Active Power Rail Probes

The TPR1000 and TPR4000 probes provide a low noise, large offset range solution for measurement of ripple on DC power rails ranging from –60 to +60 VDC. Tektronix’s power rail probes offer industry leading low noise and high offset range required to measure AC ripple between 200 μV_p-p and 800 mV_p-p at up to 4 GHz.

Key performance specifications

• Compatible with the 6 series MSO, 5 series MSO, 4 Series MSO, 3 Series MDO, MDO3000 , MDO4000C, MSO/DPO5000B, DPO7000C, and DPO70000C/⁠DX/⁠SX oscilloscopes. Due to software incompatibilities between the TPR1000 and TPR4000 probes and the MDO3000 and MDO4000C oscilloscopes, the accuracy of probe measurements is reduced when these oscilloscopes are used in vertical scale settings less than 2 mV/division. For all other vertical scale settings, the specified accuracy of the probe is maintained. DPO70000 oscilloscopes require the optional TCA-VPI50 adapter.
• Bandwidth:
  • DC coupling mode:
    • TPR1000: DC to 1 GHz
    • TPR4000: DC to 4 GHz
  • DC reject mode:
    • TPR1000: 10 kHz to 1 GHz
    • TPR4000: 10 kHz to 4 GHz
  • Frequency response optimized for <1 Ω source impedance.
  • Through SMA-to-SMA cable or Solder Micro-Coax tip.
• Linear dynamic range: Up to 60 V DC, 1 V_p-p to bandwidth. Max AC RMS of 1 V.
• Attenuation: 1.25x. Frequency response optimized for <1 Ω source impedance.
• Measurement accuracy:
  • DC linearity: <0.1%
  • Step response long-term aberrations: ±1%
• Noise:
  • <300 μV_p-p noise on 6 Series MSO (20 MHz BW Limit)
  • <1 mV_p-p noise on 6 Series MSO (Full Bandwidth)
• Input impedance:
  • 50 kΩ DC to 10 kHz
  • 50 Ω AC > 100 kHz
• Temperature range at tip:
  • –40 to +125 °C (standard accessories)
  • –40 to +155 °C (high temperature cable option)
  • Comp box and oscilloscope temperature range limited to 0 to +55 °C.
• Offset:
  • ±60 V offset range
  • Offset setting error: ±2 mV max, ±0.4 μV typical

Applications

Why use a power-rail probe?

The added functionality, higher density, and faster switching speeds of modern electronic products drive the need for lower supply voltages. Designers need to zoom-in on power rails to look for high-frequency intruder signals, measure ripple and analyze coupling effects with tighter tolerances. Oscilloscopes often don't have enough offset to shift the noise and ripple on DC rails to the center of the screen to make the needed measurements.

The TPR1000 and TPR4000 probes provide a low-noise measurement solution (oscilloscope and probe), which is critical to not confuse the noise of the oscilloscope and probe with the noise and ripple of the DC supply being measured. The higher input impedance in the probes minimize the oscilloscope loading effect on DC rails (50 kΩ at DC). The probes provide higher bandwidth to see more signal content (harmonics, faster ripples, etc.) on DC rails that could affect data signals, clocks, etc.

The TPR1000 and TPR4000 provide a best-in-class integrity solution for power integrity and validation engineers in the high speed (μP), low power (mobile) and switched-mode power supply markets. The probes are designed to offer the lowest noise with high bandwidth at 60 V offset, flexible connectivity options to cover customers challenges, and software packages to cover the digital power management market.

Connectivity using probe accessories

The available probe accessories provide solutions for reliable and repeatable power rail measurements.