position.  
Use the keypad to set vertical position to –5 divisions (press –5,  
then ENTER, on the keypad). The baseline level will move off  
screen.  
Press the main-menu button Offset.  
Use the keypad to set vertical offset to the positive-polarity set-  
ting listed in the table for the current vertical scale setting. The  
baseline level will remain off screen.  
Set the generator to the level and polarity indicated in the table  
for the vertical scale, position, and offset settings you have made.  
The DC test level should appear on screen. (If it doesn’t return,  
the DC accuracy check is failed for the current vertical scale  
setting of the current channel.)  
e. Measure the test signal: Press CLEAR MENU. Read the measure-  
ment results at the Mean measurement readout. See Figure 1-7.  
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First set vertical and position  
offsets to maximum (no input). Note  
gnd ref indicator bounded  
on-screen for the offset baseline  
below screen.  
Second, input a DC  
level equal to the offset  
plus 3 divisions.  
Third, turn on the  
Measurement called  
mean and read the  
results here.  
Figure 1-7: Measurement of DC Accuracy at Maximum Offset and Position  
f. Check against limits:  
CHECK that the readout for the measurement Mean readout on  
screen is within the limits listed for the current vertical scale and  
position/offset/generator settings.  
Repeat step d, reversing the polarity of the position, offset, and  
generator settings as is listed in the table.  
CHECK that the Mean measurement readout on screen is within  
the limits listed for the current vertical scale setting and position/  
offset/generator settings.  
Repeat substeps c through f until all vertical scale settings set-  
tings listed in Table 1-3 (and Table 1-4 for the TDS 520A and  
524A) are checked for the channel under test.  
g. Test all channels: Repeat substeps a through f for all four channels.  
5. Disconnect the hookup:  
a. Set the generator output to 0 V.  
b. Then disconnect the cable from the generator output at the input  
connector of the channel last tested.  
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Check Analog Bandwidth  
Equipment Required: One high-frequency leveled sine wave generator and  
its leveling head (Item 11), plus two10X attenuators (Item 1).  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
b. Modify the default settings:  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 50 ns.  
Now press SHIFT, then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode; then press the side-menu  
button Average 16.  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Coupling; then press the side-  
menu button Noise Rej.  
Press Measure. Now press the main-menu button High–Low  
Setup; then press the side-menu button Min–Max.  
c. Hook up the test-signal source: Connect, through its leveling head,  
the sine wave output of a high-frequency leveled sine wave generator  
to CH 1. Set the output of the generator to a reference frequency of  
6 MHz. See Figure 1-8.  
High  
Frequency  
Sine Wave  
Generator  
Output  
Leveling Head  
Figure 1-8: Initial Test Hookup  
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Performance Tests  
2. Confirm the input channels are within limits for analog bandwidth: Do the  
following substeps test CH 1 first, skipping substeps a and b since  
CH 1 is already set up for testing from step 1.  
a. Select an unchecked channel:  
Press WAVEFORM OFF to remove the channel just confirmed  
from display.  
Press the front-panel button that corresponds to the channel you  
are to confirm.  
Move the leveling head to the channel you select.  
b. Match the trigger source to the channel selected:  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Source.  
Press the side-menu button that corresponds to the channel  
selected.  
c. Set its input impedance:  
Press VERTICAL MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Coupling.  
Press the side-menu button to toggle it to the 50 setting.  
d. Set the vertical scale: Set the vertical SCALE to one of the settings  
listed in Table 1-5 not yet checked. (Start with the 100 mV setting.)  
Table 1-5: Analog Bandwidth  
Vertical  
Scale  
Attenuators  
(10X)  
Reference Amplitude  
(at 6 MHz)  
Horizontal  
Scale  
Test  
Frequency  
Limits  
424 mV  
100 mV  
1 V  
none  
none  
600 mV (6 divisions)  
5 V (5 divisions)  
1 ns  
1 ns  
500 MHz  
500 MHz  
3.535 V  
2.121 V  
848 mV  
212 mV  
84 mV  
500 mV  
200 mV  
50 mV  
20 mV  
10 mV  
5 mV  
none  
3 V (6 divisions)  
1 ns  
1 ns  
1 ns  
1 ns  
1 ns  
1 ns  
2 ns  
500 MHz  
500 MHz  
500 MHz  
500 MHz  
500 MHz  
500 MHz  
350 MHz  
none  
1.2 V (6 divisions)  
300 mV (6 divisions)  
120 mV (6 divisions)  
60 mV (6 divisions)  
30 mV (6 divisions)  
12 mV (6 divisions)  
1
1
1
2
2
42 mV  
21 mV  
2 mV  
8.48 mV  
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e. Display the test signal: Do the following subparts to first display the  
reference signal and then the test signal.  
Press MEASURE; then press the main-menu button Select  
Measrmnt for CHx.  
Now press the side menu button more until the menu label Pk-Pk  
appears in the side menu (its icon is shown at the left). Press the  
side-menu button Pk-Pk.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
Set the generator output so the CHx Pk-Pk readout equals the  
reference amplitude in Table 1-5 that corresponds to the vertical  
scale set in substep d.  
Press the front-panel button SET LEVEL TO 50% as necessary  
to trigger a stable display.  
f. Measure the test signal:  
Increase the frequency of the generator output to the test fre-  
quency in Table 1-5 that corresponds to the vertical scale set in  
substep d.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 1 ns. Press SET LEVEL TO 50% as  
necessary.  
Read the results at the CHx Pk-Pk readout, which will automati-  
cally measure the amplitude of the test signal. See Figure 1-9.  
First, increase the reference  
frequency to the test  
frequency; then decrease the  
horizontal scale.  
Second, read the results  
from the readout of  
measurement Pk-Pk.  
Figure 1-9: Measurement of Analog Bandwidth  
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g. Check against limits:  
CHECK that the Pk-Pk readout on screen is within the limits  
listed in Table 1-5 for the current vertical scale setting.  
When finished checking, set the horizontal SCALE back to the  
50 ns setting.  
Checking each channel’s bandwidth at all vertical scale settings is  
time consuming and unnecessary. You may skip checking the remain-  
ing vertical scale settings in Table 1-5 (that is, skip the following  
substep, h) if this digitizing oscilloscope has performed as follows:  
Passed the 100 mV vertical scale setting just checked in this  
procedure.  
Passed the Verify Internal Adjustment, Self Compensation, and  
Diagnostics procedure found under Self Tests, on page 1-4.  
NOTE  
Passing the signal path compensation confirms the signal path for  
all vertical scale settings for all channels. Passing the internal  
diagnostics ensures that the factory-set adjustment constants that  
control the bandwidth for each vertical scale setting have not  
changed.  
h. Check remaining vertical scale settings against limits (optional):  
If desired, finish checking the remaining vertical scale settings for  
the channel under test by repeating substeps d through g for  
each of the remaining scale settings settings listed in Table 1-5  
for the channel under test.  
When doing substep e, skip the subparts that turn on the CHx  
Pk-Pk measurement until you check a new channel.  
Install/remove 10X attenuators between the generator leveling  
head and the channel input as is needed to obtain the six division  
reference signals listed in the table.  
i. Test all channels: Repeat substeps a through g for all four channels.  
3. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the test hook up from the input con-  
nector of the channel last tested.  
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Check Delay Between Channels  
Equipment Required: One medium-frequency leveled sine-wave generator  
(Item 10), one precision, 50  
coaxial cable (Item 4), one 50 terminator  
(Item 3), and a dual-input-coupler (Item 7).  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15.  
Procedure:  
DO NOT use the vertical position knob to reposition any channel  
while doing this check. To do so invalidates the test.  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Initialize the front panel;  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
b. Modify the initialized front-panel control settings:  
Do not adjust the vertical position of any channel during this  
procedure.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 500 ps.  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode, and then press the side-me-  
nu button Average 16.  
c. Hook up the test-signal source:  
Connect, through a 50 precision coaxial cable, followed by a  
50 termination, the sine wave output of a medium-frequency  
sine wave generator to a dual-input coupler. See Figure 1-10.  
Medium  
Frequency  
Sine Wave  
Generator  
Output  
50 Cable  
Dual Input Coupler  
50 Terminator  
Figure 1-10: Initial Test Hookup  
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Connect the coupler to both CH 1 and CH 2.  
2. Confirm CH 1 through CH 4 (CH 2 for 520A and 524A) are within limits  
for channel delay:  
a. Set up the generator: Set the generator frequency to 250 MHz and  
the amplitude for about five divisions in CH 1.  
Hint: as you are adjusting the generator amplitude, push SET LEVEL  
TO 50% frequently to speed up the updating of the waveform ampli-  
tude on screen.  
TDS 520A and 524A only: Press CH 2; then skip to substep e and  
continue this check. If testing a TDS 540A or 544A model, continue  
with the next substep, b.  
b. Save a CH 2 waveform: Press CH 2; then press save/recall WAVE-  
FORM. Now, press the main-menu button Save Wfm Ch2; then  
press the side-menu button To Ref 2.  
c. Save CH 3 waveform: Move the coupler from CH 2 to CH 3, so that  
CH 1 and CH 3 are driven. Press CH 3; then press the side-menu  
button To Ref 3.  
d. Display all test signals:  
Press WAVEFORM OFF twice to remove CH 2 and CH 3 from  
the display.  
Move the coupler from CH 3 to CH 4, so that CH 1 and CH 4 are  
driven. Press CH 4.  
Now, press the front-panel button MORE. Press the main-menu  
buttons Ref 2 and Ref 3.  
e. Measure the test signal:  
Locate the point on the rising edge of the left-most waveform  
where it crosses the center horizontal graticule line. This is the  
time reference point for this waveform. Note the corresponding  
time reference point for right-most waveform. See Figure 1-11.  
Press CURSOR; then press the side-menu button V Bars.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
Rotate the General Purpose knob to align one cursor to the time  
reference point of the left-most waveform edge and the other  
cursor to the time reference point of the right-most waveform  
edge. (Press SELECT to switch between the two cursors.) See  
Figure 1-11.  
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Read the measurement results at the : cursor readout, not the  
@: readout on screen.  
First, display the live/reference  
waveforms for channels. Note their  
overlapping ground reference  
indicators.  
Second, identify the time reference  
points of those waveforms.  
Third, turn on the cursor and align  
the V bar cursors to the time  
reference points.  
Fourth, read the results  
here.  
Figure 1-11: Measurement of Channel Delay  
f. Check against limits: CHECK that the cursor readout on screen is  
250 ps.  
3. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the cable from the generator output  
at the input connectors of the channels.  
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Performance Tests  
These procedures check those characteristics that relate to the Main and  
Delayed time base system and are listed as checked under Warranted Char-  
acteristics in Section 2, Specifications.  
Time Base System  
Checks  
Check Accuracy for Long-Term Sample Rate, Delay Time,  
and Delta Time Measurements  
Equipment Required: One time-mark generator (Item 12) and one precision  
coaxial cable (Item 4).  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Hook up the test-signal source: Connect, through a 50 precision  
coaxial cable, the time-mark output of a time-mark generator to CH 1.  
Set the output of the generator for 10 ms markers. See Figure 1-12.  
Time-Mark  
Generator  
Output  
50 Coaxial Cables  
Figure 1-12: Initial Test Hookup  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Modify the initialized front-panel control settings:  
Set the vertical SCALE to 500 mV.  
Press VERTICAL MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Coupling. Press the side-menu button to 50  
.
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
Use the vertical POSITION knob to center the test signal on  
screen.  
Set the horizontal SCALE of the Main time base to 1 ms.  
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Press TRIGGER MENU; then press the main-menu button Mode  
& Holdoff. Now press the side-menu button Normal.  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
Press horizontal MENU. Press the main-menu button Record  
Length; then press the side-menu button 1000 points in  
20 divs.  
