Teledyne Lecroy MS-500 User manual

Operator’s
Manual
MS-500 Mixed Signal
Oscilloscope Option

MS-500
Mixed-Signal Oscilloscope Option
Operator’s Manual
January 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.
Teledyne LeCroy is a registered trademark 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
NOTE: THE WARRANTY BELOW REPLACES ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS,
OR ADEQUACY FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE. TELEDYNE LECROY SHALL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, WHETHER IN
CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE. THE CUSTOMER IS 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 TRANSPORT
PREPAID.
The MS 500 is warranted for normal use and operation, within specifications, for a period of
three years from shipment. Teledyne LeCroy will either repair or, at our option, replace any
product returned to one of our authorized service centers within this period. However, in
order to do this we must first examine the product and find that it is defective due to
workmanship or materials and not due to misuse, neglect, accident, or abnormal conditions
or operation.
Teledyne LeCroy shall not be responsible for any defect, damage, or failure caused by any of
the following: a) attempted repairs or installations by personnel other than Teledyne LeCroy
representatives or b) improper connection to incompatible equipment, or c) for any damage
or malfunction caused by the use of non-Teledyne LeCroy supplies. Furthermore, Teledyne
LeCroy shall not be obligated to service a product that has been modified or integrated
where the modification or integration increases the task duration or difficulty of servicing
the oscilloscope. Spare and replacement parts, and repairs, all have a 90-day warranty.
922245-00 Rev A
January 2013

Operator’s Manual
922245-00 Rev A
i
B
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome ..................................................................................1
Safety Instructions ....................................................................2
Symbols.....................................................................................2
Precautions ...............................................................................2
Operating Environment ............................................................3
Cleaning.....................................................................................3
Returning a Product for Service or Repair ................................3
Technical Support .....................................................................4
Staying Up-to-Date....................................................................4
Standard Equipment .................................................................5
MS-500 Standard Hardware .....................................................5
The MS-500 Software ...............................................................7
Accessories................................................................................7
Description of Operation.........................................................10
Getting Started with the MS-500 .............................................11
Overview .................................................................................11
Connecting MS-500 to the Oscilloscope .................................12
Verifying Proper Connection to Oscilloscope
and Device Under Test............................................................14
Digital Connections .................................................................15
Threshold Levels .....................................................................16
Minimum Voltage Swing.........................................................16
Accessing the MS-500 Toolset ................................................17
Oscilloscope Analog Trigger and MS-500 Digital Trigger........18
Digital Trace Groups................................................................19
Digital Logic Threshold Setup..................................................22
Digital Trigger Setup................................................................24
Logic Bus Trigger Setup...........................................................26
Digital Logic Threshold Setup..................................................27

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Characterize Digital or Mixed Signal ........................................ 28
System Performance Overview.............................................. 28
Using Cursors.......................................................................... 28
Using Measurement Parameters ........................................... 29
Measurement Gating ............................................................. 30
Using Statistics and Graphing................................................. 30
Isolate and Analyze Signal Activity .......................................... 31
Zooming Waveforms.............................................................. 31
Reference............................................................................... 33
Certifications .......................................................................... 33
Specifications ......................................................................... 36
Contact Teledyne LeCroy ....................................................... 38

