R&S has launched different oscilloscopes to address various market requirements. RTE Digital Storage oscilloscopes were launched to cater the demands of embedded design development to power electronics analysis to general debugging. RTE Series digital storage oscilloscopes offer quick and reliable solutions for every day test and measurement tasks.
Many analysis tools provide fast results like FFT that allows EMI debugging during development. QuickMeas function that displays several measurement results at the same time. An Intuitive and smart interface based on high resolution touch screen makes operation easy.
The RTE Digital storage oscilloscope has many unique features and one among them is High Definition (HD) mode. The vertical resolution determines how precisely the signal can be measured and how accurately it can be analysed. The HD mode enhances the vertical resolution up to 16 bits against 8 bit vertical resolution of A to D converter. It means HD mode provides 256 times more vertical resolution. This improved vertical resolution enables display of small signals that are otherwise buried in noise. With the unique Digital Trigger, we can even trigger on these small signals and make precise measurements.
The High Definition (HD) mode doesn’t require special hardware. It can be enabled by software key code and simple upgrade for existing units as well. Hence depending on the application, the user has flexibility to choose between high bandwidth and high resolution mode on single instrument.
We are now explain the brief technical details about the HD mode -High Definition (HD) mode enhances the vertical resolution up to 16 bit by applying digital low pass filtering to the signal in real time directly after A/D converter. Due to filtering noise is reduced and signal to noise ration increases which results in enhanced resolution. The bandwidth of the filter can be adapted to signal characteristics. Lower the bandwidth of the filter, higher the gain and resolution.
The schematic diagram showing the signal flow is shown below:
The enhanced resolution results in clean waveforms and signal details otherwise lost in noise are visible now. The low noise front end and single core A/D converter of scope with Effective number of bits (ENOB) >7, has contributed to high dynamic range and measurement accuracy. With High Definition mode the user benefits from precise analysis results due to high dynamic range and better accuracy.
The same signal is as in Fig 2 with HD mode is activated. Due to improved resolution, the super imposition of sine wave is clearly seen
The user doesn’t need to compromise on speed or measurement capabilities with High definition mode. The reason being digital filtering in HD mode is done thru ASIC which results in high acquisition and processing rate. Analysis tools like automatic measurements, FFT, History mode can be used in High Definition mode without any compromise.
The High Definition (HD) Mode is really beneficial for analyzing switched mode power supplies usually known as SMPS. In SMPS, the Switching devices on and off voltage must be measured in the same acquisition cycle. The difference in on and off voltage is of several hundred volts which requires high dynamic range. The HD mode with vertical resolution up to 16 is best suited to make these measurements.
High Definition (HD) mode is also suitable for measuring modulated RF signals with small modulation index which is common in radar applications.
High Definition (HD) mode ability to measure low level signal accurately is really beneficial to Bio medical measurements.
In summary, RTE Digital storage Oscilloscope’s low noise performance, High waveform update rate, precise digital trigger, powerful analysis functions combined with High Definition (HD) mode results in more confidence in your measurements.
