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{{TM500 | type=AM503 | mfg=Tektronix | function=current probe amplifier | class=amplifier | image=Am503_front.jpg | introduced=1976 | discontinued=(?) | manuals= | {{TM500 | ||
* [ | |type=AM503 | ||
* [ | |mfg=Tektronix | ||
|function=current probe amplifier | |||
* [[Media: | |class=amplifier | ||
|image=Am503_front.jpg | |||
|introduced=1976 | |||
|discontinued=(?) | |||
|designers=Dale Dorando | |||
|manuals= | |||
* [[Media:070-2052-01.pdf|AM503 Instruction Manual 070-2052-01]] (OCR, split schematics) | |||
* [[Media:Tek AM503 diagrams.pdf|AM503 Diagrams]] (whole schematics) | |||
* [[Media:AM50XX Declassification Documentrev4.pdf|AM50XX Declassification Document]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
The AM503, [[AM503A]], [[AM503B]], [[AM5030]] and [[11A16]] use the same current probe input connector, an [[Amphenol 165-12 connector]]. | |||
It contains pins for hall element and transformer connections, lock detection, probe degaussing, and probe type encoding. | |||
The | The AM503 was designed by [[Dale Dorando]]. | ||
Later facelift versions [[AM503A]] and [[AM503B]] have digital readout of deflection factor. | |||
{{BeginSpecs}} | {{BeginSpecs}} | ||
{{Spec | Bandwidth | | {{Spec | Bandwidth | | ||
* A6302: DC to 50 MHz | * [[A6302]]: DC to 50 MHz | ||
* A6312: DC to 100 MHz | * [[A6312]]: DC to 100 MHz | ||
* A6303: DC to 15 MHz | * [[A6303]]: DC to 15 MHz | ||
* A6304XL: DC to 2 MHz | * [[A6304XL]]: DC to 2 MHz (AM503B only) | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Spec | Sensitivity | | {{Spec | Sensitivity | | ||
Line 26: | Line 36: | ||
* A6304XL: max. 500 A continuous, 700 A peak | * A6304XL: max. 500 A continuous, 700 A peak | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Spec | Scope | {{Spec | Output | Into 50 Ω Scope, Input Set to 10 mV/div }} | ||
{{Spec | Power | 17 W}} | {{Spec | Power | 17 W }} | ||
{{Spec | Compatible probes | | {{Spec | Compatible probes | | ||
* [[A6302]] (20/100 A, DC-50 | * [[A6302]] (20/100 A, DC-50 MHz) | ||
* [[A6312]] (20/100 A, DC-100 MHz) | * [[A6312]] (20/100 A, DC-100 MHz) | ||
* [[A6303]] (100/500 A, DC-15 | * [[A6303]] (100/500 A, DC-15 MHz) | ||
* [[CT4]] with A6302 or A6312 (2000/20000 A) | |||
* [[CT4]] with A6302 | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{EndSpecs}} | {{EndSpecs}} | ||
==Links== | |||
{{Documents|Link=AM503}} | |||
===Rear interface=== | ===Rear interface=== | ||
The output can be detached from the front panel BNC socket which has a [[Peltola connector]] on the inside, and re-attached to a Peltola socket near the top of the interface connector, where it is terminated in 50 Ω and brought out on pin 28A (ground on 27A). | The output can be detached from the front panel BNC socket which has a [[Peltola connector]] on the inside, and re-attached to a Peltola socket near the top of the interface connector, where it is terminated in 50 Ω and brought out on pin 28A (ground on 27A). | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
Regarding the AM503, Dale Dorando says: | Regarding the AM503, designer [[Dale Dorando]] says: | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
The AM503 was a redesign of the [[P6042|6042]] current probe from 1967. | The AM503 was a redesign of the [[P6042|6042]] current probe from 1967. | ||
It was initially going to be an oscilloscope plug-in. | It was initially going to be an oscilloscope plug-in. | ||
About 80% through the project design a new line of products was started called TM500. | About 80% through the project design a new line of products was started called [[TM500]]. | ||
It was requested that we change the design to be a TM500 plug-in module instead. | It was requested that we change the design to be a TM500 plug-in module instead. | ||
The AM503 front panel still looks like a scope’s plug-in. | The AM503 front panel still looks like a scope’s plug-in. | ||
The AC/DC switch and 5 MHz bandwidth switch, for example, were left on the front panel from the oscilloscope design. | The AC/DC switch and 5 MHz bandwidth switch, for example, were left on the front panel from the oscilloscope design. | ||
Line 52: | Line 68: | ||
