PicoScope 6. PC Oscilloscope Software. User's Guide. psw.en r46

Transcription

1 PicoScope 6 PC Oscilloscope Softwre User's Guide

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3 PicoScope 6 User's Guide I Tble of Contents 1 Welcome Introduction Legl sttement Updtes Trde mrks System requirements Using PicoScope for the first time PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Oscilloscope bsics PC Oscilloscope bsics PicoScope bsics Cpture modes PicoScope window Scope view Overrnge indictor MSO view Digitl view Digitl context menu XY view Trigger mrker Time-dely rrow Spectrum view Persistence mode Mesurements tble Pointer tool tip Signl rulers Time nd frequency rulers Phse (rottion) rulers Ruler settings Ruler legend Frequency legend Properties sheet Custom probes Mth chnnels Reference wveforms Seril decoding Msk limit testing Alrms Buffer Overview Menus File menu... 36

4 II Tble of Contents 1 Connect Device dilog Open dilog Sve As... dilog Strt-up Settings menu Wveform Librry Browser Edit menu Notes Detils dilog Views menu Custom grid lyout dilog Mesurements menu Add/Edit Mesurement dilog Tools menu Custom Probes dilog Mth Chnnels dilog Reference Wveforms dilog Seril Decoding dilog Alrms dilog Msks menu Mcro Recorder Preferences dilog Automotive menu Help menu Send Feedbck dilog Toolbrs nd buttons Cpture Setup toolbr Spectrum Options dilog Persistence Options dilog Buffer Nvigtion toolbr Zooming nd Scrolling toolbr Zoom Overview window Chnnels toolbr (PicoScope devices) Chnnel controls (PicoScope devices) Signl Genertor button PicoLog 1000 Series Chnnels toolbr PicoLog 1000 Series Digitl Outputs dilog USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr USB DrDAQ Signl Genertor dilog USB DrDAQ RGB LED control USB DrDAQ Digitl Outputs dilog Trigger toolbr Stop nd Go buttons Trigger controls

5 PicoScope 6 User's Guide III 3 Mesurements buttons Other buttons How to How to chnge to different device How to use rulers to mesure signl How to mesure time difference How to move view How to scle nd offset signl How to set up the spectrum view How to find glitch using persistence mode How to set up msk limit test How to sve on trigger How to crete link file How to convert files in Windows File Explorer Reference Mesurement types Scope mesurements Spectrum mesurements Signl genertor wveform types Spectrum window functions Seril protocols Wire protocol ARINC 429 protocol CAN protocol CAN FD protocol DCC protocol DMX512 protocol Ethernet 10BASE-T protocol Fst Ethernet 100BASE-TX protocol FlexRy protocol I²C protocol I²S protocol LIN protocol PS/2 protocol SENT Fst protocol SENT Slow protocol SPI protocol UART protocol USB (1.0/1.1) protocol Device feture tble Commnd-line syntx Flexible power Glossry

6 IV Tble of Contents Index

7 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 1 1 Welcome Welcome to PicoScope 6, the PC Oscilloscope softwre from Pico Technology. This user's guide is designed to help you use both versions of the softwre: PicoScope 6, for test nd mesurement users nd PicoScope 6 Automotive, for vehicle dignostics users. With scope device from Pico Technology, PicoScope turns your PC into powerful PC oscilloscope nd spectrum nlyzer, with ll the fetures nd performnce of benchtop oscilloscope t frction of the cost. Benefits include fst cpture rtes, fst dt processing, cler grphics nd text, touchscreen support, frequent free-of-chrge updtes nd the bility to esily sve, print nd shre your dt. PicoScope 6 supports the devices listed in the device feture tble nd runs on Windows operting systems, with bet versions for Mc nd Linux. See System requirements for further recommendtions. For help getting strted, see Using PicoScope for the first time nd the PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer. For more in-depth informtion, refer to the sections on Menus, Toolbrs nd buttons nd Reference. Finlly, for step-by-step tutorils, see the How to... section. Here re some of the key fetures of the softwre: Scope, spectrum nd XY views show your dt in both time nd frequency domins t once. View nd nlyze your dt in the frequency domin with fully optimized spectrum nlyzer. Signl genertor for oscilloscopes with built-in rbitrry wveform genertor (AWG).

8 2 Welcome Advnced triggering includes options for pulse, window, digitl nd logic triggers. Rel-time seril decoding supports up to 16 different protocols, with color-coded pcket fields. Mth chnnels let you disply mthemticl functions of input chnnels. Persistence mode superimposes new wveforms on old, mking glitches nd dropouts stnd out. Add, remove nd edit rnge of utomtic mesurements in both time nd frequency domins. Set up msk limit testing to see when signl goes out of bounds. Identify wveform glitches nd msk test filures by serching with the buffer overview. Use rpid trigger mode to cpture sequence of wveforms with the minimum possible ded time.

9 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 3 The custom probes dilog mkes it esy to use your own probes nd sensors with PicoScope. Apply lowpss filtering to individul chnnels. Use reference wveforms to compre stored copies of input chnnel wves with the live signl. The properties sheet displys ll your settings t glnce. Set lrms to lert you when specified events occur. Windows Explorer integrtion lets you convert.psdt files to other formts. You cn lso run PicoScope 6 in the commnd line.

10 4 Introduction 2 Introduction 2.1 Legl sttement Grnt of license. The mteril contined in this relese is licensed, not sold. Pico Technology Limited ('Pico') grnts license to the person who instlls this softwre, subject to the conditions listed below. Access. The licensee grees to llow ccess to this softwre only to persons who hve been informed of nd gree to bide by these conditions. Usge. The softwre in this relese is for use only with Pico products or with dt collected using Pico products. Copyright. Pico clims the copyright of, nd retins the rights to, ll mteril (softwre, documents etc.) contined in this relese. Libility. Pico nd its gents shll not be lible for ny loss or dmge, howsoever cused, relted to the use of Pico Technology equipment or softwre, unless excluded by sttute. Fitness for purpose. No two pplictions re the sme, so Pico cnnot gurntee tht its equipment or softwre is suitble for given ppliction. It is therefore the user's responsibility to mke sure the product is suitble for the user's ppliction. Mission-criticl pplictions. Becuse the softwre runs on computer tht my be running other softwre products, nd my be subject to interference from these other products, this license specificlly excludes usge in 'mission-criticl' pplictions, for exmple life-support systems. Viruses. This softwre ws continuously monitored for viruses during production. However, the user is responsible for virus checking the softwre once it is instlled. Support. No softwre is ever error-free, but if you re disstisfied with the performnce of this softwre, plese contct our technicl support stff. 2.2 Updtes We provide softwre updtes, free of chrge, from our web site t nd through the softwre itself. We reserve the right to chrge for updtes or replcements sent out on physicl medi. 2.3 Trde mrks Pico Technology, PicoScope, PicoLog, DrDAQ nd ConnectDetect re interntionlly registered trde mrks of Pico Technology Limited. Windows is registered trde mrk of Microsoft Corportion.

11 PicoScope 6 User's Guide System requirements To mke sure tht PicoScope opertes correctly, you must hve computer with t lest the minimum system requirements to run your operting system, which must be one of the systems listed in the following tble. The performnce of the oscilloscope will be better with more powerful PC, nd will benefit from multi-core processor. Item Specifiction Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10*. 32 bit nd 64 bit versions. Operting system Bet softwre is lso vilble for Linux nd OS X operting systems. Processor Memory As required by the operting system Free disk spce Ports USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 port(s) * PicoScope version 6.12 nd SDKs re comptible with Windows XP SP3 nd Vist SP2 in ddition to the Windows versions listed bove. For best performnce we recommend Windows 7 or lter.

12 6 3 Using PicoScope for the first time Using PicoScope for the first time We hve designed PicoScope to be s esy s possible to use, even for newcomers to oscilloscopes. Once you hve followed the introductory steps listed below, you will soon be on your wy to becoming PicoScope expert. 1. Instll the softwre. Lod the CD-ROM tht is included with your scope device, then click the Instll Softwre link nd follow the on-screen instructions. Alterntively, downlod the ltest version of PicoScope 6 from 2. Plug in your scope device. Windows will recognize it nd prepre your computer to work with it. Wit until Windows tells you tht the device is redy to use. 3. Click the new PicoScope icon on your Windows desktop. 4. PicoScope will detect your scope device nd prepre to disply wveform. The "Running" lbel will pper in the bottom left corner of the PicoScope window, nd the green Go button will be highlighted. 5. Connect signl to one of the scope device's input chnnels nd see your first wveform! To lern more bout using PicoScope, plese red the PicoScope Primer. Problems? Help is t hnd! Our technicl support stff re lwys redy to nswer your telephone cll during office hours (09:00 to 17:00, UK time nd 09:00 to 17:00 US Centrl time, Mon-Fri: see the contct detils on the lst pge of this document). At other times, you cn leve messge on our support forum or send us n emil.

13 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 4 7 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer This chpter explins the fundmentl concepts tht you will need to know before working with the PicoScope softwre. If you hve used n oscilloscope before, then most of these ides will be fmilir to you. You cn skip the Oscilloscope bsics section nd go stright to the PicoScope-specific informtion. If you re new to oscilloscopes, plese tke few minutes to red t lest the Oscilloscope bsics nd PicoScope bsics topics. 4.1 Oscilloscope bsics An oscilloscope is mesuring instrument tht shows, grphiclly, how signl vries with time. Probes nd sensors ttched to its input chnnels enble it to plot vrious different signls (most commonly voltge or current, lthough pressure nd vibrtion sensors re vilble for the utomotive oscilloscopes). For exmple, the picture below shows typicl disply on n oscilloscope screen when vrying voltge is connected to one of its input chnnels. Oscilloscope displys re lwys red from left to right. The voltge-time chrcteristic of the signl, or wveform, is drwn s line clled the trce. In this exmple, the trce is blue nd begins t point A. If you look to the left of this point, you will see the number 0.0 on the verticl xis, which tells you tht the voltge is 0.0 V (volts). If you look below point A, you will see nother number 0.0, this time on the horizontl xis, which tells you tht the time is 0.0 ms (milliseconds) t this point. At point B, 0.25 ms lter, the voltge hs risen to positive pek of 0.8 V. At point C, 0.75 ms fter the strt, the voltge hs dropped to negtive pek of 0.8 V. After 1 ms, the voltge hs risen bck to 0.0 V nd new cycle is bout to begin. This type of signl is clled sine wve, nd is one of limitless rnge of signl types tht you will encounter. Most oscilloscopes llow you to djust the verticl nd horizontl scles of the disply. The verticl scle is clled the input rnge, nd cn be mesured in number of different units: the exmple bove uses volts. The horizontl scle is clled the collection time nd is mesured in units of time - in this exmple, milliseconds.

14 8 4.2 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer PC Oscilloscope bsics A PC Oscilloscope is mesuring instrument tht consists of hrdwre scope device nd n oscilloscope progrm running on PC. Oscilloscopes were originlly stnd-lone instruments with no signl processing or mesuring bilities, nd with storge only vilble s n expensive extr. Lter oscilloscopes begn to use new digitl technology to introduce more functions, but they remined highly specilized nd expensive instruments. PC Oscilloscopes re the ltest step in the evolution of oscilloscopes, combining the mesuring power of Pico Technology's scope devices with the convenience of the PC tht's lredy on your desk. + PC = scope device PC Oscilloscope

15 PicoScope 6 User's Guide PicoScope bsics PicoScope cn produce simple disply such s the exmple in the Oscilloscope bsics topic, but it lso hs mny dvnced fetures. The screenshot below shows the PicoScope window. Click on ny of the underlined lbels to lern more. See PicoScope window for n explntion of these importnt concepts. Note: dditionl buttons my pper in the min PicoScope window depending on the cpbilities of the oscilloscope tht is connected, nd on the settings pplied to the PicoScope progrm.

16 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Cpture modes PicoScope cn operte in three cpture modes: scope mode, spectrum mode nd persistence mode. The mode is selected by buttons in the Cpture Setup toolbr. In scope mode, PicoScope displys min scope view, optimizes its settings for use s PC Oscilloscope, nd llows you to directly set the cpture time. You cn still disply one or more secondry spectrum views. In spectrum mode, PicoScope displys min spectrum view, optimizes its settings for spectrum nlysis, nd llows you to directly set the frequency rnge in similr wy to dedicted spectrum nlyzer. You cn still disply one or more secondry scope views. In persistence mode, PicoScope displys single, modified scope view in which old wveforms remin on the screen in fded colors while new wveforms re drwn in brighter colors. See lso How to find glitch using persistence mode nd Persistence Options dilog. When you sve wveforms nd settings, PicoScope only sves dt for the mode tht is currently in use. If you wish to sve settings for both cpture modes, then you need to switch to the other mode nd sve your settings gin. See lso How do cpture modes work with views? How do cpture modes work with views? The cpture mode tells PicoScope whether you re minly interested in viewing wveforms (scope mode or persistence mode) or frequency plots (spectrum mode). When you select cpture mode, PicoScope sets up the hrdwre ppropritely nd then shows you view tht mtches the cpture mode ( scope view if you selected scope mode or persistence mode, or spectrum view if you selected spectrum mode). The rest of this section does not pply in persistence mode, which llows only single view. Once PicoScope hs shown you the first view, you cn, if you wish, dd more scope or spectrum views, regrdless of the cpture mode you re in. You cn dd nd remove s mny extr views s you wish, s long s one view remins tht mtches the cpture mode. When using secondry view type ( spectrum view in scope mode, or scope view in spectrum mode), you my see the dt compressed horizontlly rther thn displyed netly s in primry view. You cn usully overcome this by using the zoom tools.

17 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 11 Exmples showing how you might select the cpture mode nd open dditionl views in PicoScope

18 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer PicoScope window The PicoScope window shows block of dt cptured from the scope device. When you first open PicoScope it contins one scope view, but you cn dd more views by clicking Add view in the Views menu. The screenshot below shows ll the min fetures of the PicoScope window. Click on the underlined lbels for more informtion. To rrnge the views within the PicoScope window If the PicoScope window contins more thn one view, PicoScope rrnges them in grid. This is rrnged utomticlly, but you cn customize it if you wish. Ech rectngulr spce in the grid is clled viewport. You cn move view to different viewport by drgging its nme tb, but you cnnot move it outside the PicoScope window. You cn lso plce more thn one view in viewport, by drgging view nd dropping it on top of nother. For further options, right-click on view, or select Views from the Menu br, to open the Views menu.

19 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Scope view A scope view shows the dt cptured from the scope s grph of signl mplitude ginst time. (See Oscilloscope bsics for more on these concepts). PicoScope opens with single view, but you cn dd more views by using the views menu. Similr to the screen of conventionl oscilloscope, scope view shows you one or more wveforms with common horizontl time xis, with signl level shown on one or more verticl xes. Ech view cn hve s mny wveforms s the scope device hs chnnels. Click on one of the lbels below to lern more bout feture. Scope views re vilble regrdless of which mode - scope mode or spectrum mode is ctive. 4.6 Overrnge indictor If the signl voltge exceeds the mesurement input rnge, PicoScope displys the red overrnge indictor in the top left corner of the disply, with the messge "Chnnel overrnge". A smller version ppers next to the verticl xis of the ffected chnnel. The wveform will be clipped: no dt outside the mesurement input rnge will be shown. Increse the input rnge of the ffected chnnel until the indictor disppers. Scopes with differentil inputs (PicoScope 3425 nd 4444 only) If the common-mode voltge of the differentil input exceeds the oscilloscope's common-mode input rnge, the yellow common-mode overrnge indictor ppers in the top left corner of the PicoScope disply, with the messge "Common-mode overrnge". Agin, smller version ppers next to the verticl xis of the ffected chnnel. Exceeding the common-mode input rnge of the scope cuses inccurte mesurements nd cn led to severe signl distortion.

20 14 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Scopes with floting inputs (PicoScope 4225 nd 4425 only) If the voltge between the BNC shell nd the oscilloscope chssis exceeds 30 V, the yellow wrning indictor ppers in the top left corner of the PicoScope disply. A smller version ppers next to the verticl xis of the ffected chnnel, nd the LED next to tht chnnel's input on the scope device will turn solid red. When this wrning ppers, check the orienttion of the test connections ginst the wiring digrms. In some cses, you my need to provide 0 V reference to the scope, using the M4 bolt on the rer of the unit. 4.7 MSO view Applicbility: mixed-signl oscilloscopes (MSOs) only The MSO view shows mixed nlog nd digitl dt on the sme horizontl scle. Digitl Chnnels & Switches the digitl view on nd off, nd opens the Select Groups button Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog. Anlog view Shows the nlog chnnels. The sme s stndrd scope view. Splitter Drg up nd down to move the prtition between nlog nd digitl sections. Digitl view Shows the digitl chnnels nd groups. See Digitl view.

