At Embedded World 2026, one particular measurement setup stood out—not because of extreme bandwidth or flashy specifications, but because of a fundamentally different architecture.
It was built around a simple but powerful idea:
Isolation.
This concept is not new, but its implementation in modern oscilloscopes is evolving in a way that directly responds to the challenges of power electronics systems.
The Limitation of Traditional Oscilloscopes
Conventional oscilloscopes are designed with a shared ground architecture.
All input channels are referenced to the same electrical ground, which works well for low-voltage and ground-referenced measurements.
However, in modern applications such as:
- Motor drives
- High-voltage DC systems
- Inverters and switching power supplies
this assumption breaks down.
Engineers are no longer measuring signals in a unified ground domain, but in floating, high-energy environments.
This creates several critical risks:
- Ground loops
- Measurement distortion
- Probe damage
- Potential short circuits
A Different Measurement Architecture
The system observed uses a fundamentally different approach:
Each channel is electrically isolated.
This is not just isolation at the front-end—it is architectural.
Each channel includes:
- A dedicated ADC
- An independent ground reference
- Electrical isolation from all other channels
More importantly, the signal is digitized close to the measurement point.
The signal path becomes:
→ Probe
→ Local ADC (remote digitizer)
→ Optical fiber transmission
→ Main processing unit
Why Optical Isolation Matters
The use of optical fiber is not just a design choice—it is essential.
1. Complete Electrical Isolation
Optical transmission eliminates any conductive path between the measurement point and the instrument.
This enables safe measurement in high-voltage systems.
2. Immunity to Electromagnetic Interference
Power electronics environments are dominated by:
- High dv/dt switching
- Strong EMI
- Fast transient events
Copper-based transmission is highly susceptible to these effects.
Optical links are not.
3. High Common-Mode Capability
In systems like:
- Three-phase motor drives
- SiC / GaN switching circuits
common-mode voltages can be extremely high.
Traditional oscilloscopes struggle in these conditions.
Isolated architectures are specifically designed for this.
A Shift in Measurement Philosophy
This type of oscilloscope does not compete in the traditional GHz bandwidth race.
Instead, it prioritizes:
- Measurement integrity
- High resolution (e.g., 14-bit)
- Multi-channel accuracy
This reflects a broader industry shift:
From:
→ “How fast can we measure?”
To:
→ “How accurately can we measure in real conditions?”
Key Applications
This architecture is particularly relevant for:
- Motor control systems (FOC, three-phase analysis)
- Double pulse testing (IGBT, SiC, GaN)
- Power conversion systems (DC-DC, inverters, UPS)
- Energy storage and EV platforms
Industry Perspective
What may appear as a niche solution is actually a response to a structural change in the industry.
Driven by:
- Electrification
- Renewable energy systems
- High-efficiency power devices
measurement requirements are evolving rapidly.
Oscilloscope design is following.
Conclusion
Oscilloscopes are no longer defined only by bandwidth.
In high-voltage, multi-domain systems, isolation is becoming the foundation of reliable measurement.
This is not just an incremental improvement.
It is a shift in how engineers interact with real-world signals.