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{{Plugin Sidebar 2 |
{{Plugin Sidebar  
title=Tektronix 1A7 |
|manufacturer=Tektronix
summary=Differential amplifier |
|series=500-series scopes
image=Tek 1a7a 2.JPG |
|type=1A7
caption=Tektronix 1A7A |
|summary=Differential amplifier
introduced=1965 |
|image=Tek 1a7 front3.jpeg
discontinued=1975 |
|caption=Tektronix 1A7
series=[[500-series scopes]] |
|introduced=1965  
manuals=
|discontinued=1968
* [http://w140.com/mmm/tek-1a7.pdf Tektronix 1A7 Manual (PDF)]
|designers=John Addis
* [http://w140.com/tek_1a7a.pdf Tektronix 1A7A Manual (PDF)]
|manuals=
* [[Media:Tek 1a7a product reference book.pdf|Tektronix 1A7A Product Reference Book (PDF)]]
* [[Media:070-0379-00.pdf|Tektronix 1A7 Manual]] (OCR)
* [[Media:Tek 1a7a fcp april 1968.pdf|Tektronix 1A7A Factory Calibration Procedure, April 1968]]
* ''See [[1A7A|1A7A page]] for 1A7A manuals''
}}
}}
The '''Tektronix Type 1A7''' is a high-sensitivity differential plug-in for [[500-series scopes]].
Replacing Types '''[[D]]''' and '''[[E]]''', the '''Tektronix Type 1A7''' is a high-sensitivity differential plug-in for [[500-series scopes]].
It senses down to 10 μV/Div, either AC or DC-coupled.  It's possible to
It senses down to 10 μV/Div, either AC or DC-coupled.  It is possible to apply up to ±300 mV offset to the reading while maintaining sensitivity.
apply up to ± 300 mV offset to the reading while maintaining sensitivity.
Upper and lower cutoff frequency is selectable on the front panel. Maximum bandwidth is 500 kHz, and common-mode rejection is 50,000 to 1.
Upper and lower cutoff frequency is selectable on the front panel.
Maximum bandwidth is 500 kHz, and common-mode rejection is 50,000 to 1.


Type 1A7's front end is a matched quad of [[8393]] [[nuvistor|nuvistors]],  
Type 1A7's front end is a matched quad of [[8393]] [[nuvistor|nuvistors]], with two in parallel - to reduce noise - on each input.   
with two in parallel - to reduce noise - on each input.  These tubes are
These tubes are in temperature-equalizing housings, and mounted on a rubber-isolated subchassis.   
in temperature-equalizing housings, and mounted on a rubber-isolated
The "coarse" balance adjustment controls the relative heater voltages on the 8393's.
subchassis.  The "coarse" balance adjustment controls the relative
heater voltages on the 8393's.


Type 1A7 (initially named [[F|Type F]]) was designed by [[John Addis]] and [[introduced in 1966]].   
Type 1A7 (initially named [[F|Type F]]) was designed by [[John Addis]] and [[introduced in 1966]].   
Lasting only two years before being replaced by the redesigned [[1A7A]], Type 1A7 is the shortest-lived 500-series plugin.
In 1968, modification kit 040-0485-00 was offered to convert existing instruments to FET front end to reduce drift and microphonics.


====Type 1A7A====
====Origins====
In 1968, the 1A7 was superseded by the FET-equipped '''Type 1A7A''' (designed by [[Thor Hallen]]),
<blockquote>
which also doubled common-mode rejection and bandwidth (to 1 MHz).
[[John Addis]] says:


The 1A7A's differential amplifier design was re-used with some modifications
Type [[D]] was a mid-1950s DC-coupled 1 mV/div differential plugin (350 kHz at 1 mV/div, but 2 MHz at 50 mV/div) for the 530 and 540 series of mainframes.  Similarly, Type [[E]] was a mid-1950s AC-coupled 50 μV/div differential plugin (30 kHz at 50 μV/div, but 60 kHz at 0.5 mV/div).
in the [[3A9]], [[3A10]], [[7A22]], [[5A22N]] and [[5030]]/[[5031]] scopes. The [[AM502]] and [[26A2]] use BJTs instead of JFETs for the offset current sources.


Type 1A7A remained available until the end of the [[500-series scopes|500-series]] line.
By 1963, they had become dated by later plugins in the [[560-series scopes|560 series]] (e.g. [[3A3]], [[2A61]]).  Personally, I thought this was too bad as the 530/540 series was the premier scope line being overtaken by the lower-priced line.
 
