Measurement precision for portable applications
05 December 2011
Tektronix broadens portfolio with new handheld oscilloscope family with up to 5 GS/s sample rate
Tektronix broadens portfolio with new handheld oscilloscope family with up to 5 GS/s sample rate.
The manufacturer of oscilloscopes has unveiled the THS3000 Series of handheld oscilloscopes that bring a new level of measurement precision and accuracy to engineers and technicians who need to debug, install and repair complex electronic systems in field and lab environments.
With up to 200 MHz bandwidth and 5 GS/s sample rate, the THS3000 oscilloscopes are the highest-performing handheld oscilloscopes available.
In today’s world, engineers are often called upon to measure a variety of signals in variety of settings. For many industrial, power generation or power efficiency applications, measurements can include digital and analogue control signals made in conjunction with high voltages and currents and often, these measurements are not only made in the lab but also in the field.
Another critical factor for making high voltage and current measurements is isolated inputs that are needed to minimise operator risk. The THS3000 delivers on all of these market needs with a combination of performance and ease of use packed into a compact, rugged chassis design.
“As systems have become more complex and pervasive, there is a growing need for engineers to correlate field and lab measurements and to perform advanced debugging and analysis in the field,” said Roy Siegel, General Manager for oscilloscopes at Tektronix. “As the first true high-performance handheld oscilloscope, the THS3000 Series has the technical performance for analysis of low voltage analogue and digital control signals. In addition, the THS3000 Series offers isolated inputs for safely making high voltage floating or differential measurements.”
With a weight of 4.8lbs, seven hours of battery life and four isolated channels, the rugged yet lightweight THS3000 series is built for use in the most demanding conditions. Models are available with either 100 MHz and 2.5 GS/s maximum sampling rate or 200 MHZ and 5 GS/s sample rate performance. With a 10,000 point record length per each of four channels, users can capture extensive signal information at high sample rates to clearly see signal details.
Each channel on a THS3000 oscilloscope is isolated from the chassis ground and from each other. Furthermore, the external USB inputs for data storage, instrument set-ups and PC communication are also isolated. This enables the user to safely make floating measurements for voltages up to 300 VRMS CAT III when using the included 10X probes or 1000 VRMS CAT II with optional probes. The instrument has 600 VRMS CAT III rated inputs (BNC to earth ground) for safe high voltage measurements.
Offering 21 automated measurements, the THS3000 enables users to make many common measurements quickly and accurately. A built-in Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) function provides insight into to the frequency spectrum of a signal, revealing signal interference, crosstalk, or switching noise.
Handheld oscilloscopes are often used to perform power measurements on motor drives, power converters/inverters and power semiconductor devices. The THS3000 series is equipped to handle these measurements when coupled with the broad selection of voltage and current probes from Tektronix. Each of the four input channels can be configured to match the probe type and attenuation ensuring correct measurements and cursor readings.
The THS3000 oscilloscopes provide an intuitive user interface consistent across the full range of Tektronix oscilloscopes. For initial set-up or for situations where connections points are constantly changing, the THS3000 Series offers single-button Autoset and Autorange features which can automatically set up the trigger system and adjust vertical and/or horizontal oscilloscope settings.
THS3000 will be available worldwide this month and all models will include four 10X passive probes, seven hour battery, a three-year warranty and OpenChoice desktop software. A travel kit with a hard-sided carrying case is optional.
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