LeCroy Adds Integrated Power Analysis to the Voyager Analyzer Platform for USB 2.0 and 3.0

Santa Clara, CA July 21, 2009 - LeCroy Corporation, a worldwide leader for serial data test solutions today announced a unique capability that integrates USB power measurements into its award-winning USB analyzer platform. While the Voyager analyzer records USB traffic, the Power Tracker transparently measures and graphically displays voltage and current allowing developers to verify power management behaviors at the higher layers.

The growing popularity of USB devices which incorporate flash-based storage media and operate using bus power has led developers to look for new ways to minimize the current draw for these devices. The USB 2.0 specification allows devices to draw a maximum of 100 mA. With the introduction of USB 3.0, this was increased to 150 mA but also added mandatory power management mechanisms. USB 3.0 developers will use these power management policies to extend laptop battery life and reduce power consumption during idle periods. Power Tracker allows developers to monitor and confirm current draw while their devices are following the defined policies.

Completely transparent to the system under test, the Power Tracker samples voltage and current during normal operations. It displays volts, amps, and watts in a graphical histogram format. Cursors provide fine-grained timing measurements between any two points in the display. The Power Tracker display is synchronized to the CATC trace view to allow quick correlation of power consumption to the standby and suspend transitions of the protocol.

“With USB 2.0, power management was largely implemented in software. With the new 3.0 specification, power-save timers are built-in to the hardware”. Said Michael Romm of LeCroy’s Protocol Solutions Group. “ The Power Tracker allows users to precisely verify power draw at the physical layer while correlating logical link states at the upper levels.”

Thanks in part to the Energy Star 5.0 specification, there is a world-wide push to use lower-energy chipsets and other energy-saving technologies in PC designs. USB 3.0 systems will rely on inactivity timers and device initiated power requests to proactively direct idle links to lower power states. Much of the power management will occur at the hardware level which must be carefully verified to ensure fast entry and exit to these low power states.

The Voyager M3 system, initially released in August 2008, is LeCroy’s flagship test tool for USB 2.0 and 3.0 protocol verification. The integrated Power Tracker feature is available as a value add feature for the Voyager USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 analyzer system at $2500 (US).

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 highperformance 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 40-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.