21 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Digitl view Loction: MSO view Note 1: you cn right-click on the digitl view to obtin the Digitl context menu. Note 2: if the digitl view is not visible when required, check tht () the Digitl Chnnels & Groups button is ctivted nd (b) t lest one digitl chnnel is selected for disply in the Select Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog. Digitl chnnel: Displyed in the order in which they pper in the Select Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog, where they cn be renmed. Digitl group: Groups re creted nd nmed in the Select Digitl Chnnels/ Groups dilog. You cn expnd nd collpse them within the digitl view using the nd buttons Digitl context menu Loction: right-click on the digitl view Sub View: Anlog. View or hide the nlog scope view Digitl. View or hide the digitl scope view Also vilble from the Views menu Formt: The numericl formt in which group vlues re displyed in the digitl scope view

22 16 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Drw Groups: 4.8 By Vlues. Drw groups with trnsitions only where the vlue chnges: By Time. Drw groups with trnsitions spced eqully in time, once per smpling period. You will usully need to zoom in to see the individul trnsitions: By Level. Drw groups s nlog levels derived from the digitl dt: XY view An XY view, in its simplest form, shows grph of one chnnel plotted ginst nother. XY mode is useful for showing reltionships between periodic signls (using Lissjous figures) nd for plotting I-V (current-voltge) chrcteristics of electronic components.

23 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 17 In the exmple bove, two different periodic signls hve been fed into the two input chnnels. The smooth curvture of the trce tells us tht the inputs re roughly or exctly sine wves. The three loops in the trce show tht Chnnel B hs bout three times the frequency of Chnnel A. We cn tell tht the rtio is not exctly three becuse the loops do not line up exctly. Since n XY view hs no time xis, it tells us nothing bout the bsolute frequencies of the signls. To mesure frequency, we need to open Scope view. How to crete n XY view There re two wys to crete n XY view. 4.9 Use the Add View > XY commnd on the Views menu. This dds new XY view to the PicoScope window without ltering the originl scope or spectrum view or views. It utomticlly chooses the two most suitble chnnels to plce on the X nd Y xes. Optionlly, you cn chnge the X xis chnnel ssignment using the X-Axis commnd (see below). Use the X-Axis commnd on the Views menu. This converts the current scope view into n XY view. It mintins the existing Y xes nd llows you to choose ny vilble chnnel for the X xis. With this method, you cn even ssign mth chnnel or reference wveform to the X xis. Trigger mrker The trigger mrker shows the level nd timing of the trigger point. The height of the mrker on the verticl xis shows the level t which the trigger is set, nd its position on the time xis shows the time t which it occurs. You cn move the trigger mrker by drgging it with the mouse or, for greter precision, using the Trigger controls. Other forms of trigger mrker If the scope view is zoomed nd pnned so tht the trigger point is off the screen, the off-screen trigger mrker (shown bove) ppers t the side of the grticule to indicte the trigger level. If you hve set time dely, the trigger mrker is temporrily replced by the timedely rrow while you djust the time dely. When some dvnced trigger types re in use, the trigger mrker chnges to window mrker, which shows the upper nd lower trigger thresholds. For more informtion, see Trigger controls nd its subsections.

24 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Time-dely rrow The time-dely rrow is modified form of the trigger mrker tht ppers temporrily on scope view while you re setting up time dely, or drgging the trigger mrker fter setting up time dely. The left-hnd end of the rrow indictes the trigger point, nd is ligned with zero on the time xis. If zero on the time xis is outside the scope view, then the left-hnd end of the time-dely rrow ppers like this: The right-hnd end of the rrow (temporrily replcing the trigger mrker) indictes the trigger reference point. You cn set up time dely using the Trigger controls. For more informtion on time delys, see Trigger timing.

25 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Spectrum view A spectrum view is one view of the dt from scope device. A spectrum is digrm of signl level on verticl xis plotted ginst frequency on the horizontl xis. PicoScope opens with scope view, but you cn dd spectrum view by using the Views menu. Similr to the screen of trditionl spectrum nlyzer, spectrum view shows you one or more spectr with common frequency xis. Ech view cn hve s mny spectr s the scope device hs chnnels. Click on one of the lbels below to lern more bout feture. Spectrum views re vilble regrdless of which mode - Scope Mode or Spectrum Mode - is ctive. For more informtion, see: How to set up the spectrum view nd Spectrum Options dilog.

26 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Persistence mode Persistence mode superimposes multiple wveforms on the sme view, with more frequent dt or newer wveforms drwn in brighter colors thn older ones. This is useful for spotting glitches, when you need to see rre fult event hidden in series of repeted norml events. Enble persistence mode by clicking the Persistence Mode button on the Cpture Setup toolbr. With the persistence options set t their defult vlues, the screen will look something like this: The colors indicte the frequency of the dt. Red is used for the highest-frequency dt, with yellow for intermedite frequencies nd blue for the lest frequent dt. In the exmple bove, the wveform spends most of its time in the red region, but noise cuses it to wnder occsionlly into the blue nd yellow regions. These re the defult colors, but you cn chnge them using the Colors pge of the Preferences dilog. This exmple shows persistence mode in its most bsic form. See the Persistence Options dilog for wys to modify the disply to suit your ppliction, nd How to find glitch using persistence mode for worked exmple.

27 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Mesurements tble A mesurements tble displys the results of utomtic mesurements. Ech view cn hve its own tble, nd you cn dd, delete or edit mesurements from this tble. You cn choose from 18 mesurements in Scope view, plus nother 11 in Spectrum view. Mesurements tble columns Nme The nme of the mesurement tht you selected in the Add/Edit Mesurement dilog. Spn The section of the wveform or spectrum tht you wnt to mesure. This is 'Whole trce' by defult. Vlue The live vlue of the mesurement, from the ltest cpture Min The minimum vlue of the mesurement since mesuring begn Mx The mximum vlue of the mesurement since mesuring begn Averge The rithmetic men of the mesurements from the lst n cptures, where n is the number of Sttistics Cptures set on the Generl pge of the Preferences dilog σ The stndrd devition of the mesurements from the lst n cptures, where n is the number of Sttistics Cptures set on the Generl pge of the Preferences dilog Cpture Count The number of cptures used to crete the sttistics bove. This strts t 0 when triggering is enbled, nd counts up to the number of Sttistics Cptures specified on the Generl pge of the Preferences dilog. To dd, edit or delete mesurements There re three wys to dd, edit nd delete mesurements. You cn right-click on the view, open the Mesurements menu, or use the Mesurements buttons. To chnge the width of mesurement column First mke sure tht the Column Auto-width option is not enbled in the Mesurements menu. If necessry, click the option to switch it off. Then drg the verticl seprtor between column hedings to resize the columns, s shown opposite. To chnge the updte rte of the sttistics The sttistics (Min, Mx, Averge, Stndrd Devition) re bsed on the number of cptures shown in the Cpture Count column. You cn chnge the mximum cpture count using the Sttistics Cptures control on the Generl pge of the Preferences dilog.

28 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Pointer tool tip The pointer tool tip is box tht displys the horizontl nd verticl xis vlues t the mouse pointer loction. It ppers temporrily when you click the bckground of view. Pointer tool tip in scope view 4.15 Signl rulers The signl rulers help you mesure bsolute nd reltive signl levels on scope, XY or spectrum view.

29 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 23 In the scope view bove, the two colored squres to the left of the verticl xis re the ruler drg-hndles for Chnnel A. Drg one of these downwrds from its resting position in the top left corner, nd signl ruler ( horizontl dshed line) will extend from it. Whenever one or more signl rulers is in use, the ruler legend ppers. This is tble showing ll of the signl ruler vlues. If you close the ruler legend using the button, ll the rulers re deleted. Signl rulers lso work in spectrum nd XY views. Ruler tool tip If you move the mouse pointer over one of the rulers, PicoScope displys tool tip with the ruler number nd the signl level of the ruler. You cn see n exmple of this in the picture bove Time nd frequency rulers The time nd frequency rulers re verticl dshed lines tht mesure time on scope view nd frequency on spectrum view. In the scope view bove, the two white squres on the time xis re the time ruler hndles. When you drg these to the right from the bottom left corner, the time rulers pper. The rulers work in the sme wy on spectrum view, but the ruler legend shows their horizontl positions in units of frequency rther thn time.

30 24 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Ruler tool tip If you hold the mouse pointer over one of the rulers, s we did in the exmple bove, PicoScope displys tool tip with the ruler number nd the time or frequency vlue t the ruler. Ruler legend The tble t the top of the view is the ruler legend. In this exmple, the tble shows tht time ruler 1 is t milliseconds, ruler 2 is t microseconds nd tht the difference between them is milliseconds. Closing the ruler legend using the button deletes ll the rulers. Frequency legend The frequency legend in the bottom right-hnd corner of scope view shows 1/Δ, where Δ is the difference between the two time rulers. The ccurcy of this clcultion depends on the ccurcy with which you hve positioned the rulers. For greter ccurcy with periodic signls, use the frequency mesurement function built in to PicoScope. The frequency legend displys vlues in hertz or (if selected on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog) revolutions per minute (RPM) Phse (rottion) rulers The phse rulers (clled rottion rulers in PicoScope 6 Automotive) help to mesure the timing of cyclic wveform on scope view. Insted of mesuring reltive to the trigger point, s time nd frequency rulers do, phse rulers mesure reltive to the strt nd end of time intervl tht you specify. Mesurements my be shown in degrees, percent or custom unit s selected in the Ruler settings box. Phse rulers re not vilble in spectrum mode. To use the phse rulers, drg the two phse ruler hndles onto the wveform from their inctive position s shown below:

31 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 25 When you hve drgged both phse rulers into position, the scope view will look like this (we lso dded two time rulers, for reson tht we will explin lter): In the scope view bove, the two phse rulers hve been drgged into plce to mrk the strt nd end of cycle. The defult strt nd end phse vlues of 0 nd 360 re shown below the rulers nd cn be edited to ny custom vlue. For exmple, when mesuring timings on fourstroke engine, it is customry to show the end phse s 720 s one cycle comprises two rottions of the crnkshft. Ruler legend The phse rulers become more powerful when used in conjunction with time rulers. When both types of rulers re used together, s shown bove, the ruler legend displys the positions of the time rulers in phse units s well s time units. If two time rulers re positioned, the legend lso shows the phse difference between them. Closing the ruler legend dismisses ll rulers, including the phse rulers. Ruler settings Options for the phse (rottion) rulers re configured by the Ruler Settings dilog, which is clled up by the Rulers button on the Trigger toolbr.

32 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Ruler settings Loction: Other buttons > Rulers The Ruler Settings box llows you to control the behvior of the time rulers nd phse rulers (clled rottion rulers in PicoScope 6 Automotive). Ruler Settings in PicoScope 6 Ruler Settings in PicoScope 6 Automotive Phse (Rottion) Wrp If this box is checked, time ruler vlues outside the rnge set by the phse (rottion) rulers re wrpped bck into tht rnge. For exmple, if the phse (rottion) rulers re set to 0 nd 360, the vlue of time ruler just to the right of the 360 phse (rottion) ruler will be 0, nd the vlue of time ruler just to the left of the 0 phse (rottion) ruler will be 359. If this box is unchecked, ruler vlues re unconstrined. Phse (Rottion) Prtition Incresing this vlue bove 1 cuses the spce between the two phse (rottion) rulers to be prtitioned eqully into the specified number of intervls. The intervls re mrked by broken lines between the phse (rottion) rulers. The lines help you to interpret complex wveforms such s the vcuum pressure of four-stroke engine with its intke, compression, ignition nd exhust phses, or commutted AC wveform in switch mode power supply. Phse (rottion) rulers with 4 prtitions

33 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 27 Units You cn choose between Degrees, Percent or Custom. Custom llows you to enter your own unit symbol or nme Ruler legend The ruler legend is box tht displys the positions of ll the rulers you hve plced on the view. It ppers utomticlly whenever you position ruler on the view: Editing You cn djust the position of ruler by editing ny vlue in the first two columns. To insert Greek µ (the micro symbol, mening one millionth or 10-6), type the letter u. Trcking rulers When two rulers hve been positioned on one chnnel, the Lock button ppers next to tht ruler in the ruler legend. Clicking this button cuses the two rulers to trck ech other: drgging one cuses the other to follow it, mintining fixed seprtion. The button chnges to when the rulers re locked. TIP: To set up pir of trcking rulers with known distnce between them, first click the Lock button, then edit the two vlues in the ruler legend so tht the rulers re the desired distnce prt. Phse (rottion) rulers When phse rulers (clled rottion rulers in PicoScope 6 Automotive) re in use, the ruler legend displys dditionl informtion. See lso frequency legend Frequency legend The frequency legend ppers when you hve plced two time rulers on scope view. It shows 1/Δ in hertz (the SI unit of frequency, equl to cycles per second), where Δ is the time difference between the two rulers. You cn use this to estimte the frequency of periodic wveform, but you will get more ccurte results by creting frequency mesurement using the Add Mesurements button. For frequencies up to khz, the frequency legend cn lso show the frequency in RPM (revolutions per minute). The RPM disply cn be enbled or disbled in the Preferences > Options dilog.

34 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Properties sheet Loction: Views > View Properties Purpose: shows summry of the settings tht PicoScope 6 is using The Properties sheet ppers on the right-hnd side of the PicoScope window. No. smples The number of smples cptured. This my be lower thn the number requested in the Mximum Smples control. A number in brckets is the number of interpolted smples, if interpoltion is enbled. Window Spectrum views only. The window function pplied to the dt before computing the spectrum. This is selected in the Spectrum options dilog.

35 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Time gte Spectrum views only. The time tken to collect ll the dt for the fst Fourier trnsform (FFT), mesured from the strt of the cpture. Res. enhncement (resolution enhncement) Indictes tht you re using resolution enhncement. The number of bits, including resolution enhncement, selected in the Chnnel Options dilog. Effective res. Effective resolution: pplies to flexible resolution oscilloscopes only. PicoScope tries to use the vlue specified by the Hrdwre Resolution control in the Cpture Setup toolbr, but on some input rnges the hrdwre delivers lower effective resolution. The vilble resolutions re specified in the dt sheet for the scope device. Cpture rte Persistence mode only. The number of wveforms being cptured per second. Custom probes A probe is ny trnsducer, mesuring device or other ccessory tht you connect to n input chnnel of your scope device. PicoScope hs built-in librry of common probe types, such s the x1 nd x10 voltge probes used with most oscilloscopes, but if your probe is not included in this list you cn use the Custom Probes dilog to define new one. Custom probes cn hve ny input rnge within the cpbilities of the oscilloscope, disply in ny units, nd hve either liner or nonliner chrcteristics. Custom probe definitions re prticulrly useful when you wish to disply the probe's output in units other thn volts, or to pply liner or nonliner corrections to the dt.

36 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Mth chnnels A mth chnnel is mthemticl function of one or more input signls. It cn be displyed in scope, XY or spectrum view in the sme wy s n input signl, nd like n input signl it hs its own mesurement xis, scling nd offset button nd color. PicoScope 6 hs set of built-in mth functions for the most importnt functions, such s Invert A, A+B nd A B. You cn lso define your own functions using the eqution editor, or lod predefined mth chnnels from files. Here is three-step guide to using mth chnnels: 1. Tools > Mth Chnnels commnd. Click this to open the Mth Chnnels dilog, shown in the imge bove. 2. Mth Chnnels dilog. This lists ll the vilble mth chnnels nd llows you define new ones. In the exmple bove, only the built-in functions re listed. 3. Mth chnnel. Once enbled, mth chnnel ppers in the selected scope or spectrum view. You cn chnge its scle nd offset s with ny other chnnel. In the exmple bove, the new mth chnnel (bottom) is defined s A-B, the difference between input chnnels A (top) nd B (middle). You my occsionlly see flshing wrning tringle - t the bottom of the mth chnnel xis. This mens tht the chnnel cnnot be displyed becuse n input source is missing. For exmple, this occurs if you enble the A+B function while Chnnel B is set to Off.

37 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Reference wveforms A reference wveform is stored version of n input signl. You cn crete one by right-clicking on the view, selecting the Reference Wveforms commnd nd selecting which chnnel to copy. It cn be displyed in scope or spectrum view in the sme wy s n input signl, nd similrly it hs its own mesurement xis, scling nd offset button, nd color. The reference wveform my hve fewer smples thn the originl. For more control over Reference Wveforms, use the Reference Wveforms dilog s shown below. 1. Tools > Reference Wveforms commnd. Click this open the Reference Wveforms dilog, shown in the imge bove. 2. Reference Wveforms dilog. This lists ll the vilble input chnnels nd reference wveforms. In the exmple bove, input chnnels A nd B re switched on, so they pper in the Avilble section. The Librry section is empty to begin with. 3. Duplicte button. When you select n input chnnel or reference wveform nd click this button, the selected item is copied to the Librry section. 4. Librry section. This shows ll your reference wveforms. Ech one hs check box tht controls whether or not the wveform ppers on the disply. 5. Reference wveform. Once enbled, reference wveform ppers in the selected scope or spectrum view. You cn chnge its scle nd offset s with ny other chnnel. In the exmple bove, the new reference wveform (bottom) is copy of Chnnel A. 6. Axis control button. Opens n xis scling dilog llowing you to djust the scle, offset nd dely for this wveform.

38 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Seril decoding You cn use PicoScope to decode dt from seril bus such s I2C or CAN Bus. Unlike conventionl bus nlyzer, PicoScope lets you see the high-resolution electricl wveform t the sme time s the dt. The dt is integrted into the scope view, with color-coded pckets, so there's no need to lern new screen lyout. To strt decoding your dt, click Tools > Seril Decoding from the Menu br. There re mny different protocols vilble, nd the dt cn be viewed in Grph or Tble formts, or both. You cn simultneously decode multiple chnnels in different formts, nd switch between them using the Decoding tbs. For more informtion, see Seril Decoding dilog.

