MegaZoom Concepts and Oscilloscope Operation

Deep Memory

Deep Memory

The primary advantage of a deep-memory oscilloscope is sustained sample rate, allowing you to capture at the maximum sample rate and still capture a long time window. For example, you may want to capture a fast digital event, such as an interrupt line being asserted, while being able to look far out in time to see when the line was de-asserted. This may require a fast sample rate to examine the signal fidelity of the interrupt edge, and also long-time capture to determine how long the interrupt line was asserted.

Another advantage is the ability to capture relatively longer periods of time or slow time-per-division settings at an adequate sample rate. This allows you to capture a long event, such as an oscillator starting up, or two events separated by a long time, such that you can see the entire time frame of interest. To see the event, the oscilloscope must have captured the information at a fast enough sample rate so that you can see the interesting details.

Thus there are two major benefits of deep memory. First, long time spans can be captured and then zoomed-in on for detailed analysis. Second, the deep memory is displayed to the high-definition display with 32 levels of intensity for more insight into the signal. This is particularly of value when dealing with mixed analog and digital designs where slow analog events require long time spans and fast digital control signals require the ability to maintain the sample rate so interactions may be viewed in detail.

Memory depth values

54620-series2 MB/ analog channel, 4MB max with single analog channel in Single mode. 8 MB/digital channel single pod, 4 MB/digital channel with 2 pods in use.

54640-series4 MB/ analog channel, 8MB max with single analog channel in Single mode. 4 MB/digital channel single pod, 4 MB/digital channel with 2 pods in use.

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Agilent Technologies 22A, 54621D, 24A, 42A, 54621A, 41A manual Deep Memory, Memory depth values