Tektronix Breaks Innovation Barrier Again By Redefining Mid-Range Oscilloscopes

Tektronix has again broken through the innovation barrier with the introduction of the new 5 Series MSO mixed signal oscilloscope. To better meet modern electronics design challenges, the 5 Series MSO redefines the midrange oscilloscope with a host of innovations including the industry's first FlexChannel™ technology that allows 4, 6 or 8 analog channels and up to 64 digital channels, integrated protocol analysis and signal generator, a new 12-bit signal acquisition system, a massive high-definition capacitive touch display, and a highly intuitive Direct Access user interface.

Until now, oscilloscopes have been defined with fixed configurations: the user had to decide up front how many analog channels and whether they want zero or a fixed number of digital channels. Some scopes offer the option of adding digital channels post-purchase, but even then, it's a fixed quantity of digital channels that can't be changed as needs evolve. In many instruments, analog and digital channels are sampled at different rates, triggered using separate hardware, and stored in different-sized records, making precise comparisons impossible.

Unlike ordinary scopes, the 5 Series MSO offers models with four, six, or eight FlexChannels - the industry's first reconfigurable oscilloscope input. By default, the input is a TekVPI connector that accepts all TekVPI analog probes, but when the new TLP058 Logic Probe is connected the input is converted to 8 digital channels. The user can add as many logic probes as they need, enabling anywhere from 8 to 64 digital channels. Digital signals are sampled, triggered, and stored the same as analog signals, greatly simplifying comparisons (more info).