39 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Msk limit testing Msk limit testing is feture tht tells you when wveform or spectrum goes outside specified re, clled msk, drwn on the scope view or spectrum view. PicoScope cn drw the msk utomticlly by trcing cptured wveform, or you cn drw it mnully. Msk limit testing is useful for spotting intermittent errors during debugging, nd for finding fulty units during production testing. For step-bystep instructions, see How to set up Msk Limit Test. When you hve selected, loded or creted msk, the scope view will pper: (A) Msk Shows the llowed re (in white) nd the disllowed re (in blue). Right-clicking the msk re nd selecting the Edit Msk commnd tkes you to the Edit Msk dilog. You cn chnge the msk colors in the Colors pge of the Preferences dilog nd dd, remove, hide, disply nd sve msks using the Msks menu. (B) Filed wveforms If the wveform enters the disllowed re, it is counted s filure. The prt of the wveform tht cused the filure is highlighted, nd persists on the disply until the cpture is restrted. (C) Mesurements tble The number of filures since the strt of the current scope run is shown in the Mesurements tble. You cn cler the filure count by stopping nd restrting the cpture using the Stop nd Go buttons. The mesurements tble cn disply other mesurements t the sme time s the msk filure count. For detiled informtion on setting up msk limit test, see How to set up Msk Limit Test.

40 PicoScope nd oscilloscope primer Alrms Alrms re ctions tht you cn progrm PicoScope to execute when certin events occur. Use the Tools > Alrms commnd to open the Alrms dilog, which configures this function. The events tht cn trigger n lrm re: Cpture - when the oscilloscope hs cptured complete wveform or block of wveforms Buffers Full - when the wveform buffer becomes full Msk(s) Fil - when wveform fils msk limit test The ctions tht PicoScope cn execute re: Beep Ply Sound Stop Cpture Restrt Cpture Run Executble Sve Current Buffer Sve All Buffers Trigger Signl Genertor See Alrms dilog for more detils Buffer Overview The PicoScope wveform buffer cn hold up to wveforms, subject to the mount of vilble memory in the oscilloscope. The Buffer Overview helps you to scroll through the buffer quickly to find the wveform you wnt. To begin, click the Buffer Overview opens the Buffer Overview window: button in the Buffer Nvigtion toolbr. This Click on ny one of the visible wveforms to bring it to the front of the overview for closer inspection, or use the controls: Buffers to show If ny of the chnnels hs msk pplied, then you cn select the chnnel from this list. The Buffer Overview will then show only the wveforms tht filed the msk test on tht chnnel.

41 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 35 Scroll to wveform number 1. Scroll to the next wveform on the left. Chnge the scle of the wveforms in the Buffer Overview view. There re three zoom levels: Lrge: defult view. One wveform fills the height of the window. Medium: medium-sized wveform bove row of smll wveforms. Smll: grid of smll wveforms. Click on the top or bottom row of imges to scroll the grid up or down. Scroll to the next wveform on the right. Scroll to the lst wveform in the buffer. (The number of wveforms depends on the Tools > Preferences > Generl > Mximum Wveforms setting nd on the type of scope connected). Click nywhere on the min PicoScope window to close the Buffer Overview window.

42 36 5 Menus Menus Menus re the quickest wy to get to PicoScope's min fetures. The Menu br is lwys present t the top of the PicoScope min window, just below the window's title br. You cn click ny of the menu items, or press the Alt key nd then nvigte to the menu using the rrow keys or by typing the underlined letter in the desired menu item. Click on menu for more informtion The list of items in the menu br my vry depending on the windows tht you hve open in PicoScope. 5.1 File menu Loction: Menu br > File Purpose: gives ccess to file input nd output opertions Connect Device. This commnd ppers only when there is no scope device connected or PicoScope is in Demo mode. It opens the Connect Device dilog, which llows you to select the scope device you wish to use. Open... Tkes you to the Open dilog, where you cn open dt, settings, mth formul nd reference wveform files. Sve. Sves ll wveforms using the file nme shown in the title br. If you hven't entered file nme yet, the Sve As dilog opens to prompt you for one. Sve As. Opens the Sve As dilog, which llows you to sve the settings, wveforms, custom probes nd mth chnnels for ll views in vrious formts. Only the wveforms for the mode currently in use (Scope Mode or Spectrum Mode) will be sved. In persistence mode, this commnd is clled Sve Persistence As nd sves only the dt for this mode.

43 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 37 Wveform Librry Browser (PicoScope 6 Automotive only). Accesses the Wveform Librry Browser. Only vilble when scope device is connected. Strt-up Settings. Opens the Strt-up Settings menu. Print Preview. Opens the Print Preview window, which llows you to see how your workspce will be printed when you select the Print commnd. Print. Opens stndrd Windows Print dilog, which llows you to choose printer, set printing options nd then print the selected view. Recent Files. A list of recently opened or sved files, with thumbnil imge of the wveform. This list is compiled utomticlly, but you cn cler it using the Recent Files control on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog. Exit. Close PicoScope without sving ny dt.

44 Menus Connect Device dilog Loction: File > Connect Device or strt PicoScope with more thn one scope device connected Purpose: when PicoScope finds more thn one vilble scope device, this dilog llows you to select which one to use See How to chnge to different device if you wish to switch to different scope device lter. Connecting new device 1. Open the Connect Device dilog nd wit for the list of scope devices to pper. This my tke few seconds. 2. Select device nd click OK. 3. PicoScope will open scope view for the selected device. 4. Use the toolbrs to set up the device nd the scope view to disply your signls.

45 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Demo mode If you strt PicoScope without device connected, the No Device Found dilog will utomticlly pper. Select Yes to strt PicoScope 6 in Demo mode. Select No to strt PicoScope 6 without signl, llowing ccess to limited selection of menu items. Select File > Connect Device to chnge to Demo mode or open nother connected device. You cn lso select Demo device from the Connect Device dilog. When in Demo mode, PicoScope dds Demo Signl Genertor button toolbr. Use this button to set up test signls using the Demo device. to the

46 Menus Open dilog Loction: File > Open Purpose: llows you to open sved wveforms nd settings (including custom probes nd ctive mth chnnels) Allows you to select the file you wnt to open. You cn open files in the following formts: Dt files (.psdt) Contins wveform dt nd settings (including ny custom probes, ctive mth chnnels etc.) from the scope device used to cpture the dt. You cn crete your own files using the Sve nd Sve As... commnds. Settings files (.pssettings) Contins ll settings, including ny custom probes, ctive mth chnnels etc., from the current scope device. Does not contin ny wveform dt. You cn crete your own files using the Sve nd Sve As... commnds. Mth Formul files (.psmths) Select this option to open mth chnnel exported from the Mth Chnnels dilog. Reference Wveform files (.psreference) Select this option to open wveform exported from the Reference Wveforms dilog. If you open.psdt or.pssettings file tht ws sved using different scope device from the one connected, PicoScope my need to modify the sved settings to suit the present device. A notifiction like the one below will pper in the bottom right corner of the PicoScope disply: Once you hve opened.psdt file, if you re using the defult keybord mp, you cn use the Pge Up nd Pge Down keys to cycle through ll the other dt nd settings files in the sme directory. Note: chnnel informtion for.psdt files is displyed in the Properties sheet. If device is lredy connected when.psdt file is loded, the chnnel settings re chnged to mtch the.psdt file where possible. The resulting settings re displyed on the Chnnels toolbr.

47 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Sve As... dilog Loction: File > Sve As... Purpose: llows you to sve your wveforms nd settings (including custom probes nd ctive mth chnnels) to file in vrious formts PicoScope 6 Automotive only: the Options pge of the Preferences dilog llows you to set the Detils dilog to pper before the Sve As dilog, enbling you to record detils bout the vehicle nd the customer. Type your chosen file nme in the File nme box, nd then select file formt in the Sve s type box. You cn sve dt in the following formts: Dt files (.psdt) Stores wveforms nd settings (including ny custom probes, ctive mth chnnels etc.) from the current scope device. Cn be opened on ny computer running PicoScope. Settings files (.pssettings) Stores ll settings, including ny custom probes, ctive mth chnnels etc., from the current scope device. Does not sve ny wveform dt. Cn be opened on ny computer running PicoScope. CSV (Comm delimited) files (.csv) Stores wveforms s text file with comm-seprted vlues. This formt is suitble for importing into spredsheets such s Microsoft Excel. The first vlue on ech line is the time stmp, nd it is followed by one vlue for ech ctive chnnel, including currently displyed mth chnnels. See Text formts for more informtion.

48 42 Menus Text (Tb delimited) files (.txt) Stores wveforms s text file with tb-seprted vlues. The columns re the sme s those in the CSV formt. See Text formts for more informtion. Bitmp imges (.bmp) Stores pictures of the wveforms, grticule nd rulers in Windows BMP formt. The imge is displyed in 16 million colors nd is uncompressed. GIF imges (.gif) Stores pictures of the wveforms, grticule nd rulers in CompuServe GIF formt. The imge is displyed in 256 colors nd is compressed. Animted GIF imge (.gif) Cretes n nimted GIF tht displys ll of the wveforms in the buffer in sequence. Ech wveform is formtted s in the single GIF formt described bove. PNG imges (.png) Stores pictures of the wveforms, grticule nd rulers in PNG formt. The imge is displyed in 16 million colors, with lossless compression. MATLAB 4 files (.mt) Stores the wveform dt in MATLAB 4 formt. JPEG (.jpg) Stores pictures of the wveforms, grticule nd rulers in JPG formt. The imge is displyed in 16 million colors, with lossy compression. PDF (.pdf) Cretes PDF document with imges of ech of the wveforms in the buffer, long with their grticules nd rulers. There is one imge on ech pge, displyed in 16 million colors. Options The first three options control wht hppens when the wveform buffer contins more thn one wveform: All wveforms Sves ll of the wveforms in the selected file formt. If the file formt is.psdt, ll of the wveforms re collected in single file. You cn then lod this into PicoScope nd step through the wveforms using the buffer nvigtion controls. If the selected file formt does not support multiple wveforms, PicoScope cretes new directory contining multiple files. Current wveform only Sves the single wveform tht is currently on view. Wveform numbers Sves the specified list or rnge of wveforms. Ech wveform is identified by its index number. For exmple: 1,2,9,10 2, 5-10

49 PicoScope 6 User's Guide File formts for exported dt PicoScope 6 cn export rw dt in either text or binry formt: Text-bsed file formts Esy to red without specil tools Cn be imported into stndrd spredsheet pplictions Files re very lrge if there re mny smples in the dt There is no mximum file size when you export text-bsed file, but not ll editing pplictions cn open lrge files. When you sve text-bsed file with more thn 1 million vlues per chnnel, PicoScope 6 will disply the following wrning: Text file formt detils Binry file formt Files remin reltively smll nd cn even be compressed in some situtions Either specil ppliction is required to red the files or the user must write progrm to red the dt from the file Recommended for lrge dt sets Binry file formt detils Dt types for storing PicoScope 6 dt Regrdless of whether the dt types were loded from binry file or from textbsed file, we recommend the following dt formts for storing the vlues loded from PicoScope 6 dt file: Smpled dt (such s voltges) should use 32-bit single-precision floting-point dt types Times should use 64-bit double-precision floting-point dt types Text formts Text-formt files exported by PicoScope 6 re encoded in UTF-8 formt by defult. This is populr formt which is cpble of representing huge rnge of chrcters, whilst still retining some comptibility with the ASCII chrcter set if only stndrd Western Europen chrcters nd numbers re used in the file. CSV (comm-seprted vlues) CSV files store dt in the following formt:

50 44 Menus Time, Chnnel A, Chnnel B (µs), (V), (V) , 5.511, , 4.724, , 5.552, There is comm fter ech vlue on line to represent column of dt nd crrige return t the end of the line to represent new row of dt. Tb-delimited Tb-delimited files store dt in the following formt: Time (µs) Chnnel A (V) Chnnel B (V) The files hve tb chrcter fter ech vlue on line to represent column of dt nd crrige return t the end of the line to represent new row of dt Binry formts PicoScope 6 cn export dt in version 4 of the.mt binry file formt. This is n open formt nd the full specifiction is vilble s PDF documenttion from the website. PicoScope 6 sves dt into the MAT-file in specific wy, which is detiled below. Note: dt rrys sved in version 4 of the.mt file formt must not exceed the mximum size of 100 million elements. MATLAB cnnot red rrys with more elements thn this in this formt. Importing into MATLAB Lod the file into your workspce using this syntx: lod myfile Ech chnnel s dt is stored in n rry vrible nmed by the chnnel. So, the smpled dt for chnnels A to D would be in four rrys nmed A, B, C nd D. There is only one set of time dt for ll chnnels nd this is loded in one of two possible formts: A strt time, n intervl nd length. The vribles re nmed Tstrt, Tintervl nd Length. An rry of times (sometimes used for ETS dt). The time rry is nmed T. If the times re loded in s Tstrt, Tintervl nd Length then you cn use the following commnd to crete the equivlent rry of times: T = [Tstrt : Tintervl : Tstrt + (Length 1) * Tintervl]; Note: the size of the lrgest file tht MATLAB cn open depends on the resources of the computer. It is therefore possible for PicoScope to crete MATLAB file tht some instlltions of MATLAB would be unble to open. Plese be wre of this risk when sving criticl dt. The other three vribles used in the file re:

51 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 45 ExtrSmples the number of smples dded, for exmple when filtering or resolution enhncement is enbled RequestedLength the number of smples. This will be the sme s No. smples in the PicoScope 6 Properties sheet. Note tht if the signl is not cquired in its entirety, this will be different from Length. Version the exct version of PicoScope 6 used to export the file Exploring the file formt The full file specifiction, vilble from is comprehensive so this guide does not describe the entire formt. Insted, this guide describes enough of the formt to llow you to get dt from the file nd use it in your own progrm. The vribles described bove (under Importing into MATLAB) re stored in series of dt blocks, ech preceded by heder. Ech vrible hs its own heder nd dt block nd the corresponding vrible nmes re stored with them (such s A, B, Tstrt). The following sections describe how to red ech vrible from the file. The order of the dt blocks is not specified, so progrms should look t the vrible nmes to decide which vrible is currently being loded. The heder The file consists of number of dt blocks preceded by 20-byte heders. Ech heder contins five 32-bit integers (s described in the tble below). Bytes 0 to 3 4 to 7 8 to to to 19 Vlue Dt formt (0, 10 or 20) Number of vlues 1 0 Nme length Dt formt The Dt formt in bytes 0 to 3 describes the type of numericl dt in the rry. Vlue Description Double (64-bit floting point) Single (32-bit floting point) Integer (32-bit) Number of vlues The Number of vlues is 32-bit integer describing the number of numericl vlues in the rry. This vlue my be 1 for vribles tht only describe one vlue; but for rrys of smples or times, expect this to be lrge number. Nme length The Nme length is the length of the nme of the vrible s null-terminted 1byte per chrcter ASCII string. The lst null terminting chrcter (\0) is included in the Nme length so if the vrible nme is Tstrt (sme s Tstrt\0) then the nme length will be 7.

52 46 Menus The dt block The dt block begins with the nme of the vrible (such s A, Tintervl) nd you should red in the number of bytes described by the Nme length prt of the heder (not forgetting tht the lst byte in the string is \0 if your progrmming lnguge needs to tke ccount of this). The remining prt of the dt block is the ctul dt itself, so red in the number of vlues described in the Number of vlues prt of the heder. Remember to tke ccount of the size of ech vlue s described in the Dt formt prt of the heder. Chnnel dt such s voltges, in vribles such s A nd B, re stored s 32-bit single-precision floting-point dt types. Times such s Tstrt, Tintervl nd T re stored s 64-bit double-precision floting-point dt types. Length is stored s 32-bit integer Strt-up Settings menu Loction: File > Strt-up Settings Purpose: llows you to lod, sve nd restore the PicoScope 6 strtup settings Sve Settings As... Stores ll the current settings (for exmple collection time, input rnge, trigger), which cn then be opened on ny computer running PicoScope 6. This llows you to crete librry of different setups. Sve User Defult Settings Sves the current settings s the defult. This mens you only hve to configure the oscilloscope once in order to use these settings every time you open PicoScope 6. Reset User Defult Settings This replces your sved defult settings with the originl fctory settings. Lod User Defult Settings Resets ll settings to the sved defult. You cn lso use the home button on the toolbr to chieve this. Restore Lst Session This option returns the settings to those from your lst session. Lod Fctory Settings Returns the settings to the fctory originl.

