Tektronix recently launched the TAP1500L, an active, single-ended probe that comes with a seven-meter probe cable. With a cable 5.7 meters longer than the original TAP1500 active single-ended probe, the TAP1500L enables engineers to perform automated tests with greater flexibility and safety.
The TAP1500L’s seven-meter cable is one meter longer than comparable probes on the market, especially useful for customers using flying probe testers, where extra length is often required due to the need to route probes through automated systems. It's also useful for any situation where the device under test (DUT) needs to be further from the oscilloscope.
Despite the seven-meter cable, the TAP1500L offers greater than or equal to 1.5 GHz of bandwidth, less than 267 ps of rise time, and less than or equal to 1 pF of input capacitance, ensuring accurate signal acquisition for high-speed designs. The compact probe head can handle small geometry circuit elements, and DUT attachment accessories enable connection to SMDs as small as 0.5 mm pitch.
To ensure instrument ease-of-use and reliable data collection, the TAP1500L connects directly to oscilloscopes with the TekVPI probe interface. This allows for automatic and intuitive unit scaling and readout on the oscilloscope display, with no additional amplifier or software support required.
Andrew Mumford, Tektronix Probe Product Manager, emphasizes the significance of this release, stating that, “With this extended cable length and the integration of automated testing features, the Tektronix TAP1500L was specifically designed to provide engineers greater freedom of movement. Our customers can’t always have their oscilloscopes close to their DUT, and the longer cable benefits customers who use flying probe testers that require long cables for routing through automated positioning systems.”
