PicoScope® 9400 Series SXRTO Real-Time Oscilloscopes

The PicoScope 9400 Series Sampler-Extended Real-Time Oscilloscopes (SXRTO) combine real-time sampling, random equivalent-time sampling and direct triggering in a compact PC-based oscilloscope.

Unlike conventional sampling oscilloscopes, the PicoScope 9400 Series provides:

• Direct triggering from measured signals
• Pre-trigger waveform acquisition
• Post-trigger acquisition
• Random equivalent-time sampling
• Four acquisition modes
• Four or two simultaneous analogue channels
• 12-bit acquisition
• High timing accuracy
• Fast waveform updates
• PicoSample software
• USB and LAN connectivity

The series is intended for engineers working with:

• High-speed digital interfaces
• Microwave electronics
• Optical communication
• Telecom systems
• Semiconductor testing
• Pulse measurements
• Radar systems
• High-speed clock analysis
• Signal integrity
• Research laboratories

PicoScope 9400 Series Models

The series contains both two-channel and four-channel models.

Do not mix these specifications with the newer 9400A Series, which includes 25 GHz and 33 GHz models.

5 GHz to 16 GHz Analogue Bandwidth

The PicoScope 9400 Series provides model-dependent analogue bandwidth of:

• 5 GHz
• 16 GHz

Typical applications include:

• High-speed serial links
• Optical receivers
• Microwave pulse analysis
• Fast clock signals
• Semiconductor switching
• Signal-integrity testing
• High-speed logic
• Radar pulses
• Telecom interfaces
• Pulse-response analysis

Typical rise times are:

• Approximately 70 ps (5 GHz)
• Approximately 22 ps (16 GHz)

Two or Four Analogue Channels

The PicoScope 9400 Series is available with:

• Two analogue channels
• Four analogue channels

The channels are digitised simultaneously and support:

• Clock and data comparison
• Differential signal analysis
• Multi-channel timing
• Transmitter and receiver comparison
• Phase analysis
• Eye-diagram testing
• Pulse comparison
• Multi-lane communication analysis

12-Bit Vertical Resolution

Every PicoScope 9400 model provides:

• 12-bit ADC resolution
• 4096 vertical levels
• High timing precision
• High amplitude accuracy
• Low waveform noise

This resolution is maintained during:

• Real-time sampling
• Random equivalent-time sampling
• Roll acquisition

500 MS/s Real-Time Sampling

Real-time sampling is:

• 500 MS/s per channel simultaneously

Real-time acquisition supports:

• Trigger setup
• Pre-trigger recording
• Post-trigger recording
• Lower-frequency events
• Roll mode
• Single-shot low-frequency analysis

Real-time sampling should not be confused with the much higher effective sampling available through random equivalent-time acquisition.

Up to 2.5 TS/s Random Equivalent-Time Sampling

Random equivalent-time sampling provides:

• Up to 1 TS/s on 5 GHz models
• Up to 2.5 TS/s on 16 GHz models

Equivalent timing resolution reaches:

• 1 ps on 5 GHz models
• 0.4 ps on 16 GHz models

Random sampling supports:

• High-speed repetitive clocks
• Optical signals
• Telecom interfaces
• Eye diagrams
• Fast pulses
• Jitter analysis
• Signal-integrity testing

This acquisition mode is intended only for repetitive waveforms.

Up to 250 kS Shared Memory

The PicoScope 9400 Series provides:

• Up to 250 kS shared memory

Memory allocation depends on active channels.

Applications include:

• Pulse capture
• Eye-diagram acquisition
• Trigger analysis
• Long repetitive waveform recording
• Timing studies
• Waveform zoom

The 9400 Series focuses on timing precision rather than extremely deep memory.

Four Acquisition Modes

The oscilloscope supports:

• Real Time
• Random Equivalent Time
• Roll
• Auto

Users can switch between modes according to signal characteristics.

Real-time mode is used for transient events.

Random mode provides maximum timing resolution for repetitive signals.

Roll mode supports very slow acquisitions.

Auto mode selects the most suitable acquisition automatically.

Advanced Trigger System

Trigger capabilities include:

• Internal channel trigger
• External trigger
• Pre-trigger capture
• Post-trigger capture
• Trigger hold-off
• Segment triggering
• Clock recovery trigger (optional)

Typical trigger jitter:

• Approximately 1.5 ps RMS

Low trigger jitter is important for:

• Eye diagrams
• Clock measurements
• Jitter analysis
• Pulse timing
• Phase comparison

Eye Diagram Analysis

PicoSample software supports:

• NRZ eye diagrams
• Eye masks
• Eye statistics
• Eye height
• Eye width
• Crossing percentage
• Rise and fall measurements
• Timing jitter

Applications include:

• High-speed serial links
• Optical communications
• Telecom validation
• Receiver testing

Pulse Measurements

The PicoScope 9400 Series is designed for analysing:

• Step transitions
• Fast pulses
• Clock edges
• Microwave pulses
• Optical receiver outputs
• Semiconductor switching
• Pulse overshoot
• Pulse ringing

Pulse measurements include:

• Rise time
• Fall time
• Pulse width
• Overshoot
• Undershoot
• Delay
• Timing

More than 200 Mask Tests

PicoSample software includes:

• More than 200 compliance masks
• Automatic mask testing
• Custom masks
• Eye masks
• Production validation
• Pass/fail analysis

Supported applications include:

• Ethernet
• Fibre Channel
• USB
• SONET
• Telecom interfaces

Optional Clock Recovery

An optional hardware module provides:

• Clock recovery
• Recovered data output
• External recovered clock output

Maximum recovered data rates:

• Up to 5 Gb/s on 5 GHz models
• Up to 8 Gb/s on 16 GHz models

Clock recovery is a factory-installed option and should not be described as standard.

PicoSample Software

The PicoScope 9400 Series uses PicoSample, not PicoScope 7.

Software features include:

• Oscilloscope display
• Eye diagrams
• Histograms
• Mask testing
• Pulse measurements
• FFT
• Mathematical functions
• Measurement statistics
• Waveform storage
• Segmented acquisition

Connectivity

Standard interfaces include:

• USB
• LAN
• Trigger output
• External trigger
• Optional recovered clock output
• Optional recovered data output

The software can control multiple oscilloscopes simultaneously over a network.

Applications

The PicoScope 9400 Series is suitable for:

• Signal integrity
• High-speed digital design
• Telecom testing
• Optical communication
• Microwave electronics
• Clock analysis
• Pulse measurements
• Radar systems
• Semiconductor testing
• Eye-diagram analysis
• Jitter measurements
• Research laboratories
• Manufacturing validation