585

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The Tektronix 585 is a 100 MHz 580-Series scope introduced by Tektronix in 1959 and made through the 1960s. (The 585A was discontinued after 1971.)

At 100 MHz with the Type 80 plug-in and up to 85 MHz with the dual-channel Type 82, the 585 was the highest-speed general purpose scope of Tek's tube scope era (the 1 GHz 519 was specialized with no vertical amplifier).

Key Specifications

Rise time	3.5 ns with Type 80 plugin and P80 probe
Timebase A	50 ns/Div to 2 s/Div, 1−2−5, variable ×2.5, magnifier ×5, single sweep; X input
Timebase B	2 μs/Div to 1 s/Div, 1−2−5, can delay timebase A by 1 μs to 10 s
CRT	T581, distributed vertical deflection plates, 10 kV acceleration
Outputs	A Sawtooth, A Gate, B Gate, Calibrator (0.2 mV to 100 Vp-p, 1−2−5)

Internals

Plug-in Interface

The 585 uses 580-series plug-ins which look like letter-series and 1-series plug-ins but are electrically different. The main difference is the impedance of the signal that passes through the interface from the plug-in to the mainframe. In 530/540/550-series scopes, the plug-in expects the mainframe to be a high impedance load. Indeed, in those scopes, the plug-in is directly driving tube grids in the mainframe. In 580-series scopes, the plug-in expects the mainframe to have a controlled impedance of 93 Ω per side (differential signal). The pin-out of the interface connector is also different, the 580-series pin-out being essentially flipped 180° from its 530/540/550 series counterparts (Signal Out is between pins 14 and 16 as opposed to between pins 1 and 3, etc.)

The Type 81 adapter allows the use of letter-series and 1-series plug-ins in a 585.

Trigger Circuit

The original 585 (up to serial number 1070) has an "A" trigger circuit that has a differential trigger amplifier made of a pair of 6EW6 miniature pentodes, followed by a Schmitt trigger made of a pair of miniature dual triode tubes.

Starting at serial number 1071, the miniature dual triode Schmitt trigger was replaced by a 10 mA tunnel diode and a pulse amplifier made with an OC171 Germanium PNP transistor. The tunnel diode is AC-coupled to the base-emitter junction of the transistor.

Vertical Signal Path

Like the 545, 551, and 555, the 585 uses two distributed amplifiers in the vertical signal path, one with seven differential 6DJ8 stages driving a helically-wound, differential delay line, followed by a five-stage differential distributed driver amplifier and a 7699 power stage driving the CRT.

Unlike the other 500-series scopes, the 585 uses a CRT with distributed vertical deflection plates, the T581, enabling it to have both high sensitivity and fast risetime. Total acceleration voltage is 10 kV.

Several improvements were published for the 585 circuitry, including the enhanced trigger circuit. If all of those changes are applied to a 585, it is essentially a 585A.

Semiconductors

The 585 uses semiconductor diodes as rectifiers and Germanium transistors in the 12 V power supply.

Rackmount Versions

Rackmount versions were also made, the RM585 and RM585A.

Prices

	585		585A
Year	1959	1962	1963	1965	1971
Catalog price	$1,675	$1,725	$1,725	$1,725	$2,400
2018 value	$14,330	$14,220	$14,040	$13,640	$14,760

Pictures

585 non-A

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  585 with Type 81 Adapter and Type CA plug-in

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  585 with Type 81 Adapter and Type CA plug-in

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  585 with Type 82

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  585 bottom view

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  Delay line driver amplifier

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  Delay line driver amplifier (bottom). Plug-in interface connector to the left.

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  585 left side

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  Vertical amplifier (post-delay 5-stage distributed amplifier)

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  Vertical amplifier (5-stage dist amp, power output stage)

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  Rectifiers

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  Time Base A

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  585 top view

585A

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  585A with 82

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  585A trigger circuit

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  White plastic clip holds tunnel diode for triggering

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  Inside view shows regulator tubes

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  Distributed vertical amplifier

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  T5810P31 distributed deflection plates

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  585A delay line

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  585A delay line

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  585A delay line

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  585 with TRIGGER SOURCE switch upgraded to 585A design

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  585A on cart

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  585A with 81A and Hickok plug-in

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  Direct Connection to CRT (from 1964 Service Scope)

RM585A

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  RM-585A