Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compensating for parasitics in current measurements utilizing series current sense resistors. In one or more embodiments, the techniques include connecting a probe to a terminal of a circuit and a waveform measuring device. A waveform measuring device then acquires, through the probe, a voltage waveform. A virtual probe netlist is generated, where the netlist is descriptive of a series resistance and associated parasitics. A virtual probe processor converts, based on the virtual probe netlist, the voltage waveform to a current waveform representative of a current in the circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing variable analog to digital converter (ADC) resolution is described.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for characterizing a device under test. An electrical waveform is received from the device under test and sampled to generate an array of data values. User input selects a particular position of the electrical waveform on a display, and identifies a corresponding starting time. A decay of a value at the starting time is identified and the array is analyzed to identify multiple data values that correspond to the decayed value. An ending time is then determined using the multiple data values, and a decay time between the starting time and ending time is determined and presented on a display device.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in an electronic instrument for signal acquisition. The instrument includes a user-selectable button to activate a switch and change a first digitizer from connecting to a first input to connecting to a second input, resulting in an input signal being provided to both the first digitizer and a second digitizer. The instrument includes a combiner to combine an output of the first digitizer and an output of the second digitizer, when the input signal is provided to both the first digitizer and the second digitizer, to generate an output signal that has been digitized using the first digitizer and the second digitizer, the output signal having a bandwidth that exceeds the first bandwidth of the first digitizer and that exceeds the second bandwidth of the second digitizer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing variable analog to digital converter (ADC) resolution is described.

Abstract: Methodologies and systems are described herein whereby performance parameters of a power converter may be tested. In one or more embodiments, a system for testing the performance parameters comprises a multi-channel monitoring device including a first channel for monitoring a switch voltage of a power converter and a second channel for concurrently monitoring an output voltage of the power converter. The system further comprises a set of one or more processors for generating, as a function of the switch voltage and the output voltage, and displaying an inductor current waveform approximating current through an inductor of the power converter. Additionally or alternatively, other waveforms such as output current waveforms and inductor voltage waveforms, may be generated during testing of the power converter. An arbitrary wave generator may inject different signals during testing of the power converter.

Abstract: An inductor current measurement probe apparatus and system are described herein. In an embodiment, a system comprises a probe interconnect including a first connector that couples to a positive terminal of the inductor and a second connector that couples to a negative terminal of the inductor. The system further comprises an RC filter that is coupled to the probe interconnect and that includes at least one resistor and at least one capacitor in an arrangement that converts a voltage of the inductor to a differential capacitor voltage. The system further comprises a differential active probe input circuitry including a positive terminal and a negative terminal that are coupled to the RC filter and arranged to convert the differential capacitor voltage to a single-ended capacitor voltage. In other embodiments, the RC filter may be coupled directly to the inductor. The system may further convert the capacitor voltage to inductor current.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing variable analog to digital converter (ADC) resolution is described.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in an electronic instrument for signal acquisition. The instrument includes a user-selectable button to activate a switch and change a first digitizer from connecting to a first input to connecting to a second input, resulting in an input signal being provided to both the first digitizer and a second digitizer. The instrument includes a combiner to combine an output of the first digitizer and an output of the second digitizer, when the input signal is provided to both the first digitizer and the second digitizer, to generate an output signal that has been digitized using the first digitizer and the second digitizer, the output signal having a bandwidth that exceeds the first bandwidth of the first digitizer and that exceeds the second bandwidth of the second digitizer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for calculating s-parameters of a device under test from step waveforms acquired by a time domain network analyzer.

Abstract: An oscilloscope comprises a first channel that includes a first channel physical input adapted to receive a first input signal, and a first channel digitizer connectable to the first channel physical input. The oscilloscope comprises a second channel that includes a second channel physical input adapted to receive a second input signal, and a second channel digitizer connected to the second channel physical input. The oscilloscope comprises a switch to change the first channel digitizer from connecting to the first channel physical input, to connecting to the second channel physical input. The oscilloscope includes a combiner to combine an output of the first channel digitizer and an output of the second channel digitizer, when a high bandwidth mode is activated, to generate an output that has a bandwidth of frequency content that exceeds a bandwidth of the first digitizer and exceeds a bandwidth of the second channel digitizer.

