Introduction
September 5, 2023, Chestnut Ridge, New York — Teledyne LeCroy announced the WaveMaster 8000HD high-bandwidth, high-precision oscilloscope platform. The instruments cover 20 to 65 GHz bandwidth, offer 12-bit resolution, support sampling rates up to 320 GS/s, and provide up to 8 Gpts record length. The WaveMaster 8000HD retains the verification and debug capabilities of its predecessor while adding the SDA Expert serial data analysis software for testing next-generation serial data technologies.
Why higher bandwidth, resolution, and record length matter
Serial data bus speeds continue to rise: PCIe 6.0 delivers 64 GT/s and the USB4 v2.0 specification supports 80 Gbps. Both standards use multilevel pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) signaling. The combination of higher speeds and multilevel signaling requires oscilloscopes with increased bandwidth and resolution. The greater complexity of serial links also requires handling dynamic link equalization, negotiation, training, and handshakes, some of which execute over parallel low-speed serial links using a mix of physical-layer signals and protocol communication.
Key signal characterization capabilities
The WaveMaster 8000HD series targets next-generation serial data technologies such as PCIe 6.0 and USB4 v2.0. Compared with the prior generation, the WaveMaster 8000HD more than doubles bandwidth and sample rate. Against competing instruments, it provides multiple times the resolution and record length: full-bandwidth, full-sample-rate 12-bit resolution and up to 8 Gpts record length. The 12-bit resolution supports detailed characterization of PAM3 and PAM4 signals used in USB4 v2.0 and PCIe 6.0, while 8 Gpts significantly improves debugging of link negotiation issues.
Embedded systems and cross-layer debug features
The WaveMaster 8000HD includes several features for debugging complex links and high-speed embedded systems:
- CrossSync PHY cross-layer analysis integrates oscilloscope captures with PCIe or USB protocol analyzer data to provide cross-layer insight into high-speed link behavior.
- Support for virtually all 50 Ω or 1 MΩ coupling probes offered by the vendor, including passive and current probes, to capture low-speed sideband signals, link training and negotiation, power rails, and related signals.
- More than 20 low-speed serial trigger/decode tools to simplify simultaneous low-speed and high-speed debugging on the same instrument.
- Built-in digital channels up to 500 MHz and an optional HDA125 high-speed digital analyzer for digital capture up to 6 Gb/s, useful for DDR memory signal capture, decoding, and read/write separation required in DDR debug and compliance testing.
- Up to 8 Gpts record length to observe and debug link errors over very long acquisitions.
Serial data characterization and compliance tools
The WaveMaster 8000HD supports comprehensive serial data characterization and compliance testing. The SDA Expert software adds dedicated analysis for PCIe, USB, DisplayPort, and other interfaces, including PAM and NRZ eye diagrams, jitter analysis, and link analysis tools. The QualiPHY test package provides automated compliance testing for complex high-speed serial interfaces. These serial data test functions are useful for PCIe 6.0, USB4, USB4 v2.0, and DisplayPort over USB-C.
Vendor background
Teledyne LeCroy designs and manufactures high-end oscilloscopes, protocol analyzers, and other test instruments used to verify electronic system performance and perform complex debug analysis. Since its founding in 1964, the company has focused on creating tools that enable faster verification and debugging of electronic systems.
