Tektronix brings you the first-available high-speed differential SMA input probe. The P7350SMA provides a tool for measuring differential signals in a 50 O signaling environment. Before the introduction of the P7350SMA, most serial data compliance measurements required cabling a differential signal to two oscilloscope channels and applying waveform math to calculate the difference. By integrating a dual 50 O termination network and a differential amplifier in the probe head, the P7350SMA measures a differential signal pair on each channel of a multiple channel oscilloscope. Since many of the new high-speed serial data standards define differential signaling on multiple channels, the P7350SMA provides a more efficient measurement solution.

The P7350SMA probe architecture includes an input termination network, a differential buffer amplifier, and a common mode DC bias port. Since many differential data signals operate with a non-zero DC common mode voltage, the DC bias port allows for more flexible interfacing to these logic families. For applications requiring a common mode DC termination voltage, that voltage can be supplied to the P7350SMA DC bias port through a standard banana plug connector. For other differential measurement applications, such as AC-coupled and some DC-coupled high frequency 8B/10B encoded data streams, the DC bias port can simply be left unconnected.

Input signals use SMA connectors to attach to the input termination network, implemented on a laser-trimmed hybrid circuit for signal fidelity and high frequency response. The linear buffer amplifier converts the differential input signal to a single-ended output and drives the output signal down the probe cable at full bandwidth.

An active differential buffer amplifier in the probe head enables the P7350SMA probe to move the measurement interface from the oscilloscope front panel to the circuit-under-test. This can reduce the length of electrical interconnect cabling, which for multi-gigabit data signals also reduces frequency dependent loss distortion in signal measurements. The P7350SMA is connected to an oscilloscope with the patented TekConnect Interface, which .