[[Roy Hayes]] sat near me in [[Russ Fillinger]]’s group in Sunset South, [[Building 81]], and he had been working on Type [[3A3]], a very nice dual trace, DC coupled 100 μV/div (500 kHz at all sensitivities and a 5 kHz single pole BWL filter) differential amplifier plugin for the 560 series.  It had very high common mode rejection due to some more sophisticated circuits than the D or E.  I really liked several circuit ideas in the 3A3.
 
I proposed to Russ a DC coupled plugin for the 530/540 series ([[500-series plug-ins (Letter-series and 1-series)|the "Letter" series]]) with the idea of combining the outdated D and E plugins and extending the DC sensitivity from 1 mV to 10 μV, rather daring for a vacuum tube front end.  I included the high common-mode rejection circuitry from the 3A3 and added a full range of bandwidth limit selections, at both the low and high frequency ends of the spectrum.  The amplifier low frequency limit included DC as the first selection.  Russ went for it even though it was not part of his focus, the 560 series.  It took exactly a year to design, and by the time I was finished, I had added another feature, wide range differential DC offset. 
 
It was supposed to be the Type [[F]] plugin, because it did not have the bandwidth extension of the 1A series (50 MHz in the 547), but to my chagrin, management decided that it would be a 1A series anyway and renamed it the 1A7.  (I probably have the only Type F plugin.)  Management also changed the nice clear-skirt VOLTS/DIV knob (a larger version of the 3A3’s knob) to a boring opaque-skirt knob like older letter-series plugins.  Late production versions of the 1A7 and 3A3 had JFET inputs.
 
Nevertheless, the exact combination of features of the 1A7 was repeated in the [[1A7A]] (designed by [[Thor Hallen]]), in the venerable [[7A22]] (designed by [[Val Garuts]]), and in the [[3A9]] (with additional current probe input).  These later three plugins made use of JFETs and all three are of the same design.  That circuit, using feedback, is much better than the earlier 1A7 design.
 
(Correspondence May 2021)
</blockquote>


{{BeginSpecs}}
{{BeginSpecs}}
{{Spec | Deflection | 10 μV/Div to 10 V/Div in 1–2–5 sequence }}
{{Spec | Deflection | 10 μV/Div to 10 V/Div in 1–2–5 sequence }}
{{Spec | Input impedance | 1 MΩ // 47 pF (either input) }}
{{Spec | Input impedance | 1 MΩ // 47 pF (either input) }}
 
{{Spec | Bandwidth | 500 kHz, LF limit switchable DC, 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz in ×10 steps, HF limit switchable 100 Hz to 100 kHz in ×3/×10 steps, and 500 kHz; AC coupling 1.6 Hz }}
{{SpecGroup | 1A7}}
{{Spec | Bandwidth | 1 MHz, LF limit switchable DC, 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz in ×10 steps, HF limit switchable 100 Hz to 100 kHz in ×3/×10 steps, and 500 kHz; AC coupling 1.6 Hz }}
 
{{SpecGroup | 1A7A}}
{{Spec | Bandwidth | 1 MHz, LF limit switchable DC, 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz in ×10 steps, HF limit switchable 100 Hz to 1 MHz in ×3/×10 steps, AC coupling 1.6 Hz }}
{{Spec | Signal ranges | }}
{{Spec | Signal ranges | }}
{| class="wikitable" border=1 style="margin-left: 8em;" |
{| class="wikitable" border=1 style="margin-left: 8em;" |
Line 64: Line 67:


==Pictures==
==Pictures==
===1A7===
 
<gallery>
<gallery>
Tek 1a7 front.jpg
Tek 1a7 front.jpg
Line 75: Line 78:
Tek 1a7 in 133 2.jpg|1A7 in [[133]]
Tek 1a7 in 133 2.jpg|1A7 in [[133]]
Tek 1a7 in 133 3.jpg|1A7 in [[133]]
Tek 1a7 in 133 3.jpg|1A7 in [[133]]
Tek 1a7 top2.jpg|1A7
Tek 1a7 top2.jpg|
Tek 1a7 right2.jpg|1A7
Tek 1a7 right2.jpg|
Tek 1a7 left2.jpg|1A7
Tek 1a7 left2.jpg|
Tek 1a7 left rear2.jpg|1A7
Tek 1a7 left rear2.jpg|
Tek 1a7 front2.jpg|1A7
Tek 1a7 front2.jpg|
</gallery>
Tek_type_f_front.jpg|[[F|Type F]] (before being renamed 1A7)
===1A7A===
<gallery>
Tek 1a7a 1.JPG|1A7A
Tek 1a7a bf.jpg|1A7A
Tek 1a7a 2.JPG|1A7A
Tek 1a7a 3.JPG|1A7A
Tek 1a7a 4.JPG|1A7A
Tek 1a7a 5.JPG|1A7A
Tek 1a7a 6.JPG|1A7A
</gallery>
</gallery>


