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The 7912AD is a high-speed digitizer that takes one 7000-series vertical plug-in and one 7000-series horizontal plug-in.  The unit contains a special internal CRT-based digitizing tube that is not visible from the outside.  The signal goes from the vertical plug-in to the vertical amplifier to the digitizing tube where it deflects a beam of electrons.  The electrons hit a small flat rectangular target inside the tube.  This target is a solid state image sensor, conceptually similar to that in a digital camera.  The trace is read from the target by electronics in the 7912AD, digitized, and stored in memory.  The reading of the target is asynchronous from the sweep and therefore the tube can be considered a form of scan converterThree output methods are provided: NTSC-out, X-Y low-speed analog, and GPIB.  The 7912AD has a rated bandwidth of 500MHz.  The resolution of the target is 512x512, giving 512 points in the time domain and 9-bit linear quantization of the input voltage.  With aftermarket modifications to the electronics, 7912AD bandwidths have been extended above 2GHz in special cases.
{{Oscilloscope Sidebar
|manufacturer=Tektronix
|series=7000-series scopes
|model=7912
|summary=500/750 MHz digitizer
|image=Tek-7912ad.jpg
|caption=Tektronix 7912AD with [[7A26]] and [[7B90P]]
|introduced=1973
|discontinued=1989
|designers=Carlo Infante;Jim Cavoretto;Al Allworth;Don Roberts;Stu McNaughton;Walt Lowy;Ray Hayes;Ken Hawken;Bob Culter;Hal Cobb;Ed Ritz;Bo Janko
|manuals=
* ''see individual model pages''
}}
The '''Tektronix 7912''' is a series of high-speed digitizers that take one [[7000-series_plug-ins#Vertical plug-ins|7000-series vertical plug-in]]
and one [[7000-series_plug-ins#Horizontal plug-ins|7000-series horizontal plug-in]].  The primary markets for the 7912 series were nuclear and laser research.   


* http://w140.com/kurt/7912_gpib_examples.zip
All 7912 models use the same internal CRT-based, digitizing [[scan converter]] tube ([[T7912]], 154-0698-00) that is not visible from the outside.
The signal from the vertical plug-in deflects a writing beam through [[distributed deflection plates]].
The electrons hit a small flat rectangular solid state target, conceptually similar to the image sensor in a digital camera.
The resolution of the target is 512×512, giving 512 points in the time domain and 9-bit linear quantization of the input voltage.
With a [[7B92]] sweeping the whole X-axis in 5 ns, and the 7912 capturing 512 samples in that sweep, the 7912 performs the function of a 100 GSample/s A/D converter.
 
==7912 Series Models==
* The '''[[R7912]]''', introduced in September 1973 (Ref.1), achieved a bandwidth of 500 MHz with a [[7A19]] vertical amplifier plug-in.
* The '''[[7912AD]]''' (1978) had 500 MHz bandwidth and introduced a standard [[GPIB interface]].
* The '''[[7912HB]]''' (1987) extended bandwidth to 750 MHz (using a [[7A29P]] amplifier).
 
* The [[LM7912]] is a Tektronix R7912 modified by Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab for extended bandwidth.
 
==Project Staff==
* [[Carlo Infante]], Program manager
* [[Jim Cavoretto]], Project Engineer
* [[Al Allworth]], [[Don Roberts]], and [[Stu McNaughton]], Electrical Engineers
* [[Walt Lowy]], Engineering Technician
* [[Ray Hayes]], [[Ken Hawken]], [[Bob Culter]], [[Hal Cobb]], [[Ed Ritz]], and [[Bo Janko]], CRT Engineering
* [[Loyal Strom]], [[Helene Albright]] and [[Ken Nesvold]], Prototype Support
* [[Doug Giesbers]], [[Larry Pearson]] and [[Phil Lloyd]], Mechanical Engineering
* [[Nick Hughes]] and [[Ray Blohm]], Instrument Manufacturing
 
==Links==
{{PatentLinks|7912}}
 
[[Category:7000 series digitizer mainframes]]
[[Category:Scan converter based instruments]]

Latest revision as of 03:36, 8 June 2024

Tektronix 7912
500/750 MHz digitizer
Tektronix 7912AD with 7A26 and 7B90P

Produced from 1973 to 1989

Manuals
  • see individual model pages
(All manuals in PDF format unless noted otherwise)
Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix 7912 is a series of high-speed digitizers that take one 7000-series vertical plug-in and one 7000-series horizontal plug-in. The primary markets for the 7912 series were nuclear and laser research.

All 7912 models use the same internal CRT-based, digitizing scan converter tube (T7912, 154-0698-00) that is not visible from the outside. The signal from the vertical plug-in deflects a writing beam through distributed deflection plates. The electrons hit a small flat rectangular solid state target, conceptually similar to the image sensor in a digital camera. The resolution of the target is 512×512, giving 512 points in the time domain and 9-bit linear quantization of the input voltage. With a 7B92 sweeping the whole X-axis in 5 ns, and the 7912 capturing 512 samples in that sweep, the 7912 performs the function of a 100 GSample/s A/D converter.

7912 Series Models

  • The R7912, introduced in September 1973 (Ref.1), achieved a bandwidth of 500 MHz with a 7A19 vertical amplifier plug-in.
  • The 7912AD (1978) had 500 MHz bandwidth and introduced a standard GPIB interface.
  • The 7912HB (1987) extended bandwidth to 750 MHz (using a 7A29P amplifier).
  • The LM7912 is a Tektronix R7912 modified by Lockheed Palo Alto Research Lab for extended bandwidth.

Project Staff

Links

Patents that may apply to 7912

Page Title Inventors Filing date Grant date Links
Patent US 3748585A Silicon diode array scan converter storage tube and method of operation Robert G. Culter Raymond Hayes Emmanuel Sang 1971-11-15 1973-07-24
Patent US 3796910A Electron beam deflection system Ed Ritz 1972-08-04 1974-03-12
Patent US 3893036A Precision function generator Jim Cavoretto Al Allworth Carlo Infante 1973-07-27 1975-07-01
Patent US 3970889A Erasure means for charge storage device Hal Cobb 1973-11-21 1976-07-20