Tektronix THS3024 4- Channel hand-held oscilloscope, Scope-Meter, hand-held THS3024 Information Guide
Product codes
THS3024
FAST SAMPLE RATE
The sample rate of an oscilloscope is similar to the frame rate of a movie
camera. It determines how much waveform detail the scope can capture.
camera. It determines how much waveform detail the scope can capture.
What you need
Sample rate (samples per second, S/s) is how often an oscilloscope samples the
signal. Again, we recommend a
signal. Again, we recommend a
‘five times rule’: use a sample rate of at least
5x your circuit’s highest frequency component.
The minimum sample rate may also be important if you need to look at slowly
changing signals over longer periods of time.
changing signals over longer periods of time.
Most entry-level scopes have a (maximum) sample rate of 1 to 2 GS/s,
while mid-range ones can have 5 to 10 GS/s.
while mid-range ones can have 5 to 10 GS/s.
The faster you sample, the less information you’ll lose and the better the scope
will represent the signal under test. But the faster you will fill up your memory,
too, which limits the time you can capture.
will represent the signal under test. But the faster you will fill up your memory,
too, which limits the time you can capture.
Accurate reconstruction of a signal depends on both the
sample rate and the interpolation method used. Linear
interpolation connects sample points with straight lines, but
this approach is limited to reconstructing straight edged
signals. Sin x/x interpolation is a mathematical process in
which points are calculated to fill in the time between the
real samples. This form of interpolation lends itself to curved
and irregular signal shapes, which are far more common
in the real world than pure square waves and pulses.
Consequently, sin x/x interpolation is the preferred method
for applications where the sample rate is 3 to 5 times the
system bandwidth.
sample rate and the interpolation method used. Linear
interpolation connects sample points with straight lines, but
this approach is limited to reconstructing straight edged
signals. Sin x/x interpolation is a mathematical process in
which points are calculated to fill in the time between the
real samples. This form of interpolation lends itself to curved
and irregular signal shapes, which are far more common
in the real world than pure square waves and pulses.
Consequently, sin x/x interpolation is the preferred method
for applications where the sample rate is 3 to 5 times the
system bandwidth.
100
90
10
0
Sine Wave Reproduced
using Sine x/x Interpolation
Sine Wave Reproduced
using Linear Interpolation
13
12 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING AN OSCILLOSCOPE
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CONTENTS
1 2 3 4
5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 CONTACT
INTRO
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