Tektronix P7240 User manual

User Manual
P7240
4 GHz 5X Active Probe
071-0759-03
Warning
The servicing instructions are for use by qualified
personnel only. To avoid personal injury, do not
perform any servicing unless you are qualified to
do so. Refer to all safety summaries prior to
performing service.

CopyrightETektronix, Inc. All rights reserved.
Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and
pending. Information in this publication supercedes that in all previously
published material. Specifications and price change priviledges reserved.
Tektronix, Inc., P.O. Box 500, Beaverton, OR 97077
TEKTRONIX, TEK, and SureFoot are registered trademarks, and TekConnect,
SureToe, and KlipChip are trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.

WARRANTY
Tektronix warrants that this product will be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment. If any such
product proves defective during this warranty period, Tektronix, at its option,
either will repair the defective product without charge for parts and labor, or will
provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product.
In order to obtain service under this warranty, Customer must notify Tektronix of
the defect before the expiration of the warranty period and make suitable
arrangements for the performance of service. Customer shall be responsible for
packaging and shipping the defective product to the service center designated
by Tektronix, with shipping charges prepaid. Tektronix shall pay for the return of
the product to Customer if the shipment is to a location within the country in
which the Tektronix service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for
paying all shipping charges, duties, taxes, and any other charges for products
returned to any other locations.
This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by im-
proper use or improper or inadequate maintenance and care. Tektronix shall not
be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting
from attempts by personnel other than Tektronix representatives to install, repair
or service the product; b) to repair damage resulting from improper use or
connection to incompatible equipment; or c) to service a product that has been
modified or integrated with other products when the effect of such modification
or integration increases the time or difficulty of servicing the product.
THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY TEKTRONIX WITH RESPECT TO THIS
PRODUCT IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IM-
PLIED. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRAN-
TIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
TEKTRONIX’ RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE
PRODUCTSISTHESOLEANDEXCLUSIVEREMEDYPROVIDEDTOTHE
CUSTOMER FOR BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY. TEKTRONIX AND ITS
VENDORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDEN-
TAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER
TEKTRONIX OR THE VENDOR HAS ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBIL-
ITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual i
General Safety Summary
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent
damage to this product or any products connected to it. To avoid
potential hazards, use this product only as specified.
Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures.
To Avoid Fire or Personal Injury
Connect and Disconnect Properly. Connect the probe output to the
measurement instrument before connecting the probe to the circuit
under test. Disconnect the probe input and the probe ground from the
circuit under test before disconnecting the probe from the measure-
ment instrument.
Observe All Terminal Ratings. To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe
all ratings and markings on the product. Consult the product manual
for further ratings information before making connections to the
product.
Connect the ground lead of the probe to earth ground only.
Do Not Operate Without Covers. Do not operate this product with
covers or panels removed.
Do Not Operate With Suspected Failures. If you suspect there is
damage to this product, have it inspected by qualified service
personnel.
Do Not Operate in Wet/Damp Conditions.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.

General Safety Summary
ii P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
Safety Terms and Symbols
Terms in This Manual. These terms may appear in this manual:
WARNING. Warning statements identify conditions or practices that
could result in injury or loss of life.
CAUTION. Caution statements identify conditions or practices that
could result in damage to this product or other property.
Terms on the Product. These terms may appear on the product:
DANGER indicates an injury hazard immediately accessible as you
read the marking.
WARNING indicates an injury hazard not immediately accessible as
you read the marking.
CAUTION indicates a hazard to property including the product.
Symbols on the Product. These symbols may appear on the product:
CAUTION
Refer to Manual

P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual iii
Table of Contents
General Safety Summary iii............................
Preface v............................................
Related Manuals v....................................
Contacting Tektronix vi.................................
Product Description 1.................................
TekConnect Interface 1.................................
Installation 2.........................................
Options 3............................................
Features and Accessories 5.............................
Functional Check 13...................................
Configuration 15......................................
Probe Offset 15........................................
Operating Basics 17...................................
Handling the Probe 17..................................
Maximum Nondestructive Input Voltage 17.................
Input Linear Dynamic Range 17..........................
Ground Lead Length 18.................................
Ground Lead Inductance 18..............................
Helpful Hints 21......................................
Low-inductance Grounding 21............................
SureFoot Grounding 22.................................
Appendix A: Specifications 23...........................
Specifications 23.......................................
Appendix B: User Service 27............................
Inspection and Cleaning 27..............................
Calibration 27.........................................
Replacement Parts 27...................................
Preparation for Shipment 28..............................
Appendix C: Replaceable Parts 29.......................
Parts Ordering Information 29............................
Using the Replaceable Parts List 30........................

Table of Contents
iv P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
List of Figures
Figure 1: P7240 Probe featuring the TekConnect interface 1
Figure 2: Connecting and disconnecting the probe 2.......
Figure 3: Probe functional check connections 13...........
Figure 4: Dynamic and offset limitations 16...............
Figure 5: Waveform distortion from ground lead length 18..
Figure 6: Ground Lead Equivalent Circuit 19..............
Figure 7: Low-inductance grounding 21...................
Figure 8: Using a SureFoot adapter for grounding 22.......
Figure 9: Typical input impedance and
phase versus frequency 24...........................
Figure 10: Typical bandwidth 25.........................
Figure 11: Probe head and compensation box dimensions 25.
Figure 12: P7240 replaceable parts 31....................
Figure 13: P7240 standard accessories 32.................
Figure 14: P7240 optional accessories 34..................

