JoeN:
What type of technology is used to make such a ($439,824) product? How do you sample at that rate? 160GS/s implies some sort of clock at 160Ghz. How is that done? I don't understand how this can be done at any price the speeds are so otherworldly.
Are you sure you don't mean a spectrum analyzer? I am at Agilent's site now and don't see any scopes like that.
Search google for "Agilent G-Rex". A few documents leaked with my code name. 
[G-Rex means Godzilla, but easier to type.]
There are 4 A/Ds sampling at 40Ga/s each. In front of each A/D is a 33GHz pre-amplifier. The best way to describe a pre-amplifier for an A/D is that it conditions the incoming signal for the very sensitive sampling hardware. (It is also where stuff like the attenuators and edge triggering flip-flops are located.) If you download the Infiniium 90000-X datasheet, you can see a picture of the front-end MCM (multi-chip module).
So that gives them 4 channels around 16GHz and then 2 channels of 33GHz by interleaving 2 of the A/Ds. That's all real-time and pretty straight forward.
To get to 60GHz+ they use frequency interleaving in front of the pre-amplifiers. By down-mixing signal content from 33 to 60GHz down to a range of of 0-33GHz they can sample "high frequency" content with their lower frequency A/D. Once sampled, software DSPs re-mix that content back into the 33 to 60GHz range. Then DSPs (which is probably just software running on the on-board PC) "stitch" together the native 0-33GHz content with the 33-60GHz content to create a 60GHz+ bandwidth single.
The stitching technique was first used by LeCroy a couple of years ago to boost their 6GHz real-time scopes to 13GHz.
You can make a 100GSample/sec oscilloscope with arduino as well:
- sync the signal at point A
- take a S/H sample at t=A+10ps, ADC and store data (d1)
Ya got me there. I never could get step 2 to work on the PIC. Darn, should have
tried the Arduino .
modeller:
JoeN:
What type of technology is used to make such a ($439,824) product? How do you sample at that rate? 160GS/s implies some sort of clock at 160Ghz. How is that done? I don't understand how this can be done at any price the speeds are so otherworldly.Are you sure you don't mean a spectrum analyzer? I am at Agilent's site now and don't see any scopes like that.
Scope. I posted this later in my thread once I realized I was witholding information:
JoeN:
modeller:
JoeN:
What type of technology is used to make such a ($439,824) product? How do you sample at that rate? 160GS/s implies some sort of clock at 160Ghz. How is that done? I don't understand how this can be done at any price the speeds are so otherworldly.Are you sure you don't mean a spectrum analyzer? I am at Agilent's site now and don't see any scopes like that.
Scope. I posted this later in my thread once I realized I was witholding information:
Oh, and lets not forget the all important option sheet for this scope, wouldn't want anyone to be disappointed by buying just the cheap 'base line' unit. HP.Agilent was/is always big into options for their equipment, worst then buying a car.
Lefty
I only paid $54,000 for my entire house and lot ... 
retrolefty:
JoeN:
modeller:
JoeN:
What type of technology is used to make such a ($439,824) product? How do you sample at that rate? 160GS/s implies some sort of clock at 160Ghz. How is that done? I don't understand how this can be done at any price the speeds are so otherworldly.Are you sure you don't mean a spectrum analyzer? I am at Agilent's site now and don't see any scopes like that.
Scope. I posted this later in my thread once I realized I was witholding information:
Oh, and lets not forget the all important option sheet for this scope, wouldn't want anyone to be disappointed by buying just the cheap 'base line' unit. HP.Agilent was/is always big into options for their equipment, worst then buying a car.
Lefty
How could you possibly live without the DDR3 compliance software? XD
How could you possibly live without the DDR3 compliance software?
Well if you are validating a design using DDR3, it is a HUGE time saver.