Press the main-menu button Trigger Position. Press the side-  
menu button Pretrigger; then set pretrigger to 20%: press 20,  
then ENTER, on the keypad.  
2. Confirm Main and Delayed time bases are within limits for accuracies:  
a. Display the test signal:  
Adjust the horizontal POSITION so the trigger T is aligned to the  
center vertical graticule line.  
Press the main-menu button Time Base.  
Press the side-menu buttons Delayed Only and Delayed Runs  
After Main.  
b. Measure the test signal:  
Set the horizontal SCALE of the D (delayed) time base to 100 ns.  
Use the keypad to set delayed time to 10 ms. (Press 10, then  
SHIFT, then m followed by ENTER.)  
First, the trigger T is aligned  
to the center graticule line.  
Second, the horizontal  
modes are set.  
Third, the horizontal scale for  
D time base is set and a  
10 ms delay is entered.  
Fourth, the waveforms rising edge is  
checked to be within  
horizontal  
divisions of the center horizontal  
graticule line.  
Figure 1-13: Measurement of Accuracy — Long-Term and Delay-Time  
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Performance Tests  
c. Check long-term sample rate and delay time accuracies against  
limits: CHECK that the rising edge of the marker crosses the center  
horizontal graticule line at a point within  
graticule. See Figure 1-13.  
center  
d. Check delta-time accuracy against limits:  
Press the side-menu button Main Only. Set horizontal SCALE to  
2 ns.  
Set the output of the generator for 20 ns markers.  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU. Next, press the main-menu  
button Mode. Finally, press the side-menu button Average.  
Enter 8, for eight averages, on the keypad.  
Press MEASURE.  
Press the main-menu button High-Low Setup; then press the  
side-menu button Min-Max.  
Press the main-menu button Select Measrmnt for Ch1.  
Press the side-menu button –more–, until PERIOD appears in  
the side menu. Press PERIOD.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
CHECK that the readout for CH 1 Per is within 19.760 ns to  
20.240 ns.  
3. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the cable from the generator output  
at the input connector of CH 1.  
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Performance Tests  
These procedures check those characteristics that relate to the Main and  
Delayed trigger systems and are listed as checked under Warranted Charac-  
teristics in Section 2, Specifications.  
Trigger System  
Checks  
Check Accuracy (Time) for Pulse-Glitch or Pulse-Width  
Triggering  
Equipment Required: One medium-frequency leveled sine wave generator  
(Item 10), one 10X attenuator (Item 1), and one precision, 50 , coaxial cable  
(Item 4).  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Initialize the instrument:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
b. Modify the default setup:  
Press vertical MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Coupling; then press the side-me-  
nu button to select 50 coupling.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 10 ns.  
c. Hook up the test-signal source: Connect, through a 50 precision  
coaxial cable, followed by a 10X attenuator, the output of a medium-  
frequency leveled sine wave generator (Item 10) to CH 1. See Fig-  
ure 1-14.  
Medium  
Frequency  
Sine Wave  
Generator  
Output  
50 Coaxial Cable  
10X Attenuator  
Figure 1-14: Initial Test Hookup  
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Performance Tests  
2. Confirm the trigger system is within time-accuracy limits for pulse-glitch or  
pulse-width triggering (Horizontal Scale 1 s):  
a. Display the test signal: Set the output of the sine wave generator for  
a 100 MHz, five-division sine wave on screen. Press SET LEVEL TO  
50%.  
b. Set the trigger mode: Press TRIGGER MENU. Now press the main-  
menu button Mode & Holdoff; then the side-menu button Normal.  
c. Set upper and lower limits that ensures triggering:  
Press the main-menu button Type; then repeatedly press the  
same button until Pulse is highlighted in the menu that pops up.  
Press the main-menu button Class; then repeatedly press the  
same button until Width is highlighted in the menu that pops up.  
Press the main-menu button Trig When; then press the side-me-  
nu button Within Limits.  
Press the side-menu button Upper Limit. Use the keyboard to  
set the upper limit to 10 ns: press 10; then SHIFT; then n; then  
ENTER.  
Press the side-menu button Lower Limit. Use the keypad to set  
the lower limit to 2 ns.  
d. Check against limits:  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
While doing the following subparts, monitor the display (it will stop  
acquiring) and the front-panel light TRIG (it will extinguish) to  
determine when triggering is lost.  
Use the general purpose knob to increase the Lower Limit  
readout until triggering is lost.  
CHECK that the Lower Limit readout is within 2.5 ns to 7.5 ns,  
inclusive.  
Use the keypad to return the Lower Limit to 2 ns and reestablish  
triggering.  
Press the side-menu button Upper Limit; then use the general  
purpose knob to slowly decrease the the Upper Limit readout  
until triggering is lost.  
CHECK that the Upper Limit readout is within 2.5 ns to 7.5 ns,  
inclusive.  
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First, the upper and lower  
limits are set so the test  
waveform triggers within limits.  
Second, a limit (here, the lower  
limit) is increased until triggering  
stops.  
Figure 1-15: Measurement of Time Accuracy for Pulse and Glitch Triggering  
3. Confirm the trigger system is within time-accuracy limits for pulse-glitch or  
pulse-width triggering (horizontal scale >1 s):  
a. Set upper and lower limits that ensure triggering at 250 kHz:  
Press the side-menu button Upper Limit. Use the keyboard to  
set the upper limit to 4 s.  
Press the side-menu button Lower Limit. Use the keypad to set  
the lower limit to 500 ns.  
b. Display the test signal:  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 5 s.  
Set the output of the sine-wave generator for a 250 kHz, five-divi-  
sion sine wave on screen. Set the vertical SCALE to 20 mV (the  
waveform will overdrive the display).  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
c. Check against limits: Do the following subparts in the order listed.  
Use the general purpose knob to increase Lower Limit readout  
until triggering is lost.  
CHECK that the Lower Limit readout is within 1 s to 3 s,  
inclusive.  
Use the keypad to return the Lower Limit to 500 ns and reestab-  
lish triggering.  
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Performance Tests  
Press the side-menu button Upper Limit; then use the general  
purpose knob to slowly decrease the the Upper Limit readout  
until triggering is lost.  
CHECK that the Upper Limit readout is within 1 s to 3 s,  
inclusive.  
4. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the cable from the generator output  
at the input connector of CH 1.  
Check Accuracy, Trigger-level or Threshold, DC Coupled  
Equipment Required: One DC calibration generator (Item 8), one BNC T  
connector (Item 6), and two precision, 50 , coaxial cables (Item 4).  
Prerequisites: The oscilloscope must meet the prerequisites listed on  
page 1-15.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Hook up the test-signal source:  
Set the output of a DC calibration generator to 0 volts.  
Connect the output of a DC calibration generator through a  
dual-banana connector followed by a 50 precision coaxial cable  
to one side of a BNC T connector. See Figure 1-16.  
Connect the Sense output of the generator, through a second  
dual-banana connector followed by a 50 precision coaxial  
cable, to other side of the BNC T connector. Now connect the  
BNC T connector to CH 1. See Figure 1-16.  
DC Calibrator  
Output  
Sense  
HI  
LO  
Dual Banana to  
BNC Adapter  
50 Coaxial Cables  
BNC T Connector  
Figure 1-16: Initial Test Hookup  
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b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall Setup.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Select Delayed Triggerable:  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Time Base.  
Press the side-menu button Delayed Triggerable.  
2. Confirm Main trigger system is within limits for Trigger-level/Threshold  
accuracy:  
a. Display the test signal:  
Press VERTICAL MENU. Press the main-menu button Position.  
Use the keypad to set vertical position to –3 divisions (press –3,  
then ENTER, on the keypad.) The baseline level will move down  
three divisions.  
Press the main-menu button Offset.  
Use the keypad to set vertical offset to +10 volts. Press 10, then  
ENTER. The baseline level will move off-screen.  
Set the standard output of a DC calibration generator to  
+10 volts. The DC test level will appear on screen.  
b. Measure the test signal:  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Read the measurement results from the readout below the label  
Level in the menu; not the trigger readout in the graticule area.  
c. Check against limits:  
CHECK that the Level readout in the main menu is within  
9.940 V to 10.060 V, inclusive.  
Press TRIGGER MENU. Press the main-menu button Slope;  
then press the side-menu button for negative slope. (See icon at  
left.) Repeat substep b.  
CHECK that the Level readout in the main menu is within  
9.940 V to 10.060 V, inclusive. See Figure 1-17.  
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Performance Tests  
First, set vertical offset to maximum  
and vertical position to –3 divisions.  
Second, set input equal to  
the offset to return the DC  
level to the screen.  
Third, push SET LEVEL to  
50% and check the results in  
the main menu under “Level.”  
Figure 1-17: Measurement of Trigger-level Accuracy  
3. Confirm Delayed trigger system is within limits for Trigger-level/Threshold  
accuracy:  
a. Select the Delayed time base:  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Time Base.  
Press the side-menu buttons Delayed Only and Delayed Trig-  
gerable.  
Set D (delayed) horizontal SCALE to 500 s.  
b. Select the Delayed trigger system:  
Press SHIFT; then press the front-panel button DELAYED TRIG.  
Press the main-menu button Level.  
c. Measure the test signal: Press the side-menu button SET TO 50%.  
The TRIG’D indicator should be lit. Read the measurement results in  
the side menu below the label Level.  
d. Check against limits: Do the following subparts in the order listed.  
CHECK that the Level readout in the side menu is within 9.940 V  
to 10.060 V, inclusive.  
Press the main-menu button Slope; then press the side-menu  
button for negative slope. (See icon at left.) Press the main-menu  
button Level. Repeat substep c.  
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CHECK that the Level readout in the side menu is within 9.940 V  
to 10.060 V, inclusive.  
4. Disconnect the hookup:  
a. First set the output of the DC calibration generator to 0 volts.  
b. Then disconnect the cable from the generator output at the input  
connector of CH 1.  
Sensitivity, Edge Trigger, DC Coupled  
Equipment Required: One medium-frequency leveled sine wave generator  
(Item 10), one high-frequency leveled sine wave generator (Item 11), one  
precision 50 coaxial cable (Item 4), and one 10X attenuator (Item 1). When  
checking the TDS 540A and 544A, a BNC T connector (Item 6), a 5X attenu-  
ator (Item 2), and a second precision 50 coaxial cable (Item 4) are also  
required.  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
b. Modify the initialized front-panel control settings:  
Set the horizontal SCALE for the M (main) time base to 20 ns.  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Time Base.  
Press the side-menu button Delayed Only; then the side-menu  
button Delayed Triggerable.  
Set the horizontal SCALE for the D (delayed) time base to 20 ns;  
then press the side-menu button Main Only.  
Press TRIGGER MENU; then press the main-menu button Mode  
& Holdoff. Now press the side-menu button Normal.  
Press VERTICAL MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Coupling. Now press the side-menu button and select the  
50 setting.  
Press SHIFT; then press ACQUIRE MENU. Now press the  
main-menu button Mode; then the side-menu Average 16 button.  
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Performance Tests  
c. Hook up the test-signal source:  
Medium  
Frequency  
Sine Wave  
Generator  
Output  
50 Coaxial Cables  
Figure 1-18: Initial Test Hookup—TDS 520A or 524A Only  
TDS 520A, 524A only: Connect, through a 50 precision coaxial  
cable, the signal output of a medium-frequency sine wave gener-  
ator to CH 1. See Figure 1-18.  
To AUX TRIG INPUT  
on Rear Panel  
Medium  
Frequency  
Sine Wave  
Generator  
Output  
50 Coaxial Cables  
Figure 1-19: Initial Test Hookup—TDS 540A or 544A Only  
TDS 540A or 544A only: Connect the signal output of a medium-  
frequency sine wave generator to a BNC T connector. Connect  
one output of the T connector to CH 1 through a 50 precision  
coaxial cable; connect the other output of the T connector to the  
AUX TRIG INPUT at the rear panel. See Figure 1-19.  