P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual v
Preface
This is the User Manual for the P7240 probe. This manual provides
operating information, specifications, and a replaceable parts list.
Related Manuals
If you need to do a performance verification or make internal
adjustments to your probe, refer to the P7240 4 GHz Active Probe
Service Manual, Tektronix part number 071-1056-XX. The manual is
a printable pdf file, and is available on both the Tektronix website
and the Optional Applications CD, Tektronix part number
063-3376-XX. The Optional Applications CD is included with
Tektronix oscilloscopes featuring the TekConnect interface.

Preface
vi P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
Contacting Tektronix
Phone [phone]*
Address Tektronix, Inc.
Department or name (if known)
14200 SW Karl Braun Drive
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton, OR 97077
USA
Web site www.tektronix.com
Sales
support
1-800-833-9200, select option 1*
Service
support
1-800-833-9200, select option 2*
Technical
support
Email: [e-mail]
1-800-833-9200, select option 3*
1-503-627-2400
6:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Pacific time
*This phone number is toll free in North America. After office
hours, please leave a voice mail message.
Outside North America, contact a Tektronix sales office or
distributor; see the Tektronix web site for a list of offices.

P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual 1
Product Description
The Tektronix P7240 is a 4 GHz (probe only), 5X active FET probe.
The P7240 has a low input capacitance (1 pF) and high input
resistance (20 kΩ), which minimize circuit loading over a wide
bandwidth range. The small profile and low-mass head of the P7240
make probing dense circuitry by hand fast and easy. The accessory
tips and adapters included enable the P7240 to be used on a wide
variety of circuit architectures.
Figure 1: P7240 Probe featuring the TekConnect interface
TekConnect Interface
The P7240 is powered through a TekConnect interface between the
probe compensation box and the oscilloscope. The TekConnect
interface provides a communication path through contact pins on the
host instrument. Power, signal, offset, and probe characteristic data
transfer through the interface.

Product Description
2P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
When the probe is connected, the oscilloscope reads EEPROM
information from the probe, identifying the device and allowing the
appropriate power supplies to be powered on. The preamp inputs on
the oscilloscope are electrostatic discharge protected by remaining
grounded until a valid TekConnect device is detected.
Installation
The TekConnect interface features a spring-loaded latch that
provides audible and tactile confirmation that a reliable connection
has been made to the oscilloscope. Slide the probe into the
TekConnect receptacle on the oscilloscope. The probe snaps into the
oscilloscope when fully engaged. See Figure 2.
To release the probe from the oscilloscope, grasp the compensation
box, depress the latch button, and pull out the probe.
Latch
button
Figure 2: Connecting and disconnecting the probe

Product Description
P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual 3
Options
The following options are available when ordering the P7240 probe:
HOption D1 -- Calibration Data
HOption C3 -- 3 years Calibration Service
HOption D3 -- 3 years Calibration Data (requires Option C3)
HOption R3 -- 3 years Extended Warranty

Product Description
4P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual

P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual 5
Features and Accessories
The P7240 is provided with several features and accessories designed
to make probing and measurement a simpler task. To familiarize
yourself with these items and their uses, refer to Table 1.
Table 1: P7240 features and standard accessories
Feature/Accessory Description
Probe tip
socket
Ground
socket
Stabilization
notch
Probe head assembly. The probe head is
designed for ease of use and high performance.
Its small size makes it easy to handle in tight
areas.
The probe tip socket is sized to easily press onto
0.025 inch square pins for direct access. The
ground socket provides a short ground path for
high fidelity ground connections.
The stabilization notch permits you to use
adjacent pins to reduce stresses on the probe
and pins.
Latch
button
TekConnect interface.The TekConnect
interface provides a communication path between
the probe and the oscilloscope. Contact pins
provide power, signal, offset, and probe
characteristic data transfer.
The probe snaps into the oscilloscope when fully
engaged. To remove, grasp the compensation
box, depress the latch button, and pull the probe
out.
Push-in probe tip
Push-in probe tip (10 ea).Use the push-in
probe tip for general purpose probing by hand.
The push-in probe tip may also be used with the
other socketed leads and adapters.
Tektronix part number: 131-5638-11
(package of 10)