53 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Lod User Defult Settings on Strt-up Selecting this option mkes sure tht the next time you strt up PicoScope 6, the sved user defult settings will be pplied. Restore Lst Session on Strt-up You should check this box if you wnt PicoScope 6 to open with the settings you used for your lst session. Wveform Librry Browser Loction: File > Wveform Librry Browser Purpose: llows you to serch hundreds of user-uploded wveforms by entering vrious fields of required dt Applicbility: PicoScope 6 Automotive only Oscilloscope must be connected

54 48 Menus Users of PicoScope Automotive oscilloscopes hve ccess to the online Wveform Librry. This is collection of user-generted wveforms, with informtion bout the vehicle under test. You cn serch the Wveform Librry for wveforms from the vehicle nd component you wnt to test, nd lso shre your own exmples. You cn lso tret the Wveform Librry s n online bckup for your own wveform files. Once you hve found wveform, you cn preview or open it. You cn lso use the wveform's individul chnnels s reference wveforms for your own signl, in PicoScope 6. Login detils When you open the Wveform Librry, login pge ppers. Enter your usernme nd pssword, nd the softwre will tke you to the pge shown below. The Wveform Librry uses the sme ccount informtion s the Pico utomotive forum: if you re not lredy member, you cn register for free by following the link on the Wveform Librry Login pge. 5.2 Edit menu Loction: Menu br > Edit Purpose: gives ccess to the clipbord-relted nd note-editing functions Copy s Imge Copies the ctive view to the clipbord s bitmp. You cn then pste the imge into ny ppliction tht ccepts bitmp imges. Copy s Text Copies the dt in the ctive view to the clipbord s text. You cn pste the dt into spredsheet or other ppliction. The text formt is the sme s tht used by the Sve As dilog when you select the.txt file type. Copy Entire Window s This copies picture of the PicoScope window to the Imge clipbord. It is provided s n lterntive equivlent to pressing Alt + Print Screen for users of lptops without Print Screen key. You cn pste the picture into ny ppliction tht cn disply pictures, such s word processor or desktop publishing progrm. Notes Opens Notes re t the bottom of the PicoScope window. You cn type or pste your own notes in this re. Detils... PicoScope 6 Automotive only. Opens the Detils dilog, which llows you to enter or view vehicle detils, customer detils, notes nd chnnel lbels.

55 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Notes Loction: Edit > Notes Trigger toolbr > Other buttons > Notes button Purpose: provides text box for typing your own notes You cn plce Notes re t the bottom of the PicoScope window, nd you cn enter ny text you wish in it or pste text into it from other progrms. This text is included when you sve the wveform s file.

56 Menus Detils dilog Loction: File > Sve As Edit > Detils Purpose: llows you to record chnnel lbels nd vehicle nd customer detils, before sving file Applicbility: PicoScope 6 Automotive only

57 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 51 You cn enter informtion bout the vehicle under test in the form shown bove. You cn lso view nd edit your notes nd chnnel lbels t the bottom of the PicoScope window by clicking the Notes nd Chnnel Lbels buttons in the Trigger toolbr. Click the Customer tb to note down the customer's detils. All of this informtion will be sved in the.psdt file. You cn then view it in PicoScope using the Edit > Detils menu commnd Chnnel Lbels Loction: Edit > Detils Trigger toolbr > Other buttons > Chnnel Lbels button Purpose: llows you to supply nd view informtion on the wveforms Applicbility: PicoScope 6 Automotive only Chnnel lbels cn be displyed t the bottom of the PicoScope window. Lbel Select stndrd lbel from the drop-down list or type ny text in the box. Description Type ny text in the box to describe the wveform. Sttus Select Good, Bd or Unknown. This helps other engineers to identify whether the wveform is from working engine or fulty one.

58 Menus Views menu Loction: Menu br > Views, or right-click on view Purpose: controls the lyout of the current view, which is rectngulr re of the PicoScope window tht disply scope, spectrum or other kinds of dt The contents of the Views menu my vry depending on where you click nd how mny views re open. If the current view contins Mesurements tble, combined Mesurements menu nd Views menu will pper. Add View Add view of the selected type (scope, XY or spectrum). In utomtic grid lyout mode (the defult), PicoScope rerrnges the grid to mke room for the new view, up to limit of nine views. Any further views will be dded s tbs in existing viewports. If you hve selected fixed grid lyout, PicoScope will not chnge it. Sub View Mixed signl oscilloscopes only: switch the nlog view nd digitl view on nd off independently Renme View Chnge the stndrd Scope or Spectrum lbel to title of your choice Close View Remove view from the PicoScope window. In utomtic grid lyout mode (the defult), PicoScope rerrnges the grid to mke the best use of the remining spce. In fixed grid lyout mode (if you hve selected fixed grid lyout), PicoScope will not chnge the grid.

59 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 53 Chnnels Select which chnnels re visible in the current view. Ech view, when creted, shows ll the input chnnels, but you cn switch them on nd off using this commnd. Only the input chnnels tht re enbled (not set to Off in the Chnnel Setup Toolbr) re vilble for viewing. The Chnnels menu lso list mth chnnels nd reference wveforms. You cn select up to 8 chnnels in ny view. X-Axis Select ny suitble chnnel to drive the X xis. By defult, the X xis represents time. If you select n input chnnel insted, the scope view will become n XY view tht plots one input ginst nother. A quicker wy to crete n XY view is to use the Add View commnd (see bove). Grid Lyout The grid lyout defults to Automtic mode, in which PicoScope utomticlly rrnges viewports in grid. You cn lso select one of the stndrd grid lyouts or crete custom lyout, which PicoScope will preserve s you dd or remove views. Arrnge Grid Lyout Adjust the grid lyout to fit the number of views. Moves ny tbbed views to empty viewports. Overrides ny previous choice of grid lyout. Reset View Sizes If you hve resized ny of the views by drgging the verticl or horizontl seprtor brs between viewports, this option resets ll the viewports to their originl sizes. Move View To Move view to specified viewport. You cn chieve the sme effect by drgging the view by its nme tb nd dropping it in new viewport: see How to move view. Arrnge Views If multiple views re stcked in the sme viewport, move them into their own viewports Auto-rrnge xes Scle nd offsets ll trces to fill the view nd void overlps Reset View Lyout Reset the scle fctor nd offset of the selected view to their defult vlues View Properties Show the Properties sheet, which lists scope settings tht re normlly hidden

60 Menus Custom grid lyout dilog Loction: Views menu > Grid Lyout > Custom lyout... Purpose: if the Grid Lyout section of the Views menu does not contin the lyout you wnt, this dilog gives further options You cn ly out the view grid with ny number of rows nd columns up to 4 by 4. You cn then drg the views to different loctions in the grid. 5.4 Mesurements menu Loction: Menu br > Mesurements Purpose: controls the Mesurements tble Add Mesurement. Adds row to the mesurements tble, nd opens the Add Mesurement dilog. Edit Mesurement. This tkes you to the Edit Mesurement dilog. You cn lso edit mesurement by double-clicking on row of the mesurements tble. Delete Mesurement. Removes the selected row from the mesurements tble. Grid Font Size. Sets the font size for the entries in the mesurements tble. Column Auto-width. If this box is checked, the columns of the mesurements tble will continully djust to fit the contents whenever the tble chnges. Click gin to relese the button. You cn lso ccess the Add Mesurement, Edit Mesurement nd Delete Mesurement commnds from the Mesurements buttons, on the Trigger toolbr, or by right-clicking on view.

61 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Add/Edit Mesurement dilog Loction: Trigger toolbr > Mesurements buttons > Edit Mesurement button Mesurements menu > Mesurement button Add Mesurement or Add Mesurement or Edit Double-click mesurement in the mesurements tble Purpose: llows you to dd mesurement of wveform to the selected view, or edit n existing mesurement If this is the first mesurement for the ctive view, PicoScope will crete new mesurements tble; otherwise, it will dd the new mesurement to the bottom of the existing tble. PicoScope utomticlly refreshes the mesurement every time it updtes the wveform. Select the chnnel to mesure Choose which of the scope device's chnnels to mesure. Select the type of mesurement PicoScope cn clculte wide rnge of mesurements for wveforms. See scope mesurements (for use with scope views) or spectrum mesurements (for use with spectrum views) for list. Choose which section of the grph will be mesured Mesure the whole trce, the section between two time or frequency rulers or single cycle mrked by one ruler. Mesurement Options Some mesurements hve dditionl settings to choose from: see Scope mesurement options nd Spectrum mesurement options for more informtion.

62 Menus Scope mesurement options Threshold nd hysteresis (Edge Count, Flling Edge Count nd Rising Edge Count only) Use these options to control the threshold method nd the degree of hysteresis for Edge Count, Flling Edge Count nd Rising Edge Count mesurements. Threshold (Flling Rte, Fll Time, Rise Time nd Rising Rte only) Flling Rte, Fll Time, Rise Time nd Rising Rte mesurements cn be mde with different thresholds. Use this control to select one. When compring rise nd fll times with mnufcturers' specifictions, it is importnt to use the sme thresholds for ll mesurements.

63 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Spectrum mesurement options Spectrum Spn (ll Spectrum mesurements) When mesuring pek-relted prmeters in spectrum view, PicoScope cn serch for pek ner the specified frequency ruler loction. This option tells PicoScope how mny frequency bins to serch. Hrmonic control options (Totl Hrmonic Distortion [ll vrints], SINAD nd Signl to Noise Rtio [SNR] only) The following options pply to distortion mesurements. You cn specify which hrmonics PicoScope uses for these mesurements. Highest Hrmonic The highest hrmonic to include when clculting distortion power. Serch Rnge The number of frequency bins to serch, centered on the expected frequency, when looking for hrmonic pek. Hrmonic Noise Floor The level in db bove which signl peks will be counted s hrmonics.

64 Menus Tools menu Loction: Menu br > Tools Purpose: gives ccess to ssorted tools for signl nlysis Custom Probes. Define new probes nd copy, delete, move nd edit existing ones. Mth Chnnels. Add or edit chnnel tht is mthemticl function of one or more other chnnels. Reference Wveforms. Crete, lod or sve chnnel s copy of n existing chnnel. Seril Decoding. Decode nd disply the contents of seril dt strems such s CAN bus. Alrms. Specify ctions to be tken on certin events. Msks. Perform msk limit testing on wveform. This detects when the wveform deprts from specified shpe. Mcro Recorder. Sve frequently-used sequence of opertions. Preferences. Set vrious options tht control PicoScope's behvior.

65 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Custom Probes dilog Loction: Tools > Custom Probes or open it from the Chnnel Options menu: Purpose: llows you to set up nd edit custom probes The selection of built-in probes shown my vry depending on the version of the PicoScope softwre tht you re using. Understnding the probe list All the probes tht PicoScope knows bout re listed under three min hedings: Built-in, Librry nd Loded. The probe list is preserved between sessions, so tht PicoScope will never forget your custom probes unless you delete them. Built-in probes. The built-in probes re supplied by Pico Technology nd do not chnge unless you downlod n uthorized updte from us. As sfegurd, PicoScope does not llow you to edit or delete these probes. If you wnt to modify one of them, you cn copy it to your librry by clicking Duplicte, nd then edit the copy in your librry. Librry probes. These re the probes tht you hve creted using ny of the methods described in this topic. You cn edit, delete or duplicte ny of these probes by clicking the pproprite button in this dilog.

66 60 Menus Loded probes. Probes in PicoScope dt files (.psdt) or settings files (.pssettings) tht you hve opened pper here until you copy them to your librry. You cnnot edit or delete these probes directly, but you cn click Sve to Librry to copy them to your librry where you cn edit them. Adding new probe to your librry There re three wys to crete new probe: Use the Duplicte button s described bove. Click New Probe... to define new probe. Click Import to lod probe definition from *.psprobe file nd dd it to your librry. These files re normlly supplied by Pico, but you cn lso crete your own by defining new probe nd then clicking Export. The lst two methods open the Custom Probe wizrd to guide you through the probe definition process Custom Probe wizrd Loction: Custom Probes dilog > New Probe Purpose: llows you to define custom probes nd set up custom rnges The first dilog in the series is either the Custom Probe wizrd introduction dilog or the Edit n existing Custom Probe dilog. 1. Introduction or Edit 2. Probe output units

67 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Scling method 4. Rnge mngement 5. Mnul rnges setup 6. Filter method

68 62 Menus 7. Custom probe identifiction Custom Probe wizrd introduction dilog Loction: Custom Probes dilog > New Probe... Purpose: introduces you to the process for creting new custom probe Click Next to continue to the Probe Output Units dilog.

69 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Edit Existing Custom Probe dilog Loction: Custom Probes dilog > Edit... Purpose: introduces you to the process for editing n existing custom probe Click Next to continue to the Probe Output Units dilog.

70 Menus Probe Output Units dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd Purpose: llows you to choose the units tht PicoScope will use to disply the output of your custom probe To choose stndrd SI unit, click Use stndrd unit from the list nd select one from the list. To enter custom unit, click Use the custom unit defined below nd type the unit nme nd symbol. Click Next to continue to the Scling Method dilog. Click Bck to return to the Custom Probe wizrd introduction dilog if this is new probe, or the Edit Existing Custom Probe dilog if this is n existing probe.

71 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Scling Method dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd Purpose: llows you to define the chrcteristic tht PicoScope will use to convert the custom probe's voltge output to mesurement on the disply If you do not require ny scling or offset, select Don't pply ny scling to the dt. If the probe requires liner scling, select Use liner eqution to scle the dt nd enter the grdient (or scle fctor) m nd the offset c in the eqution y = mx + c, where y is the displyed vlue nd x is the probe's voltge output. If you wish to pply nonliner function to the probe's output, choose Use look-up tble, then click the Crete Lookup Tble... button to crete new lookup tble. This will tke you to the Lookup-tble Scling dilog. Click Next to continue to the Rnge Mngement dilog. Click Bck to return to the Probe Output Units dilog.

72 Menus Lookup-tble Scling dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd > Scling Method dilog > Crete Lookup Tble... or Edit the Lookup Tble... Purpose: cretes lookup tble to clibrte custom probe Editing the Lookup Tble First, select suitble vlues in the Input units nd Scled units drop-down boxes. For exmple, if your probe is current clmp tht outputs one millivolt per mpere over the rnge 600 to +600 mperes, select Input units of millivolts nd Scled units of mperes. Next, enter some dt in the scling tble. Click the first empty cell t the top of the tble nd type 600, then hit the Tb key nd type 600. When you re redy to enter the next pir of vlues, press the Tb key gin to strt new row. You cn lso right-click on the tble to obtin more detiled menu of options, s shown in the picture. In the exmple bove, we hve entered slightly nonliner response; if the response hd been liner then it would hve been esier to use the liner option in the Scling Method dilog. Import.../Export... Using the Import... button, you cn fill the lookup tble from dt in commseprted or tb-delimited text file. The Export... button llows you to sve the lookup tble to new file. Finishing Clicking OK or Cncel will return you to the Scling Method dilog.

73 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Rnge Mngement dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd Purpose: llows you to override PicoScope's utomtic rnge-cretion feture for custom probes. In most cses, the utomtic procedure will be sufficient. If you select Let the softwre mnge my rnges for me utomticlly, clicking Next will tke you to the Custom Probe Identifiction dilog. PicoScope's utomtic rnges should be idel for most pplictions. If you select I will mnge the Custom Probe Rnges mnully, clicking Next will tke you to the Mnul Rnges Setup dilog. Click Bck to return to the Scling Method dilog. Wht is Auto-rnging? When the Auto-rnging function is selected, PicoScope continully monitors the input signl nd djusts the rnge when necessry to llow it to disply the signl with mximum resolution. This function is vilble on ll stndrd rnges, nd cn be used with custom rnges if you select Let the softwre mnge my rnges for me utomticlly in this dilog.

74 Menus Mnul Rnges Setup dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd > Rnge Mngement dilog > Advnced > Next Purpose: cretes rnges mnully for your custom probe If you wish, you cn click Auto Generte Rnges nd the softwre will crete number of rnges for the selected device. This will crete the sme list of rnges tht you would hve obtined by selecting Let the softwre mnge my rnges for me utomticlly in the previous dilog. When you select rnge, digrm below the list will show its reltionship to the scope device's input rnge this is explined further under Edit rnge dilog. You cn then edit the rnges by clicking Edit, or you cn lso dd new rnge by clicking New Rnge. Both of these buttons tke you to the Edit Rnge dilog. Click Next to continue to the Filter Method dilog. Click Bck to return to the Rnge Mngement dilog.

75 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 69 How to use new custom rnge Here is the stndrd input rnge menu for the built-in x1 probe: When you crete custom input rnge, it ppers in the drop-down list of rnges in the chnnels toolbr, like this:

76 Menus Edit Rnge dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd > Rnge Mngement dilog > Mnul Rnges Setup dilog > Edit Rnge or New Rnge Purpose: editing mnul rnge for custom probe An input rnge is the signl rnge, usully in volts, on the input chnnel of the scope device. The scled rnge is the rnge tht will pper on the verticl xis of the scope disply when the probe is selected. Your scled rnge should mtch the input rnge s closely s possible, to mke the most of the scope's resolution. The scling tht you chose on the Scling Method pge defines the reltionship between the input rnge nd the scled rnge. This dilog enbles you to set up rnges to disply the scled dt on the scope view. Stndrd Options tb Automticlly select the hrdwre input rnge for the rnge limits I specify below If you leve this rdio button pressed, PicoScope will utomticlly determine the best hrdwre input rnge for the device s you chnge the Scled rnge limits. This is the best mode to use for lmost ll rnges. You should set the Scled rnge limits to the mximum nd minimum vlues you wish to see on the verticl xis of the scope disply. Use this hrdwre input rnge If you press this rdio button nd select hrdwre input rnge from the drop-down box, PicoScope will then use tht hrdwre input rnge whtever scled rnge limits you choose. Set the upper nd lower scled rnge limits to the limits you wish to pper t the top nd bottom of the verticl xis in PicoScope's scope view. The rnge utiliztion br This digrm t the bottom of the dilog shows how well the input rnge of the device is mtched to the scled rnge.

