Abstract: A method for determining scattering parameters of a device under test using a real-time oscilloscope. The method includes calculating a reflection coefficient of each port of a device under test with N ports, wherein N is greater than one, based on a first voltage measured by the real-time oscilloscope when a signal is generated from a signal generator. The method also includes determining an insertion loss coefficient of each port of the device under test, including calculating the insertion loss coefficient of the port of the device under test to be measured based on a second voltage measured by the real-time oscilloscope when a signal is generated from a signal generator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for limiting Intersymbol Interference (ISI) when measuring uncorrelated jitter in a test and measurement system. A waveform is obtained that describes a signal. Such waveform may be obtained from memory. A processor then extracts a signal pulse from the waveform. The processor selects a window function based on a shape of the signal pulse. Further, the processor applies the window function to the signal pulse to remove ISI outside a window of the window function while measuring waveform jitter. The window function may be applied by applying the window function to the signal pulse to obtain a target pulse. A linear equalizer is then generated that results in the target pulse when convolved with the signal pulse. The linear equalizer is then applied to the waveform to limit ISI for jitter measurement.

Abstract: A serial data link measurement and simulation system for use on a test and measurement instrument presents on a display device. A main menu having elements representing a measurement circuit, a simulation circuit and a transmitter. The main menu includes processing flow lines pointing from the measurement circuit to the transmitter and from the transmitter to the simulation circuit. The main menu includes a source input to the measurement circuit and one or more test points from which waveforms may be obtained. The simulation circuit includes a receiver. The measurement and simulation circuits are defined by a user, and the transmitter is common to both circuits so all aspects of the serial data link system are tied together.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for limiting Intersymbol Interference (ISI) when measuring uncorrelated jitter in a test and measurement system. A waveform is obtained that describes a signal. Such waveform may be obtained from memory. A processor then extracts a signal pulse from the waveform. The processor selects a window function based on a shape of the signal pulse. Further, the processor applies the window function to the signal pulse to remove ISI outside a window of the window function while measuring waveform jitter. The window function may be applied by applying the window function to the signal pulse to obtain a target pulse. A linear equalizer is then generated that results in the target pulse when convolved with the signal pulse. The linear equalizer is then applied to the waveform to limit ISI for jitter measurement.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument including a splitter configured to split an input signal into at least two split signals, at least two harmonic mixers configured to mix an associated split signal with an associated harmonic signal to generate an associated mixed signal, at least two digitizers configured to digitize the associated mixed signal, at least two MIMO polyphase filter arrays configured to filter the associated digitized mixed signal of an associated digitizer of the at least two digitizers, at least two pairs of band separation filters configured to receive the associated digitized mixed signals from each of the MIMO polyphase filter arrays and output a low band of the input signal and a high band of the input signal based on a time different between the at least two digitizers and a phase drift of a local oscillator, and a combiner configured to combine the low band of the input signal and the high band of the input signal to form a reconstructed input signal.

