Oscilloscope Probe Switching

Oscilloscope Probe Switching

Keysight Technologies and BitifEye Digital Test Solutions

Accelerate the testing of high-speed serial interfaces with flexible probe switching

Advanced high-speed serial interfaces provide very high data rates through the use of multiple differential buses, or lanes. DisplayPort 1.2 can include 1, 2 or 4 differential lanes in its main link with up to 5.4 Gb/s data throughput per lane. The Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPITM) D-PHY specification provides up to 1.5 Gb/s throughput per lane, with the number of lanes determined by the specific application. To comply with DisplayPort, MIPI or other advanced serial interface standards you must perform complex differential and single-ended conformance testing on your devices.

An oscilloscope is one of the instruments used when performing these tests. However, connecting and re-connecting an oscilloscope to the multiple ports can be time-consuming and error-prone. With the number of complex tests required to prove conformance this can result in lengthy test times per device. In addition, high-specification scope probes can be costly. The provision of multiple probe heads and probe amplifiers for a high performance oscilloscope could cost up to $100,000.

BitifEye offers an oscilloscope probe switching solution that addresses these issues. By using automated probe switching the number of probe heads and amplifiers is minimized, the need for manual connection and re-connection is eliminated, and the throughput of the test is increased. The BitifEye 2100 series switch system can be used with Keysight oscilloscopes to test high-speed serial interfaces such as DisplayPort, MIPI, USB 3.0, HDMI and others.

The BitifEye 2100 system is scalable and can be configured with 2:1, 4:1 and 6:1 switch modules. Switch modules are available for operation from DC up to 4 GHz, 20 GHz or 26.5 GHz. The switching system comprises a mainframe and controller to which application-specific combinations of the switch modules can be added. By using extender mainframes the number of switch modules can be increased giving the potential for very large switching capacities.

– Automated probe switching system

– Used with Keysight oscilloscopes and network analyzers

– Facilitates conformance testing of multi-lane serial interfaces

– Supports DisplayPort, MIPI, USB 3.0, HDMI and other interfaces

– Flexible configuration with 2:1, 4:1 and 6:1 switch modules

– Extender frames give large switching capacity

– Fully integrated for unattended, automated testing

– Accelerates conformance testing of high speed serial interfaces

Oscilloscope Probe Switching

Pre-configured switches are available from BitifEye for use with Keysight oscilloscopes in applications such as DisplayPort or MIPI D-PHY transmitter conformance testing. Standard configurations are also available for use with Keysight network analyzers for automated HDMI and USB 3.0 cable compliance testing.

The control of the switching system is fully integrated into the conformance test routine running on the instrument allowing unattended, automated testing to be performed.

With the 2100 series switch system from BitifEye connected to a Keysight oscilloscope or network analyzer you can accelerate the conformance testing of your high-speed serial interface devices.