Abstract: An oscilloscope comprises a first channel that includes a first channel physical input adapted to receive a first input signal, and a first channel digitizer connectable to the first channel physical input. The oscilloscope comprises a second channel that includes a second channel physical input adapted to receive a second input signal, and a second channel digitizer connected to the second channel physical input. The oscilloscope comprises a switch to change the first channel digitizer from connecting to the first channel physical input, to connecting to the second channel physical input. The oscilloscope includes a combiner to combine an output of the first channel digitizer and an output of the second channel digitizer, when a high bandwidth mode is activated, to generate an output that has a bandwidth of frequency content that exceeds a bandwidth of the first digitizer and exceeds a bandwidth of the second channel digitizer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for compensating for parasitics in current measurements utilizing series current sense resistors. In one or more embodiments, the techniques include connecting a probe to a terminal of a circuit and a waveform measuring device. A waveform measuring device then acquires, through the probe, a voltage waveform. A virtual probe netlist is generated, where the netlist is descriptive of a series resistance and associated parasitics. A virtual probe processor converts, based on the virtual probe netlist, the voltage waveform to a current waveform representative of a current in the circuit.

Abstract: A method for improving bandwidth of an oscilloscope involves, in preferred embodiments, the use of frequency up-conversion and down-conversion techniques. In an illustrative embodiment the technique involves separating an input signal into a high frequency content and a low frequency content, down-converting the high frequency content in the analog domain so that it may be processed by the oscilloscope's analog front end, digitizing the low frequency content and the down-converted high frequency content, and forming a digital representation of the received analog signal from the digitized low frequency content and high frequency content.

Abstract: An inductor current measurement probe apparatus and system are described herein. In an embodiment, a system comprises a probe interconnect including a first connector that couples to a positive terminal of the inductor and a second connector that couples to a negative terminal of the inductor. The system further comprises an RC filter that is coupled to the probe interconnect and that includes at least one resistor and at least one capacitor in an arrangement that converts a voltage of the inductor to a differential capacitor voltage. The system further comprises a differential active probe input circuitry including a positive terminal and a negative terminal that are coupled to the RC filter and arranged to convert the differential capacitor voltage to a single-ended capacitor voltage. In other embodiments, the RC filter may be coupled directly to the inductor. The system may further convert the capacitor voltage to inductor current.

Abstract: Methodologies and systems are described herein whereby performance parameters of a power converter may be tested. In one or more embodiments, a system for testing the performance parameters comprises a multi-channel monitoring device including a first channel for monitoring a switch voltage of a power converter and a second channel for concurrently monitoring an output voltage of the power converter. The system further comprises a set of one or more processors for generating, as a function of the switch voltage and the output voltage, and displaying an inductor current waveform approximating current through an inductor of the power converter. Additionally or alternatively, other waveforms such as output current waveforms and inductor voltage waveforms, may be generated during testing of the power converter. An arbitrary wave generator may inject different signals during testing of the power converter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing variable analog to digital converter (ADC) resolution is described.

Abstract: A method for improving bandwidth of an oscilloscope involves, in preferred embodiments, the use of frequency up-conversion and down-conversion techniques. In an illustrative embodiment the technique involves separating an input signal into a high frequency content and a low frequency content, down-converting the high frequency content in the analog domain so that it may be processed by the oscilloscope's analog front end, digitizing the low frequency content and the down-converted high frequency content, and forming a digital representation of the received analog signal from the digitized low frequency content and high frequency content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for calculating s-parameters of a device under test from step waveforms acquired by a time domain network analyzer.

Abstract: A method for improving bandwidth of an oscilloscope involves, in preferred embodiments, the use of frequency up-conversion and down-conversion techniques. In an illustrative embodiment the technique involves separating an input signal into a high frequency content and a low frequency content, down-converting the high frequency content in the analog domain so that it may be processed by the oscilloscope's analog front end, digitizing the low frequency content and the down-converted high frequency content, and forming a digital representation of the received analog signal from the digitized low frequency content and high frequency content.