The high frequency amplifier was differential to accommodate an oscilloscope’s differential input. | The high frequency amplifier was differential to accommodate an oscilloscope’s differential input. | ||
The last change was the output stage that was added to convert the differential circuit to single ended, and then output that to a front panel BNC. | The last change was the output stage that was added to convert the differential circuit to single ended, and then output that to a front panel BNC. | ||
The AM503 was also intended to work with future higher frequency probes, like the [[P6022]] with an added hall device for DC measurements. | The AM503 was also intended to work with future higher frequency probes, like the [[P6022]] with an added hall device for DC measurements. | ||
The smaller P6022 had a 120 MHz bandwidth, whereas the [[P6302]] was only 50 MHz. | The smaller P6022 had a 120 MHz bandwidth, whereas the [[P6302]] was only 50 MHz. | ||
The design engineer (actually only an R&D technician) moved to the TM500 engineering and evaluation group before this probe was created. | The design engineer (actually only an R&D technician) moved to the TM500 engineering and evaluation group before this probe was created. | ||
The AM503 was being developed in the Accessories division in Beaverton, since that’s where the other current probes were designed. | The AM503 was being developed in the Accessories division in Beaverton, since that’s where the other current probes were designed. | ||
That was unusual as all the other plug-ins were being designed by the TM500 group on Walker Road, near Hillsboro. | That was unusual as all the other plug-ins were being designed by the TM500 group on Walker Road, near Hillsboro. | ||
The AM503 was one of the first plug-ins for the TM500 line of products. | The AM503 was one of the first plug-ins for the TM500 line of products. | ||
It required more power than the current plug-in designs so the transformer and supply were changed in the TM500 frames early on just for the AM503. | It required more power than the current plug-in designs, so the transformer and supply were changed in the TM500 frames early on just for the AM503. | ||
There were some innovations that were incorporated in this design: | There were some innovations that were incorporated in this design: | ||
The [[cam switch]] with replaceable laser trimmed attenuator resistors, a | The [[cam switch]] with replaceable laser trimmed attenuator resistors, and a simple IC with a differential pair plus 1 GHz Gilbert cell (actually developed by Howard Jones in 1963). | ||
This IC, [[155-0078-xx]], was | This IC, [[155-0078-xx]], was designed in Lab Scopes for the 485. | ||
(At the same time | (At the same time designers were teaching amplifier technology internally and at the University of Portland as part of Tek’s excellent education and training program.) | ||
The [[Peltola connector]], developed by Tek’s Ron Peltola, | The [[Peltola connector]], developed by Tek’s Ron Peltola, a very low cost connector that worked well, even for the highest frequencies. | ||
A BNC was adapted to be used with the Peltola and is used on the front panel. | A BNC was adapted to be used with the Peltola and is used on the front panel. | ||
A large section of the AM503 was basically duplicating the front end of an oscilloscope since that was the original design intent, | A large section of the AM503 was basically duplicating the front end of an oscilloscope since that was the original design intent, | ||
so it was thought later that the differential amp section could be eliminated and the amplifier made much smaller and even become part of a standalone probe. | so it was thought later that the differential amp section could be eliminated and the amplifier made much smaller and even become part of a standalone probe. | ||
A prototype was created (author’s senior project at the University of Portland) but shelved, as there was no longer an engineer in Accessories for current probes. | A prototype was created (author’s senior project at the University of Portland) but shelved, as there was no longer an engineer in Accessories for current probes. | ||
Much later it gave rise to the TCP series of stand-alone current probes. | Much later it gave rise to the TCP series of stand-alone current probes. | ||