2. Confirm Main and Delayed trigger systems are within sensitivity limits  
(50 MHz):  
a. Display the test signal:  
Set the generator frequency to 50 MHz.  
Press MEASURE.  
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Press the main-menu button High-Low Setup; then press the  
side-menu button Min-Max.  
Press the main-menu button Select Measrmnt for Ch1.  
Press the side-menu button –more– until Amplitude appears in  
the side menu (its icon is shown at the left). Press the side-menu  
button Amplitude.  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
Set the test signal amplitude for about three divisions on screen.  
Now fine adjust the generator output until the CH 1 Amplitude  
readout indicates the amplitude is 350 mV. (Readout may fluctu-  
ate around 350 mV.)  
Disconnect the 50 precision coaxial cable at CH 1 and recon-  
nect it to CH 1 through a 10X attenuator.  
b. Check for Main trigger system for stable triggering at limits:  
Read the following definition: A stable trigger is one that is con-  
sistent; that is, one that results in a uniform, regular display  
triggered on the selected slope (positive or negative). This display  
should not have its trigger point switching between opposite  
slopes, nor should it “roll” across the screen. At horizontal scale  
settings of 2 ms/division and faster, TRIG’D will remain constantly  
lit. It will flash for slower settings.  
Press TRIGGER MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Slope.  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%. CHECK that a stable trigger is  
obtained for the test waveform on both the positive and negative  
slopes. (Use the side menu to switch between trigger slopes; use  
the TRIGGER LEVEL knob to stabilize the trigger if required.)  
See Figure 1-20.  
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Performance Tests  
First, set a signal with an  
amplitude at the minimum  
trigger sensitivity.  
Second, check for a stable  
trigger at both the positive  
and negative slope settings.  
Figure 1-20: Measurement of Trigger Sensitivity  
Leave the Main trigger system triggered on the positive slope of  
the waveform before continuing to the next step. (The Main  
trigger system must be triggered to check the delayed trigger  
system in the next step.)  
c. Check delayed trigger system for stable triggering at limits: Do the  
following subparts in the order listed.  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Time Base. Now press the side-menu button Delayed Only.  
Press SHIFT; then press DELAYED TRIG. Press the main-menu  
button Level.  
Press the side-menu button SET TO 50%. CHECK that a stable  
trigger is obtained for the test waveform for both the positive and  
negative slopes of the waveform. (Use the General Purpose knob  
to stabilize the trigger if required.) Press the main-menu button  
Slope; then use the side menu to switch between trigger slopes.  
Leave the delayed trigger system triggered on the positive slope  
of the waveform before continuing to the next step. Also, return to  
the main time base: Press HORIZONTAL MENU; then press the  
main-menu button Time Base. Now press the side-menu button  
Main Only.  
TDS 520A or 524A only: Skip to step 4 since the TDS 520A and  
524A are not equipped with an AUX Trigger input. If testing the TDS  
540A or 544A, continue with step 3.  
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3. Confirm the AUX Trigger input:  
a. Display the test signal:  
Remove the 10X attenuator and reconnect the cable to CH 1.  
Set the test signal amplitude for about 2.5 divisions on screen.  
Now fine adjust the generator output until the CH 1 Amplitude  
readout indicates the amplitude is 250 mV. (Readout may fluctu-  
ate around 250 mV.)  
b. Check the AUX trigger source for stable triggering at limits: Do the  
following in the order listed.  
Use the definition for stable trigger from step 2.  
Press TRIGGER MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Source.  
Press the side-menu button –more– until the side-menu label  
Auxiliary appears; then press Auxiliary.  
Press SET LEVEL TO 50%. CHECK that a stable trigger is  
obtained for the test waveform on both the positive and negative  
slopes. Press the main-menu button Slope; then use the side  
menu to switch between trigger slopes. Use the TRIGGER LEV-  
EL knob to stabilize the trigger if required.  
Leave the Main trigger system triggered on the positive slope of  
the waveform before proceeding to the next check.  
Press the main-menu button Source; then press the side-menu  
button –more– until CH 1 appears. Press CH 1.  
4. Confirm that the Main and Delayed trigger systems are within sensitivity  
limits (500 MHz):  
a. Hook up the test-signal source: Disconnect the hookup installed in  
step 1. Connect, through its leveling head, the signal output of a  
high-frequency leveled sine-wave generator to CH 1.  
b. Set the Main and Delayed Horizontal Scales:  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 500 ps for the M (Main) time base.  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU. Now press the main-menu button  
Time base; then press the side-menu button Delayed Trigger-  
able.  
Press the side-menu button Delayed Only.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 500 ps for the D (Delayed) time  
base. Press the side-menu button Main Only.  
c. Display the test signal:  
Set the generator frequency to 500 MHz.  
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Performance Tests  
Set the test signal amplitude for about five divisions on screen.  
Now fine adjust the generator output until the CH 1 Amplitude  
readout indicates the amplitude is 500 mV. (Readout may fluctu-  
ate around 500 mV.)  
Disconnect the leveling head at CH 1 and reconnect it to CH 1  
through a 5X attenuator.  
d. Repeat step 2, substeps b and c only, since only the 500 MHz fre-  
quency is to be checked here.  
5. Confirm that the Main and Delayed trigger systems couple trigger signals  
from all channels: Doing the procedure Check Analog Bandwidth, which  
begins on page 1-32, checks coupling. If you have not done that proce-  
dure, do so after finishing this procedure. See the following note.  
NOTE  
Steps 1 through 4 confirmed trigger sensitivity for the Main and  
Delayed triggering systems using the CH 1 input. Doing the proce-  
dure Check Analog Bandwidth ensures that trigger signals are  
coupled from all four channels.  
When checking delayed triggering sensitivity at 500 MHz, the  
waveform record may have some missing interpolated record  
points. The waveform is still stably triggered. (See definition of a  
stable trigger earlier in this procedure.)  
6. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the cable from the generator output  
at the input connector of the channel last tested.  
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The procedure that follows checks those characteristics of the output signals  
that are listed as checked under Warranted Characteristics in Section 2,  
Specifications. The oscilloscope outputs these signals at its front and rear  
panels.  
Output Signal Checks  
Check Outputs — CH 3 and Main and Delayed Trigger  
(TDS 540A and 544A only)  
Equipment Required: Two 50 precision cables (Item 4), and one calibra-  
tion generator (Item 9).  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15. Also, this Digitizing Oscilloscope must have  
passed Check Accuracy — Long-Term Sample Rate, Delay time, Time Mea-  
surement on page 1-39 and Check Accuracy for DC Gain and Voltage Mea-  
surements on page 1-25.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Hook up test-signal source 1:  
Connect the standard amplitude output of a calibration generator  
through a 50 precision coaxial cable to CH 3. See Figure 1-21.  
Set the output of the calibration generator to 0.500 V.  
b. Hook up test-signal source 2: Connect the Main Trigger Out at the  
rear panel to CH 2 through a 50 precision cable. See Figure 1-21.  
To Main  
Trigger Out  
Calibration  
Generator  
Output  
50 Coaxial Cables  
Figure 1-21: Initial Test Hookup  
c. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
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d. Modify the initialized front-panel control settings:  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 200 s.  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode. Then press the side-menu  
button Hi Res.  
2. Confirm Main and Delayed Trigger outputs are within limits for logic  
levels:  
a. Display the test signal:  
Press WAVEFORM OFF to turn off CH 1; then press CH 2 to  
display that channel. Set the vertical SCALE to 1 V.  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Source; then press the side-menu  
button CH 3. Press SET LEVEL TO 50%.  
Use the vertical POSITION knob to center the display on screen.  
b. Measure logic levels:  
Press MEASURE; then press the main-menu button Select  
Measrmnt for Ch2.  
Repeatedly press the side-menu button –more– until High and  
Low appear in the side menu (their icons are shown at the left).  
Press both side-menu buttons High and Low. See Figure 1-22.  
First, turn on the  
measurements  
high and low.  
Second, read the  
measurement  
results here.  
Figure 1-22: Measurement of Main Trigger Out Limits  
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c. Check Main Trigger output against limits:  
CHECK that the Ch2 High readout is 2.5 volts and that the  
Ch2 Low readout is 700 mV.  
Press VERTICAL MENU; then press the main-menu button  
Coupling. Now press the side-menu button to toggle it to the  
50 setting.  
CHECK that the Ch2 High readout is 1.0 volt and that the Ch2  
Low readout 250 mV.  
d. Check Delayed Trigger output against limits:  
Move the precision 50 cable from the Main Trigger Output  
BNC to the Delayed Trigger Output BNC.  
CHECK that the Ch2 High readout is 1.0 volt and that the Ch2  
Low readout 250 mV.  
Press the side-menu button select the 1 M setting.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
CHECK that the Ch2 High readout is 2.5 volts and that the  
Ch2 Low readout is 700 mV.  
3. Confirm CH 3 output is within limits for gain:  
a. Measure gain:  
Move the precision 50 cable from the rear-panel DELAYED  
TRIGGER OUTPUT BNC to the rear-panel SIGNAL OUTPUT  
BNC.  
Push SHIFT. Then push DELAYED TRIG.  
Press the main-menu button Source. Then press the side-menu  
button Ch3.  
Push HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Push the main-menu button Time Base. Then press the side-me-  
nu button Delayed Triggerable.  
Set vertical SCALE to 100 mV.  
Press MEASURE; then press the main-menu button Select  
Measrmnt for Ch2.  
Repeatedly press the side-menu button –more– until Pk-Pk  
appears in the side menu (its icon is shown at the left). Press the  
side-menu button Pk-Pk.  
Press CLEAR MENU.  
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Performance Tests  
b. Check against limits:  
CHECK that the readout Ch2 Pk-Pk is between 90 mV and  
110 mV, inclusive.  
Press VERTICAL MENU; then press the side-menu button to  
toggle to the 50 setting.  
Set vertical SCALE to 10 mV; then press CLEAR MENU.  
CHECK that the readout Ch2 Pk-Pk is between 45 mV and  
55 mV, inclusive.  
4. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the cable from the generator output  
at the input connector of the channel last tested.  
Check Probe Compensator Outputs  
One female BNC to clip adapter (Item 15), two dual-banana connectors (Item  
5), one BNC T connector (Item 6), two 50 precision cables (Item 4), and  
one DC calibration generator (Item 8).  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15. Also, this Digitizing Oscilloscope must have  
passed Check Accuracy — Long-Term Sample Rate, Delay time, Time Mea-  
surement on page 1-39 and Check Accuracy for DC Gain and Voltage Mea-  
surements on page 1-25.  
Procedure:  
1. Install the test hookup and preset the instrument controls:  
a. Hook up test-signal:  
Connect CH 1 to PROBE COMPENSATION SIGNAL and to  
PROBE COMPENSATION GND through a precision coaxial  
cable and a BNC to clip adapter. See Figure 1-23.  
Black Lead  
to GND  
50 Coaxial Cable  
Female BNC to  
Clip Adapter  
Figure 1-23: Initial Test Hookup  
b. Initialize the oscilloscope:  
Press save/recall SETUP.  
Press the main-menu button Recall Factory Setup.  
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Press the side-menu button OK Confirm Factory Init.  
c. Modify the initialized front-panel control settings:  
Set the vertical SCALE to 100 mV as required.  
Set the horizontal SCALE to 200 s.  
Press Set Level to 50% and use the VERTICAL POSITION  
knob to center the display on screen.  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
Press the main-menu button Mode; then press the side-menu  
Average button.  
