7912
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
- 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
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 | 7912 • T7912 • R7912 • 7912AD • 7912HB • Scan converter |
| Patent US 3796910A | Electron beam deflection system | Ed Ritz | 1972-08-04 | 1974-03-12 | 7912 • T7912 • R7912 • 7912AD • 7912HB |
| Patent US 3893036A | Precision function generator | Jim Cavoretto • Al Allworth • Carlo Infante | 1973-07-27 | 1975-07-01 | 7912 • T7912 • R7912 • 7912AD • 7912HB |
| Patent US 3970889A | Erasure means for charge storage device | Hal Cobb | 1973-11-21 | 1976-07-20 | 7912 • T7912 • Scan converter |