77 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 71 Green - The section of the input rnge tht is used by the scled rnge. This should be s lrge s possible, to mximize the use of the scope device's resolution. Blue - Ares of the input rnge tht re not being used. These indicte wsted resolution. Grey - Prts of the scled rnge tht re not covered by the input rnge. These will result in wsted spce on the grph. The rnge utiliztion br my not represent these res ccurtely when non-liner scling is being used, so you should lwys test the scled rnge limits on the scope view. Advnced tb The Advnced tb llows you to configure dvnced options for custom probes. However, these options re for fctory use nd we recommend tht you do not chnge them. Finishing Clicking OK or Cncel will return you to the Mnul Rnges Setup dilog.

78 Menus Filter Method dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd Purpose: sets up lowpss filtering for this custom probe This dilog hs the sme effect s mnully enbling the Lowpss Filtering option in the Chnnel Options dilog. Filtering will only occur if the ttched scope device supports filtering. Click Bck to go to the Mnul Rnge Setup dilog. Click Next to go to the Custom Probe Identifiction dilog.

79 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Custom Probe Identifiction dilog Loction: Custom Probe wizrd Purpose: entering text to identify the custom probe Click Bck to return to the Filter Method dilog. The probe nme will pper in the probe list. The optionl description is not used in the current version of the softwre. Click Finish to ccept your custom probe settings nd return to the Custom Probes dilog.

80 Menus Mth Chnnels dilog Loction: Tools > Mth Chnnels Purpose: creting, editing nd controlling mth chnnels, which re virtul chnnels generted by mthemticl functions of input chnnels Mth Chnnel list The min re of the Mth Chnnels dilog is the Mth Chnnel list, which shows ll the built-in, librry nd loded mth chnnels. To choose whether or not chnnel ppers in the min PicoScope window, click the pproprite check box nd then OK. You cn hve up to eight chnnels in ny view, including input chnnels nd mth chnnels. If you enble ninth chnnel, PicoScope opens new view. Built-in: these mth chnnels re defined by PicoScope nd cnnot be chnged Librry: these re the mth chnnels tht you define using the Crete, Duplicte or Edit buttons, or lod with the Import button Loded: these re the mth chnnels present in ny PicoScope settings or dt files tht you hve loded Crete Opens the Mth Chnnel wizrd, which guides you through the process of creting or editing mth chnnel. The new chnnel will pper under Librry in the Mth Chnnel list.

81 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Edit Opens the Mth Chnnel wizrd to llow you to edit the selected mth chnnel. You must first select chnnel in the Librry section of the Mth Chnnel list. If the chnnel you wnt to edit is in the Built-in or Loded section, first copy it to the Librry section by clicking Duplicte, then select it nd click Edit. Delete Permnently deletes the selected mth chnnel. Only mth chnnels in the Librry section cn be deleted. Duplicte Cretes copy of the selected mth chnnel. The copy is plced in the Librry section, where you cn edit it by clicking Edit. Import Opens.psmths mth chnnel file nd plces the mth chnnels it contins in the Librry section Export Sves ll mth chnnels from the Librry section to new.psmths file Mth Chnnel wizrd Loction: Chnnel Setup toolbr > Mth Chnnels button Purpose: creting, editing nd controlling mth chnnels, which re virtul chnnels generted by mthemticl functions of input chnnels 1. Introduction 2. Eqution

82 76 Menus 3. Chnnel nme 4. Units nd rnge 5. Finished

83 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Mth Chnnel wizrd introduction dilog Loction: Mth Chnnels dilog > Crete Purpose: introduces you to the process for creting new mth chnnel Click Next to continue to the Mth Chnnel wizrd Eqution dilog.

84 Menus Mth Chnnel wizrd Eqution dilog Loction: Mth Chnnel wizrd Purpose: llows you to enter or edit the eqution for mth chnnel You cn type directly into the eqution box, or click the clcultor buttons nd let the progrm insert the symbols for you. A red error indictor will pper to the right of the eqution box if the eqution contins syntx error. When you re hppy with your eqution, click Next to continue to the Mth Chnnel wizrd Nme dilog. Bsic view Mth Chnnel wizrd Eqution dilog, bsic view Bsic buttons Button Eqution Description Cler Eqution. Clers the entire contents of the eqution box. Cler. Clers the single chrcter to the left of the cursor. + Add

85 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 79 Subtrct (or negte) * Multiply / Divide A...D Input Chnnels. The selection vilble depends on the number of enbled chnnels on the scope device. {...}, T Other Opernds. Shows drop-down list of vilble inputs to equtions, including reference wveforms nd Time. (...) Brckets. Expressions within brckets will be evluted before the expressions to either side.... Advnced view Clicking the Advnced button revels more function buttons. Initilly these re the Min group of buttons, s shown below. Mth Chnnel wizrd Eqution dilog, dvnced view, showing Min group of buttons

86 80 Menus Advnced buttons (numeric keypd) Button Eqution Description to 9. The deciml digits.. Deciml point E Exponent. Eb mens 10b.... Advnced buttons (Min group) Button Eqution Description ^ Power. Rise x to the power of y. ln() Nturl logrithm exp() Nturl exponent. Rise e, the bse of the nturl logrithm, to the power of x. freq() Frequency. Clculted in hertz. duty() Duty. Clculte the duty cycle s percentge. log() Logrithm. Bse-10 logrithm. derivtive() Derivtive. Clculted with respect to the x-xis. Note: the derivtive of smpled signl contins lrge mount of noise, so it is dvisble to pply digitl lowpss filtering to ll chnnels used s inputs to this function. integrl() Integrl. Along the x-xis. sqrt() Squre root norm() Normlize. PicoScope clcultes the mximum nd minimum vlues of the rgument over the cpture period, nd then scles nd offsets the rgument so tht it exctly fits the rnge [0, +1] units. bs() Absolute vlue

87 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 81 Click Trigonometric, Buffered or Filters to revel lterntive groups of buttons: Advnced buttons (Trigonometric group) Button Eqution Description pi Pi. The rtio of circle's circumference to its dimeter. Inverse. Modifies the sin, cos nd tn buttons to the inverse trigonometric functions sin, cos nd tn. sin() Sine. The opernd is in rdins. cos() Cosine. The opernd is in rdins. tn() Tngent. The opernd is in rdins. sinh() Hyperbolic sine. cosh() Hyperbolic cosine. tnh() Hyperbolic tngent. Advnced buttons (Buffered group) When the scope is running, these functions opete continuously on ll wveforms since the scope strted cpturing. If mth chnnel contining these functions is enbled when the scope is stopped, it opertes on the contents of the wveform buffer insted. Button Eqution Description min() Minimum. Negtive pek detect of ll previous wveforms. mx() Mximum. Positive pek detect of ll previous wveforms. verge() Averge. Arithmetic men of ll previous wveforms. pek() Pek detect. Disply mximum-to-minimum rnge of ll previous wveforms.

88 82 Menus Advnced buttons (Filters group) Prmeters: i is the input chnnel or other opernd (see under Bsic buttons bove) f (or f1 nd f2) re the 3 db cutoff frequencies of the filter, in hertz Button Eqution Description HighPss(i,f) Highpss filter. Attenutes low frequencies. LowPss(i,f) Lowpss filter. Attenutes high frequencies. BndPss(i,f1,f2) Bndpss filter. Attenutes high nd low frequencies outside the specified rnge. BndStop(i,f1,f2) Bndstop filter. Attenutes mid-bnd frequencies inside the specified rnge. These re digitl filters with finite number of tps nd therefore cnnot ttenute down to DC. They hve minimum cutoff frequency of 1/ of the scope's smpling rte. You cn find the current smpling rte displyed in the Properties sheet. Additionl functions There re few opertors tht cn be entered only by using the eqution box: Signum function. The sign() opertor returns the sign of its input. The result is +1 when the input is positive, 1 when the input is negtive, nd 0 when the input is 0. Advnce/Dely. To deskew signl, select the chnnel nd dd the deskew time in seconds, in squre brckets. For exmple, to dvnce Chnnel A by 1 millisecond, enter A[0.001], nd to dely Chnnel A by 1 millisecond, enter A[ 0.001]. Using time offsets to djust one chnnel reltive to nother cn compenste for differences in cble lengths or skew in trce lengths.

89 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Mth Chnnel wizrd Nme dilog Loction: Mth Chnnel wizrd Purpose: llows you to enter or edit the nme nd color of mth chnnel PicoScope initilly sets the nme to the text of the eqution, but you cn edit it to nything you like. The nme will pper in the chnnel list in the Mth Chnnels dilog. You cn set the color of the trce to one of the stndrd colors in the dropdown-list, or click Custom to choose ny possible color llowed by Windows. Click Next to continue to the Mth Chnnel wizrd Units nd Rnge dilog.

90 Menus Mth Chnnel wizrd Units nd Rnge dilog Loction: Mth Chnnel wizrd Purpose: llows you to specify the mesurement units nd the rnge of vlues to disply for mth chnnel Units Long Nme: This is for your reference only. Short Nme: This will be displyed on the verticl xis in scope nd spectrum views, in the ruler legend nd in the mesurements tble. Rnge If you leve the Override utomtic rnge selection check box empty, PicoScope will choose the most pproprite rnge for the verticl xis. If you prefer to set your own minimum nd mximum vlues for the xis, check the box nd enter them in the Min nd Mx boxes. Click Next to continue to the Mth Chnnel wizrd Finished dilog.

91 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Mth Chnnel wizrd Finished dilog Loction: Mth Chnnel wizrd Purpose: shows you the settings for the mth chnnel tht you hve just creted or edited Click Bck to return to previous dilogs in the Mth Chnnel wizrd if you wish to chnge ny of the settings. Click Finish to ccept the settings shown nd return to the Mth Chnnels dilog. If you wnt the new or edited chnnel to pper on the scope or spectrum disply, remember to check the pproprite box in the chnnel list. You cn chnge them lter by returning to the Mth Chnnels dilog.

92 Menus Reference Wveforms dilog Loction: Tools > Reference Wveforms Purpose: enbles you to crete, edit nd control reference wveforms, which re stored copies of input chnnels Reference Wveforms list The min re of the Reference Wveforms dilog is the Reference Wveforms list, which shows ll the vilble input chnnels nd the librry nd loded reference wveforms. To choose whether or not wveform ppers in the min PicoScope window, click the pproprite check box nd then OK. You cn hve up to eight chnnels in ny view, including input chnnels, mth chnnels nd reference wveforms. If you try to enble ninth chnnel, PicoScope will open nother view. Avilble: these input chnnels re suitble s sources for reference wveforms Librry: these re the reference wveforms tht you hve defined using the Duplicte button or loded with the Import button Loded: these re the reference wveforms present in ny PicoScope settings or dt files tht you hve loded Edit Opens the Edit Reference Wveform dilog to llow you to edit the selected reference wveform. You must first select wveform in the Librry section of the Reference Wveforms list. If the wveform you wnt to edit is in the Loded section, first copy it to the Librry section by clicking Duplicte, then select it nd click Edit.

93 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Delete Permnently deletes the selected reference wveform. Only reference wveforms in the Librry section cn be deleted. Duplicte Cretes copy of the selected input chnnel or reference wveform. The copy is plced in the Librry section, from where you cn edit it by clicking Edit. A quicker wy to do the sme thing is to right-click on the view, select Reference Wveforms nd then click the chnnel tht you wish to copy. Import Opens.psreference reference wveform file nd plces the wveforms it contins in the Librry section. Export Sves the highlighted reference wveform from the Librry or Loded sections to new.psreference or MATLAB 4.mt file. Edit Reference Wveform dilog Loction: Reference Wveforms dilog > Edit Purpose: llows you to edit the nme nd color of reference wveform Nme: PicoScope initilly nmes the wveform fter the input chnnel used s its source, but you cn edit it to nything you like. Here we hve nmed it noise. The nme will pper in the wveform list in the Reference Wveforms dilog. Color: You cn set the color of the trce to one of the stndrd colors in the dropdown-list, or click Custom to choose ny color llowed by Windows.

94 Menus Seril Decoding dilog Loction: Tools > Seril Decoding Purpose: lets you set up which chnnels nd protocols to use for seril decoding Adding new seril decoder 1. Mke sure the chnnel you wnt to decode is enbled, using the Chnnels toolbr. For duplex protocols such s UART, you must decode ech direction (for exmple Tx nd Rx) using seprte chnnel. 2. Click the Crete button, s shown bove, nd select the seril decoding protocol you would like to use from the list. 3. This opens the Decoder Settings dilog: use this to select which chnnel to decode nd how you would like to view the dt, nd to djust other settings. Ech protocol hs different settings to djust. 4. Click OK. Your selected protocols will pper in the Seril decoders list, s shown bove, where you cn edit or delete them.

95 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Decoder Settings Different settings options re vilble for ech protocol decoder. If the seril decoding prmeters entered re incorrect, PicoScope will disply n error messge. Chnnels Signls Dt Dt chnnel for vrious protocols. Note: bidirectionl SPI cn be decoded s two seprte buses, one with Dt In (DI) s the I/O signl nd the other with Dt Out (DO) s the I/O signl. The Clock (nd Chip Select if present) cn be shred by both buses. Clock Clock for vrious protocols Word Select For the I2S protocol. Indictes which stereo chnnel the dt belongs to. Chip Select For the SPI protocol. If there is no Chip Select signl, cler the check box. DtPlus nd DtMinus For the USB (1.0/1.1) protocol. Controls Invert Reverses the polrity of the signl Threshold The voltge tht defines the trnsition in either direction between high nd low logic sttes

96 90 Menus Hysteresis Elimintes the effect of noise on the threshold, in similr wy to trigger hysteresis. The vlue you enter here is rnge, to be divided eqully either side of the threshold. Configurtion Bud Rte The symbol frequency in bud. PicoScope will utomticlly detect the bud rte nd select vlue for you. Alterntively, you cn choose one of the stndrd vlues from the drop-down list or enter n rbitrry vlue. Bit Order Whether the most or lest significnt bit occurs first. For protocols with ppliction-specific bit order, such s UART, you must set this to mtch to the dt formt. Bus Speed The mximum dt rte of the I2C seril bus Chip Select Stte The polrity of the Chip Select (CS) signl Clock Edge Whether to smple the clock (SCK) on the flling or rising edge Dt Bits The number of bits in the dt pylod of ech pcket Dt Bit Rte The bit rte (in bud) of the dt phse of the signl, independent of bit encoding nd decoding Dt Encoding Encoding of the ARINC 429 dt field: binry coded deciml (BCD), binry number representtion (BNR), or discrete dt representtion Disply 4B/5B Code Show the 4B/5B block coding scheme output (rther thn Groups Ethernet pckets) for the Fst Ethernet protocol First Slot The first DMX chnnel to disply Full-speed (12 Mbit/s) Full speed USB 1.0 or 1.1 protocol High or Low The signl polrity of the CAN or CAN FD protocol High Threshold The voltge level of the high signl stte Lst Slot The lst DMX chnnel to disply Low-speed (1.5 Mbit/s) Low speed USB 1.0 or 1.1 protocol Low Threshold The voltge level of the low signl stte Prity The type of error-correction bit dded to ech pcket Smple time from flling edge The time since the lst flling edge t which to smple the 1Wire bus Sensor Type The type of SENT sensor ttched. Defines the contents of the pcket dt nibbles.

97 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 91 Stop Bits The number of fixed bits t the end of ech pcket Tick Time SENT trnsmitter-specific nominl clock period (tick) Word Length For the I2S protocol. Word length used in the pcket. Disply Nme Crete nme for ech protocol setup, which is displyed in the scope view Disply pckets Grph: shows the dt in logic-nlyzer style, on the sme time xis s the nlog wveform. Hover the mouse pointer over ny decoded pcket to disply its contents. Click-nd-drg the decoded dt up or down the scope view. If the Tble disply is visible, double-click on ny pcket to highlight it in the tble. Tble: displys the decoded dt in tble in the seril dt window, with dvnced serch nd filtering functions. Between rulers: Only decodes the section of wveform shown between the time rulers. You cn lso choose formt for the decoded dt: Hex, Binry, Deciml, or ASCII.

