LeCroy Announces USB 2.0 HSIC Decode Test Solutions

CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y., Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- LeCroy Corporation, a leading supplier of oscilloscopes and serial data test solutions, today announced the availability of USB 2.0 High Speed Inter-chip (HSIC) protocol decode annotation for its WaveSurfer, WaveRunner, WavePro, WaveMaster and LabMaster oscilloscope product lines. HSIC technology is capable of communicating between microchips in an embedded sub-system, leveraging the traditional host-device topology of USB and, hence, the large amount of code that already exists. This makes HSIC extremely lucrative in areas demanding fast time-to-market, for example, the mobile industry which includes smart phones and tablets. Because LeCroy engineers are fully engaged with USB industry leaders and standards bodies, they have been able to work in parallel with the industry adoption of this rapidly emerging standard and ensure that test solutions are available at precisely the time they are needed.

LeCroy HSIC USB solutions consist of an intuitive HSIC decode annotation overlaid on the physical layer (analog) waveform signal on the oscilloscope display with corresponding tabular display of data and a quick zoom to a specific packet. In addition, WaveRunner, WavePro, WaveMaster and LabMaster support LeCroy's ProtoSync ^® option, which takes the testing to an even higher level by providing a transaction and application level view of the HSIC traffic in the familiar CATC protocol analyzer view. The separate decode annotation on the oscilloscope physical layer signals and corresponding CATC protocol analyzer view is completely linked and time synchronized to provide the fastest possible debug.

Additionally, LeCroy's WaveRunner 6 Zi family of oscilloscopes will also provide future capability (late 2011) for HSIC protocol triggering using the on-board USB PHY in the oscilloscope that already supports USB1.x and 2.0 protocol triggering. This combination of HSIC physical layer decode annotation, hardware-based protocol triggering, and ProtoSync transaction and application layer views provides a unique test capability for USB 2.0 HSIC that is unmatched in the market.

Superior Debug and Analysis Capability with LeCroy's WaveRunner 6 Zi Oscilloscopes

The WaveRunner 6 Zi family of oscilloscopes is the only oscilloscope in the market that will provide the complete range of hardware serial triggers (including full transaction, error and bus event triggers), decode annotation, protocol analysis, and advanced debug test tools for USB 2.0 HSIC . The WaveRunner 6 Zi family is available in bandwidths up to 4 GHz, with sample rates up to 40 GS/s, memory up to 256 Mpt/Ch, and with vertical resolution up to 12 bits.

In addition to triggering and decoding USB 2.0 HSIC, the WaveRunner 6 Zi also supports a variety of application packages for serial data triggering, decoding, physical layer jitter analysis, and physical layer compliance testing. Over 17 other serial data trigger and decode solutions are provided, many of which are supported by LeCroy's ProtoBus MAG Serial Debug Toolkit. ProtoBus MAG provides advanced tools for more complete and faster validation and debugging of embedded designs. These tools include measurement parameters for automated timing validation and digital-to-analog conversion parameters with graphing capability to provide an "analog view" of the digitally-encoded serial data. WaveRunner 6 Zi also supports a wide range of other application packages, advanced triggering to isolate events, a user interface developed for quick and easy navigation, the widest range of probing options, and lightning-fast performance.

Simultaneous Physical Layer, Data Link Layer and full Transaction Layer Views for USB 2.0 HSIC enabled by ProtoSync

ProtoSync is the only implementation in an oscilloscope of the rich, intuitive graphical user interface of a hardware protocol analyzer information display. The protocol analysis software provided is a viewing, analyzing, and trace printing subset of the software provided with LeCroy's Voyager protocol analyzer products. Therefore, those already familiar with LeCroy protocol analyzers will find it easy to operate and understand, and the synchronization of the oscilloscope and protocol analyzer tools in the oscilloscope make it easy for hardware signal integrity, systems, and software/FPGA engineers to work together to debug complex problems.

About USB 2.0 HSIC

Universal Serial Bus (USB) was developed in the 1990s to provide a simple and common interface between a computer and peripheral device. Since then, USB has become the most adopted interface in the computer and electronics industry.  USB 2.0 HSIC simplifies the USB 2.0 differential signaling to a simple strobe-data pair link, thereby reducing power requirements and board area compared to traditional USB 2.0. HSIC is expected to be quickly and widely adopted in the embedded computing marketplace for chip-to-chip communications.

About LeCroy

LeCroy Corporation is a worldwide leader in serial data test solutions, creating advanced instruments that drive product innovation by quickly measuring, analyzing, and verifying complex electronic signals. The Company offers high-performance oscilloscopes, serial data analyzers, and global communications protocol test solutions used by design engineers in the computer and semiconductor, data storage device, automotive and industrial, and military and aerospace markets. LeCroy's 47-year heritage of technical innovation is the foundation for its recognized leadership in "WaveShape Analysis" -- capturing, viewing, and measuring the high-speed signals that drive today's information and communications technologies. LeCroy is headquartered in Chestnut Ridge, New York. Company information is available at http://www.lecroy.com.

© 2011 by LeCroy Corporation. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

SOURCE LeCroy Corporation