Operator’s Manual
922245-00 Rev A 1
Welcome
Thank you for purchasing a Teledyne LeCroy MS-500.
The MS-500 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope Option is a powerful solution for the
challenge of measuring multiple, mixed signals in a single oscilloscope. An
enhancement to the Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscopes, the MS-500 extends
their testing range by adding 18 or 36 digital channels for display or
triggering.
The MS-500 is ideally suited for embedded controller testing where there is
a proliferation of analog signals coincident with digital signals. Users can
easily debug signals using standard oscilloscope tools such as cursors,
measurement parameters, and zooming. Both oscilloscopes compatible
with the MS-500 feature large, bright color displays to facilitate signal
viewing, plus all the connectivity and documentation capabilities needed to
quickly record and distribute information.
The MS-500 and MS-500-36 are identical except the MS-500-36 standard
configuration is for 36 channels. The MS-500-36 can be operated in 36 or
18 channel mode for higher performance. The MS-500 is configured as an
18 channel instrument and can be upgraded with an additional lead set to
support 36 channels. Both are referred to as MS-500 in this manual.
This MS-500 manual assumes that you have a basic understanding of
discrete electronics, logic analyzers, and Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscopes,
specifically the model you will use with the MS-500. When necessary,
details on specific oscilloscope features are included in this manual.
Contact your nearest Teledyne LeCroy customer service center or national
distributor if anything is missing or damaged. We can only be responsible
for replacement if you contact us immediately.
Sincerely,
David C. Graef
Teledyne LeCroy Corporation
Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

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Safety Instructions
This section contains instructions that must be observed to keep the
instrument 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 instrument is the responsibility of the assembler of the system.
Symbols
These symbols appear on the instrument's front or rear panels and in its
documentation to alert you to important safety considerations.
CAUTION of damage to instrument, or WARNING of hazard to health.
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. Susceptible to damage if
anti-static measures are not taken.
DOUBLE INSULATION
Precautions
Connect and disconnect properly.
Do not overload. To avoid electric shock or fire, do not apply any potential
to the signal leads that exceeds the maximum rating of the instrument.
Refer to Specifications section of the manual for details.
Comply with voltage derating curve. When measuring higher frequency
signals, comply with the Voltage vs. Frequency Derating Curve, contained in
the Specifications section of the manual.
Use only within operational environment listed. Do not use in wet or
explosive atmospheres.
Use indoors only.
Keep product surfaces clean and dry.
Do not operate with suspected failures. Do not use the product if any part
is damaged. Cease operation immediately and sequester the instrument
from inadvertent use.

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Operating Environment
Temperature:
5 to 40 °C
Humidity:
Maximum relative humidity 80% (non-condensing)
for temperatures up to 31° C decreasing linearly to
50% relative humidity at 40° C
Altitude:
Up to 2,000 m
Cleaning
Clean only the exterior of the instrument using a damp, soft cloth. Do not
use harsh chemicals or abrasive elements. Under no circumstances
submerge the instrument or allow moisture to penetrate it.
CAUTION. Do not attempt to clean internal parts. Refer to qualified
service personnel.
Returning a Product for Service or Repair
If you suspect that you have a problem with the MS-500, you should first
contact your local Teledyne LeCroy service center so that they can
ascertain whether this component is defective.
If you need to return a Teledyne LeCroy product, provide model
identification by providing the model name and serial number, describe the
defect or failure, and give us your name and telephone number. For factory
returns, use a Return Authorization Number (RAN), which you can get from
customer service. Write the number clearly on the outside of the shipping
carton. Return products requiring only maintenance to your local customer
service center. Within the warranty period, transportation charges to the
service center are your responsibility.
Products under warranty are then returned to you with transport prepaid
by Teledyne LeCroy. Outside the warranty period, you provide us with a
purchase order number before the work can be done. You are also billed
for parts and labor related to the repair work and shipping.
It is highly recommended to prepay return shipments and use air freight.
Teledyne LeCroy cannot accept COD (Cash On Delivery) or Collect Return
shipments.

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Technical Support
You can get assistance with installation and operation from your customer
service center. Visit the Teledyne LeCroy Web site at teledynelecroy.com
for the center nearest you.
Staying Up-to-Date
Your MS-500 hardware does not need periodic calibration.
Teledyne LeCroy offers state-of-the-art performance by continually refining
and improving the instrument’s capabilities and operation. We frequently
update both firmware and software during service, free of charge during
warranty. Therefore, MS-500 specific software may be periodically
updated. You can download firmware and software updates from the
Teledyne LeCroy website.
Since software is continuously updated, the dialog boxes and menus you
see in your program may be slightly different than what is shown in this
manual. These differences should not affect your understanding of
correctly operating the MS-500.