Select 128 averages. On the keypad, type 128; then press EN-  
TER.  
2. Confirm that the Probe Compensator signal is within limits for frequency:  
a. Measure the frequency of the probe compensation signal:  
Press MEASURE; then press the main-menu button Select  
Measrmnt for Ch1.  
Repeatedly press the side-menu button –more– until Frequency  
appears in the side menu (its icon is shown at the left). Press the  
side-menu button Frequency.  
Press CLEAR MENU to remove the menus from the display. See  
Figure 1-24.  
Figure 1-24: Measurement of Probe Compensator Frequency  
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b. Check against limits: CHECK that the CH 1 Freq readout is within  
950 Hz to 1.050 kHz, inclusive.  
3. Confirm that the Probe Compensator signal is within limits for amplitude:  
a. Save the probe compensation signal in reference memory:  
Press SAVE/RECALL WAVEFORM; then press the main-menu  
button Save Wfm Ch 1.  
Press the side-menu button to Ref 1 to save the probe compen-  
sation signal in reference 1.  
Disconnect the cable from CH 1 and the clips from the probe  
compensation terminals.  
Press MORE; then press the main-menu button Ref 1 to dis-  
played the stored signal.  
Press CH 1.  
b. Hook up the DC standard source:  
Set the output of a DC calibration generator to 0 volts.  
Connect the output of a DC calibration generator through a  
dual-banana connector followed by a 50 precision coaxial cable  
to one side of a BNC T connector. See Figure 1-25.  
Connect the Sense output of the generator through a second  
dual-banana connector followed by a 50 precision coaxial cable  
to the other side of the BNC T connector. Now connect the  
BNC T connector to CH 1. See Figure 1-25.  
DC Calibrator  
Output Sense  
HI  
LO  
Dual Banana to  
BNC Adapters  
50 Coaxial Cables  
BNC T  
Connector  
Figure 1-25: Subsequent Test Hookup  
c. Measure amplitude of the probe compensation signal:  
Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU. Then use the keypad to set  
AVERAGE to 16 in the side menu.  
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Adjust the output of DC calibration generator until it precisely  
overlaps the top (upper) level of the stored probe compensation  
signal. (This value will be near 500 mV.)  
Record the setting of the DC generator.  
Adjust the output of DC calibration generator until it precisely  
overlaps the base (lower) level of the stored probe compensation  
signal. (This value will be near zero volts.)  
Record the setting of the DC generator.  
d. Press CLEAR MENU to remove the menus from the display. See  
Figure 1-26.  
Figure 1-26: Measurement of Probe Compensator Amplitude  
e. Check against limits:  
Subtract the value just obtained (base level) from that obtained  
previously (top level).  
CHECK that the difference obtained is within 495 mV to 505 mV,  
inclusive.  
4. Disconnect the hookup: Disconnect the cable from CH 1.  
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Equipment Required: PAL signal source (Item 18), 60 Hz. sine wave gener-  
ator (Item 19), pulse generator (Item 20), 75 Cable (Item 21), 75 termina-  
tor (Item 22), 50 cable (Item 4), 50 terminator (Item 3).  
Option 05 Video  
Trigger Checks  
Check Video Trigger  
Prerequisites: See page 1-15. These prerequisites include running the signal  
path compensation routine.  
Procedure:  
1. Setup digitizing oscilloscope to factory defaults by completing the follow-  
ing steps:  
a. Press save/recall SETUP.  
b. Press the main-menu Recall Factory Setup.  
c. Press the side-menu OK Confirm Factory Init.  
d. Wait for the Clock Icon to leave the screen.  
e. CONFIRM the digitizing oscilloscope is setup as shown below.  
Channel: CH1  
Volt/div: 100 mV  
Horizontal scale: 500 s/div  
2. Setup digitizing oscilloscope for TV triggers by completing the following  
steps:  
a. Press TRIGGER MENU.  
b. Press the main-menu Type pop-up until you select Video.  
c. Press the main-menu Standard pop-up until you select 625/PAL.  
d. Press the main-menu Line.  
e. Use the keypad to set the line number to 7 (press 7, then ENTER).  
f. Press VERTICAL MENU.  
g. Press the main-menu Bandwidth.  
h. Select 100 MHz from the side menu.  
i. Press the main-menu Fine Scale.  
j. Use the keypad to set the fine scale to 282mV (press 282, SHIFT, m,  
then ENTER).  
k. Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
l. Press the main-menu Horiz Scale.  
m. Use the keypad to set the horizontal scale to 200 ns (press 200,  
SHIFT, n, then ENTER).  
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3. Check Jitter vs. Signal Amplitude  
a. Setup equipment for Jitter Test (See Figure 1-27).  
Connect one of the rear panel composite outputs marked  
COMPST on the TSG121 through a 75 cable and a 75  
terminator to the oscilloscope CH1 input.  
Press the PAL signal source 100% FIELD control (the fourth  
TSG121 front-panel button from the left).  
PAL Signal  
Source  
TSG121  
COMPST  
75 Cable  
75  
Terminator  
Figure 1-27: Jitter Test Hookup  
b. CHECK that the oscilloscope lights up its front panel TRIG’D LED  
and it displays the waveform on screen (See Figure 1-28).  
Figure 1-28: Jitter Test Displayed Waveform  
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CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED is lit and the waveform is dis-  
played on screen.  
c. Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
d. Press the main-menu Mode.  
e. Select the side-menu Average. It should be already set to 16.  
f. Press the main-menu Create Limit Test Template.  
g. Press the side-menu V Limit.  
h. Use the keypad to set V Limit to 100 mdiv (press 100, SHIFT, m, then  
ENTER)  
i. Press the side-menu OK Store Template.  
j. Press MORE.  
k. Press the main-menu Ref1.  
l. Press CH1.  
m. Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
n. Press the main-menu Limit Test Setup.  
o. Toggle the side-menu Limit Test to ON.  
p. Toggle the side-menu Ring Bell if Condition Met to ON.  
q. Press the main-menu Mode.  
r. Press the side-menu Envelope.  
s. Use the keypad to set envelope to use 100 acquisitions (press 100,  
then ENTER).  
t. Press the main-menu Stop After button.  
u. Press the side-menu Single Acquisition Sequence.  
v. CONFIRM that the oscilloscope successfully makes 100 acquisitions.  
If not successful, the oscilloscope bell will ring. When the word Run in  
the top left corner of the display changes to STOP, the test is com-  
plete (See Figure 1-29).  
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STOP shows the  
test is complete  
Figure 1-29: Jitter Test When Completed  
w. Press the main-menu Limit Test Setup.  
x. Toggle the side-menu Ring Bell if Condition Met to OFF.  
y. Toggle the side-menu Limit Test to OFF.  
4. Check Triggered Signal Range.  
Setup oscilloscope for Triggered Signal Test.  
a. Press MORE.  
b. Press WAVEFORM OFF.  
c. Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
d. Use the keypad to set the horizontal scale time-per-division (Horiz  
Scale (/div)) to 50 s (press 50, SHIFT, , then ENTER).  
e. Press SHIFT; then ACQUIRE MENU.  
f. Press the main-menu Stop After.  
g. Press the side-menu RUN/STOP button only.  
h. Press the main-menu Mode.  
i. Press the side-menu Sample.  
j. Press RUN/STOP.  
k. Press VERTICAL MENU.  
l. Use the keypad to set fine scale to 300 mV (press 300, SHIFT, m,  
then ENTER).  
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m. CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED stays on and that the waveform on  
screen is stable. ie; does not move horizontally or vertically. Also,  
CONFIRM that the waveform on the screen has one positive pulse  
and a number of negative pulses (See Figure 1-30).  
Positive pulse  
Negative pulses  
Figure 1-30: Triggered Signal Range Test – 300 mV  
n. Use the keypad to set the fine scale to 75 mV (press 75, SHIFT, m,  
then ENTER).  
o. CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED stays lit and that the waveform on  
screen is stable. ie; does not move horizontally or vertically. Also,  
CONFIRM that the waveform on the screen has one positive pulse  
and a number of negative pulses (See Figure 1-31).  
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Positive pulse  
Negative pulses  
Figure 1-31: Triggered Signal Range Test – 75 mV  
p. Disconnect all test equipment (TSG121) from the digitizing oscillo-  
scope.  
5. Check 60 Hz Rejection.  
a. Setup oscilloscope for 60 Hz Rejection Test.  
Use the keypad to set the Ch1 Fine Scale to 282 mV (press 282,  
SHIFT m, then ENTER).  
Press WAVEFORM OFF.  
Press CH2.  
Press VERTICAL MENU.  
Use the keypad set the fine scale to 2 V (press 2, then ENTER).  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Use the keypad to set the horizontal scale time-per-division  
(Horiz Scale (/div)) to 5 ms (press 5, SHIFT, m, then ENTER).  
b. Setup 60 Hz signal generator (SG 502).  
Connect the output of the SG 502 to the CH2 input through a  
50 cable (See Figure 1-32).  
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Signal  
Generator  
SG 502  
50 Cable  
Figure 1-32: 60 Hz Rejection Test Hookup  
Adjust the SG 502 for three vertical divisions of 60 Hz signal (See  
Figure 1-33). The signal will not be triggered. That is, it will run  
free.  
Figure 1-33: 60 Hz Rejection Test Setup Signal  
c. Check 60 Hz rejection.  
Use the keypad to set the the horizontal scale time-per-division  
(Horiz Scale (/div)) to 50 s (press 50, SHIFT, , then ENTER).  
Reconnect the output of the signal generator (SG 502). Connect  
the PAL signal source’s composite signal connector (labelled  
COMPST on the TSG 121) to a 75 cable and a 75 termina-  
tor. Connect both signals to the CH1 input through a BNC T (See  
Figure 1-34).  
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Press VERTICAL MENU.  
If needed, press the main-menu Fine Scale.  
Use the keypad to set fine scale to 500 mV (press 500, SHIFT,  
m, then ENTER).  
Connect another the PAL signal source’s composite signal con-  
nector (labelled COMPST on the TSG 121) through a 75 cable  
and a 75 terminator to the CH2 input (See Figure 1-34).  
PAL Signal  
Source  
TSG121  
Signal  
Generator  
SG 502  
COMPST  
COMPST  
75 Cable  
75 Cable  
50 Cable  
75  
BNC T  
Connector Terminator  
75  
Terminator  
Figure 1-34: Subsequent 60 Hz Rejection Test Hookup  
CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED stays on and that the waveform  
on screen is stable. Stable means the waveform does not move  
horizontally or vertically. Also, confirm that the waveform on the  
screen has one positive pulse and a number of negative pulses  
(See Figure 1-35).  
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Figure 1-35: 60 Hz Rejection Test Result  
Disconnect all test equipment from the digitizing oscilloscope.  
6. Check Line Count Accuracy.  
a. Setup oscilloscope for Line Count Accuracy Test.  
Press WAVEFORM OFF.  
Press CH1.  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Press the main-menu Record Length.  
Press, if needed, the side-menu –more– 1 of 2.  
Press the side-menu 5000 points in 100divs.  
Press the main-menu Horiz Scale (/div).  
Use the keypad to set the horizontal scale to 200 ns (press 200,  
SHIFT, n, then ENTER).  
b. Check Line Count Accuracy.  
Connect a composite output signal from the PAL signal source  
(on the TSG 121 this refers to the signal at the rear labelled  
COMPST) to the CH1 input through a 75 cable and a 75  
terminator (See Figure 1-36).  
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PAL Signal  
Source  
TSG121  
COMPST  
75 Cable  
75  
Terminator  
Figure 1-36: Line Count Accuracy Test Hookup  
Press the main-menu Trigger Position.  
Press the side-menu to Set to 50%.  
Press the main-menu Horiz Pos.  
Press the side-menu to Set to 50%.  