98 Menus Seril Decoding dt window Select Tble in the Decoder Settings dilog to view the decoded seril dt in n lphnumeric formt below your wveform, s shown below. This formt llows dvnced filtering nd serching of the dt. You cn lso sort the dt by ny of the fields. When Grph is lso selected in the Decoder Settings dilog, the dt will pper in grphicl form on the scope view too. You cn click on one of the dt pckets in the scope view to go to the corresponding row in the tble, or you cn double-click row in the tble to zoom to the corresponding frme in the scope view. Fields The fields shown will vry depending on which protocol hs been selected. For more informtion on the dt displyed, see the individul sections in Seril protocols. Click nd drg the edges of ech column to chnge the width, nd mke viewing the field dt clerer. Click on the field heder to sort the tble by tht field, in scending order. Click gin to sort in descending order. To restore the defult order, sort by Pcket. PicoScope sorts by vlue rther thn by string. This is lso the cse if you re using link file nd hve converted numericl codes into plin text: PicoScope will sort by the underlying vlue. Selection tbs A seprte tble will be displyed for ech seril decoding setup creted, with different chnnels nd protocols. Use the tbs to switch between them. Control br Open the Decoder Settings dilog Link Open: Open previously creted link file, which trnsltes numericl decoded dt to text Crete Templte: Crete link file with the correct field heders, but without ny populted dt Cler: Cler the loded link file Recent Files: Files which hve recently been sved or opened

99 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 93 Export Sve the decoded dt in link file, s n OpenDocument Spredsheet (ODS) or Comm-Seprted Vlues (CSV) text file View Fields: Choose which dt fields re displyed Grid Font Size: Chnge the size of the chrcters in the tble Sttistics View or hide the sttistics columns, which list the signl voltges nd pcket time for ech pcket Chnge numeric disply formt Choose the formt your dt is displyed in: Hex, Binry, Deciml or ASCII Buffer Choose whether to disply pckets from the Current Buffer or All Buffers Filter Allows you to reduce the size of the tble by selecting which dt to show. When you click the Filter button, text entry boxes pper bove ech column in the tble. Choose field to filter by nd enter the vlue you re looking for. Only the pckets which mtch your filter term will be displyed. For exmple, enter 6C7 in the filter box t the top of the ID column, nd PicoScope will only disply the pckets where the ID contins the vlue 6C7. [Field] nd Serch Select the field you wish to serch using the drop-down list, nd then enter serch term in the serch box. Use the rrows to scroll through mtching dt pckets Alrms dilog Loction: Tools > Alrms Purpose: gives ccess to the lrms feture, which specifies ctions to be tken on vrious events

100 94 Menus Event: Select the event(s) tht will trigger the lrm: Cpture: when wveform is cptured. If triggering is enbled, this option corresponds to trigger event. You cn therefore use this function to sve file on ech trigger event. Buffers Full: when the number of wveforms in the wveform buffer reches the mximum wveform count. Msk(s) Fil: when ny chnnel fils msk test. Note: for n event to be ctive, its check box must be selected. Actions list Add ctions to this list by clicking Add. Whenever the event selected bove occurs, PicoScope will execute the ll the ctions in the list from top to bottom. For n ction to execute, its check box must be selected. Apply Set up the scope ccording to the settings in this dilog. Add Add n event to the Actions list. Possible events re: Beep: ctivte the computer's built-in sounder. 64-bit PCs redirect this sound to the hedphone output. Ply Sound: specify the nme of.wv sound file to ply. Stop Cpture: equivlent to pressing the red Stop button.

101 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 95 Restrt Cpture: equivlent to pressing the green Go button. Use this ction only if you hve used the Stop Cpture ction erlier in the list. Run Executble: run the specified EXE, COM or BAT progrm file. You cn type the %file% vrible fter the progrm nme to pss the nme of the lst file sved s n rgument to the progrm. PicoScope will stop cpturing while the progrm runs, nd resume fter the progrm termintes. Sve Current Buffer: sve the current wveform from the buffer s.psdt,.pssettings,.csv or.mt file. You cn use the % buffer% vrible to insert the buffer index number into the file nme, or the %time% vrible to insert the time of cpture. Sve All Buffers: sve the entire wveform buffer s.psdt,.pssettings,.csv or.mt file. Trigger Signl Genertor: if the scope device hs triggerble signl genertor, strt generting signl. The signl genertor's Trigger Source option must be set to Mnul for this opertion to work. Enble externl code execution As security feture, to enble Run Executble you must lso select the Enble externl code execution option.

102 Menus Msks menu Loction: Tools > Msks Purpose: gives control over msk limit testing Add Msks Add msk to the disply using the Msk Librry dilog Cler Msk Remove the msk from the disply Sve Msk Sve the displyed msk to disk s.msk file Msk Librry dilog Loction: Tools > Msks > Add Msks Purpose: llows you to crete, export nd import msks for msk limit testing Chnnel Select the chnnel to which you wnt to pply the msk Avilble msks The Librry section shows ll the msks tht you hve sved in the pst nd not deleted Generte Crete new msk bsed on the lst wveform cptured from the selected chnnel. Opens the Generte Msk dilog.

103 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Import Lod msk tht hs previously been sved s.msk file Export Sve msk s.msk file for future import Apply Use the selected msk on the selected chnnel but remin in the Msk Librry dilog OK Use the selected msk on the selected chnnel nd return to the scope view Generte Msk dilog Loction: Msk Librry dilog > Generte Purpose: llows you to set prmeters for the utomticlly generted msk. PicoScope will then crete new msk bsed on the lst cptured wveform. Nme: PicoScope utomticlly chooses nme for the new msk. You cn edit the nme in this box. X Offset: The horizontl distnce between the wveform nd the msk. Y Offset: The verticl distnce between the wveform nd the msk. / This button toggles the offset vlue between bsolute units (SI) nd reltive units (% of full scle). This button resets the offset vlue to its defult.

104 Menus Editing msk To edit msk in msk limit testing mode, right-click on the scope view nd select Msks > Edit Msk: A msk is mde up of one or more shpes clled polygons. Click on the polygon you wish to edit. PicoScope will then drw edit hndles on the selected msk polygon nd disply the msk edit box. If you drg ny of the hndles to edit the polygon, the sttisticl results will be updted immeditely. The msk edit box looks like this: Norml view Minimized view

105 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 99 If the edit box is not immeditely visible, it my hve been minimized; if this is the cse, click the restore button. If you edit the coordintes of vertex, the sttisticl results will be updted immeditely. You cn lso export the msk to.msk file with the export button. Use the nd buttons to dd or remove vertices. The minimize button hs its usul function. To leve msk editing mode, close the msk edit box with the close button. To dd or remove n entire polygon, right-click the scope view nd select either Add Msk Polygon or Remove Msk Polygon:

106 Menus Mcro Recorder Loction: Tools > Mcro Recorder Purpose: records sequence of commnds to be replyed lter The Mcro Recorder is useful when you wnt to execute series of commnds repetedly. It sves ll commnds to.psmcro file, which you cn modify using n XML editor. Execute in rel Ply bck the mcro t the sme speed s it ws recorded. When time this box is not checked, plybck will be s fst s possible. Lod Lod mcro from file You cn lso ply bck.psmcro files from the PicoScope commnd line. See Commnd-line syntx for informtion on this nd other mcro commnds.

107 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Preferences dilog Loction: Tools > Preferences Purpose: Allows you to set options for the PicoScope softwre. Click one of the tbs in the imge below to lern more.

108 Menus Generl pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Generl Purpose: contins generl controls for PicoScope Reset "Don't show Restore ny missing dilogs tht you sked PicoScope not to this gin" dilogs show gin. Reset preferences Set ll preferences bck to their defult vlues. Wveform Buffer Mximum Wveforms: the mximum number of wveforms tht PicoScope will store in the wveform buffer. You cn select ny number from 1 to the mximum llowed by the oscilloscope tht is connected: see the scope specifictions for detils. The ctul number of wveforms stored depends on the vilble memory nd the number of smples in ech wveform. Collection Time Units Choose how the collection time is displyed in the Cpture Setup toolbr.

109 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 103 Times per division: collection time is expressed in units of time per division, for exmple 5 ns/div. Totl collection time: the collection time shows the length of time represented by the entire width of the scope view, for exmple 50 ns. The horizontl xis of the PicoScope disply hs ten divisions, with the time mrked t ech, so 5 ns/div nd 50 ns represent exctly the sme horizontl scle. Mesurement Sttistics Cpture Size: the number of successive cptures tht PicoScope uses to clculte the sttistics in the Mesurements Tble. A lrger number produces more ccurte sttistics but cuses them to be updted less frequently.

110 Menus Power Mngement pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Power Mngement Purpose: controls fetures of the oscilloscope tht ffect power consumption Cpture Rte This control limits the speed t which PicoScope cptures dt from the scope device. The other PicoScope settings, the type of scope device nd the speed of the computer will ll ffect whether this limit cn ctully be reched. PicoScope utomticlly selects the pproprite limit ccording to whether your computer is running on btteries or on mins (line) power. The settings re in cptures per second. By defult, the cpture rte is set to 30 Cptures per second when your computer is running on Mins (line) power, for mximum performnce. If other pplictions on your PC run too slowly while PicoScope is cpturing, reduce the cpture rte. When your computer is running on Bttery power, PicoScope imposes performnce limit to sve the bttery. You cn increse this limit mnully, but this will cuse the bttery to drin very quickly.

111 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Smpling pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Smpling Purpose: controls the smpling behvior of the oscilloscope Slow Smpling Trnsition In norml (fst) smpling mode, PicoScope collects enough dt to fill the screen nd then redrws the whole view t once. This method is suitble for short collection times, when the screen is redrwn mny times ech second, but with long collection times it cn cuse uncceptble dely before the dt ppers on the screen. To void this dely, PicoScope utomticlly switches to slow smpling mode, in which the scope trce dvnces grdully cross the screen s the scope cptures dt. The Collection Time control lets you choose the collection time t which PicoScope mkes this switch.

112 106 Menus Slow Smpling Disply When this box is checked, PicoScope displys the previous wveform in the buffer while grdully redrwing the new wveform over the top of it. Thus, t ny time, the left-hnd side of the view shows the beginning of the new wveform, while the righthnd side shows the end of the previous wveform. A verticl br seprtes the two wveforms. This opertion uses the Fst Streming Mode cpbility of the PicoScope oscilloscope hrdwre. Sin(x)/x Interpoltion When the number of pixels cross the scope view is greter thn the number of smples in the wveform buffer, PicoScope interpoltes - tht is, it fills the spce between the smples with estimted dt. It cn either drw stright lines between the smples (liner interpoltion) or connect them with smooth curves (sin(x)/x interpoltion). Liner interpoltion mkes it esier to see where the smples re, which is useful for high-ccurcy mesurements, but results in jgged wveform. Sin(x)/x interpoltion gives smoother wveform but disguises the true loctions of the smples, so should be used with cre when the number of smples on the screen is low. You cn djust the number of smples below which sin(x)/x interpoltion is switched on. Sin(x)/x interpoltion is used only on the scope's shortest collection time.

113 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Keybord pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Keybord Purpose: displys, nd llows you to edit, keybord shortcuts A keybord shortcut is combintion of keys tht cn be pressed on the keybord to ctivte PicoScope opertion. Keybord Shortcuts This is list of PicoScope opertions nd their ssocited keybord shortcuts (if defined). The extent of the list depends on the Show Full Key List option (see below). To edit or dd keybord shortcut: Scroll through the list of PicoScope commnds until the required opertion is visible

114 108 Menus Select the required opertion Click the Press shortcut Keys: box Press the required key combintion on the keybord Click Assign Show Full Key List Check this box to show ll vilble opertions. By defult, only the most common opertions re listed, plus ny other opertions tht hve keybord shortcut ssigned to them. Select keybord mp A set of keybord shortcuts is clled mp. You cn define multiple mps for different pplictions. Defult: This mp cnnot be edited. Use it to return to the fctory-defined bsic shortcuts. Advnced (QWERTY) nd Advnced (DVORAK): These re some more fctory-defined mps tht cnnot be edited. They contins more comprehensive sets of shortcuts, for two different keybord lyouts. User: This is the mp tht you most recently creted or imported. It is preserved between PicoScope sessions. Import: Lod keybord mp from.pskeys file Export Sve the current keybord mp to.pskeys file

115 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Regionl & Lnguge pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Regionl & Lnguge Purpose: lets you select the lnguge nd other loction-dependent settings for PicoScope's user interfce Lnguge Select the lnguge you wish to use for the PicoScope 6 user interfce from the drop-down box. PicoScope will sk you to restrt the progrm before switching to the new lnguge. Mesurement System Select metric or U.S. units.

116 Menus Printing pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Printing Purpose: lets you enter the detils tht will pper t the bottom of ny printed output Defult Print Settings When you print view from the File menu, these detils will be dded to the bottom of the pge.

117 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Colors pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Colors Purpose: lets you set the colors for vrious prts of the user interfce Custom Colors These controls let you specify the colors for vrious prts of the PicoScope screen: Chnnels the trce color for ech scope chnnel Digitl Chnnels if you hve mixed-signl oscilloscope (MSO), the color of ech chnnel cn be set here Msks the msk res in Msk Limit Testing Misc miscellneous items on the disply, including: Grid lines the horizontl nd verticl lines on the grticule

118 112 Menus Persistence Bckground the re behind the wveforms nd grticule. (In persistence mode, you cn override this setting using the Persistence Options dilog.) Live trigger the trigger mrker for the current trigger position Trigger secondry trigger mrker (ppers when the live trigger hs moved since the lst wveform cpture) Horizontl xis the numbers cross the bottom of ech view, which usully indicte time mesurements Rulers the horizontl nd verticl rulers tht you cn drg into position to help mesure fetures on the wveform the three colors to use for ech chnnel in digitl color persistence mode. The top color is used for the most frequently hit pixels, the middle nd bottom colors for the less nd lest frequently hit pixels. Line Thickness These controls let you specify the thickness of the lines drwn on the scope nd spectrum views: Chnnel the wveforms nd spectrum trces for ll scope chnnels Grid Lines the horizontl nd verticl lines on the grticule Rulers the horizontl nd verticl rulers tht you cn drg into position to help mesure fetures on the wveform Reset Colors to Defult Resets ll of the color nd line thickness settings to their defult vlues.

119 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Options pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Options Purpose: lets you set vrious options tht control the wy tht PicoScope 6 works Device Strtup Settings Remember Lst Device. This option is used when PicoScope finds more thn one scope device. If the box is checked, PicoScope will ttempt to use the sme device tht ws used lst time. Otherwise it will use the first device vilble. Advnced Fetures The dvnced cpture modes re enbled by defult in PicoScope 6 nd disbled by defult in PicoScope 6 Automotive. Regrdless of the version you hve, you cn enble or disble these fetures using the following options: Spectrum Spectrum view fetures Persistence Digitl Color, Anlog Intensity nd custom persistence disply modes

120 114 Menus Zoom Overview A window tht ppers when you zoom in, to help you move round lrge wveforms with the minimum of mouse clicks RPM Revolutions per minute, displyed longside hertz in the frequency legend Show Anlog Options Allows you to djust settings such s DC Offset in the Chnnel Options menu Trigger Dely The Time-dely function in the Trigger controls Rpid Trigger Enbles the Rpid trigger mode in the Trigger controls Show Vehicle Librry on Sve PicoScope 6 Automotive only. Opens the Detils dilog before the Sve As... dilog when you sve wveform, enbling you to record detils bout the vehicle nd the customer. Move Trigger toolbr to top The Trigger toolbr, contining the Trigger controls nd the Stop nd Go, Mesurements nd other buttons, is t the bottom of the PicoScope window by defult. This option moves it to the top, immeditely below the Chnnels toolbr. Show Anlog Options Enbles the Anlog Options in the Chnnel Options menu Recent Files The mximum number of files listed in the File > Recent Files menu. Click the button to cler the list.

121 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Updtes pge Loction: Tools > Preferences > Updtes Purpose: configures the utomtic updte checker nd relted services Automtic Updtes Don't check for updtes If you prefer, you cn check for updtes yourself, either by clicking the Check for updtes commnd in the Help menu, or by visiting Notify me when updtes re vilble PicoScope will regulrly check for updtes to your softwre. Note: this option requires n internet connection. Reset "Don't prompt me If you hve checked the box mrked Don't notify me gin for these versions" bout selected updte(s) gin in the Updte Avilble dilog, this button enbles reminders gin.

122 116 Menus Usge Sttistics To help us to continue to improve PicoScope, the progrm periodiclly sends nonymous informtion bck to our developers bout which fetures you use the most. This informtion does not contin your nme, emil ddress or ny other personl detils, but does llow us to identify which country you re in. If you do not wish to send us this informtion, uncheck this box. 5.6 Automotive menu Loction: Menu br > Automotive Purpose: gives ccess to wide vriety of preset guided tests Applicbility: PicoScope 6 Automotive only Show Web Help: when you select test with this box checked, web-bsed guidnce pge for tht test opens, with full instructions for crrying out the test, long with some connection nd technicl informtion. If you cler this box, guided tests will be disbled, lthough PicoScope will still disply n exmple wveform nd djust the settings for the preset test. The Automotive menu contins over 150 preset guided tests redy for you to perform on vehicles. To run guided test 1. Select the test you wish to run. 2. If you hve checked the Show Web Help box, PicoScope opens the relevnt guided test pge tht explins how to set up the test for the scope you hve connected, run the test nd interpret the results ( few tests do not hve n informtion pge). 3. PicoScope displys n exmple wveform. 4. PicoScope configures itself with the necessry settings. 5. Strt the oscilloscope running, either using the red nd green Stop nd Go buttons, or (if you re using the defult keybord mp) by pressing the spce br.

123 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Help menu Loction: Menu br > Help Purpose: gives ccess to the PicoScope 6 User's Guide nd relted informtion User's Guide The document you re reding now. This is the most complete source of informtion on PicoScope. Online Documenttion Find mnuls, dt sheets, trining guides nd more for Pico Technology products Online Forum Request technicl support nd discuss questions with fellow PicoScope users. New softwre fetures re sometimes nnounced here before they mke it into the User's Guide. Send Feedbck Opens the Send Feedbck dilog. You cn use this to suggest improvements nd report softwre bugs. You cn lso tell us bout errors in documenttion such s user's guides, nd bout ny trnsltion errors in the softwre or the documenttion. Check for Updtes Check online for lter versions of PicoScope. If you hve both stble nd bet versions instlled, this cn check for updtes to both of them. You cn configure the settings for utomtic updte checking on the Updtes pge of the Preferences dilog. About PicoScope 6 Displys useful informtion such s the model nd seril number of your scope, nd softwre nd driver version numbers.

