Teledyne Lecroy AP033 User manual

Operator’s
Manual
AP033 Active
Differential Probe

AP033 Active Differential Probe
Operator’s Manual
May 2013

© 2013 Teledyne LeCroy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication of Teledyne LeCroy documentation materials other than for internal sales
and distribution purposes is strictly prohibited. However, clients are encouraged to distribute and
duplicate Teledyne LeCroy documentation for their own internal educational purposes.
WaveSurfer, WaveRunner, and Teledyne LeCroy are registered trademarks of Teledyne LeCroy, Inc.
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Other product or brand names are
trademarks or requested trademarks of their respective holders. Information in this publication
supersedes all earlier versions. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
Warranty
Teledyne LeCroy warrants this oscilloscope accessory for normal use and operation within
specification for a period of one year from the date of shipment. Spare parts, replacement parts and
repairs are warranted for 90 days.
In exercising its warranty, Teledyne LeCroy, at its option, will either repair or replace any assembly
returned within its warranty period to the Customer Service Department or an authorized service
center. However, this will be done only if the product is determined by Teledyne LeCroy’s
examination to be defective due to workmanship or materials, and the defect is not caused by
misuse, neglect, accident, abnormal conditions of operation, or damage resulting from attempted
repair or modifications by a non-authorized service facility.
The customer will be responsible for the transportation and insurance charges for the return of
products to the service facility. Teledyne LeCroy will return all products under warranty with
transportation charges prepaid.
This warranty replaces all other warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to any
implied warranty of merchantability, fitness or adequacy for any particular purposes or use.
Teledyne LeCroy shall not be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, whether in
contract or otherwise.
922260-00 Rev A
May 2013

Operator’s Manual
922260-00 Rev A i
Table of Contents
Safety Instructions............................................................................................... 1
Symbols ..................................................................................................................1
Precautions.............................................................................................................1
Operating Environment..........................................................................................2
Overview ............................................................................................................ 3
Description .............................................................................................................3
Applications............................................................................................................3
Standard Accessories .............................................................................................4
Optional Accessories ..............................................................................................4
Oscilloscope Software Compatibility......................................................................4
Specifications ...................................................................................................... 5
Operation ........................................................................................................... 8
Connecting the Probe to the Test Instrument .......................................................8
Connecting the Probe to the Test Circuit...............................................................8
Probe Input Loading.............................................................................................10
Grounding the Probe............................................................................................10
Selecting the Proper Range..................................................................................11
Operation with Teledyne LeCroy Oscilloscopes...................................................12
Adding Offset........................................................................................................14
Autobalance .........................................................................................................15
Designing Test Fixtures for the AP033 Probe.......................................................16
Maintenance..................................................................................................... 17
Cleaning................................................................................................................17
Calibration Interval...............................................................................................17
Service Strategy....................................................................................................17
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................ 18
Returning a Probe ............................................................................................. 20
Available Accessories......................................................................................... 21

AP033 Active Differential Probe
ii 922260-00 Rev A
Matching Procedure for ÷10 Plugs ......................................................................22
Equipment Required.............................................................................................22
Procedure .............................................................................................................23
Performance Verification ...................................................................................25
Test Equipment Required.....................................................................................25
Preliminary Procedure..........................................................................................27
Procedure .............................................................................................................27
Adjustment Procedure .......................................................................................35
Introduction..........................................................................................................35
Test Equipment Required.....................................................................................36
Preliminary Procedure..........................................................................................38
Procedure .............................................................................................................39
Reference Information .......................................................................................48
Differential Mode and Common Mode................................................................48
Differential Mode Range and Common Mode Range..........................................48
Common Mode Rejection Ratio ...........................................................................49
Certifications ........................................................................................................50
Contact Teledyne LeCroy....................................................................................53

