Tek to use IBM’s 9HP process to push scope performance
The next generation of high performance real time oscilloscopes from Tektronix will feature devices manufactured on IBM's 9HP silicon germanium (SiGe) process. According to the company, IBM's semiconductor technology, along with other advances, will result in oscilloscopes with bandwidths of up to 70GHz and improved signal fidelity.
"By extending our long standing relationship with IBM, Tektronix is continuing to push the envelope on what can be achieved in high fidelity, high-speed data acquisition systems," said Kevin Ilcisin, Tektronix' chief technology officer. "Early adoption of 9HP has allowed our engineers to explore innovative architectures and performance thresholds once thought unattainable."
Tektronix says its next generation of performance oscilloscopes will be launched in 2014, delivering the performance and signal fidelity needed for applications such as 400Gbit/s and 1Tbit/s optical communications and fourth generation serial data communications.
Operating at speeds up to 350GHz, 9HP is the first SiGe technology to offer the density available from a 90nm bicmos process while delivering higher performance, lower power and higher levels of integration than current 180nm or 130nm SiGe offerings.
