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Agilent MegaZoom III MOST responsive deep memory

PMW_8Mpts Do I really need deep memory in my oscilloscope?
How much memory does your scope need for measurements? Many people think of deep memory in oscilloscopes as expensive and difficult to use with slow update rates, and they use it primarily as a special-purpose feature for capturing long and complex signals. But deep memory doesn’t have to be expensive, nor does it have to be difficult to use. And having deep memory in an oscilloscope can be fundamental in achieving high measurement resolution by maintaining high sample rate in a broad range of general-purpose measurement applications — not just special-purpose applications.

Deep memory provides sustained high sample rates
Besides bandwidth, one of the most fundamental specifications in a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) is its specified maximum sample rate. However, a DSO's sample rate is actually based on the scope's time base setting. At the faster time base settings, all oscilloscopes will capture waveforms using their specified maximum sample rates. But as you adjust the time base setting to slower ranges in order to capture longer waveforms, all scopes will automatically reduce their sample rates because of their limited memory depths. Deeper memory in an oscilloscope means that the scope can sustain its maximum sample rate on more time base settings enabling you to see more details of your signals.

These images show an example where MegaZoom III deep memory enables you to see subtle details of a complex signal. In the top image, you can see several cycles of a PWM (pulse-width modulated) signal. Notice the bright spots near the center of each burst. The lower photo shows a zoomed-in display on just one of the bright spots to reveal a runt pulse. With up to 8 Mpts of MegaZoom III acquisition memory, Agilent's 6000 Series oscilloscope is able to sustain its maximum sample rate in order to show us this signal anomaly.

Deep memory doesn't have to be difficult to use
In most oscilloscopes deep memory is a special, user-selected mode of operation. They are designed this way because using deep memory usually results in slower oscilloscope display update rates, which can make using an oscilloscope a frustrating experience. But with MegaZoom III technology in Agilent's 6000 Series oscilloscopes, deep memory operation is automatic, with update rates exceeding 100,000 real-time waveforms per second, the industry's fastest.

To learn more about the benefits of deep memory download Agilent application note # 1446 titled, "Deep Memory Oscilloscopes: The New Tools of Choice."
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