Use the HORIZONTAL POSITION knob to move the falling edge  
of the sync pulse to two divisions to the left of center screen (See  
Figure 1-37).  
Figure 1-37: Line Count Accuracy Test Setup Waveform  
Press CURSOR.  
Press the main-menu Function.  
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Press the side-menu V Bars.  
Using the General Purpose knob, place the left cursor directly  
over the trigger “T” icon.  
Press SELECT.  
Turn the General Purpose knob to adjust the right cursor for a  
cursor delta reading of 6.780us.  
Use the HORIZONTAL POSITION knob to position the right  
cursor to center screen.  
Verify that the cursor is positioned on a positive slope of the burst  
signal (See Figure 1-38).  
Figure 1-38: Line Count Accuracy Correct Result Waveform  
Disconnect all test equipment (TSG 121) from the digitizing  
oscilloscope.  
Turn off cursors by pressing CURSOR, then the main-menu  
Function button, and, finally, Off from the side menu.  
7. Check the Sync Duty Cycle.  
a. Setup digitizing oscilloscope for Sync Duty Cycle Test.  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Press the Standard pop-up to select FlexFmt. (Trigger Type  
should already be set to Video)  
Press the main-menu Setup.  
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Press the side-menu Field Rate.  
Use the keypad to set the field rate to 60.05 Hz (press 60.05,  
then ENTER).  
Press the side-menu Lines.  
Use the keypad to set the field rate to 793 lines (press 793, then  
ENTER).  
Press the side-menu Fields.  
Use the keypad to set the number of fields to 1 (press 1, then  
ENTER).  
Press the side-menu Sync Width.  
Use the keypad to set the width to 400 ns (press 400, SHIFT, n,  
then ENTER).  
Press the side-menu –more– 1 of 2. Then press V1 Start Time.  
Use the keypad to set V1 start time to 10.10 s (press 10.10,  
SHIFT, , then ENTER).  
Press the side-menu V1 Stop Time.  
Use the keypad to set V1 stop time to 10.50 s (press 10.50,  
SHIFT, , then ENTER).  
Press the main-menu Type pop-up to select Edge.  
Press HORIZONTAL MENU.  
Press the main-menu Record Length.  
Select the side-menu 1000 points in 20div. (if needed, first  
press the side-menu –more– 2 of 2).  
Turn the HORIZONTAL POSITION knob to position the trigger ‘T’  
two divisions to the left of the center screen.  
Press MEASURE.  
If needed, press the main-menu Select Measrmnt.  
Press the side-menu Negative Width.  
Press the side-menu Period.  
b. Setup the pulse generator (PG502) for Sync Duty Cycle Test  
Set PULSE DURATION to 50 ns.  
Set PERIOD to 10 s.  
Set OUTPUT (VOLTS) to –1 for LOW LEVEL and +1 for HIGH  
LEVEL.  
Depress the COMPLEMENT button.  
Be sure BACK TERM is depressed (in).  
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c. Check Sync Duty Cycle  
Connect the pulse generator (PG502) through a 50 cable and a  
50 terminator to the oscilloscope CH1 input (See Figure 1-39).  
Pulse  
Generator  
PG502  
50 Cable  
50  
Terminator  
Figure 1-39: PG502 Setup for Sync Duty Cycle Test  
Turn the pulse generator OUTPUT (VOLTS) control until the  
signal on the oscilloscope shows a one division negative going  
pulse (See Figure 1-40).  
NOTE  
You may need to adjust the trigger level control to obtain a stable  
trigger.  
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Figure 1-40: Sync Duty Cycle Test: One-Div Neg Pulse Waveform  
Turn the pulse generator PULSE DURATION variable control to  
adjust the negative pulse so the oscilloscope CH1 – Width  
measurement displays 400ns +/–10 ns.  
Turn the HORIZONTAL SCALE knob to set the oscilloscope time  
base to 5 s/div.  
Turn the pulse generator PERIOD variable control to adjust the  
period until the oscilloscope CH1 Period measurement reads  
21.000 s –25/+50 ns (See Figure 1-41). Read note shown  
below.  
NOTE  
The pulse duration and period adjustments are critical in making this  
measurement. If the pulse duration and/or the duty cycle are not  
stable, the FLEXFMT function may not function. You must take care  
when making these adjustments.  
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Figure 1-41: Sync Duty Cycle Test: Critically Adjusted Pulse  
Press TRIGGER MENU.  
Press the main-menu Type pop-up until you select Video.  
If the TRIG’D LED is not on, check that the CH1 – Width and  
CH1 Period measurements are adjusted correctly (see note  
above). CONFIRM that the setup is correct and the oscilloscope  
will trigger.  
CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED is on and the waveform is  
stable.  
Disconnect the signal source from CH1, wait a few seconds, then  
reconnect the signal.  
CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED is on and the waveform is  
stable.  
Press Sync Polarity.  
Press Pos Sync.  
Push the pulse generator COMPLEMENT button out.  
CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED is on and the waveform is  
stable.  
Disconnect the signal source from CH1, wait a few seconds, then  
reconnect the signal.  
CONFIRM that the TRIG’D LED is on and the waveform is  
stable.  
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Disconnect all test equipment (TSG 121) from the oscilloscope.  
Press save/recall SETUP, press the main-menu button Recall  
Factory Setup, and the side-menu OK Confirm Factory Init.  
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Specifications  
This subsection begins with a general description of the traits of the  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscopes. Three subsections  
follow, one for each of three classes of traits: nominal traits, warranted char-  
acteristics, and typical characteristics.  
The Tektronix TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscopes are  
portable, four-channel instruments suitable for use in a variety of test and  
measurement applications and systems. Key features include:  
General Product  
Description  
500 MHz maximum analog bandwidth.  
1 Gigasample/second maximum digitizing rate (TDS 540A and 544A);  
500 Megasamples/second maximum digitizing rate (TDS 520A and  
524A).  
Four-channel acquisition — the TDS 540A and 544A offer four full-fea-  
tured channels; the TDS 520A and 524A offer two full-featured channels  
and two channels with limited vertical scale selections: 100 mV, 1 V, and  
10 V.  
Extensive triggering capabilities: such as edge, logic, and glitch. Video  
trigger (Option 05) is also available. The video trigger modes are NTSC,  
TM  
PAL, SECAM, HDTV, and FlexFormat (user definable format).  
Waveform Math — Invert a single waveform and add, subtract, and  
multiply two waveforms. On the TDS 524A, 544A, and other TDS 500A  
equipped with option 2F, integrate or differentiate a single waveform or  
perform an FFT (fast fourier transform) on a waveform to display its  
magnitude or phase versus its frequency.  
Eight-bit digitizers.  
Up to 15,000-point record length per channel (50,000-point with option  
1M).  
Full GPIB software programmability. Hardcopy output using GPIB,  
RS-232, or Centronics ports (RS-232 and Centronics is standard on the  
TDS 524A and 544A and optional, as option 13, on the TDS 520A and  
540A).  
Complete measurement and documentation capability.  
Intuitive graphic icon operation blended with the familiarity of traditional  
horizontal and vertical knobs.  
On-line help at the touch of a button.  
A full complement of advanced functions, like continuously-updated  
measurements, results and local pass/fail decision making.  
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Specialized display modes, such as variable persistence (with color  
coding on the TDS 524A and 544A), dot or vector mode, sin(x)/x or linear  
display filters, and, on the TDS 524A and 544A, user selectable color  
palettes. The “Fit to Screen” feature compresses the entire waveform  
record to fit on the screen.  
A complement of advanced acquisition modes such as peak-detect,  
TM  
high-resolution, sample, envelope, and average. The FastFrame  
feature acquires waveforms in rapid succession with a minimum of dead  
TM  
time between acquisitions. FastFrame allows acquisition rates of up to  
50,000 frames per second.  
A unique graphical user interface (GUI), an on-board help mode, and a  
logical front-panel layout which combine to deliver a new standard in  
usability.  
VGA output for driving remote monitors.  
A 1.44 Mbyte, DOS 3.3 or later, floppy disk drive for saving waveforms,  
color images, and oscilloscope setups (standard on the TDS 524A and  
544A and optional, as option 1F, on the TDS 520A and 540A). Also, all  
TDS 500A have built-in NVRAM storage for saving waveforms and set-  
ups.  
On the 524A and 544A, a color display for distinguishing among wave-  
forms, their measurements, and associated text.  
Use a combination of front-panel buttons, knobs, and on-screen menus to  
control the many functions of these oscilloscopes. The front-panel controls  
are grouped according to function: vertical, horizontal, trigger, and special.  
Set a function you adjust often, such as vertical positioning or the time base  
setting, directly by its own front-panel knob. Set functions which you change  
less often, such as vertical coupling and horizontal mode, indirectly using  
selected menus.  
User Interface  
Menus  
Pressing one (sometimes two) front-panel button(s), such as vertical menu,  
displays a main menu of related functions, such as coupling, bandwidth, etc.,  
at the bottom of the screen. Pressing a main-menu button, such as coupling,  
displays a side menu of settings for that function, such as AC, DC, or GND  
(ground) coupling, at the right side of the screen. Pressing a side-menu  
button selects a setting such as DC.  
Indicators  
On-screen readouts help you keep track of the settings for various functions,  
such as vertical and horizontal scale and trigger level. Some readouts use the  
cursors or the automatic parameter extraction feature (called measure) to  
display the results of measurements made or the status of the instrument.  
Specifications  
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Specifications  
General Purpose Knob  
Assign the general purpose knob to adjust a selected parameter function.  
More quickly change parameters by toggling the SHIFT button. Use the same  
method as for selecting a function, except the final side-menu selection  
assigns the general purpose knob to adjust some function, such as the posi-  
tion of measurement cursors on screen, or the setting for a channels fine  
gain.  
GUI  
The user interface also makes use of a GUI, or Graphical User Interface, to  
make setting functions and interpreting the display more intuitive. Some  
menus and status are displayed using iconic representations of function  
settings such as those shown here for full, 100 MHz, and 20 MHz bandwidth.  
Such icons allow you to more readily determine status or the available set-  
tings.  
TDS 540A and 544A: The signal acquisition system provides four vertical  
channels with calibrated vertical scale factors from 1 mV to 10 V per division.  
All four channels can be acquired simultaneously.  
Signal Acquisition  
System  
Each of the four TDS 540A and 544A channels can be displayed, vertically  
positioned, and offset, can have their bandwidth limited (100 MHz or 20 MHz)  
and their vertical coupling specified. Fine gain can also be adjusted.  
TDS 520A and 524A: The signal acquisition system provides four vertical  
channels. Two are full-featured vertical channels (CH1 and CH2) with cali-  
brated vertical scale factors from 1 mV to 10 V per division. The other two are  
auxiliary channels (AUX1 and AUX2) with three calibrated deflection factors  
of 100 mV, 1 V, and 10 V per division. Any two of the four channels can be  
acquired simultaneously.  
Each of the four TDS 520A and 524A channels can be displayed, vertically  
positioned, and offset. CH1 and CH2 can also have their bandwidth limited  
(100 MHz or 20 MHz) and their vertical coupling specified. Fine gain can also  
be adjusted for CH1 and CH2.  
On all TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A: Besides the four channels, up to  
three math waveforms and four reference waveforms are available for display.  
(A math waveform results when dual waveform operations, such as add, are  
specified on any two channels. A reference waveform results when you save  
a live waveform in a reference memory.)  
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Specifications  
There are three horizontal display modes: main only, main intensified, and  
delayed only. You can select among various horizontal record length settings.  
