AC or DC Coupled Probe Head

Pico also brings the flexibility of AC or DC coupling, again through selection of interchangeable probe heads. Low-impedance probes load the probed signal, slightly reducing the amplitude, and if the signal has a DC bias they will source or sink current to or from the signal source, potentially changing the device operating bias. The AC-coupled probe avoids the DC bias problem. Low- frequency 3 dB cut-off is less than 160 kHz and droop of pulse top or base is <0.1%/ns on all AC-coupled models.

High-energy Pulse and Burst Applications

Passive probes, neglecting relatively small self-heating contributions, are inherently linear and suffer from permanent damage or ratio shift only under overload conditions. The Pico Connect 910 family of RF, microwave and pulse probe heads uses MELF resistor technology and can be used for high-amplitude narrow pulse or burst applications such as high-energy physics, radar or RF imaging. The 910 family can withstand amplitudes in excess of the probe voltage rating under the following conditions:

• Peak pulse or burst voltage within ±150 V peak
• Peak pulse or burst width less than 500 ns[Note 2]
• Pulse or burst power not greater than (probe voltage rating)²/probe input resistance