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Standard Equipment
MS-500 Standard Hardware
The Standard Hardware consists of the following items:
Qty. 1 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope Option –Provides 18 or 36
channel digital acquisition and triggering.
Qty. 1 16” (40.64 cm) Digital Lead Set –Interfaces the MS-500 to
the device under test. The lead set terminates in a 25 mil pin
socket. Micro-gripper probes of various sizes are available as
accessories from Teledyne LeCroy, and may be connected to the
lead set. (Qty.2 provided with MS-500-36)
The lead set is divided into two groups. Each lead within the group
is color-coded (to resistor color-coding standard) and has an
individual ground connection. In addition, there are two common
ground leads available for use.
Qty. 1 Teledyne LeCroy Bus Cable –1.3m cable to connect Mixed
Signal Hardware to main oscilloscope unit, includes USB2.0 cable.
This connection provides timebase synchronization, cross-
triggering and power.

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Qty. 5 3” Flexible Ground Lead – Lead for grounding individual
digital inputs (Qty. 10 for MS-500-36)
Qty. 20 Ground Extender –Connect to ground port of any digital
input and make a simple signal and ground connection to a 0.1”
square pin header. (Qty. 40 with MS-500-36
Qty. 1 Carrying Case

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Qty. 1 Quick Reference Guide
Qty. 1 Operator’s Manual
The MS-500 Software
The standard MS-500 software adds the following capability to the
Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscope software dialogs:
Analog, Digital and Combination Trigger Modes –Allows you to
choose whether to set an analog trigger condition, a digital trigger
condition or a pattern consisting of analog and digital signals.
Digital Trigger –Allows a digital trigger condition to be set from
within the oscilloscope using an easy-to-understand interface.
Digital Channels –Provides a standard, general purpose setup for
defining the digital channels and displaying digital lines.
Digital Threshold Setup –Provides the means to define a logic
threshold for digital trace calculation.
The MS-500 Hardware and Software requires no traceable calibration or
adjustment. However, the oscilloscope used with the MS-500 does require
periodic calibration and adjustment.
Accessories
The following accessories are also available for use with the MS-500.
MSO-DLS-18 16” (40.64 cm) Digital Lead Set –You may find an
additional standard digital lead set convenient if you have more
than one device under test and do not wish to
disconnect/reconnect your cables (when using the MS-500 on
different DUTs). Inputs are labeled D0 –D17.
MSO-DLS-36 16” (40.64 cm) Digital Lead Set –An additional digital
lead set. This might be convenient to have if you have more than
one device under test and do not wish to disconnect/reconnect
your cables to use the MS-500 on different DUTs. Adding this to the
MS-500 enables 36 channels. Inputs are labeled D18 –D35

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PK400-1 –Large gripper probe set for 0.10 inch (2.54 mm) pin
pitch. Includes 10 probes with color-coded leads.
PK400-2 –Medium gripper probe set for 0.04 inch (1.0 mm) pin
pitch. Includes 10 probes with color-coded leads.

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PK400-3 –Small gripper probe set for 0.008 inch (0.2 mm) pin
pitch. Includes 10 probes with color-coded leads.
MSO-MICTOR –Mictor Connection cable, 16” (40.64 cm), 36
channel connector.
MSO-3M - Interconnect cable, 16” (40.64 cm) mates with 3M
connectors, 2520-6002 and 25205002..

