TDME Primer: Automated Timing Measurements of USB-C Protocols

Figure 1: Interleaved decoding of USB-PD and DP-AUX signals.

Increasingly, serial data analysis is analysis of the interoperability of the many protocols that must perform together within interconnects and embedded systems. Nowhere is this more true than for USB-C® devices, which we’ll focus on in this post, although these examples of cross-protocol timing measurements could apply to any two protocols supported by our TDME and DME options.

The USB-C connector packs many protocols onto one, small pin set, and maintaining signal and power integrity is a compliance challenge. Besides high-speed data delivery, USB-PD (power delivery) provides flexible power distribution, while auxiliary sideband signals, like DisplayPort™, transport video. Troubleshooting these capabilities requires the ability to measure timing between serial data packets, as well as between data packets and analog signals. 

For example, DisplayPort over USB-C (DPoC) in alternate mode (alt-mode) can manifest as an interoperability failure if there is a timing issue between alt-mode initiation and the start of DP-AUX.

The Important Difference Between ProtoSync™ and CrossSync™ PHY

Figure 1: CrossSync PHY captures everything from
physical through protocol layers at once.

With the recent release of our new CrossSync™ PHY for PCI Express® product, some of you may be wondering how it’s any different than ProtoSync™ for PCIe®, which has been around for quite a few years.

ProtoSync is an option for Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscopes with bandwidths that support high-speed serial data analysis. We’ve released ProtoSync options for PCIe, USB, SAS/SATA and Fibre Channel. ProtoSync links the same Protocol Analysis Suite software that is used with our protocol analyzers to the oscilloscope application, so that you can see physical layer decodings in the familiar PETracer and BITracer views right next to the decoded analog waveform. 

CrossSync PHY differs from ProtoSync in the three, significant ways:

TDME Primer: Serial Trigger and Sequence Mode Sampling

Figure 1: Sequence mode sampling packs multiple acquisitions
into memory with very little “dead time” between them.

Sequence mode sampling, also referred to as segmented acquisition, is a sampling mode that divides the oscilloscope’s acquisition memory into a user-defined number of equal length segments. Each segment stores a single acquisition of the triggering event, with as much buffer zone as will fit into that segment, given the total number of segments requested. Only after all segments have been acquired is the data processed and displayed. 

The real power of sequence mode becomes evident when you combine it with intelligent triggers, such as the serial data triggers delivered with TDME options. 

TDME Primer: Selecting Sample Rate for Serial Bus Analysis

Figure 1. Sample rate of only four sample points per bit
decodes correctly and lengthens serial bus acquisition.

Teledyne LeCroy supports trigger, decode, measure/graph, and eye diagram (TDME) software options for over 20 serial data standards, and the list is growing. This series will address practical tips for using TDME software successfully, and showcase some examples of applying TDME capabilities to real-world problems.

Given the wide range of protocols supported, you might be curious about how to best choose the oscilloscope sampling rate for a given standard when acquiring serial data signals. The optimal sample rate is determined by three principal factors: 

1) the bandwidth of the signal being digitized by the oscilloscope’s analog-to-digital converter (ADC);

2) the desired duration of the acquisition;

3) what you are going to do with the acquisition.

Don't Attach Multiple Probes to the Same Place at the Same Time!

Figure 1. Response of two different probes to an
upper-side gate drive measurement.

Along with using single-ended passive probes for high-voltage measurements, another probing "no no" to avoid is attaching multiple probes to the same place at the same time.

You are probably aware that all measuring instruments, including oscilloscopes, are subject to conditions of observability.  As we discussed in a recent post on The Impact of the Interconnect, the very act of connecting the oscilloscope to the circuit with a particular probe affects the measurement in a particular way. Probes affect the circuit by applying additional resistance and capacitance loads in parallel with the circuit at the test point. Moreover, the probes themselves limit the fidelity of the measurement due to limits of bandwidth, slew rate and common mode response. So, it is always a good idea when making a measurement to compare how different probes/interconnects will affect the measurement…but don’t try to do it all at once.  

Don't Probe HV with Single-ended Passive Probes!

Figure 1. A simple 120 Vrms switch-mode power supply
has a +/- 170 V peak and a 340 V pk-pk, difficult for
most single-ended passive probes to ground safely.

The high-impedance passive probes distributed with oscilloscopes of every major brand are sturdy, reliable and accurate within their specification limits, but they’re not intended for all applications.  This is especially true when measuring switch-mode power devices or other (relatively) high-voltage systems. These applications require probes that are both rated for their high voltage levels and isolated from ground as a reference voltage.  

High-impedance passive probes generally have maximum voltage limits of about 500 V and are ground referenced—meaning, one side of the probe is connected physically to earth ground through the oscilloscope.  If you’re measuring a single-phase 120 V line input to a power supply or inverter, you should be careful when connecting the probe ground to power neutral, which may not always be at ground level.  Using a differential probe, which is not ground referenced, eliminates this concern.

Using Spectrograms to Visualize Spectral Changes

Figure 1. The spectrogram shows a history of
change in a spectrum and highlights variations
in frequency or amplitude.

In our last post, we discussed spectral analysis of RF in the lab as part of developing situational awareness. Another tool for spectral analysis is the spectrogram.

The spectrogram is a display composed of the most recently acquired 256 spectra all stacked in a persistence display. It is a feature of the SPECTRUM-1 and SPECTRUM-PRO-2R options that highlights variations in acquired spectra, making dynamic changes immediately visible. 

The spectrogram in Figure 1 shows the timing dynamics of a power rail load variation in a three-dimensional (3D) plot with color persistence. The same data could also be rendered in a flat, two-dimensional (2D) spectrogram display, or using monochrome instead of color persistence.