The Tektronix TDS 544A is a 500 MHz, four-channel digitizing oscilloscope with color CRT display designed for electronic testing, debug, and measurement across medical electronics, biophysics, and automotive applications. Real-time signal acquisition combines with advanced triggering and waveform analysis to support design validation and failure analysis.
Technical Specifications
Acquisition and Bandwidth
• Bandwidth: 500 MHz
• Channels: 4
• Sample Rate: 1 GS/s single channel; 500 MS/s dual channel
• Record Length: 15 kPts per channel; up to 50,000 points with Option 1M
• Timebase Range: 500 ps to 10 s/div
Vertical System
• Sensitivity: 1 mV to 10 V per division
• Vertical Resolution: 8-bit standard; up to 12-bit in Hi-Res Mode
• Vertical Accuracy: 1%
• Input Coupling: AC, DC, GND
• Input Impedance: 1 MΩ in parallel with 10 pF, or 50 Ω
• Maximum Input Voltage: ±400 V (DC + peak AC)
Triggering and Measurement
• Advanced trigger modes: Width, 2-ns Glitch, Runt, State, Pattern, and Video Trigger (standard)
• Video trigger: Individual field and line triggering on NTSC, PAL, and HDTV formats
• 25 automatic measurements with waveform Pass/Fail testing
Waveform Processing
• FFT: DC to 500 MHz range with 55–65 dB signal-to-noise ratio; transform sizes 500 to 10,000 points
• Integration and Differentiation (Option 2F)
Display and Storage
• Color CRT with color grading and variable persistence
• Graticules: Full, grid, cross hair, frame; NTSC and PAL
• Display formats: YT and XY
• 3.5″ Floppy Disk Drive (standard)
– Key Features
• Advanced DSP Math capability (Option 2F) for frequency analysis and signal processing
• Programmable via GPIB (IEEE-488.2) with full talk/listen modes
• RS-232C interface (talk only); optional RS-232/Centronics hardcopy interface
• VGA output (15-pin analog) for external display
• Wide input impedance flexibility: 1 MΩ or 50 Ω selectable
– Typical Applications
Medical device development, biophysical instrumentation, automotive electronics characterization, and general-purpose analog circuit validation requiring multi-channel simultaneous acquisition and real-time trigger control.
– Compatibility & Integration
GPIB programmable control enables integration into automated test systems. Standard floppy disk storage supports data archiving and offline analysis. VGA output connects to external monitors or recording equipment.
