Tektronix Provides Automotive Test Solution

By DE Editors

Tektronix, Inc. (Beaverton, OR) announced that both its DPO7000 Series Oscilloscope and TDP1000 High Voltage Differential Probes are being used by Denso Corporation of Japan to analyze nanosecond transient noise spikes in its electronic control units (ECUs) for engine control.

Automotive engines are electronically controlled by an onboard computer known as an ECU, which computes information in real time to determine optimum values for engine control parameters based on data relayed from sensors placed around the vehicle. Malfunctions cannot be tolerated as this could jeopardize passenger safety. Until now, analysis of high-frequency noise in the order of nanoseconds with conventional oscilloscopes and probes had been problematic because of the presence of extremely noisy waveforms.

Tektronix proposed to reduce the electrical load on the measurement system, including the probe. Although the passive voltage probes being used previously were simple to use, input capacitance was quite large with a pF in the teens, consequently distorting the waveform being measured. To correct for this, Denso utilized the Tektronix DPO7000 series Oscilloscope and the TDP1000 Active High Voltage Differential Probe, which is connected directly to the oscilloscope. The differential input capacitance of the TDP1000 is low, at less than 1pF, so any influence of the measuring instruments on the measurement system is minimal.

For other key features on the TDP1000 High Voltage Differential Probe

and the DPO7000 Series Oscilloscope, go to Tektronix.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.