124 Menus Send Feedbck dilog Loction: Help > Send Feedbck Purpose: llows you to send comments, queries nd bug reports to Pico Technology The Send Feedbck dilog is provided s convenient wy to let us know bout your experience using PicoScope 6. If you re reporting bug, plese let us know wht you were doing, wht hppened nd wht should hve hppened. If you re reporting trnsltion or documenttion error, plese tell us where the error is, wht it sys nd wht you believe it should sy.

125 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Toolbrs nd buttons A toolbr is collection of buttons nd controls with relted functions. PicoScope 6 includes the following toolbrs nd buttons: 6.1 Cpture Setup toolbr The Cpture Setup toolbr controls the time-relted or frequency-relted settings of your oscilloscope. Scope Mode In scope mode, the toolbr looks like this: See below for different versions of the toolbr in spectrum mode nd persistence mode. Scope Mode. Sets up PicoScope to operte s n oscilloscope. Use the Auto Setup button to optimize the settings. If you wish, you cn dd secondry spectrum view from the context menu (by right-clicking on the scope view).

126 120 Toolbrs nd buttons Persistence Mode. Toggles persistence mode, which llows old trces to remin on the screen in fded colors while new trces re drwn on top in brighter colors. The use of colors is controlled by the Persistence Options dilog. PicoScope will remember ny views tht were open, so tht you cn return to them by clicking the Persistence Mode button gin. Spectrum Mode. Sets up PicoScope to operte in spectrum nlyzer mode. Use the Auto Setup button to optimize the settings. If you wish, you cn dd secondry scope view from the context menu (by rightclicking on the scope view). Auto Setup. Serches for signl on one of the enbled input chnnels, then sets up the collection time nd signl rnge to disply the signl correctly. Home. Restores PicoScope to its defult settings. Equivlent to the File > Strtup Settings > Lod Strtup Settings commnd. Collection Time. Sets the time represented by the horizontl xis when the horizontl zoom control is set to x1. The options vilble depend on the type of scope device you re using nd, for some devices, on the number nd combintion of chnnels enbled nd the selected trigger mode. PicoScope cn disply the collection time s either times per division (s shown here) or totl collection time: you cn choose between them using the Collection Time Units control on the Generl pge of the Preferences dilog. Choosing collection time equl to or longer thn PicoScope's Slow Smpling Trnsition setting (200 ms/ div by defult) cuses the scope to switch to different mode of dt trnsfer. The internl detils of this re tken cre of by PicoScope, but the slow mode limits the smpling rte to the 'streming mode smpling rte' specified in the scope device's dt sheet. The Slow Smpling Trnsition setting cn be chnged on the Smpling pge of the Preferences dilog. Number of Smples. Sets the mximum number of smples tht will be cptured for ech chnnel. If this is lrger thn the number of pixels cross the scope view, you cn zoom in to see more detil. The ctul number of smples cptured is displyed on the Properties sheet, nd my be different from the number requested here, depending on which collection time is selected nd which scope device is in use. To cpture one wveform tht occupies the entire buffer memory, first set the Trigger Mode control to Single.

127 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 121 Hrdwre Resolution (Flexible resolution oscilloscopes only). Sets the number of hrdwre bits used for smpling. The rnge of options depends on the number of chnnels enbled nd the smpling rte selected. Automtic Resolution chooses the highest resolution comptible with the currently selected smpling rte nd cpture size. To find out wht resolution is ctully in use, view the Effective Resolution vlue in the Properties Sheet. Resolution cn be further incresed by softwre filtering: see resolution enhncement. Spectrum Mode In spectrum mode, the Cpture Setup toolbr looks like this: Spectrum Rnge control. Sets the frequency rnge cross the horizontl xis of the spectrum nlyzer when the horizontl zoom control is set to x1. Spectrum Options. Appers if spectrum view is open, regrdless of whether scope mode or spectrum mode is selected. It opens the Spectrum Options dilog. Persistence Mode In persistence mode, the Cpture Setup toolbr looks like this: Persistence Options. Opens the Persistence Options dilog, which controls severl prmeters ffecting the wy tht PicoScope represents old nd new dt in persistence mode.

128 Toolbrs nd buttons Spectrum Options dilog This dilog ppers when you click the Spectrum Options button in the Cpture Setup toolbr. It is vilble only when spectrum view is open. It contins controls tht determine how PicoScope converts the source wveform in the current scope view to spectrum view. FFT Options Spectrum Bins The number of frequency bins into which the spectrum is divided. This control sets the mximum number of frequency bins, which the softwre my or my not be ble to provide depending on other settings. The min constrint is tht the number of bins cnnot gretly exceed hlf the number of smples in the source wveform. If the source wveform contins fewer smples thn required (tht is, fewer thn twice the number of frequency bins), then PicoScope zero-pds the wveform up to the next power of two. For exmple, if the scope view contins smples, nd you set Spectrum Bins to , then PicoScope zero-pds the wveform to smples, which is the nerest power of two bove It then uses these smples to provide 8192 frequency bins, not the requested. If the source wveform contins more smples thn required, then PicoScope uses s mny smples s necessry, strting from the beginning of the wveform buffer. For exmple, if the source wveform contins smples nd you request frequency bins, PicoScope needs only 2 x = smples, so it uses the first smples from the wveform buffer nd ignores the rest. The mount of dt ctully used is displyed s the Time Gte setting in the Properties sheet.

129 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Window Function 123 Allows you to choose one of the stndrd window functions to reduce the effect of operting on time-limited wveform. See Spectrum window functions for list of vilble functions. Y Axis Disply Mode You cn choose Mgnitude, Averge or Pek Hold. Mgnitude: the spectrum view shows the frequency spectrum of the lst wveform cptured, whether live or stored in the wveform buffer. Averge: the spectrum view shows rolling verge of spectr clculted from ll the wveforms in the wveform buffer. This hs the effect of reducing the noise visible in the spectrum view. To cler the verged dt, click Stop nd then Go, or chnge from Averge mode to Mgnitude mode. Pek Hold: the spectrum view shows rolling mximum of the spectr clculted from ll the wveforms in the buffer. In this mode, the mplitude of ny frequency bnd in the spectrum view will either sty the sme or increse, but never decrese, over time. To cler the pek hold dt, click Stop nd then Go, or chnge from Pek Hold mode to Mgnitude mode. Note: when you switch to Averge or Pek Hold mode, there my be noticeble dely while PicoScope processes the entire contents of the wveform buffer, which my contin mny wveforms, to build up the initil disply. Scle Specifies the lbeling nd scling of the verticl (signl) xis. This cn be one of the following: Liner: The verticl xis is scled in volts RMS Logrithmic: The verticl xis is scled in decibels, with reference quntities selectble in the Logrithmic unit control below. Logrithmic unit Specifies the reference quntity used on the logrithmic scle. This option is only vilble when you hve lredy selected Logrithmic in the Scle control. dbv: Reference level is 1 V dbu: Reference level is 1 mw with lod resistnce of 600 Ω. This corresponds to voltge of bout 775 mv. dbm: Reference level is 1 mw into the specified lod impednce. You cn enter the lod impednce in the box below the Logrithmic unit control. Arbitrry db: Reference level is n rbitrry voltge, which you cn specify in the box below the Logrithmic unit control.

130 124 Toolbrs nd buttons X Axis X Scle Specifies the scle of the frequency xis. You cn choose between Liner nd Log 10. Liner: The xis is scled in equl intervls from DC to the frequency set by the Spectrum Rnge control. Log 10: The xis is scled in decdes ending t the specified Spectrum Rnge frequency, nd beginning t number of decdes below tht s specified by the Number of Decdes control. Num Decdes Specifies the number of decdes into which the frequency xis is divided when X Scle is set to Log 10. Persistence Options dilog This dilog ppers when you click the Persistence Options button in the Cpture Setup toolbr. It is vilble only when persistence mode is selected. It controls the colors nd fding lgorithm used to distinguish new or frequent dt from old or intermittent dt in the persistence view. Mode Digitl Color: This mode uses rnge of colors to indicte the frequency of wveform dt. Red is used for the most frequent dt, nd less frequent dt is represented successively by yellow nd blue. Anlog Intensity: This mode uses color intensity to indicte the ge of wveform dt. The ltest dt is drwn t full intensity in the selected color for tht chnnel, with older dt being represented by pler shdes of the sme color. Fst: A mode with simplified disply options to enble the fstest possible updte rte. Only vilble on scope devices tht support rpid triggering.

131 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 125 Advnced: This mode ctivtes the Advnced options t the bottom of the dilog, llowing you to customize the persistence mode disply. Decy Time The time, in milliseconds, tken for wveform dt to fde from red to blue or from mximum to minimum nlog intensity. The longer the decy time, the longer the older wveforms will remin on the screen. Sturtion The intensity or color with which new wveforms re drwn. Decyed Intensity The intensity or color to which the oldest wveforms decy when the decy time expires. If the decyed intensity is zero, then older wveforms will be completely ersed from the disply fter the decy time. For non-zero vlues of decyed intensity, old wveforms will remin indefinitely on the screen t tht intensity unless overwritten by new ones. Advnced These options re vilble when Mode is set to Advnced. Line Drwing The type of line drwn between smples tht re djcent in time. Phosphor Emultion: Joins ech pir of smple points with line whose intensity vries inversely with the slew rte Constnt Density: Joins ech pir of smple points with line of uniform color Sctter: Drws smple points s unconnected dots Color Scheme Phosphor: Uses single hue for ech chnnel, with vrying intensity. Color: Uses color from red to blue to represent the ge of ech wveform. Bckground Blck: Overrides the Colors pge of the Preferences dilog. White: Overrides the Colors pge of the Preferences dilog. This is the defult in Anlog Intensity nd Digitl Color modes. User Preference: Sets the bckground color to the preference set on the Colors pge of the Preferences dilog. Dt Hold This option is enbled only when Persistence Type (see below) is set to Time Decy. Decy Timeout: Old wveforms fde until they rech Decyed Intensity nd then dispper. Infinite: Old wveforms fde until they rech Decyed Intensity nd then remin indefinitely unless overwritten by new wveforms.

132 126 Toolbrs nd buttons Persistence Type Fst: The Line Drwing, Decy Time, Sturtion nd Decyed Intensity options re disbled to mximize the updte rte. In ddition, resolution enhncement, lowpss filtering, sin(x)/x interpoltion nd nonliner custom probes re unvilble in this mode. This mode requires scope tht supports rpid triggering (see Device feture tble). Time Decy: Points on the disply re drwn t full intensity when hit by wveform, nd re then llowed to decy to Decyed Intensity. The behvior fter this depends on the Dt Hold setting (see bove). Frequency: Points on the disply re drwn with color or intensity tht depends on the frequency with which they re hit by wveforms. 6.2 Buffer Nvigtion toolbr The Buffer Nvigtion toolbr llows you to select wveform from the wveform buffer. Wht is the wveform buffer? Depending on the settings you hve chosen, PicoScope cn store multiple wveforms in its wveform buffer. When you click the Go button or chnge cpture setting, PicoScope clers the buffer nd then dds new wveform to it ech time the scope device cptures dt. This continues until the buffer is full or you click the Stop button. You cn set the mximum number of wveforms in the buffer to ny number between 1 nd using the Generl pge of the Preferences dilog. You cn review the wveforms stored in the buffer using these buttons: Previous button. Displys the previous wveform in the buffer. Wveform buffer index. Shows which wveform is currently being displyed nd how mny wveforms re in the buffer. Edit the number in the box nd press Enter to mke PicoScope jump to the specified wveform. Next button. Displys the next wveform in the buffer. Buffer Overview button. Opens the Buffer Overview window, for quick selection of buffer wveforms. 6.3 Zooming nd Scrolling toolbr The Zooming nd Scrolling toolbr llows you to exmine scope view or spectrum view in greter detil nd move bout the zoomed view. Ech button hs keybord shortcut, s listed below.

133 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 127 Horizontl zoom control. Zooms the view, in the horizontl direction only, by the specified mount. Click the nd buttons to djust the zoom fctor, or the button to reset. Ctrl+S or Esc Norml Selection tool. Restores the mouse pointer to its norml ppernce. You cn use this pointer to click buttons, drg rulers nd operte ny other controls in the PicoScope window. Ctrl+D Hnd tool. Turns the mouse pointer into hnd tool ( ) tht you cn use to click nd drg the view to pn it verticlly nd horizontlly when you re zoomed in. You cn lso pn using the scroll brs. Press the Esc key to return to the Norml Selection tool. Ctrl+M Mrquee Zoom tool. This button turns the mouse pointer into mrquee zoom tool:. Use it to drw box (clled mrquee) on the view nd PicoScope will mgnify tht box to fill the view. Scroll brs will pper, which you cn drg to pn round in the view, or you cn pn by using the Hnd tool (see bove). Zooming in lso opens the Zoom Overview window. Press the Esc key to return to the Norml Selection tool. If you point to the time xis, the pointer chnges into the horizontl mrquee zoom tool ( ), which restricts zooming to the horizontl xis. This lets you zoom in by n rbitrry mount without disturbing the verticl zoom fctor. Holding down the Ctrl key while drgging lso restricts zooming to the horizontl xis. Ctrl+I Zoom-in tool. Turns the mouse pointer into zoom-in tool:. Click on the view with this tool to zoom in to the specified loction. Zooming in lso opens the Zoom Overview window. If you point to the time xis, the pointer chnges into the horizontl zoom-in tool ( ), which restricts zooming to the horizontl xis. This lets you zoom in without disturbing the verticl zoom fctor. Holding down the Ctrl key while drgging lso restricts zooming to the horizontl xis. Holding down the Shift key while drgging chnges the zoom mode to 'zoom out'. Ctrl+O Zoom-out tool. Turns the mouse pointer into zoom-out tool:. Click on the view with this tool to zoom out round the specified loction. If you point to the time xis, the pointer chnges into the horizontl zoom-out tool ( ), which restricts zooming to the horizontl xis. This lets you zoom out without disturbing the verticl zoom fctor.

134 128 Toolbrs nd buttons Holding down the Ctrl key while drgging lso restricts zooming to the horizontl xis. Holding down the Shift key while drgging chnges the zoom mode to 'zoom in'. Undo zoom. Returns the view to the previous zoom nd pn settings. Ctrl+U Zoom to full view. Resets the view to norml size. The view will no longer hve scroll brs, nd pnning will no longer be possible. Zoom Overview window Whenever you zoom in using the Zooming nd Scrolling toolbr, the Zoom Overview window should pper. If the Zoom Overview window does not pper, you my hve switched it off: mke sure you hve checked the Zoom Overview box on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog. The Zoom Overview shows the full wveforms on ll enbled chnnels. The rectngle indictes the re tht is visible in the current view. You cn move round the wveform by drgging the rectngle. You cn lso djust the zoom fctor by drgging the edges of the rectngle to resize it. Minimize button: reduce the Zoom Overview window in size without ffecting the zoom settings.

135 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 129 Close button: close the Zoom Overview window nd return the zoom fctor to 100%. 6.4 Chnnels toolbr (PicoScope devices) The Chnnels toolbr contins ll the Chnnel controls nd the Signl Genertor button. If you re using PicoScope 6 with dt logger, plese refer to PicoLog 1000 Series Chnnels toolbr nd USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr Chnnel controls (PicoScope devices) The Chnnel controls llow you to djust the settings for ech input chnnel. The screenshot below shows the toolbr for two-chnnel MSO scope device, but different scope devices my hve different numbers of chnnels. Demo device settings re lso displyed here. If you re using PicoScope 6 with dt logger, plese refer to PicoLog 1000 Series Chnnels toolbr nd USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr. Ech chnnel hs its own set of buttons: Chnnel Options button. Opens the Chnnel Options menu with options for probes, resolution enhncement, scling nd filtering. Input Rnge control. Sets up the scope device to cpture signls over the specified rnge of vlues. The list of options depends on the selected scope device nd probe. The red overrnge indictor ppers if the input signl exceeds the selected rnge. If you select Auto, PicoScope will continully djust the verticl scle so tht the height of the wveform fills s much of the view s possible. Coupling control. Sets up the input circuitry. AC coupling: rejects frequencies below bout 1 Hz. DC coupling: ccepts ll frequencies from DC to the scope's mximum bndwidth. 50Ω DC: low-impednce option (see Device feture tble). Accelerometer: switches on the current source output for IEPE-enbled scopes such s the PicoScope 4224 IEPE. The User's Guide for the oscilloscope hs detils of the IEPE chnnel specifictions. Frequency: enble the built-in frequency counter. Only one chnnel t time cn be operted in this mode. Avilble only if your scope device hs hrdwre support for this feture: see Device feture tble. Not vilble in Demo mode.

136 130 Toolbrs nd buttons ConnectDetect button. Automotive oscilloscopes only. Digitl Chnnels & Groups button. MSOs only Chnnel Options menu The Chnnel Options menu ppers when you click the Chnnel Options button (for exmple: ) on the Chnnels toolbr. There is one Chnnel Options menu for ech chnnel. Probe list. Indictes the probe currently in use nd llows you to select different one. Use it to tell PicoScope wht type of probe is connected to the chnnel. By defult, the probe is ssumed to be x1, which mens tht 1 V signl t the input to the probe will pper s 1 V on the disply. Click to select probe from the list or click to open the Custom Probes dilog nd edit your librry of custom probes.