Horizontal System  
A feature called “Fit to Screen” allows the user to view entire waveform  
records within the 10 division screen area. In other words, waveforms are  
compressed to fit on the screen. The exception is that, with Option 1M,  
50,000 point records are displayed over a 15 division time span. (see  
Table 2-1)  
Table 2-1: Record Length vs. Divisions per Record,  
Samples Per Division, and Sec/Div Sequence  
Divisions per Records  
Samples/Division (Sec/Div Sequence)  
Record Length  
Fit to Screen OFF  
50 (1–2–5)  
Fit to Screen ON  
50 (1–2–5)  
1
2
50000  
15000  
5000  
2500  
1000  
500  
1000 divisions  
300 divisions  
100 divisions  
50 divisions  
20 divisions  
10 divisions  
10 divisions  
15 divisions  
10 divisions  
10 divisions  
10 divisions  
10 divisions  
1
2
The 50,000 samples in 1,000 division record is only available with Option 1M.  
The maximum record length of 15,000 samples (50,000 samples with Option 1M) is select-  
able with all acquisition modes except Hi Res. In Hi Res, the maximum record length is  
5,000 samples (15,000 samples with Option 1M).  
TM  
FastFrame allows multiple triggered acquisitions to occur with a minimum  
of “dead time” between acquisitions. A maximum of 910 acquisition se-  
quences (frames) are possible with 50 points per record (frame length) when  
a 50,000 point waveform record length is available (with option 1M).  
You can delay by time with respect to the main trigger both the delayed  
display and the intensified zone on the main intensified display. You can set  
them to display immediately after the delay (delayed runs after main mode).  
The delayed display can also be set to display at the first valid trigger after  
the delay (delayed triggerable mode).  
You can also delay by a selected number of events the delayed display (or  
the intensified zone). In this case, the events source is the delayed trigger  
source. For any events signal, the delayed-trigger system conditions the  
signal by determining the source, coupling, etc., of that signal.  
Specifications  
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Specifications  
The triggering system supports a varied set of features for triggering the  
signal-acquisition system. Trigger signals recognized include:  
Trigger System  
Edge (main- and delayed-trigger systems): This familiar type of triggering  
is fully configurable for source, slope, coupling, mode (auto or normal),  
and holdoff.  
Logic (main-trigger system): This type of triggering can be based on  
pattern (asynchronous) or state (synchronous). In either case, logic  
triggering is configurable for sources, for boolean operators to apply to  
those sources, for logic pattern or state on which to trigger, for mode  
(auto or normal), and for holdoff. Time-qualified logic triggering can also  
be specified.  
Pulse (main-trigger system): Pulse triggering is configurable for triggering  
on runt or glitch pulses, or on pulse widths or periods inside or outside  
limits that you specify. It is also configurable for source, polarity, mode,  
and holdoff.  
Video (with option 05: Video Trigger): Video triggering is compatible with  
standard NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and HDTV formats. An additional feature  
TM  
called FlexFormat (flexible format) allows the user to define the video  
format on which to trigger.  
You can choose where the trigger point is located within the acquired wave-  
form record by selecting the amount of pretrigger data displayed. Select  
presets of 10%, 50%, and 90% of pretrigger data in the horizontal menu, or  
assign the general purpose knob to set pretrigger data to any value within the  
limits of trigger position resolution.  
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Specifications  
You can specify a mode and manner to acquire and process signals.  
Acquisition Control  
Select equivalent-time sampling on repetitive signals or interpolation of  
points sampled on non-repetitive signals. Both can increase apparent  
sample rate on the waveform when maximum real-time rates are  
reached. The apparent sample rate can be increased, even further, by  
TM  
using the FastFrame feature. Acquisition rates of 50,000 Frames/Se-  
TM  
cond are possible using FastFrame  
.
Use peak-detect, high-resolution, sample, envelope, and average modes  
can be used to acquire signals.  
Set the acquisition to stop after a single acquisition (or sequence of  
acquisitions if acquiring in average or envelope modes).  
Select channel sources for compliance with limit tests. You can direct the  
TDS to signal you or generate hard copy output based on the results.  
Also, you can create templates for use in limit tests.  
Help and autoset can assist you in setting up the Digitizing Oscilloscope to  
make your measurements.  
On-Board User  
Assistance  
Help  
Help displays operational information about any front-panel control. When  
help mode is in effect, manipulating any front-panel control causes the oscillo-  
scope to display information about that control. When help is first invoked, an  
introduction to help is displayed on screen.  
Autoset  
Autoset automatically sets up the oscilloscope for a viewable display based  
on the input signal.  
Once you have set up to make your measurements, the cursor and measure  
features can help you quickly make those measurements.  
Measurement  
Assistance  
Cursor  
Three types of cursors are provided for making parametric measurements on  
the displayed waveforms. Horizontal bar cursors (H Bar) measure vertical  
parameters (typically volts). Vertical bar cursors (V Bar) measure horizontal  
parameters (typically time or frequency) and now extend to the top and  
bottom of the screen. Paired cursors measure both amplitude and time simul-  
taneously. These are delta measurements; that is, measurements based on  
the difference between two cursors.  
Specifications  
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Specifications  
Both H Bar and V Bar cursors can also be used to make absolute measure-  
ments; that is measurements relative to a defined level or event. For the  
H Bars, either cursor can be selected to read out its voltage with respect to  
any channels ground reference level. For the V Bars, it’s time with respect to  
the trigger point (event) of the acquisition, and the cursors can control the  
portion of the waveform on which automatic measurements are made.  
For time measurements, units can be either seconds or Hertz (for 1/time).  
When the video trigger option installed (Option 05), the video line number can  
be selected using the vertical cursors. IRE amplitude (NTSC) can be mea-  
sured using the horizontal cursors with or without the video trigger option  
installed.  
Measure  
Measure can automatically extract parameters from the signal input to the  
Digitizing Oscilloscope. Any four out of the more than 20 parameters available  
can be displayed to the screen. The waveform parameters are measured  
continuously with the results updated on-screen as the Digitizing Oscilloscope  
continues to acquire waveforms.  
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)  
An important component of the multiprocessor architecture of this Digitizing  
Oscilloscope is Tektronix’s proprietary digital signal processor, the DSP. This  
dedicated processor supports advanced analysis of your waveforms when  
doing such compute-intensive tasks as interpolation, waveform math, and  
signal averaging. It also teams with a custom display system to deliver spe-  
cialized display modes (See Display, later in this description.)  
Acquired waveforms may be saved in any of four nonvolatile REF (reference)  
memories or, if available, on a 3.5 inch, DOS 3.3-or-later compatible disk. The  
disk is standard on the TDS 524A and 544A. It is available as option 1F on  
the 520A and 540A. Any or all of the saved waveforms may be displayed for  
comparison with the waveforms being currently acquired.  
Storage and I/O  
The source and destination of waveforms to be saved may be chosen. As-  
signment can be made to save any of the four channels to any REF memory  
or to move a stored reference from one REF memory to another. Reference  
waveforms may also be written into a REF memory location via the GPIB  
interface.  
The Digitizing Oscilloscope is fully controllable and capable of sending and  
receiving waveforms over the GPIB interface (IEEE Std 488.1–1987/IEEE Std  
488.2–1987 standard). This feature makes the instrument ideal for making  
automated measurements in a production or research and development  
environment that calls for repetitive data taking. Self-compensation and  
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self-diagnostic features built into the Digitizing Oscilloscope to aid in fault  
detection and servicing are also accessible using commands sent from a  
GPIB controller.  
Another standard feature is hardcopy. This feature allows you to output  
waveforms and other on-screen information to a variety of graphic printers  
and plotters from the Digitizing Oscilloscope front panel, providing hard copies  
without requiring you to put the Digitizing Oscilloscope into a system-control-  
ler environment. You can make hardcopies in a variety of popular output  
formats, such as PCX, TIFF, BMP, RLE, EPS, Interleaf, and EPS mono or  
color. You can also save hardcopies in a disk file in any of the formats above.  
The hardcopies obtained are based on what is displayed on-screen at the  
time hardcopy is invoked. The hardcopies can be stamped with date and time  
and spooled to a queue for printing at a later time. You can output screen  
information via GPIB, RS-232C, or Centronics interfaces.  
The TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscopes offer flexible  
display options. You can customize the following attributes of your display:  
Display  
Color: Waveforms, readouts, graticule, etc. on the TDS 524A and 544A;  
Intensity: waveforms, readouts, and graticule;  
Style of waveform display(s): vectors or dots, intensified or non-intensified  
samples, infinite persistence, and variable persistence with color coding;  
Interpolation method: Sin(x)/x or Linear;  
Display format: xy or yt with various graticule selections including NTSC  
and PAL to be used with video trigger.  
Zoom  
This Digitizing Oscilloscope also provides an easy way to focus in on those  
waveform features you wish to examine up close. By invoking zoom, you can  
magnify the waveform parameter using the vertical and horizontal controls to  
expand (or contract) and position it for viewing.  
Specifications  
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Nominal Traits  
This subsection contains tables that list the electrical and mechanical nominal  
traits that describe the TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A Digitizing  
Oscilloscopes.  
Nominal traits are described using simple statements of fact such as “Four, all  
identical” for the trait “Input Channels, Number of”, rather than in terms of  
limits that are performance requirements.  
Table 2-2: Nominal Traits — Signal Acquisition System  
Name  
Description  
Bandwidth Selections  
Digitizers, Number of  
20 MHz, 100 MHz, and FULL (500 MHz)  
TDS 540A and 544A: Four, all identical  
TDS 520A and 524A: Two, both identical  
1
Digitized Bits, Number of  
Input Channels, Number of  
8 bits  
TDS 540A and 544A: Four, all identical, called CH1 – CH4  
TDS 520A and 524A: Two full-featured (CH1 and CH2), plus two  
limited, auxiliary inputs (AUX1 and AUX2)  
2
Input Coupling  
DC, AC, or GND  
1 M or 50  
Input Impedance Selections  
Ranges, Offset, TDS 540A, 544A, and  
CH1 and CH2 on TDS 520A and 524A  
Volts/Div Setting  
Offset Range  
1 mV/div – 99.5 mV/div  
100 mV/div – 995 mV/div  
1 V/div – 10 V/div  
V
V
V
Ranges, Offset, AUX1 and AUX2 on  
TDS 520A and 524A  
Volts/Div Setting  
100 mV/div  
1 V/div  
Offset Range  
V
V
10 V/div  
V
Range, Position  
divisions  
3
Range, Sensitivity  
TDS 540A and 544A: 1 mV/div to 10 V/div  
3
TDS 520A and 524A: CH1 and CH2: 1 mV/div to 10 V/div  
TDS 520A and 524A: AUX1 and AUX2: 100 mV/div, 1 V/div, 10 V/div  
1
Displayed vertically with 25 digitization levels (DLs) per division and 10.24 divisions dynamic range with zoom off. A DL is the small-  
est voltage level change that can be resolved by the 8-bit A-D Converter, with the input scaled to the volts/division setting of the  
channel used. Expressed as a voltage, a DL is equal to 1/25 of a division times the volts/division setting.  
2
3
The input characteristics (Input Coupling, Input Impedance Selections, etc.) apply to both full-featured and auxiliary inputs except  
where otherwise specified.  
The sensitivity ranges from 1 mV/div to 10 V/div in a 1–2–5 sequence of coarse settings. Between a pair of adjacent coarse settings,  
the sensitivity can be finely adjusted. The resolution of such a fine adjustment is 1% of the more sensitive of the pair. For example,  
between 50 mV/div and 100 mV/div, the volts/division can be set with 0.5 mV resolution.  