Operator’s Manual
922260-00 Rev A 1
Safety Instructions
This section contains instructions that must be observed to keep this oscilloscope accessory
operating in a correct and safe condition. You are required to follow generally accepted safety
procedures in addition to the precautions specified in this section. The overall safety of any system
incorporating this accessory is the responsibility of the assembler of the system.
Symbols
These symbols may appear on the probe body or in this manual to alert you to important safety
considerations.
HIGH VOLTAGE, risk of electric shock.
CAUTION of Potential damage to probe or instrument it is connected to, or
WARNING of potential bodily injury. Attend to the accompanying
information to protect against personal injury or damage. Do not proceed
until conditions are fully understood and met.
ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) HAZARD. The probe is susceptible to
damage if anti-static measures are not taken.
DOUBLE INSULATION
PROTECTIVE (EARTH) TERMINAL
Precautions
To avoid personal injury, or damage to the probe or test instrument, comply with the following
safety precautions.
Use product only as specified.
Connect and disconnect properly. Connect probe to the measurement instrument before
connecting the test leads to a circuit/signal being tested.
Use only accessories compatible with the probe. Use only accessories that are rated for the
application. Ensure connections between probe input leads and probe accessories are secure
before connecting them to a voltage source.

AP033 Active Differential Probe
2 922260-00 Rev A
Do not overload. To avoid electric shock, do not apply any potential that exceeds the maximum
rating of the probe and/or the probe accessory, whichever is less. Observe all terminal ratings of
the instrument before connecting the probe.
Be careful not to damage the insulation surface when making measurements.
Use only within operational environment listed. Do not use in wet or explosive atmospheres.
Keep product surfaces clean and dry. Use indoors only.
Handle with care. Probe accessory tips are sharp. They can puncture skin or cause other bodily
injury if not handled properly.
Keep fingers behind the finger guard of the probe accessories.
Do not operate with suspected failures. Before each use, inspect the probe and accessories for any
damage such as tears or other defects in the probe body, cable jacket, accessories, etc. If any part
is damaged, cease operation immediately and sequester the probe from inadvertent use.
Operating Environment
Only use the product within this operating environment:
Temperature: 0° to 50° C
Humidity: Maximum relative humidity 90 % for temperatures up to 31° C decreasing linearly to
50% relative humidity at 40° C
Altitude: Up to 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

Operator’s Manual
922260-00 Rev A 3
Overview
Description
The AP033 is a wide band differential active probe. The probe features low noise, low input
capacitance, high common mode rejection, and FET-buffered inputs in the probe head. User
selectable attenuation and offset give the probe flexibility to measure a large range of signal
amplitudes. Plug-on attenuator and AC coupling accessories further extend the application range.
Interconnect accessories included allow connection to surface mount and through-hole
components with minimal signal degradation. The input receptacles in the probe head are
compatible with standard 0.025 in. (0.635 mm) square pins. This provides a convenient low cost
method of creating device characterization test fixtures.
The probe is powered directly from a Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscope through the ProBus® interface.
The ProBus interface also allows local control of the probe through the oscilloscope user interface
and remote control through the interface buses, (GPIB, RS-232). The optional ADPPS power supply
allows the AP033 to be used with other instruments such as spectrum analyzers, network
analyzers, and oscilloscopes without ProBus interface.
Applications
The AP033 is ideal for acquiring high speed differential signals such as those found in disk drive
read channels, differential LAN, video, etc. It can also be used with spectrum analyzers to acquire
signals in some RF systems (for example, balanced IF mixers in hand held cellular telephones). The
high impedance characteristics of both inputs allow the probe to be used as a FET probe to make
single-ended measurements in digital systems without introducing a ground loop, as a conventional
FET probe would.

AP033 Active Differential Probe
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Standard Accessories
Hard Case
÷10 Plug-on Attenuator
Plug-on AC Coupler
Probe Connection Accessory Kit:
Flex Lead Set (1)
Mini Clip, 0.8 mm (3)
Mini Clip, 0.5 mm (2)
Ground Lead (1)
Offset Pins, Round (4)
Square Pin Header Strip (1)
Manual, AP033 Active Differential Probe Operator’s Manual
Optional Accessories
ADPPS Power Supply
Oscilloscope Software Compatibility
For full control functionality of the probe, Teledyne LeCroy LC series oscilloscopes must have
software version 8.1.0 or higher loaded; all X-Stream oscilloscopes are compatible. The software
version installed in a Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscope can be verified by pressing the SHOW STATUS
button on the front panel (where available), then selecting the System menu choice. The probe can
be used with earlier versions of software; however, probe offset can only be controlled through the
buttons on the probe body. Also, the scale factor will be displayed incorrectly in some modes.
For information on upgrading the software in your oscilloscope, see
teledynelecroy.com/support/softwaredownload, or contact your local Teledyne LeCroy
representative.