The [[P6302]] and [[P6303]] probes utilized a Hall device that was manufactured in the clean room of the Accessories Manufacturing group. | The [[P6302]] and [[P6303]] probes utilized a Hall device that was manufactured in the clean room of the Accessories Manufacturing group. | ||
It was deposited onto a bar of ferrite that was later assembled into a U shape with other ferrite and potted in a mu-metal can along with the transformer bobbins. | It was deposited onto a bar of ferrite that was later assembled into a U shape with other ferrite and potted in a mu-metal can along with the transformer bobbins. | ||
Line 78: | Line 94: | ||
The cores were lapped and polished to a few Fresnel lines flatness to minimize the gap on the sliding ferrite. | The cores were lapped and polished to a few Fresnel lines flatness to minimize the gap on the sliding ferrite. | ||
The L/R time constant affects the point where the Hall device and coils’ bandwidths crossover. | The L/R time constant affects the point where the Hall device and coils’ bandwidths crossover. | ||
An interesting aspect of the design was trying to find a way to test and calibrate the peak current pulse on the larger P6303. | An interesting aspect of the design was trying to find a way to test and calibrate the peak current pulse on the larger P6303. | ||
Luckily we had the tube lab. We developed an argon filled thyratron that could discharge a 4 kV charge line into a 4 Ω load. | Luckily we had the tube lab. We developed an argon filled thyratron that could discharge a 4 kV charge line into a 4 Ω load. | ||
Line 86: | Line 102: | ||
The 4 kV supply was charged into a 4 Ω transmission line so a clean high current pulse would be generated. | The 4 kV supply was charged into a 4 Ω transmission line so a clean high current pulse would be generated. | ||
This concept was taken from Tek’s [[109]] pulse generator. | This concept was taken from Tek’s [[109]] pulse generator. | ||
A trigger circuit was designed to fire the grid. It was based on the xenon flash circuit of the [[C-5|C5 camera]] flash, also in the Accessories group. | A trigger circuit was designed to fire the grid. It was based on the xenon flash circuit of the [[C-5|C5 camera]] flash, also in the Accessories group. | ||
The first prototype I made arced across the laser trim lines in the metal film resistor as they were cut perpendicular to the current flow. | The first prototype I made arced across the laser trim lines in the metal film resistor as they were cut perpendicular to the current flow. | ||
Line 92: | Line 108: | ||
We changed the laser trim to be parallel to the current path along the outside edges. | We changed the laser trim to be parallel to the current path along the outside edges. | ||
That’s what was used in manufacturing for calibrating the risetime of the P6303. | That’s what was used in manufacturing for calibrating the risetime of the P6303. | ||
Also interesting, the P6303 required special potting epoxy developed by 3M. | Also interesting, the P6303 required special potting epoxy developed by 3M. | ||
The epoxy used in other current probes put excessive stress on the larger ferrite that caused the inductance to drop to zero | The epoxy used in other current probes put excessive stress on the larger ferrite that caused the inductance to drop to zero | ||
Line 99: | Line 115: | ||
==Pictures== | ==Pictures== | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Am503_front.jpg | Am503_front.jpg | AM503 Front | ||
Am503_left.jpg | Am503_left.jpg | AM503 Left Side | ||
Am503_right.jpg | Am503_right.jpg | AM503 Right Side | ||
Tek am503.jpg | Tek am503.jpg | AM503 | ||
Tek am503 t1.jpg | AM503 | Tek am503 t1.jpg | AM503 | ||
Tek am503 t2.jpg | AM503 | Tek am503 t2.jpg | AM503 Feeding a [[TDS744|TDS744A]] | ||
Tek-sc504-am503.jpg | AM503 with [[SC504]] in a [[TM503]] mainframe displaying a 40 mA calibrator signal | |||
AM503_Special_Adapter_Construction_Details.png | AM503 Special Adapter | AM503_Special_Adapter_Construction_Details.png | AM503 Special Adapter | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[AM5030]] | * [[AM5030]] | ||
* | * https://www.tek.com/datasheet/current-measurement-system-probes | ||
* Current Probe Simulator [[067-0802-99]] | * Current Probe Simulator [[067-0802-99]] | ||
==Components== | |||
{{Parts|AM503}} |