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Nominal Traits  
Table 2-3: Nominal Traits — Time Base System  
Description  
Name  
1,3  
1,3  
Range, Sample-Rate  
TDS 540A, 544A  
Number of  
Channels On  
Sample-Rate  
Range  
1
5 Samples/s – 1 GSamples/s  
5 Samples/s – 500 MSamples/s  
5 Samples/s – 250 MSamples/s  
2
3 or 4  
Range, Sample-Rate  
TDS 520A, 524A  
Number of  
Channels On  
Sample-Rate  
Range  
1
2
5 Samples/s – 500 MSamples/s  
5 Samples/s – 250 MSamples/s  
Range, Equivalent Time or Interpolated 500 MSamples/s to 100 GSamples/s  
2,3  
Waveform Rate  
Range, Seconds/Division  
500 ps/div to 10 s/div  
4
Record Length  
500 samples, 1000 samples, 2500 samples, 5000 samples,  
15000 samples. A record length of 50000 samples is available with  
Option 1M. Up to four 50 K waveform records may be saved in  
NVRAM with Option 1M installed.  
TM  
FastFrame  
Maximum Frame Rate: 50,000 Frames/Second  
Frame Length Range: 50 points/Frame to 5,000 Points/Frame  
Maximum Number of Frames:  
910 Frames at 50 Points/Frame  
(with Option 1M, 50,000 Record Length)  
227 Frames at 50 Points/Frame  
(standard configuration of 15,000 Record Length)  
1
The range of real-time rates, expressed in samples/second, at which a digitizer samples signals at its inputs and stores the samples  
in memory to produce a record of time-sequential samples  
2
3
The range of waveform rates for equivalent time or interpolated waveform records.  
The Waveform Rate (WR) is the equivalent sample rate of a waveform record. For a waveform record acquired by real-time sampling  
of a single acquisition, the waveform rate is the same as the real-time sample rate; for a waveform created by interpolation of real-  
time samples from a single acquisition or by equivalent-time sampling of multiple acquisitions, the waveform rate is faster than the  
real time sample rate. For all three cases, the waveform rate is 1/(Waveform Interval) for the waveform record, where the waveform  
interval (WI) is the time between the samples in the waveform record.  
4
The maximum record length of 15,000 samples (50,000 samples with Option 1M) is selectable with all acquisition modes except  
Hi Res. In Hi Res, the maximum record length is 5,000 samples (15,000 samples with Option 1M).  
Specifications  
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Nominal Traits  
Table 2-4: Nominal Traits — Triggering System  
Description  
Name  
Range, Delayed Trigger Time Delay  
Range, Events Delay  
16 ns to 250 s  
2 to 10,000,000  
Range (Time) for Pulse-Glitch or Pulse- 2 ns to 1 s  
Width Triggering  
Ranges,Trigger Level or Threshold  
Source  
Range  
Any Channel  
screen  
Auxiliary  
V
(TDS 540A & 544A only)  
Line  
V
Video Trigger Modes of Operation  
(Option 05 Video Trigger)  
Supports the following video standards:  
NTSC (525/60) – 2 field mono or 8 field  
PAL (625/50) – 2 field mono, 8 field  
SECAM  
HDTV –  
(787.5/60)  
(1050.60)  
(1125/60)  
(1250/60)  
TM  
FlexFormat (user definable standards)  
User can specify: field rate, number of lines, sync pulse width  
and polarity, line rate, and vertical interval timing.  
Table 2-5: Nominal Traits — Display System  
Description  
Name  
Video Display  
7 inch diagonal, with a color display area of 5.04 inches horizontally  
by 3.78 inches vertically  
Video Display Resolution  
640 pixels horizontally by 480 pixels vertically  
Waveform Display Graticule  
Single Graticule: 401 × 501 pixels, 8 × 10 divisions, where divisions  
are 1 cm by 1 cm  
Waveform Display Colors/Grey Scale  
TDS 524A and 544A: Sixteen colors in infinite-persistence or variable  
persistence display with color coding.  
TDS 520A and 540A: Sixteen levels in infinite-persistence and vari-  
able persistence display styles.  
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Nominal Traits  
Table 2-6: Nominal Traits — Interfaces, Output Ports, and Power Fuse  
Description  
Name  
Interface, GPIB  
GPIB interface complies with IEEE Std 488–1987  
Interface, RS-232  
RS-232 interface complies with EIA/TIA 574 (talk only)  
(optional, as option 13, on TDS 520A and 540A)  
Interface, Centronics  
Interface, Video  
Centronics interface complies with Centronics interface standard  
C332-44 Feb 1977, REV A  
(optional, as option 13, on TDS 520A and 540A)  
VGA video output with levels that comply with ANSI R5343A stan-  
dard. DB-15 connector.  
Logic Polarity for Main- and Delayed-  
Trigger Outputs  
Negative TRUE. High to low transition indicates the trigger occurred.  
1
Fuse Rating  
Either of two fuses may be used: a .25 × 1.25 (UL 198.6, 3AG):  
6 A FAST, 250 V, or a 5 mm × 20 mm, (IEC 127): 5 A (T), 250 V.  
1
Each fuse type requires its own fuse cap.  
Specifications  
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Nominal Traits  
Table 2-7: Nominal Traits — Mechanical  
Name  
Description  
Cooling Method  
Construction Material  
Forced-air circulation with no air filter  
Chassis parts constructed of aluminum alloy; front panel constructed  
of plastic laminate; circuit boards constructed of glass-laminate. Cabi-  
net is aluminum and is clad in Tektronix Blue vinyl material.  
Finish Type  
Weight  
Tektronix Blue vinyl-clad aluminum cabinet  
Standard TDS 524A and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscope  
13.7 kg (30 lbs), with front cover.  
25.1 kg (55 lbs), when packaged for domestic shipment.  
Standard TDS 520A and 540A Digitizing Oscilloscope  
12.3 kg (27 lbs), with front cover.  
20.0 kg (44 lbs), when packaged for domestic shipment.  
Rackmount TDS 524A and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscope  
13.7 kg (30 lbs) plus weight of rackmount parts, for the rack-  
mounted Digitizing Oscilloscope (Option 1R).  
Rackmount TDS 520A and 540A Digitizing Oscilloscope  
12.3 kg (27 lbs) plus weight of rackmount parts, for the rack-  
mounted Digitizing Oscilloscope (Option 1R).  
Rackmount conversion kit  
2.3 kg (5 lbs), parts only; 3.6 kg (8 lbs), parts plus package for  
domestic shipping.  
Overall Dimensions  
Standard Digitizing Oscilloscope  
Height: 193 mm (7.6 in), with the feet installed.  
Width: 445 mm (17.5 in), with handle.  
Depth: 434 mm (17.1 in), with front cover installed.  
Rackmount Digitizing Oscilloscope  
Height: 178 mm (7.0 in).  
Width: 483 mm (19.0 in).  
Depth: 558.8 mm (22.0 in).  
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Nominal Traits  
Specifications  
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Warranted Characteristics  
This subsection lists the electrical and environmental warranted  
characteristics that describe the TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A Digitizing  
Oscilloscopes.  
Warranted characteristics are described in terms of quantifiable performance  
limits which are warranted.  
NOTE  
In these tables, those warranted characteristics that are checked in  
the procedure Performance Verification, found in Section 1, appear  
in boldface type under the column Name.  
As stated above, this subsection lists only warranted characteristics. A list of  
typical characteristics starts on page 2-21.  
The electrical characteristics found in these tables of warranted characteris-  
tics apply when the scope has been adjusted at an ambient temperature  
between +20 C and +30 C, has had a warm-up period of at least 20 min-  
utes, and is operating at an ambient temperature between +4 C and +50 C  
(unless otherwise noted).  
Performance  
Conditions  
Table 2-8: Warranted Characteristics — Signal Acquisition System  
Name  
Description  
Accuracy, DC Gain  
(For all sensitivities from 1 mV/div to 10 V/div with offsets from 0 V to  
V.)  
Accuracy, Offset  
TDS 540A and 544A (all channels),  
TDS 520A and 524A (CH1 and CH2)  
Volts/Div Setting  
Offset Accuracy  
× Net Offset + 1.5 mV +  
0.1 div × volts/div setting)  
1
1 mV/div – 99.5 mV/div  
1
100 mV/div – 995 mV/div  
1 V/div – 10 V/div  
× Net Offset + 15 mV +  
0.1 div × volts/div setting)  
1
× Net Offset + 150 mV  
+ 0.1 div × volts/div setting)  
Accuracy, Offset  
TDS 520A and 524A (AUX1 and  
AUX2)  
Offset Accuracy  
1
× Net Offset  
+ 0.1 div × volts/div setting)  
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Warranted Characteristics  
Table 2-8: Warranted Characteristics — Signal Acquisition System (Cont.)  
Description  
Name  
4
Analog Bandwidth, DC-50 Coupled Volts/Div  
or DC-1 M Coupled  
Bandwidth  
5 mV/div – 10 V/div  
DC – 500 MHz  
DC – 350 MHz  
DC – 250 MHz  
2 mV/div – 4.98 mV/div  
1 mV/div – 1.99 mV/div  
Cross Talk (Channel Isolation)  
100:1 at 100 MHz and 30:1 at the derated bandwidth for any two  
channels having equal volts/division settings  
Input Impedance, DC-1 M Coupled  
Input Impedance, DC-50 Coupled  
1 M  
50  
pF  
1.3:1 from DC – 500 MHz  
Input Voltage, Maximum, DC-1 M ,  
AC-1 M , or GND Coupled  
MHz  
Input Voltage, Maximum, DC-50 or  
AC-50 Coupled  
5 V  
, with peaks  
V
RMS  
Lower Frequency Limit, AC Coupled  
10 Hz when AC–1 M Coupled; 200 kHz when AC – 50  
Coupled  
5
1
Net Offset = Offset – (Position Volts/Div). Net Offset is the nominal voltage level at the center of the A-D converter dynamic range.  
Offset Accuracy is the accuracy of this Voltage level.  
2
3
The samples must be acquired under the same setup and ambient conditions.  
To ensure the most accurate measurements possible, run an SPC calibration first. When using the oscilloscope at a Volts/Div set-  
ting 5 mV/div, an SPC calibration should be run once per week to ensure that instrument performance levels meet specifications.  
4
5
The limits given are for the ambient temperature range of 0 C to +30 C. Reduce the upper bandwidth frequencies by 2.5 MHz for  
each C above +30 C.  
The AC Coupled Lower Frequency Limits are reduced by a factor of 10 when 10X, passive probes are used.  
Table 2-9: Warranted Characteristics — Time Base System  
Name  
Accuracy, Long Term Sample Rate  
Description  
1 ms interval  
and Delay Time  
Specifications  
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Warranted Characteristics  
Table 2-10: Warranted Characteristics — Triggering System  
Description  
Name  
Accuracy (Time) for Pulse-Glitch or  
Pulse-Width Triggering  
Time Range  
2 ns to 1 s  
1.02 s to 1 s  
Accuracy  
ns)  
setting)  
Sensitivity, Edge-Type Trigger, DC  
Coupled  
Trigger Source Sensitivity  
1
TDS 540A,  
544A  
0.35 division from DC to 50 MHz, increasing to  
1 division at 500 MHz  
(CH1 – CH4)  
TDS 520A,  
524A  
(CH1, CH2)  
0.55 division from DC to 50 MHz, increasing to  
1.5 division at 500 MHz  
TDS 520A,  
524A  
(AUX1, AUX2)  
0.25 volts from DC to 50 MHz  
Auxiliary  
(TDS 540A,  
544A only)  
Width, Minimum Pulse and Rearm,  
for Pulse Triggering  
Pulse Class  
Minimum  
Pulse Width  
Minimum Rearm Width  
2 ns  
Glitch  
2 ns + 5% of Glitch Width Setting  
2.5 ns  
2.5 ns  
2 ns  
Runt  
2 ns + 5% of Width Upper Limit  
Setting  
Width  
Jitter (Option 05 Video Trigger)  
17 ns on HDTV signal; 60 ns on NTSC or PAL signal  
p-p p-p  
Input Signal Sync Amplitude for  
Stable Triggering (Option 05 Video  
Trigger)  
0.6 division to 4 division (1 division to 4 divisions in Numerical Field)  
1
The minimum sensitivity for obtaining a stable trigger. A stable trigger results in a uniform, regular display triggered on the selected  
slope. The trigger point must not switch between opposite slopes on the waveform, and the display must not “roll” across the  
screen on successive acquisitions. The TRIG’D LED stays constantly lighted when the SEC/DIV setting is 2 ms or faster but may  
flash when the SEC/DIV setting is 10 ms or slower.  
