Logic Probes & Cables
Logic Probes & Cables
Logic probes and cables are oscilloscope accessories that connect digital signals to the mixed-signal oscilloscope (MSO) inputs, enabling simultaneous acquisition of analog and digital channels on a single time base. Unlike analog probes, logic probes capture signals at defined logic thresholds and render them as time-correlated digital waveforms displayed alongside analog channels. This allows engineers to correlate physical analog behavior — such as power rail noise or clock jitter — with digital bus activity, making logic probes indispensable for embedded system development and digital circuit debugging.
Logic probe accessories typically include multi-channel flying lead cables, Mictor connectors, and logic analyzer probe heads that attach to IC pins, test points, or board headers. MSO upgrade kits from Keysight, such as the DSOX2MSO and DSOXPERFMSO, transform compatible InfiniiVision oscilloscopes into full mixed-signal instruments with up to 16 digital channels. The GW Instek DS2-16LA module adds equivalent capability to their DS2000 series oscilloscopes at an accessible price point.
Typical Applications
- Embedded firmware debugging — correlating digital bus states with analog power rail behavior and clock signals during software execution
- Serial protocol decoding — capturing and decoding SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, LIN, and other digital bus transactions for protocol analysis
- FPGA and CPLD development — probing internal logic signals and verifying state machine transitions in complex digital designs
- PCB bring-up and hardware validation — simultaneous monitoring of multiple digital control and data lines during new hardware bring-up
- Timing analysis — measuring setup and hold times, propagation delays, and glitch detection on digital logic interfaces
Popular Brands
Keysight offers MSO upgrade kits and logic probe accessories for their InfiniiVision series, including Mictor probe heads for high-density connectors and flying lead sets for general-purpose digital probing. GW Instek provides the DS2-16LA 16-channel logic analyzer module for their bench oscilloscopes, enabling cost-effective mixed-signal measurement without a separate logic analyzer instrument.
