Denso Selects Tektronix for Automotive Test Solution

Largest Japanese Automotive Electronics Manufacturer Uses Tektronix DPO7000
Oscilloscopes and TDP1000 Probes to Enable Nanosecond-Order High Frequency
Analysis

BEAVERTON, Ore., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Tektronix, Inc., a leading
worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation,
announced that both its DPO7000 Series Oscilloscope and TDP1000 High Voltage
Differential Probes are being used by Denso Corporation to successfully
analyze nanosecond transient noise spikes in its Electronic Control Units
(ECUs) for engine control. Denso is Japan's largest automotive electronics
components manufacturer and was the first domestic company to develop engine
control ECUs.
Automotive engines are electronically controlled by an onboard computer
known as an ECU. An ECU computes information in real time to determine
optimum values for engine control parameters based on data relayed from
sensors placed around the vehicle. Multiple control ECUs are used in
contemporary automotive electronics systems, with as many as a 100 built into
top-of-the-line luxury vehicles. However, because ECUs form part of the
vehicle's onboard system, they are required to function in an extremely
challenging environment. Malfunctions cannot be tolerated as this could
jeopardize passenger safety.
Operational conditions and requirements for these units have become
increasingly stringent in recent years. Similarly, demand for the ability to
analyze higher frequencies has escalated, particularly with regard to noise
immunity to transient signals or spikes in the millisecond or microsecond, and
most recently at the nanosecond level. However, 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.
To address this challenge, 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.
Another key feature is that differential input facilitates resistance to
common mode noise. Accordingly, any influence on the waveform quality
resulting from connection of the probe is suppressed to the minimum, making it
possible to further refine analysis from microseconds previously to the order
of nanoseconds. This has enabled Denso to visualize and identify which signal
line is causing which behavior, even in cases where nanosecond-order
high-frequency noise is experienced. This is an extremely significant
achievement that will result in enhanced quality and reliability for ECUs.
"Now that ECUs are built into vehicle engine compartments rather than the
cabin interior, the environment for noise has become even more severe," said
Mr. Tetsuya Nakamura, of Denso's Electronics Engineering Department 2, Design
Section 1. "This new combination of the Tektronix DPO7000 oscilloscope and
TDP1000 High Voltage Differential Probe has enabled us to accurately capture
and analyze high frequency transient noise at the nanosecond level, a feat
impossible until now. Accordingly, we have been able to provide even higher
quality for ECUs. The ability of Tektronix to provide a solution for
analyzing ECU noise in the order of nanoseconds is proof of the effectiveness
of measurement technologies, as well as being a major contribution towards the
development of automotive electronics."
About the TDP1000 High Voltage Differential Probe
The TDP1000 and TDP0500 High Voltage Differential Probes provides
excellent high-speed electrical and mechanical performance required for
today's Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS), CAN/LIN Bus, and high-speed digital
system designs.
Specifically designed for use with and direct connection to the TekVPI(TM)
probe interface used on Tektronix' DPO7000, DPO4000, and MSO4000 Series
oscilloscopes, the TDP1000 and TDP0500 High Voltage Differential Probes
achieve high-speed signal acquisition and measurement fidelity by solving
three traditional measurement challenges:
-- Outstanding Electrical Performance
-- Versatile Device Under Test Connectivity
-- Ease-of-Use

About the DPO7000 Series Oscilloscope
The DPO7000 is a high performance Oscilloscope unlike any other, with a
maximum sample rate of 40GS/s, maximum record length of 400M (deep memory),
and able to capture 250,000 waveforms every second using Tektronix's own
unique DPX technology. This Oscilloscope can be used to analyze ECUs employed
in automotive electronics systems by equipping it with a variety of
application software, or for other uses such as power analysis of inverter
switching devices.
About Tektronix
Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement, and monitoring
products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and
semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer
electronics, education and a broad range of other industries worldwide. With
60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build,
deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, computing
and advanced technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has
operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix' Web address is
http://www.tektronix.com.
Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade
names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies.
SOURCE Tektronix, Inc.

Gary Grossman, Worldwide Sr. PR Manager of Tektronix, +1-503-627-1097,
gary.grossman@tektronix.com