Theory of operation
Input signal path
A signal enters the instrument through a direct coaxial connection to the input
connector on a sampling module, or a real time probe connected to the sampling
module channel.
Acquisition system.
The acquisition system conditions the input signals, samples
them, converts them to digital signals, and controls the acquisition process under
direction of the processor system.
The acquisition system includes the multi-source trigger, acquisition time base,
and acquisition mode generation and control circuitry. The acquisition boards
are located in the bottom compartment of the instrument and can accommodate
four small slot sampling plug-ins, two large slot plug-ins and a trigger/holdoff
subsystem. Up to eight vertical channels are accommodated simultaneously.
Channels 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be either large or small slots. The presence of an
assembly in one or both large slots displaces the small slot functionality in
the corresponding small slots. The external trigger and all small slot channels
feature a Tekprobe Level 2 probe power connector for additional front end signal
conditioning functions like high input-impedance real-time probes, if equipped on
the sampling module.
Processor system.
The processor system contains a dual Wintel/PowerPC
The basic instrument con
fi
guration supports up to eight channels labeled Ch 1
through Ch 8, provides two external trigger inputs for direct and prescaled/clock
triggering through built-in prescaler and is able to support four optional internal
trigger sources associated with the large slot channels.
Display panel
Color LCD display Active-matrix touch panel.
Display system.
The display system sends the text and waveform information to
the display panel
Touch panel.
The touch panel sends information to the processor. Any changes in
their settings are reported to the processor system.
Front panel
The front panel board reads the front-panel switches and knob sensors. Any
changes in their settings are reported to the Windows system. The front panel
board also turns the LEDs on. USB port access is also available from the front
panel.
Front-panel menu switches are also read by the front-panel microcontroller. The
microcontroller sends any changes in menu selections to the Windows system. The
ON/STBY switch is one of the menu switches. However, it is not read by the front
panel board, but passes through the front panel board to the Wintel motherboard.
The CD-RW/DVD drive enables you to load software to customize your
instrument for your measurement needs and to save data to a writable CD.
DSA8300 Digital Serial Analyzer and Modules Service Manual
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