The Tektronix TDS640A is a professional-grade 4-channel digital oscilloscope designed for high-speed, multi-channel waveform capture. Part of the legacy TDS series, it features an analog bandwidth of 500 MHz and provides a real-time sample rate of 2 GS/s simultaneously on all four channels. Equipped with an 8-bit ADC, a bright NuColor color display, a built-in floppy drive, and diverse interface connectivity, the TDS640A is tailored for demanding electronic design, debug, and characterization tasks.
Specifications
General
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 7-inch monochrome CRT, 640 x 480 pixels |
| Warm-Up Time | 20 minutes |
| Cooling | Forced-air circulation |
| EMC Compliance | Meets FCC Part 15 Class A, EN 55011 Class A |
Physical
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Power Supply | 90 to 250 V AC, 45 to 440 Hz, 300 W maximum |
| Operating Temperature | 0 to +50 °C |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 445 mm × 193 mm × 434 mm |
| Weight | 14.1 kg |
Vertical System (Analog Channels)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of Channels | 4 |
| Analog Bandwidth (-3 dB) | 500 MHz |
| Rise Time | ≤ 700 ps (calculated) |
| Vertical Resolution (ADC Bits) | 8-Bit |
| Vertical Sensitivity Range | 1 mV/div to 10 V/div |
| DC Gain Accuracy | ±1.5% |
| Input Impedance | 50 Ω |
| Input Coupling | DC, GND |
| Maximum Input Voltage | 5 V RMS (with peaks ≤ ±25 V) |
| Hardware Bandwidth Limits | 20 MHz, 100 MHz |
Horizontal System (Timebase)
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Timebase Range | 500 ps/div to 5 s/div |
| Timebase Accuracy | ±100 ppm (0.01%) |
| Standard Record Length | 2,000 points per channel |
Acquisition System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Real-Time Sample Rate (All Channels) | 2 GS/s (simultaneously on all 4 channels) |
| Acquisition Modes | Sample, Envelope, Average |
Trigger System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Trigger Sources | CH1, CH2, CH3, CH4, AC Line, Auxiliary |
| Trigger Modes | Auto, Normal, Single |
| Trigger Coupling | DC, AC, Low Frequency Reject, High Frequency Reject, Noise Reject |
| Trigger Types | Edge, Pulse (Glitch, Width, Runt, Setup/Hold, Pattern, State) |
| Auxiliary Trigger Input | Yes |
| Trigger Level Range | ±12 divisions from center of screen (internal) |
| Trigger Sensitivity (Internal) | 0.35 div from DC to 50 MHz, 1.0 div at 500 MHz |
| Trigger Sensitivity (External) | 40 mV from DC to 50 MHz, 150 mV at 500 MHz |
| Trigger Holdoff Range | 250 ns to 12 s |
| Auxiliary Trigger Input Impedance | 1 MΩ |
Display Characteristics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Display Type | Monochrome CRT |
| Display Resolution | 640 × 480 pixels |
| Display Size | 7 in. (diagonal) |
| Waveform Display Styles | Vectors, Dots, Infinite Persistence, Variable Persistence |
| Graticules | Full, Grid, Crosshair, Frame |
Measurements & Analysis
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Automatic Measurements | 25 fully automated measurements (including Amplitude, Period, Frequency, Rise/Fall Time, Width) |
| Cursor Measurements | Volts, Time, Paired |
| Waveform Processing (Math) | Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide, Invert |
| Advanced Waveform DSP | Optional (Option 2F) |
| Limit Testing / Mask Testing | Waveform Pass/Fail Template Testing |
| Automatic Measurements Count | 25 automatic measurements |
Input / Output Ports & Interfaces
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| GPIB Interface | IEEE-488.2 standard interface |
| RS-232 Serial Port | Optional (Option 13) |
| Centronics Parallel Port | Optional (Option 13) |
| VGA Output | 15-pin D-sub connector for external monitor |
| Probe Compensation Output | 0.5 V into ≥1 MΩ, 1 kHz |
Power Requirements
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Line Voltage Range | 90 to 250 V AC |
| Line Frequency Range | 45 to 440 Hz |
| Power Consumption | 300 W maximum |
Physical Characteristics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 193 mm (7.6 in.) with feet |
| Width | 445 mm (17.5 in.) with handle |
| Depth | 434 mm (17.1 in.) with cover |
| Net Weight | 14.1 kg (31 lbs.) |
| Shipping Weight | 20.0 kg (44 lbs.) |
Environmental & Reliability
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Non-Operating Temperature | -40 to +75 °C |
| Operating Humidity | Up to 95% RH at or below +30 °C |
| Operating Altitude | Up to 4,570 m (15,000 ft.) |
| Non-Operating Altitude | Up to 12,190 m (40,000 ft.) |
Standards & Compliance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Safety Certifications | UL 1244, CSA C22.2, EN61010-1 |
Options & Accessories
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Memory Expansion Option | Option 1M increases record length to 120,000 points per channel |
| Rackmount Option | Option 1R (Rackmount Kit) |
Vertical System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Input Impedance Tolerance | 50 Ω ± 1% |
| Channel-to-Channel Isolation | ≥ 100:1 at 100 MHz, ≥ 30:1 at 500 MHz |
| Number of Digitizers | 4 (one per channel) |
| Offset Range | ±1 V (1 mV to 99.5 mV/div), ±10 V (100 mV to 995 mV/div), ±100 V (1 V to 10 V/div) |
Horizontal System
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Delay Time Range (Pre-Trigger) | 0% to 100% of record |
| Delay Time Range (Post-Trigger) | 0 to 250,000 divisions |
Environmental
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Shock | 15 g (half-sine), 11 ms duration |
| Operating Vibration | 0.31 g RMS, 5 Hz to 500 Hz |
| Non-Operating Vibration | 2.46 g RMS, 5 Hz to 500 Hz |
Display
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| CRT Phosphor Type | P31 Green |
Storage
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Reference Waveform Storage | 4 internal 2000-point waveforms |
Hardware Options
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Option 05 Video Triggering | Adds NTSC, PAL, SECAM, and custom video triggering |
| Option 13 Interface Expansion | Adds RS-232 serial and Centronics parallel interfaces |
| Option 1F Storage Expansion | Adds 3.5-inch 1.44 MB floppy disk drive |
| Option 2F Math Expansion | Adds Advanced DSP Math (FFT, integration, differentiation) |
| Option 1K Cart | K212 Instrument Cart compatibility |
Technology
Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO)
Applications
High-speed digital design, debugging, power supply characterization, and general electronics testing