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Description of Operation
The various components of the MS-500 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope Option
acquire and store digital data, trigger on digital patterns, interface the
external module to the oscilloscope, and provide a user-friendly interface
for control and interpretation of data.
The MS-500 is an external device that digitally samples waveform data at
up to 2 GS/s (for 500 MHz digital signals). Unlike a logic analyzer, it
operates only in a Timing Analysis mode, so it requires 4x oversampling to
determine the correct digital edge position, and does not require the user
to input a clock.
While in SINGLE, NORMAL, or AUTO trigger mode, the MS-500 repeatedly
samples each digital channel’s voltage level. If the voltage is greater than
the threshold voltage, the MS-500 stores a 1in internal memory.
Otherwise, a 0is stored.
1
Threshold level
1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
The minimum high voltage level is user definable by the hysteresis control
up to 1.4 V above the threshold. The maximum low voltage level is user
definable by the hysteresis control up to 1.4 V below the threshold. The
minimum signal swing is 100 mV. The indeterminate range of 50 mV
around the threshold voltage level is the level below which the MS-500 will
not operate. However, the MS-500 can support a signal as low as 100 mV
only if the input signal’s quality is adequate.
The MS-500 keeps sampling its inputs until the oscilloscope is put into STOP
trigger mode. Data is stored in a 50 Mpt internal memory that is
periodically transferred to the oscilloscope via the USB2.0 cable. If the
oscilloscope is triggering in SINGLE or NORMAL trigger mode, data is

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acquired and transferred only when the trigger condition is satisfied. The
captured data is then displayed on the oscilloscope grid in a time-aligned
fashion.
In any trigger mode (AUTO, NORMAL, SINGLE), pressing STOP trigger
cancels the acquisition, which leaves the previously acquired data
unchanged.
The MS-500 both samples incoming data and searches for trigger
conditions.
The USB2.0 cable provides downloading of trigger conditions from the
oscilloscope to the MS-500 and uploading of digital data from the MS-500
to the oscilloscope.
Getting Started with the MS-500
Overview
The MS-500 is a complete system that interfaces with the oscilloscope in a
number of ways that make it easier to do the following:
Set analog, digital and combination triggers.
View all analog and digital signal information on the oscilloscope
grid, with all signals time-correlated
All setup is done in the user-friendly oscilloscope dialogs –it is not required
to leave the oscilloscope software to run the MS-500. All normal
oscilloscope tools (cursors, measurement parameters, etc.) are available
for use with the digital signals.
There are physical connections that must be made to ensure proper
operation, but the intuitive connection steps are documented here.
Operation of the specific Teledyne LeCroy oscilloscope is not covered in
this manual. Reference the On-Line Help or Getting Started Manual for
each oscilloscope for complete information on analog triggering, display of
analog signals, front panel operation, etc.

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Connecting MS-500 to the Oscilloscope
1. Connect the Teledyne LeCroy Bus Cable to the Teledyne LeCroy Bus
connector on the side of the oscilloscope and fasten the thumb
screws.
2. Connect the USB 2.0 cable (attached to the Teledyne LeCroy Bus
cable) to any of the side mounted USB ports on the oscilloscope.
3. Connect the other end of the Teledyne LeCroy Bus cable to the MS-
500 and fasten the thumb screws.

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4. Connect the other end of the USB2.0 Cable to the MS-500.
5. Connect the Digital Lead Set to the other end of the MS-500
(labeled Digital Inputs, D0 –D17) and fasten the thumb screws. For
MS-500-36 repeat this process with the lead set labeled D18 –D35.
NOTE: Each digital line has a ground connection for optimal
performance. Two additional ground leads common to the whole
lead set are also available.
6. Connect the Digital Leads to the digital lines you wish to observe
(using accessory micro-grippers, as necessary or desired).
7. Turn on power to the oscilloscope and wait for the oscilloscope
application to begin.

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Verifying Proper Connection to Oscilloscope
and Device Under Test
If you are concerned that your digital signals aren’t being displayed
correctly, it is a good idea to check by viewing the digital signals one at a
time with an analog channel. This can point out errors in your connection
or in your logic threshold setup.
When your system is connected properly it looks like the following photo:
It is usually easiest to debug digital line connection or display problems by
viewing the digital information on an analog channel to confirm its
presence, then working back through the previous sequence to determine
where the connection or display error is.
CAUTION. Handle with care! The MS-500 Digital Lead Set connectors
are fragile. Pull the connector base, not the wire. Never bend the
connectors.