[[Category:Introduced in 1966]]
[[Category:500 series plugins]]
[[Category:500 series plugins]]
[[Category:Differential amplifiers]]
[[Category:Differential amplifiers]]

Latest revision as of 16:44, 29 August 2023

Tektronix 1A7
Differential amplifier
Tektronix 1A7

Compatible with 500-series scopes

Produced from 1965 to 1968

Manuals
(All manuals in PDF format unless noted otherwise)
Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

Replacing Types D and E, the Tektronix Type 1A7 is a high-sensitivity differential plug-in for 500-series scopes. It senses down to 10 μV/Div, either AC or DC-coupled. It is possible to apply up to ±300 mV offset to the reading while maintaining sensitivity. Upper and lower cutoff frequency is selectable on the front panel. Maximum bandwidth is 500 kHz, and common-mode rejection is 50,000 to 1.

Type 1A7's front end is a matched quad of 8393 nuvistors, with two in parallel - to reduce noise - on each input. These tubes are in temperature-equalizing housings, and mounted on a rubber-isolated subchassis. The "coarse" balance adjustment controls the relative heater voltages on the 8393's.

Type 1A7 (initially named Type F) was designed by John Addis and introduced in 1966. Lasting only two years before being replaced by the redesigned 1A7A, Type 1A7 is the shortest-lived 500-series plugin. In 1968, modification kit 040-0485-00 was offered to convert existing instruments to FET front end to reduce drift and microphonics.

Origins

John Addis says:

Type D was a mid-1950s DC-coupled 1 mV/div differential plugin (350 kHz at 1 mV/div, but 2 MHz at 50 mV/div) for the 530 and 540 series of mainframes. Similarly, Type E was a mid-1950s AC-coupled 50 μV/div differential plugin (30 kHz at 50 μV/div, but 60 kHz at 0.5 mV/div).

By 1963, they had become dated by later plugins in the 560 series (e.g. 3A3, 2A61). Personally, I thought this was too bad as the 530/540 series was the premier scope line being overtaken by the lower-priced line.

Roy Hayes sat near me in Russ Fillinger’s group in Sunset South, Building 81, and he had been working on Type 3A3, a very nice dual trace, DC coupled 100 μV/div (500 kHz at all sensitivities and a 5 kHz single pole BWL filter) differential amplifier plugin for the 560 series. It had very high common mode rejection due to some more sophisticated circuits than the D or E. I really liked several circuit ideas in the 3A3.

I proposed to Russ a DC coupled plugin for the 530/540 series (the "Letter" series) with the idea of combining the outdated D and E plugins and extending the DC sensitivity from 1 mV to 10 μV, rather daring for a vacuum tube front end. I included the high common-mode rejection circuitry from the 3A3 and added a full range of bandwidth limit selections, at both the low and high frequency ends of the spectrum. The amplifier low frequency limit included DC as the first selection. Russ went for it even though it was not part of his focus, the 560 series. It took exactly a year to design, and by the time I was finished, I had added another feature, wide range differential DC offset.

It was supposed to be the Type F plugin, because it did not have the bandwidth extension of the 1A series (50 MHz in the 547), but to my chagrin, management decided that it would be a 1A series anyway and renamed it the 1A7. (I probably have the only Type F plugin.) Management also changed the nice clear-skirt VOLTS/DIV knob (a larger version of the 3A3’s knob) to a boring opaque-skirt knob like older letter-series plugins. Late production versions of the 1A7 and 3A3 had JFET inputs.

Nevertheless, the exact combination of features of the 1A7 was repeated in the 1A7A (designed by Thor Hallen), in the venerable 7A22 (designed by Val Garuts), and in the 3A9 (with additional current probe input). These later three plugins made use of JFETs and all three are of the same design. That circuit, using feedback, is much better than the earlier 1A7 design.

(Correspondence May 2021)

Key Specifications

Deflection 10 μV/Div to 10 V/Div in 1–2–5 sequence
Input impedance 1 MΩ // 47 pF (either input)
Bandwidth 500 kHz, LF limit switchable DC, 0.1 Hz to 10 kHz in ×10 steps, HF limit switchable 100 Hz to 100 kHz in ×3/×10 steps, and 500 kHz; AC coupling 1.6 Hz
Signal ranges
Range Differential signal DC Offset Common mode
10 μV/Div to 10 mV/Div ±0.4 V ±0.4 V ±10 V
20 mV/Div to 0.1 V/Div ±4 V ±4 V ±100 V
0.2 V/Div to 1 V/Div ±40 V ±40 V ±500 V
2 V/Div to 10 V/Div ±400 V ±400 V ±500 V

Pictures