7623

Manuals – Specifications – Links – Pictures

The Tektronix 7623 is a 100 MHz analog multi-mode storage mainframe, introduced in 1972.
The 7623A facelift in 1975 increased standard writing speed to 150 div/µs (from 100 div/µs for a 7623 without option 12). Front panel controls were changed in the 7623A, too.
The 7623B version replaced the 7613, 7623A and 7633 in 1991. It added a reduced scan mode to increase stored writing speed and is essentially a re-named 7633. It was produced until the entire 7000 series was discontinued in 1992.

There were also R7623(A,B) rack-mount versions.

Project Engineer for the 7613 and 7623 was Bill DeVey under direction of Oliver Dalton. John Durecka did the electrical design. Doug Giesbers, Ed Wolf, and Chuck Davis provided the mechanical design. The CRT for the 7623 was developed by Gary Siewell, Chris Curtin, and Wes Hayward. Aiding the overall design effort were Dave McCullough and Dick Anderson.

Key Specifications

	— Common —
Fastest cal. sweep	5 ns/Div
Bandwidth	100 MHz with 7A11, 7A16, 7A17 and similar amplifiers; 75 MHz with 7A13, 7A18
Calibrator	40 mV, 400 mV or 4V into 1 MΩ, 1 kHz
Storage modes	variable persistence, fast variable persistence, bistable, fast bistable, non-store
Weight	13.6 kg (30 lb)
Power	170 W (R-version 180 W)
Options	Option 01 - No Readout Option 03 - EMI modification Option 05 - Line frequency change (50-400 Hz), only for R7623 Option 07 - No signals out board Option 08 - Protective panel cover Option 12 - Fast Writing CRT (200 cm/µs, 220 Div/µs)
	— 7623 —
Stored writing speed	fast var persist - 100 Div/μs, var persist - 0.5 Div/μs, bistable - 0.03 Div/μs
CRT	T7410 (154-0659-00), 8 x 10 Div. @ 0.9 cm, P31 phosphor, 8.5 (−1.5/+7) kV acceleration
	— 7623A —
Stored writing speed	fast var persist - 150 Div/μs, fast bistable - 50 Div/μs, var persist - 0.5 Div/μs, bistable - 0.03 Div/μs
CRT	T7411 (154-0723-00), 8 x 10 Div. @ 0.9 cm, P31 phosphor, 8.5 (−1.5/+7) kV acceleration
	— 7623B —
Bandwidth	tba
Stored writing speed	1000 cm/μs (in reduced-scan mode)

Links

• 7623A @ amplifier.cd
• Tek 7623A @ barrytech.com (waybackarchive) / Tek 7623B @ barrytech.com (waybackarchive)
• Tek 7623 @ radiomuseum.org

Documents Referencing 7623

Document	Class	Title	Authors	Year	Links
Tekscope 1972 V4 N4 Jul 1972.pdf	Article	Three Kinds of Storage		1972	7313 • 7613 • 7623 • T7411
7000 series brochure March 1973.pdf	Brochure	7000 series brochure, March 1973		1973	7A11 • 7A12 • 7A13 • 7A14 • 7A15A • 7A16A • 7A17 • 7A18 • 7A19 • 7A21N • 7A22 • 7B50 • 7B53A • 7B70 • 7B71 • 7B92 • 7CT1N • 7D11 • 7D13 • 7D14 • 7D15 • 7M11 • 7L12 • 7S11 • 7S12 • 7T11 • 7704A • R7704 • 7904 • R7903 • 7603 • R7603 • 7403N • R7403N • 7313 • R7313 • 7613 • R7613 • 7623 • R7623 • P7001
Tekscope 1975 V7 N3.pdf	Article	Storage Expands Your Oscilloscope Measurement Capabilities	Dave McCullough	1975	7514 • 7313 • 7613 • 7623 • 7633
Tekscope 1976 V8 N3.pdf	Article	Clearing Up the 7623 Storage Picture		1976	7623

Internals

The 7623 uses a Transfer storage CRT which includes an internal, fast-responding storage mesh. In fast mode, the time base is inhibited after a sweep, and the transfer cycle is started. Individual sweeps therefore occur in about one-second intervals.

The vertical output amplifier is built around a 155-0080-00 hybrid in the non-A version. The 7623A vertical amplifier is a discrete design with bridged T-coils. Other custom Tek ICs used in the 7623 include 155-0011-00 clock & chop blanking, 155-0022-00 channel switch, and the 7000 series readout system chips.

The 7623, like the other 76xx models, has a linear supply which does not provide +5 V for lights (A9) without modification.

Prices

Year	1973	1974	1976	1980	1984	1990	1991
Model	7623	7623A	7623A	7623A	7623A	7623A	7623B
Catalog price	$2,850	$3,000	$3,500	$4,295	$6,310	$8,900	$12,350
In 2023 Dollars	$19,700	$18,700	$18,900	$16,000	$18,600	$20,900	$27,800

Pictures

7623

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  7623

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  left side, X and Y output amplifiers

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  right side, storage logic board

7623A

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  7623A

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  7623A

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  7623A trace

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  7623A rear connections

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  7623A right internal

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  Sideview of mounting bracket

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  Left-hand_mounting bracket

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  Close-up of left-hand mounting bracket

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  Front view with front cover in place

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  Front-cover with partition open

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  Front-cover with partition closed

7623B

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  7623B

Components

Some Parts Used in the 7623B

Part	Part Number(s)	Class	Description	Used in
2N3055	151-0140-00	Discrete component	general-purpose silicon NPN power transistor	TM504 • TM506 • TM5006 • 7603 • 7613 • 7623 • 7623A • 7623B • 7633

Custom ICs used in the 7000 series readout system

Page	Model	Part nos	Description	Designers	Used in
155-0014-01	M019D	155-0014-00 • 155-0014-01	analog-to-decimal converter	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system • 7854 • 7934 • 7J20 • 7L5 • P7001
155-0015-01	M020F	155-0015-00 • 155-0015-01	analog data switch	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system • 7854 • 7934
155-0017-00	M025	155-0017-00	5 MHz decade counter	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system • 7854 • 7934
155-0018-00	M026	155-0018-00	zeros logic control	Les Larson	7000 series readout system • 7934
155-0019-00	M027	155-0019-00	decimal point and spacing control	Les Larson	7000 series readout system
155-0020-00	M028	155-0020-00	output assembler	Les Larson	7000 series readout system
155-0021-00	M029C	155-0021-00 • 155-0021-01	timing generator	Les Larson	7000 series readout system • 7854 • 7934
155-0023-00	M160	155-0023-00	character generator (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9)	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system
155-0024-00	M161	155-0024-00	character generator (↓ < I / + - + C Δ >)	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system
155-0025-00	M162	155-0025-00	character generator (m μ n p X K M G T R)	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system
155-0026-00	M163	155-0026-00	character generator (S V A W H d B c Ω E)	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system
155-0027-00	M164	155-0027-00	character generator (U N L Z Y P F J Q D)	Barrie Gilbert	7000 series readout system