Abstract: A method of employing a Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) in a test and measurement system. The method includes obtaining an input signal data associated with an input signal suffering from inter-symbol interference (ISI). A bit sequence encoded in the input signal data is determined to support assigning portions of the input signal data into sets based on the corresponding bit sequences. The DFE is applied to each set by employing a DFE slicer pattern corresponding to each set, which results in obtaining a DFE adjusted waveform histogram/PDF/waveform database graph for each set adjusted for ISI and accurately captures jitter suppression. The DFE adjusted waveform histogram/PDF/waveform database graphs are normalized and combined into a final histogram/PDF/waveform database graph for determining an eye contour of an eye diagram and jitter measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods directed towards reducing noise introduced into a signal when processing the signal are discussed herein. In embodiments a signal may initially be split by a multiplexer into two or more frequency bands. Each of the frequency bands can then be forwarded through an assigned channel. One or more channels may include an amplifier to independently boost the signal band assigned to that channel prior to a noise source within the assigned channel. This results in boosting the signal band relative to noise introduced by the noise source. In some embodiments, a filter may also be implemented in one or more of the channels to remove noise from the channel that is outside the bandwidth of the signal band assigned to that channel. Additional embodiments may be described and/or claimed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for reducing noise caused by an analog to digital conversion in a test and measurement system. An adaptive linear filter is generated based on a converted digital signal and measured signal noise. The adaptive linear filter includes a randomness suppression factor for alleviating statistical errors caused by a comparison of a signal circularity coefficient and a noise circularity coefficient in the adaptive linear filter. The adaptive linear filter is applied to the digital signal along with a stomp filter and a suppression clamp filter. The digital signal may be displayed in a complex frequency domain along with depictions of the adaptive linear filter frequency response and corresponding circularity coefficients. The display may be animated to allow a user to view the signal and/or filters in the frequency domain at different times.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and methods for improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when averaging two or more data signals by finding a group delay between the signals and using it to calculate an averaged result. In one embodiment, a direct average of the signals is computed and phases are found for the direct average and each of the data signals. Phase differences are found between each signal and the direct average. The phase differences are then used to compensate the signals. Averaging the compensated signals provides a more accurate result than conventional averaging techniques. The disclosed techniques can be used for improving instrument accuracy while minimizing effects such as higher-frequency attenuation. For example, in one embodiment, the disclosed techniques may enable a real-time oscilloscope to take more accurate S parameter measurements.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument, including a splitter configured to split an input signal into two split input signals and output each split input signal onto a separate path and a combiner configured to receive and combine an output of each path to reconstruct the input signal. Each path includes an amplifier configured to receive the split input signal and to compress the split input signal with a sigmoid function, a digitizer configured to digitize an output of the amplifier; and at least one processor configured to apply an inverse sigmoid function on the output of the digitizer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved techniques for recovering clock information from data signals. In one embodiment, a general purpose device such as a real-time oscilloscope acquires a data signal. The device takes a derivative of the data signal, then computes the square or absolute of the derivative before applying a bandpass filter. The bandpass filter is a windowing function a spectrum that is wider than the clock, and has a flat top and smooth transitions on both sides. In one embodiment, at Tukey window may be used. The device finds edge crossing times of the filtered result, and applies a phase-locked loop or lowpass filter to the edge crossing times in order to recover a stable clock signal. When the improved techniques are implemented in software, they may be used with any number of different equalizers that are required by various high-speed serial data link systems.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide improved techniques for recovering clock information from data signals. In one embodiment, a general purpose device such as a real-time oscilloscope acquires a data signal. The device takes a derivative of the data signal, then computes the square or absolute of the derivative before applying a bandpass filter. The bandpass filter is a windowing function a spectrum that is wider than the clock, and has a flat top and smooth transitions on both sides. In one embodiment, at Tukey window may be used. The device finds edge crossing times of the filtered result, and applies a phase-locked loop or lowpass filter to the edge crossing times in order to recover a stable clock signal. When the improved techniques are implemented in software, they may be used with any number of different equalizers that are required by various high-speed serial data link systems.

Abstract: A test and measurement instrument including a splitter configured to split an input signal into at least two split signals, at least two harmonic mixers configured to mix an associated split signal with an associated harmonic signal to generate an associated mixed signal, at least two digitizers configured to digitize the associated mixed signal, at least two MIMO polyphase filter arrays configured to filter the associated digitized mixed signal of an associated digitizer of the at least two digitizers, at least two pairs of band separation filters configured to receive the associated digitized mixed signals from each of the MIMO polyphase filter arrays and output a low band of the input signal and a high band of the input signal based on a time different between the at least two digitizers and a phase drift of a local oscillator, and a combiner configured to combine the low band of the input signal and the high band of the input signal to form a reconstructed input signal.

Abstract: A method for determining jitter and noise of an input signal.

Abstract: A method for determining jitter and noise of an input signal.

Abstract: A method for determining scattering parameters of a device under test using a real-time oscilloscope. The method includes calculating a reflection coefficient of each port of a device under test with N ports, wherein N is greater than one, based on a first voltage measured by the real-time oscilloscope when a signal is generated from a signal generator. The method also includes determining an insertion loss coefficient of each port of the device under test, including calculating the insertion loss coefficient of the port of the device under test to be measured based on a second voltage measured by the real-time oscilloscope when a signal is generated from a signal generator.

Abstract: Method and systems are described for estimating signal impairments, in particular jitter that includes uncorrelated, non-periodic signal impairments. One system may take the form of an oscilloscope. The estimates may take the form of a probability density function (PDF) for uncorrelated signal impairments that has been modified to replace low probability regions with a known approximation and an extrapolation of the known approximation.

Abstract: Computationally efficient methods and related systems, for use in a test and measurement instrument, such as an oscilloscope, optimize the performance of DFEs used in a high-speed serial data link by identifying optimal DFE tap values for peak-to-peak based criteria. The optimized DFEs comply with the behavior of a model DFE set forth in the PCIE 3.0 specification.

Abstract: Method and systems are described for estimating signal impairments, in particular jitter that includes uncorrelated, non-periodic signal impairments. One system may take the form of an oscilloscope. The estimates may take the form of a probability density function (PDF) for uncorrelated signal impairments that has been modified to replace low probability regions with a known approximation and an extrapolation of the known approximation.

Abstract: A test and measurement system including a device under test, two de-embed probes connected to the device under test, and a test and measurement instrument connected to the two de-embed probes. The test and measurement instrument includes a processor configured to determine the S-parameter set of the device under test based on measurements from the device under test taken by the two de-embed probes.