Delay line: Difference between revisions

From TekWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 48: Line 48:
Lumped L-C delay lines are used in the [[511|511AD]], [[513|513D]], [[514|514D]], [[541]], [[545]], [[551]], [[555]], and [[524]].
Lumped L-C delay lines are used in the [[511|511AD]], [[513|513D]], [[514|514D]], [[541]], [[545]], [[551]], [[555]], and [[524]].
These delay lines must be carefully adjusted for best pulse response.   
These delay lines must be carefully adjusted for best pulse response.   
A typical lumped L-C delay line has about 30 sections, and each section typically
A typical lumped L-C delay line has about 30 sections, and each section typically has an adjustable capacitor.   
has an adjustable capacitor.  In some applications, lumped L-C delay lines
In some applications, lumped L-C delay lines were preferred over distributed delays (e.g., coax) because of impedance.   
were preferred over distributed delays (e.g., coax) because of impedance.  It is possible
It is possible for a lumped L-C delay line to have a characteristic impedance of 1000 Ω, while most coaxial cables are 125 Ω or less.
for a lumped L-C delay line to have a characteristic impedance of 1000 ohms, while
most coaxial cables are 125 ohms or less.


<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Tek_514d_delay_trimmers.jpg|Delay line trimmer capacitors in a 514D.
Tek_514d_delay_trimmers.jpg|Delay line trimmer capacitors in a [[514D]].
File:551_leftint.jpg|Delay line in a 551 wraps around the rear left side of the scope.
551_leftint.jpg|Delay line in a [[551]] wraps around the rear left side of the scope.
File:Tek 545a delay close.jpg|Section of delay line of 545AA.  Trimmer capacitors can be seen behind the inductor.
Tek 545a delay close.jpg|Section of delay line of [[545A]].  Trimmer capacitors can be seen behind the inductor.
Tek 533a delay line 1.jpg
Tek 533a delay line 1.jpg
Tek 533a delay line 2.jpg
Tek 533a delay line 2.jpg

Revision as of 15:35, 20 June 2017

The purpose of delay lines in oscilloscopes is to allow observation of the leading edge of the trigger event. In the vertical signal path, before the delay line, there is typically a trigger pick-off which supplies an undelayed copy of the vertical signal to the the trigger and sweep circuitry. Trigger and sweep circuitry need about 60ns to react when presented with the trigger event. Without a delay line, the trigger event would already have come and gone before the scope can trigger and sweep. By sending the input signal through a delay line, the scope will have triggered and begun sweeping by the time the trigger event emerges from the delay line. Thus, the trigger event is drawn on the screen where the operator can see it, photograph it, or record it by other means.

The first Tektronix scope to contain a delay line was the 513D, which uses an L-C network. Soon after, the 517 appeared, using 51 feet of RG-63U coaxial cable as a 65 nanosecond delay line. 7000-series scopes use special twin-lead delay cables. The delay line in the 519 is a large coil of low-loss air-dielectric semi-rigid coax.

The location of the delay line in the instrument block diagram varies:

Types of Delay Lines

There are five main ways delay lines are implemented in Tektronix scopes

Conventional coaxial cable

Used in 517, 4S1, 3S76, and 1S1.

Semi-rigid air-core coax

Used in 519, 113

Unshielded helically wound differential transmission line

Used in 581, 585

Helically wound differential transmission line inside braided shield

Used in 545B, 547

Lumped L-C

Lumped L-C delay lines are used in the 511AD, 513D, 514D, 541, 545, 551, 555, and 524. These delay lines must be carefully adjusted for best pulse response. A typical lumped L-C delay line has about 30 sections, and each section typically has an adjustable capacitor. In some applications, lumped L-C delay lines were preferred over distributed delays (e.g., coax) because of impedance. It is possible for a lumped L-C delay line to have a characteristic impedance of 1000 Ω, while most coaxial cables are 125 Ω or less.

Delay Lines in Sampling Oscilloscopes

The purpose of delay lines in sampling scopes is the same as for conventional non-sampling scopes. Since sampling scopes are often used for observing fast pulses, delay lines are often problematic since they have dispersion, and therefore distort pulse waveforms. For example, the 4S1 contains a delay network while the 4S2 does not. Because of this, the 4S2 is a less convenient instrument, but has faster rise-time than the 4S1. One way around the trade-off between pulse response and convenience is to use random sampling.

See Also