Features and Accessories
6P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
Table 1: P7240 features and standard accessories (Cont.)
Feature/Accessory Description
Installing the push-in probe tip. Attach the
push-in probe tip by aligning the tip into the probe
tip socket and pushing the tip in until it is seated.
Either end of the tip may be used.
Do not force the tip.Also, be careful not to poke
yourself with the sharp probe tip. To remove the
tip, gently grab the tip with small pliers, and pull
the tip out.
SureToe probe tip (4 ea).The SureToe tip is a
pointed probe tip useful for probing in dense
circuitry. Attach the SureToe adapters the same
way as the push-in probe tips.
Do not force the tip.Also, be careful not to poke
yourself with the sharp probe tip. They can be
used with any of the socketed accessory leads.
Tektronix part number: ST501 (package of 12)
KlipChip
Y-lead adapter
SMT KlipChip (2 ea).Use the SMT KlipChip
test clips to access fragile, dense circuitry.
KlipChip test clips can be connected to the Y-lead
or three-inch ground leads. Simply press the lead
socket into the KlipChip handle.
The KlipChip body freely turns, allowing better
probe orientation. To reduce stress and provide a
lower profile on components being tested, the
flexible sleeve of the KlipChip bends up to a
35 degree angle.
Tektronix part number: 206-0364-XX

Features and Accessories
P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual 7
Table 1: P7240 features and standard accessories (Cont.)
Feature/Accessory Description
Y-lead
adapter
Y-lead adapter (2 ea). Use the Y-lead adapter
to extend the physical reach of the probe and
ground when necessary. The Y-lead adapter
accepts any of the probe tips or adapters, and
can be pushed directly onto 0.025 inch square-
pins.
When selecting the grounding connection,
maintain as short a ground path as possible.
Refer to page 18 for more information.
Y-lead
adapter
To attach the Y-lead adapter, gently press the
lead pins into the probe head tip and ground
receptacles. Using the black lead for ground is
recommended.
Three-inch ground lead (3 ea). Use the
three-inch ground lead for general probing. The
socketed end of the lead may be connected to
any of the probe tips and adapters or fitted onto
0.025 inch square pins.
To attach the ground lead, press and rotate the
lead pin connector into the ground socket on the
probe head. The lead may be removed by simply
pulling the pin out by hand.
When selecting the grounding connection,
maintain as short a ground path as possible.
Refer to page 18 for more information.
Tektronix part number: 196-3456-00 (package of
three ground leads and two Y-lead adapters)

Features and Accessories
8P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
Table 1: P7240 features and standard accessories (Cont.)
Feature/Accessory Description
Customizable
ground lead
Customizable ground lead (5 ea).This
ground lead wire can be bent or cut shorter.
NOTE: To ease insertion into the ground socket
of the probe, cut the tip of this ground lead wire at
a 30 to 60 degree angle.
To maintain signal fidelity while probing, use as
short a ground path as possible. Refer to page 18
for more grounding information.
Tektronix part number: 196-3482-00
(package of 5)
Right
angle
adapter
Adapter spring (10 ea). Use the adapter spring
for low-profile probing of 0.025 inch square pins.
The adapter spring allows the probe to lie at a
right-angle (flat against a circuit board). This
enables probing in vertical circuits, such as
computer or communications backplanes, or in
tight areas, such as between circuit cards.
The adapter can be used directly with the probe
head or attached to the Y-lead adapter or ground
leads.
The adapter is attached by pushing the tip into
the probe tip socket until it is seated. The adapter
spring can be easily removed by hand.
Tektronix part number: 016-1774-00
(package of 10)

Features and Accessories
P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual 9
Table 1: P7240 features and standard accessories (Cont.)
Feature/Accessory Description
Pogo pin
Low-inductance ground pogo pin (10 ea).
Use the low-inductance ground pogo pin to
substantially reduce ground lead inductance.
Because the pogo pin simply touches the ground
reference, you can easily move the probe to
different points on the circuit under test.
To attach, press the pogo pin into the probe head
ground socket.
When selecting the grounding connection,
maintain as short a ground path as possible.
Refer to page 18 for more information.
Tektronix part number: 016-1772-10
(package of 10)
Ground pin
length adapter
Ground pin length adapter (10 ea).
The ground pin length adapter is ideal for use
with signal/ground pairs on 0.100 inch square-
header pins.
Attach the adapter by gently pressing it into the
ground socket on the probe head.
Be sure to use the stabilization notch whenever
possible to avoid slipping and damaging the
probe or circuitry under test.
Tektronix part number: 016-1773-10
(package of 10)
Cable marker
bands
Cable marker bands (10 ea). Attach matching
pairs of the marker bands onto the cable at the
head and compensation box of each probe. The
marker bands enable quick verification of which
probe is connected to which instrument channel.
Tektronix part number: 016-1315-00
(package of 10)

Features and Accessories
10 P7240 4 GHz 5X Active Probe User Manual
Table 1: P7240 features and standard accessories (Cont.)
Feature/Accessory Description
Antistatic wrist strap. When using the probe,
always work at an antistatic work station and
wear the antistatic wrist strap.
Tektronix part number: 006-3415-04
Plastic accessory box. Use the plastic box to
store the probe accessories when not in use.
Tektronix part number: 006-7164-00
Instrument case. The instrument case protects
the probe from harsh environments and provides
room for storing optional accessories.
Tektronix part number: 016-1879-01
Instruction Manual. Provides specifications and
instructions for operating the probe, and a list of
accessories and adapters.
Tektronix part number: 071-0759-XX
Calibration certificate. A certificate of traceable
calibration is provided with every instrument
shipped.