Transmission Lines for Oscilloscope Users, Part 4

Figure 1: Characteristic waveform when the source
impedance is lower than the cable impedance.

In Part 3, we saw the pattern of reflections that occur when both the source impedance and the oscilloscope input impedance are higher than that of the interconnect, and how those reflections affected the rise time measurement. Now let’s briefly consider what happens when the source impedance is lower than the impedance of the connecting cable. 

For this example, the source voltage is a 3.3 V square wave and the source impedance is 9 Ω. As before, our transmission line is a 50 Ω coaxial cable connecting the source to the oscilloscope. If the oscilloscope input termination is set to 1 MΩ, we see the interesting waveform shown in Figure 1.

Situational Awareness: The Impact of the Interconnect

Fig 1. Coaxial cable has little effect on signal rise time,
but that's not true for every connection method.

How you connect a signal to your oscilloscope affects your measurements, and knowing the impact of different connection methods is an important part of your situational awareness.  

Using the same 40 ps fast edge signal we used for the risetime measurements in the last post, we’ll compare connections made using coaxial cable and a 10x passive probe, with and without different accessories.

Build Your Own Low-Cost Power Rail Probe

Figure 1: The source series termination method is
a low-cost alternative for probing low-impedance,
fast-switching sources.

In an earlier post, we discussed the limitations of  Using 50-Ohm Coax from DUT to Oscilloscope  with low-voltage, high-bandwidth signals, like power rails. In this post, we’ll explain how to build your own, low-cost power rail probe to serve the purpose.

The source series termination method is a good alternative for probing a low-impedance, fast-switching source, comprising a 50-ohm resistor in series between the DUT and the coaxial-cable connection. The coaxial cable is then connected to the oscilloscope’s analog input set for 1 megaohm termination. An equivalent circuit model and a simple implementation appears in Figure 1.

Using 50-Ohm Coax From DUT to Oscilloscope

Figure 1: A coaxial cable presents high impedance at low
frequencies but acts as a transmission line at higher frequencies

In our recent exploration of 10x passive probes, we've determined that while these types of probes are great general-purpose tools, they're not necessarily going to do the job in specialized measurement circumstances. They're relatively low-bandwidth, low-SNR probes that impose some limitations and, in some scenarios, can deliver potentially misleading or erroneous measurement results if used without clear understanding of their capabilities.

10x Passive Probes and Cable Reflections

Figure 1: With unequal impedances at either end of the coax,
are cable reflections a concern in 10x passive probes?

We've been discussing the ubiquitous 10x passive probe here on Test Happens, beginning with an overview of the probe-oscilloscope system. We turned to the 10x passive probe itself and the issues posed by its constitutive circuitry. Then we covered what about that circuitry makes it usable at all, namely, its built-in equalization circuit.

Secrets of the 10x Passive Probe

Figure 1: The 10x passive probe
becomes a better measurement
tool when we understand its
limitations

We began this series of posts on oscilloscope probes by putting them in perspective: Probes have a number of different jobs to do, including serving effectively as both a mechanical and electrical interface. Despite having electrical attributes of their own, we want them to grab our signal of interest, but we don't want them to affect that signal in any way.

Transmission Lines (Part III): Essential Principles

Figure 1: All interconnects are transmission lines with a signal
path and a return path (not ground)

Now that we've covered some of the principles and assumptions that underlie transmission lines in two prior posts, we can now directly address the topic with some essential principles that you need to understand.

Transmission Lines (Part I): Introduction

Figure 1: All oscilloscopes
have a Cal output like the
one pictured here

Somewhere on the front panel of almost any oscilloscope is a "Cal" reference signal output (Figure 1). That signal is really intended for adjusting the capacitance compensation screw to calibrate a 10X high-impedance probe, but most of us know it simply as the Cal signal. Have you ever noticed that the Cal signal's rise time seems to be highly dependent on the length of the cable attached to it, and maybe even wondered why?

Understand RF Pickup When Measuring Power Rails

Figure 1: Teledyne LeCroy's
HDO8108A sports a very low
noise floor of about 145 μV 

Measuring the noise on a power rail seems to be a straightforward task. However, there are some basic pitfalls that can cause incorrect, or even downright strange, results. Let's look at one of these challenges: RF pickup. We'll demonstrate the effect of RF pickup on a power-rail measurement, and then we'll show you an effective means of mitigating that effect.

Probing Techniques and Tradeoffs (Part I)

Figure 1: Probes are the signal's gateway to the oscilloscope

As any oscilloscope user (hopefully) knows, probing is perhaps the most critical element of getting good measurement results (Figure 1). We must understand our probes' specifications to ensure that we obtain the best possible signal fidelity, and thereby accurately characterize our signal under test. In this series of posts, we'll take you through probing tradeoffs and techniques and help you choose the right probe for the task at hand.