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Warranted Characteristics  
Table 2-11: Warranted Characteristics — Interfaces, Output Ports and Power Requirements  
Name  
Description  
Logic Levels, Main- and Delayed-  
Trigger Outputs  
Characteristic  
Limits  
2.5 V open circuit; 1.0 V into a 50  
Vout (HI)  
load to ground  
0.7 V into a load of 4 mA;  
0.25 V into a 50 load to ground  
Vout (LO)  
Output Voltage and Frequency,  
Probe Compensator  
Characteristic  
Output Voltage  
Frequency  
Limits  
0.5 V (base-top)  
1 kHz  
50 load  
Output Voltage, Channel 3 Signal  
Out  
20 mV/division  
50 load  
1M load; 10 mV/division  
a
Source Voltage  
90 to 250 VAC  
, continuous range  
RMS  
Source Frequency  
Power Consumption  
47 Hz to 63 Hz  
300 W (450 VA)  
Specifications  
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Warranted Characteristics  
Table 2-12: Warranted Characteristics — Environmental, Safety, and Reliability  
Name  
Description  
Atmospherics  
Temperature with floppy disk (optional on TDS 520A and 540A):  
Operating: +4 C to +50 C;  
Non-operating: –22 C to +60 C  
Temperature without floppy disk:  
Operating: 0 C to +50 C;  
Non-operating: –40 C to +60 C  
Relative humidity with floppy disk (optional on TDS 520A and 540A):  
Operating: To 80%, at or below +29 C;  
Operating: To 20%, at or below +50 C  
Non-operating: To 90%, at or below +40 C;  
Non-operating: To 5%, at or below +50 C  
Relative humidity without floppy disk:  
To 95%, at or below +40 C;  
To 75%, from +41 C to +55 C  
Altitude:  
To 4570 m (15,000 ft.), operating;  
To 12190 m (40,000 ft.), non-operating  
Dynamics  
Emissions  
Random vibration without floppy disk installed:  
0.31 g RMS, from 5 to 500 Hz, 10 minutes each axis, operating;  
3.07 g RMS, from 5 to 500 Hz, 10 minutes each axis, non-operat-  
ing  
Meets or exceeds the requirements of the following standards:  
Vfg. 243/1991 Amended per Vfg. 46/1992  
FCC Code of Federal Regulations, 47 CFR, Part 15, Subpart B,  
Class A  
User-Misuse Simulation  
Electrostatic Discharge Susceptibility: Up to 8 kV with no change to  
control settings or impairment of normal operation; up to 15 kV with  
no damage that prevents recovery of normal operation by the user  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Warranted Characteristics  
Specifications  
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Typical Characteristics  
The tables in this subsection list the typical characteristics that describe the  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A and 544A Digitizing Oscilloscopes.  
Typical characteristics are described in terms of typical or average  
performance. Typical characteristics are not warranted.  
Table 2-13: Typical Characteristics — Signal Acquisition System  
Name  
Description  
Accuracy, Delta Time Measurement  
For single-shot acquisitions using single-shot sample acquisition  
modes.  
1
Time Measurement Error .15* Si + (25 ppm |Reading|) + (Time  
Per Div  
1000)  
Add 50 ps (typical) Channel Skew for 2 channel measurements.  
Sample calculation:  
To measure the width of a 65.5 ns pulse at 1 GS/sec sampling,  
Time Measurement Error  
–5  
(0.15 × 1 ns) + (2.5 × 10 )(65.5 ns) + (50 ns/div 1000)  
0.15 ns + 0.002 ns + 0.05 ns  
202 ps  
Delay Between Channels, Full Band-  
width, Equivalent Time  
250 ps for any two channels with equal volts/division and coupling  
settings  
Frequency Limit, Upper, 100 MHz  
Bandwidth Limited  
100 MHz  
Frequency Limit, Upper, 20 MHz  
Bandwidth Limited  
20 MHz  
2
Calculated Rise Time  
Volts/Div Setting  
Rise Time  
800 ps  
1.2 ns  
5 mV/div–10 V/div  
2 mV/div–4.98 mV/div  
1 mV/div–1.99 mV/div  
1.6 ns  
Nonlinearity  
<1 DL, differential; 1 DL, integral, independently based  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Typical Characteristics  
Table 2-13: Typical Characteristics — Signal Acquisition System (Cont.)  
Name  
Description  
3
Step Response Settling Errors  
Volts/Div Setting  
Step  
Settling Error (%)  
TDS 540A and 544A, all channels,  
TDS 520A and 524A, CH1, CH2 only  
Amplitude  
20 ns 100 ns 20 ms  
1 mV/div–99.5 mV/div  
100 mV/div–995 mV/div  
1 V/div–10 V/div  
2 V  
0.5  
1.0  
1.0  
0.2  
0.5  
0.5  
0.1  
0.2  
0.2  
20 V  
200 V  
1
2
The limits are given for signals having pulse height 5 div, reference level = 50% mid-point, filter set to Sin (x) /x acquired at 5  
Tr  
mV/div, 1.4  
/
5, where S is the hardware sample interval and t is the signal rise time.  
Si  
i
r
The numbers given are valid 0 C to +30 C and will increase as the temperature increases due to the degradation in bandwidth.  
Rise time is calculated from the bandwidth. It is defined by the following formula:  
Note that if you measure rise time, you must take into account the rise time of the test equipment (signal source, etc.) that you use  
to provide the test signal. That is, the measured rise time (RT ) is determined by the instrument rise time (RT ) and the rise time of  
m
i
the test signal source (RTgen) according to the following formula:  
3
The values given are the maximum absolute difference between the value at the end of a specified time interval after the mid-level  
crossing of the step, and the value one second after the mid-level crossing of the step, expressed as a percentage of the step ampli-  
tude.  
Table 2-14: Typical Characteristics — Time Base System  
Name  
Aperture Uncertainty  
Description  
5 ps  
Specifications  
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Typical Characteristics  
Table 2-15: Typical Characteristics — Triggering System  
Name  
Description  
2
Accuracy, Trigger Level or Thresh-  
old, DC Coupled  
Trigger  
Source  
Accuracy  
Any Channel  
Offset) + 0.3 div  
setting + Offset Accuracy)  
volts/div  
mV)  
Auxiliary  
(TDS 540A &  
544A only)  
Input, Auxiliary Trigger  
The input resistance is 1.5 k ; the maximum safe input voltage is  
AC).  
1,2  
Trigger Marker Position, Edge Trigger-  
ing  
Acquire Mode  
Trigger-Position Marker  
Sample, Hi-Res, Average  
Peak Detect, Envelope  
WI + 1 ns)  
ns)  
Holdoff, Variable, Main Trigger  
Minimum: For any horizontal scale setting, the minimum holdoff is  
10 times that setting, but is never less than 1 s or longer than 5 s.  
Maximum: For any horizontal scale setting, the maximum holdoff is at  
least 2 times the minimum holdoff for that setting, but is never more  
than 10 times the minimum holdoff for that setting.  
Width, Minimum Pulse and Rearm, for  
Logic Triggering or Events Delay  
5 ns  
3
Lowest Frequency for Successful Op-  
eration of “Set Level to 50%” Function  
30 Hz  
Sensitivity, Edge Trigger, Not DC  
Coupled  
Trigger Coupling  
Typical Signal Level for  
Stable Triggering  
4
5
AC  
Same as DC-coupled limits for frequen-  
cies above 60 Hz. Attenuates signals be-  
low 60 Hz.  
Three and one half times the DC-coupled  
limits.  
Noise Reject  
5
One and one half times the DC-coupled  
limits from DC to 30 kHz. Attenuates sig-  
High Frequency Reject  
5
nals above 30 kHz.  
Low Frequency Reject  
One and one half times the DC-coupled  
limits for frequencies above 80 kHz. At-  
5
tenuates signals below 80 kHz.  
Sensitivities, Logic-Type Trigger/Events 1.0 division, from DC to 100 MHz with a minimum slew rate of  
6
Delay, DC Coupled  
25 divisions/ s at the trigger level or the threshold crossing.  
6
Sensitivities, Pulse-Type Runt Trigger  
1.0 division, from DC to 200 MHz with a minimum slew rate of  
25 divisions/ s at the trigger level or the threshold crossing.  
TDS 520A, 524A, 540A, & 544A Performance Verification  
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Typical Characteristics  
Table 2-15: Typical Characteristics — Triggering System (Cont.)  
Name  
Description  
Sensitivities, Pulse-Type Trigger Width  
and Glitch  
1.0 division with a minimum slew rate of 25 div/ s at the trigger level  
or the threshold crossing. For <5 nsec pulse width or rearm time,  
2 divisions are required.  
6
Sensitivities, Derating Aux Channel Trig- All trigger sensitivity specifications are derated by 50% for AUX 1 and  
ger (TDS 520A & 524A) AUX2 inputs.  
Sync Width (Option 05 Video Trigger) min. 400 ns for HDTV signals  
Sync Duty Cycle  
min. 50 to 1  
(Option 05 Video Trigger)  
Hum Rejection  
(Option 05 Video Trigger)  
NTSC and PAL: –20 dB without any trigger spec deterioration. Trig-  
gering will continue down to 0 dB with some performance deteriora-  
tion.  
1
2
The trigger position errors are typically less than the values given here. These values are for triggering signals having a slew rate at  
the trigger point of division/ns.  
The waveform interval (WI) is the time between the samples in the waveform record. Also, see the footnote for the characteristics  
Sample Rate Range and Equivalent Time or Interpolated Waveform Rates in Table 2-3 on page 2-10.  
3
4
The minimum pulse width and rearm width required for logic-type triggering or events delaying to occur.  
The minimum sensitivity for obtaining a stable trigger. A stable trigger results in a uniform, regular display triggered on the selected  
slope. The trigger point must not switch between opposite slopes on the waveform, and the display must not “roll” across the  
screen on successive acquisitions. The TRIG’D LED stays constantly lighted when the SEC/DIV setting is 2 ms or faster but may  
flash when the SEC/DIV setting is 10 ms or slower.  
5
6
See the characteristic Sensitivity, Edge-Type Trigger, DC Coupled in Table 2-10, which begins on page 2-17.  
The minimum signal levels required for stable logic or pulse triggering of an acquisition or for stable counting of a DC-coupled  
events delay signal. Also, see the footnote for Sensitivity, Edge-Type Trigger, DC Coupled in this table. (Stable counting of events is  
counting that misses no events.)  
Table 2-16: Typical Characteristics — Data Handling  
Name  
Time, Data-Retention, Nonvolatile  
Description  
Battery life is  
5 years  
1,2  
Memory  
Floppy disk  
3.5 inch, 720 K or 1.44 Mbyte, DOS 3.3-or-later compatible  
Standard on TDS 540A, 544A  
Option 1F on TDS 520A, 524A  
1
2
The time that reference waveforms, stored setups, and calibration constants are retained when there is no power to the oscillo-  
scope.  
Data is maintained by small lithium-thionyl-chloride batteries internal to the memory ICs. The amount of lithium is so small in these  
ICs that they can typically be safely disposed of with ordinary garbage in a sanitary landfill.  
Specifications  
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