Agilent Technologies Inc. introduced the InfiniiMax III+ differential probes, a new generation of 4-GHz, 8-GHz and 13-GHz differential active probes for general-purpose, high-speed differential bus probing. The company also introduced new QuickTip accessories for InfiniiMax probes to help engineers make quick and reliable measurements.

The InfiniiMax III+ probes work with the full array of InfiniiMax III probe heads, including a wide range of solder-in probe heads, a browser head, ZIF (zero insertion force) tips, 2.92-mm/3.5-mm/SMA heads and the new QuickTip head. These probing solutions complement the new Infiniium S-Series oscilloscopes with their revolutionary industry-leading performance.

              Agilent’s new InfiniiMax III+ probes offer InfiniiMode technology, which greatly expands the measurement capabilities and usability of the probe, making it capable of measuring all the components of a differential signal. With a single connection, InfiniiMax III+ probes can be set to measure the differential signal, the single-ended A or B signals, and the common-mode component of a differential signal.

As with InfiniiMax III technology, the unique S-parameters of each InfiniiMax III+ probe amp are stored in the probe amp and are used with the S-parameters of the various probe heads to further flatten the magnitude and phase response of the probe for higher accuracy.

               Three probe heads are available that support InfiniiMode measurements: the N2836A solder-in probe head, which provides the full 13-GHz bandwidth for all modes with low signal loading; the exclusive new N2848A QuickTip probe head, which provides the only quick connect/disconnect capability in the market; and the N5444A 2.92-mm/3.5-mm/SMA probe head for cabled connections, which provides full bandwidth measurement of all modes and the ability to terminate to a non-zero voltage.

The N2848A QuickTip probe head quickly snaps to the N2849A probe tip using a magnetic connection. Unlike implementations that use a magnet to mechanically hold together separate electrical contacts, the QuickTip design uses three small, gold-plated magnets as the actual contacts to gold-plated steel buttons on the probe tip. Multiple N2849A probe tips can be installed on a device under test, allowing quick and reliable measurements of many probe points.

               “It is rare in the industry for a breakthrough probing system to be introduced at the same time as a breakthrough oscilloscope family,” said Jay Alexander, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Oscilloscope and Protocol Division. “Customers told us they needed significant innovation in both performance and ease of use for the probes as well as for the oscilloscope itself, and that is what we have delivered.” 

               Additional information on Agilent’s new InfiniiMax III+ probing system, QuickTip accessories and other InfiniiMax probing solutions is available at www.agilent.com/find/InfiniiMax. Product images are available at www.agilent.com/find/InfiniiMax_images.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

               Agilent InfiniiMax III+ products can be ordered today at the prices listed below. Limited shipments will begin in May.

Model                                       Description                                                   Price

N2830A                                    4-GHz probe amplifier                                    $5,300

N2831A                                    8-GHz probe amplifier                                    $8,000

N2832A                                    13-GHz probe amplifier                                  $12,000

N2848A                                    InfiniiMax III QuickTip probe head                   $1,000

N2849A                                    InfiniiMax III QuickTip tips                                $  320