137 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 131 Frequency counting. Grphs the frequency of user-defined pulse. For vilbility of the built-in frequency counter, see the Device feture tble. Upper nd lower thresholds: Voltge levels tht the signl must fll nd rise through respectively to register s vlid pulse. The two thresholds provide hysteresis nd eliminte noise. If this is not concern, you cn set both thresholds to the sme vlue. Input rnge: see Input Rnge control Coupling: see Coupling control Resolution enhncement. Allows you to increse the effective resolution of your scope device using Resolution enhncement. The number in this box is trget vlue tht the softwre will ttempt to use whenever possible. Lowpss Filtering. An independent digitl lowpss filter for ech input chnnel, with progrmmble cut-off frequency. This cn be useful for removing noise from your signl to mke more ccurte mesurements. For vilbility, see the Device feture tble. Anlog Options. Options tht cn be pplied to the oscilloscope input hrdwre, if the oscilloscope hrdwre supports them. DC Offset: n offset voltge dded to the nlog input before digitiztion. For vilbility, see the Device feture tble. Bndwidth Limit: fixed-frequency singlepole nlog filter. This cn be useful for rejecting noise nd hrmonics tht would otherwise cuse lising. This dvnced feture needs to be enbled on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog before use. For vilbility, see the Device feture tble. Axis Scling. These re the xis scling controls tht llow you to set the scle nd offset for ech verticl xis individully.

138 132 Toolbrs nd buttons Zero offset. Digitlly removes ny offset from the input chnnel. Before strting this opertion, remove ny input signl from the selected chnnel nd short-circuit the input. Click Zero to begin the djustment. Click Cler to restore the input to its uncorrected stte Resolution enhncement Resolution enhncement is technique for incresing the effective verticl resolution of the scope t the expense of high-frequency detil. In some scope operting modes, PicoScope my reduce the number of smples vilble to mintin disply performnce. For this technique to work, the signl must contin very smll mount of Gussin noise, but for mny prcticl pplictions this is generlly supplied by the scope itself nd the noise inherent in norml signls. The resolution enhncement feture uses flt moving-verge filter. This cts s lowpss filter with good step response chrcteristics nd very slow roll-off from the pss-bnd to the stop-bnd. Some side effects will be observed when using resolution enhncement. These re norml nd cn be countercted by reducing the mount of enhncement used, incresing the number of smples cptured or chnging the collection time. Tril nd error is usully the best wy to find the optimum resolution enhncement for your ppliction. The side effects include: Widened nd flttened impulses (spikes) Verticl edges, such s those of squre wves, turned into stright-line slopes Inversion of the signl, sometimes mking it look s if the trigger point is on the wrong edge A flt line when there re not enough smples in the wveform Procedure Click the Chnnel Options button in the Chnnel controls to open the Chnnel Options menu. Use the Resolution Enhncement control to select the effective number of bits, which cn be equl to or greter thn the verticl resolution of your scope device.

139 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 133 Quntifying resolution enhncement The tble below shows the number of vlues, n, used by the moving-verge filter for ech resolution enhncement setting, e. A lrger number of vlues in the filter requires higher smpling rte to represent given signl without significnt side effects (s detiled bove). Resolution enhncement e (bits) Number of vlues n Exmple Your scope device is PicoScope 5204 (resolution = 8 bits). You hve selected n effective resolution of 9.5 bits. The resolution enhncement is therefore: e = = 1.5 bits The tble shows tht this is chieved using moving verge of: n = 8 smples This number gives guide to wht sort of filtering effect the resolution enhncement will hve on the signl. The best wy of seeing the ctul lowpss filter effect is to dd spectrum view nd look t the shpe of the noise floor (try drgging the y-xis upwrds to see the noise more clerly). Relted topics See Hrdwre resolution (pplies to flexible resolution oscilloscopes only).

140 Toolbrs nd buttons Axis scling controls The xis scling controls let you chnge the scle nd offset of ech verticl xis individully. If the xis belongs to reference wveform, you cn lso djust its dely reltive to the live wveforms. You cn use the xis scling controls in ny cpture mode. Controls for live wveform (Chnnel Options menu) Controls for live wveform (scling button) Controls for reference wveform (scling button) There re two wys to open the xis scling control: For ny chnnel displyed in view: click the colored scling button t the bottom of the verticl xis For ny input chnnel: click the Chnnel Options button in the Chnnels toolbr Scle control. Increse to mgnify the wveform, decrese to reduce it. The verticl xis rescles ccordingly so tht you cn lwys red the correct voltge from the xis. Click the reset button ( ) to return to scle of 1.0. The scling button lwys shows the selected scle. Offset control. Increse to move the wveform up the disply, decrese to move it down. The verticl xis shifts ccordingly so tht you cn lwys red the correct voltge from the xis. Click the reset button ( ) to return to n offset of 0.00%. You cn lso djust the offset by drgging the verticl xis up or down the disply. Dely control (for reference wveforms only). Increse to move the wveform to the left reltive to the timing reference point, decrese to move it to the right. Click the reset button ( to return to dely of 0 s. ) The loction of the timing reference point depends on which trigger mode PicoScope is in. If the trigger mode is None then the dely is mesured reltive to the left-hnd edge of the disply. In ll other trigger modes, the dely is mesured reltive to the trigger mrker.

141 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 135 Send to bck. Drws the chnnel behind ll others. Use if the chnnel is obscuring nother chnnel of interest. Bring to front. Drws the chnnel in front of ll others. Use if the chnnel is hidden behind nother Lowpss filtering The lowpss filtering feture cn reject high frequencies from ny selected input chnnel. The filtering control is found in the Advnced Chnnel Options dilog, which is opened by clicking the Chnnel Options button ( ) for the relevnt chnnel on the Chnnels toolbr. The control determines the cut-off frequency of the filter, which must be below hlf the smpling rte shown in the Properties sheet. For vilbility, see the Device feture tble. Lowpss filtering is useful for rejecting noise. The split screenshot below shows the effect of pplying 1 khz lowpss filter on noisy signl. The underlying shpe of the signl is preserved but the high-frequency noise is eliminted: Left: before lowpss filtering. Right: fter 1 khz lowpss filtering.

142 136 Toolbrs nd buttons Filter detils The lowpss filtering lgorithm is chosen ccording to the rtio of the selected cut-off frequency (fc) to the smpling rte (fs), s follows: fc fs Filter type Description 0.0 to 0.1 Moving verge A moving verge filter is used for low cut-off frequencies. The length of the filter is djusted to chieve the selected cut-off frequency, which is defined s the first minimum in the frequency response. There is significnt signl lekge bove the cut-off frequency. This filter chnges verticl edge into liner slope. A finite impulse response filter is used for medium to high cut-off frequencies. This hs monotonic roll-off bove the cut-off frequency nd therefore suffers from less lekge thn the moving verge filter. 0.1 to < 0.5 FIR You cn force PicoScope to use one or other of the filter types by djusting the Smples control in the Cpture Setup toolbr to mke the rtio fc/fs fll into one of the two rnges shown in the tble. As the tble shows, the cut-off frequency must be below hlf the smpling frequency.

143 PicoScope 6 User's Guide ConnectDetect Purpose: Indictes whether or not test probe hs good physicl connection to the component under test Loction: Chnnels toolbr (utomotive oscilloscopes only) Applicbility: PicoScope 4225 nd 4425 utomotive scopes only DC coupling mode only Every chnnel input on the PicoScope 4225 nd 4425 scopes hs n LED next to it. When ConnectDetect is ctivted for chnnel, the LED for tht chnnel is either green, to indicte tht the test probe is directly connected cross component, or red to indicte tht it is not. You cn select which chnnels ConnectDetect is ctivted for by clicking the rrow on the ConnectDetect button:. An icon representing the LED is lso shown on the PicoScope screen, s in the exmple bove, where ConnectDetect hs been ctivted on ll four chnnels, but only Chnnels A nd B re properly connected. Note: ConnectDetect cn only be used with probes tht come into direct contct with the component under test. Sensors such s the TA204 coil-on-plug nd signl probe, which works using electricl induction from the ignition coils ttched to the sprk plugs, do not mke such connection, so ConnectDetect will not work with them.

144 Toolbrs nd buttons Digitl Chnnels & Groups button Loction: Chnnels toolbr (MSOs only) Purpose: controls the settings for the digitl inputs of mixed signl oscilloscope (MSO) Switches the digitl view on or off. If you hve not yet set up ny digitl inputs, the Select Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog will open. Opens the Select Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog for chnnel selection nd options. Any digitl inputs you ctivte here will remin ctive even when you switch the digitl view off.

145 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Select Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog Loction: Digitl Chnnels & Groups button Purpose: controls the digitl inputs of n MSO Set Thresholds Choose the digitl threshold voltge from the drop-down list, or select the Custom threshold nd set your own voltge using the numeric entry control. The preset thresholds re: TTL CMOS ECL PECL LVPECL LVCMOS 1.5 V 1.5 V 2.5 V 1.3 V 3.7 V 2V 750 mv LVCMOS 1.8 V LVCMOS 2.5 V LVCMOS 3.3 V LVDS 0V Differentil 0.9 V 1.25 V 1.65 V 100 mv 0V

146 140 Toolbrs nd buttons Ech port hs its own independent threshold. Port 0 contins chnnels D7...D0 nd Port 1 contins chnnels D15...D8. Avilble Chnnels This section lists the vilble digitl input chnnels. They will not be displyed unless you dd them to the Chnnels nd Groups for Disply section of the dilog. Click nd drg individul chnnels into the Chnnels nd Groups for Disply section, select rnge of chnnels nd drg them ll t once, or double-click chnnel to dd it directly. Chnnels nd Groups for Disply This section lists the digitl chnnels tht hve been selected for disply. Any groups of chnnels tht you hve defined will lso be listed here. indictes digitl chnnel. indictes group of digitl chnnels. By defult, chnnels dded to group re plced with the most significnt bit t the top of the list. Click the Crete Group button to dd new group. This dds new group to the Chnnels nd Groups for Disply section, nd you cn dd chnnels to it by drgging them on top of it: you cn do this from the vilble chnnels or from the Chnnels nd Groups for Disply section. To renme chnnel or group, click the nme nd type. For other opertions, rightclick the chnnel or group for menu of ctions: Enble Show the chnnel. All chnnels in the list re enbled by defult. Disble Hide the chnnel from the disply Invert Reverse the polrity of the chnnel. Useful for ctive-low signls. Renme Enter new nme for the chnnel Reverse Chnnel Order Groups only. Reverse the order of the chnnels in the group. Remove Remove the chnnel from the list

147 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Signl Genertor button The Signl Genertor button llows you to set up your scope's test signl genertor, if it hs one, or the demo signl settings if PicoScope is in demo mode. If your scope hs built-in signl genertor, clicking the Signl Genertor button opens the Signl Genertor dilog. If PicoScope is in demo mode then clicking the Signl Genertor button opens the Demo Signls menu Signl Genertor dilog (PicoScope devices) Loction: Chnnels toolbr > Signl Genertor button Purpose: controls the scope device's built-in signl genertor Not ll scope devices hve signl genertor, nd those tht do hve vrying rnge of controls in the signl genertor dilog. See the device feture tble for detils. The Signl Genertor dilog hs three sections, the Bsic controls, the Sweep controls nd the Signl genertor triggers Bsic controls Signl On Check this box to enble the signl genertor Wve Type Select the type of signl to be generted. The list of signl types depends on the cpbilities of the scope device. Arbitrry... Opens the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window. This button is vilble only if your scope hs n AWG. Strt Frequency Type in this box or use the spin buttons to select the frequency. If the scope device hs frequency sweep genertor, then this box sets the strt frequency of the sweep. Amplitude The pek mplitude of the wveform. For exmple, if Amplitude is 1 V nd Offset is 0 V, the output will hve negtive pek of 1 V nd positive pek of +1 V.

148 Toolbrs nd buttons Offset The men vlue of the signl. For exmple, when Offset is 0 V, sine or squre wve will hve equl positive nd negtive pek voltges. Sweep Mode Check this box to ctivte the Sweep controls Triggers Check this box to enble Signl genertor triggers Sweep controls The signl genertor normlly genertes fixed frequency set by the Strt Frequency control. In sweep mode, it genertes frequency tht vries between two specified limits. Active Check this box to enble sweep mode Sweep Type Specifies the direction in which the frequency is swept Stop Frequency Specifies the frequency t which the genertor stops incresing the frequency Frequency Increment Specifies the mount by which the genertor increses or decreses the frequency every Increment Time Intervl Increment Time Sets the time intervl to elpse between Frequency Increments Intervl Signl genertor triggers Usully, the signl genertor of your oscilloscope runs continully. However, some PicoScope PC oscilloscopes llow you to trigger the signl genertor, so tht it wits for specified event before generting n output, nd will only generte predetermined number of cycles of the signl.

149 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 143 Active Check this box to enble signl genertor triggering Trigger Source Allows you to specify wht signl will trigger the signl genertor. Scope: The sme condition tht triggers the scope. This llows you to strt the signl genertor t specific point on the PicoScope disply, nd to use n dvnced trigger. Note: if you set the oscilloscope to trigger on the generted signl, then the signl genertor my never trigger. Mnul: The Trigger Now button or n lrm ction Ext Input: The trigger input mrked EXT (if fitted) on the scope device Aux Input: The trigger input mrked AUX (if fitted) on the scope device Type If the Trigger Source is Ext or Aux, you cn select the type of trigger tht the signl genertor will use. Rising Edge: The signl genertor strts running when the trigger signl chnges from low to high. Flling Edge: The signl genertor strts running when the trigger signl chnges from high to low. Gte High: The signl genertor runs whenever the trigger signl is high. Gte Low: The signl genertor runs whenever the trigger signl is low. Cycles Per Trigger The number of cycles of the specified wveform to output ech time the signl genertor is triggered. If the trigger Type is Gte High or Gte Low, the genertor will stop when the gte signl becomes inctive, even if the requested number of cycles hs not been generted. Threshold Avilble only when the Trigger Source is Ext Input. Sets the voltge level used to distinguish between the high nd low sttes of the trigger signl. Mnul Trigger Avilble only when the Trigger Source is Mnul. Click the Trigger Now button to trigger the signl genertor to produce the specified number of cycles (or sweeps, if the signl genertor is in sweep mode).

150 Toolbrs nd buttons Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window Loction: Signl Genertor dilog > Arbitrry Purpose: llows you to import, edit, drw nd export rbitrry wveforms to lod into your scope's rbitrry wveform genertor. You cn lso import nd export the dt in CSV formt for use in other pplictions. Mny PicoScope PC oscilloscopes hve n rbitrry wveform genertor (AWG), which is enbled using the Signl Genertor dilog. You cn progrm the AWG to stndrd wveform shpe, such s sine or squre wve, use the Smooth Drwing nd Line Drwing controls to customize one of these stndrd wveforms or to crete n rbitrry wveform, or import n rbitrry wveform from CSV file or one of the oscilloscope chnnels. Once the desired wveform ppers in the window, click OK or Apply to strt using it. Toolbr buttons Import from chnnel. Opens the Import from Chnnel dilog, which lets you copy wveform from the scope into the rbitrry wveform window. Import from CSV. Displys n Open dilog to llow you to import n rbitrry wveform from CSV file. Export s CSV. Displys Sve As... dilog to llow you to export the rbitrry wveform s CSV file. Smooth Drwing mode. Allows you to drw or edit wveform shpe freehnd, using the mouse.

151 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 145 Line Drwing mode. Enters stright line mode, in which you cn click on the wveform to drw stright line from the previous point. To strt new series of lines, click the button gin. Bit Strem mode. Drws sequence of bits ccording to binry or hex dt tht you specify. The logic high nd low levels re djustble. Smples. The number of smples in the rbitrry wveform. Ech smple represents the signl vlue t given instnt in time, nd the smples re eqully spced in time. For exmple, if there re 1024 smples nd the rbitrry wveform genertor is set to ply bck t 1 khz, then ech smple represents (1/1 khz 1024) or bout 0.98 microseconds. Cler All. Deletes the rbitrry wveform. Normlize. Expnds the wveform verticlly bout 0 V, until the highest pek vlue reches either 1 or +1. Undo nd Redo. The Undo button reverses the lst chnge mde to the rbitrry wveform. The Redo button reverses the lst ction of the Undo button. Zoom tools. To zoom the time xis in or out, click the + or - zoom button nd then click on the wveform re. Click the 100% button to restore the time xis to its originl scle. Wveform settings Stndrd wveform shpes. Drw stndrd wveform with the settings specified in the numericl controls below the toolbr. The current wveform will be ersed. Cycles. The number of cycles to drw. This control is used in conjunction with the Stndrd wveform shpes buttons. Select one of the stndrd wveform shpes nd then enter the number of cycles, nd PicoScope will drw the requested number of cycles of the wveform. Minimum. When one of the Stndrd wveform shpes buttons is pressed, this control sets the minimum signl level. Mximum. When one of the Stndrd wveform shpes buttons is pressed, this control sets the mximum signl level. Duty cycle. When squre, tringulr or rmp wveform is selected using one of the Stndrd wveform shpes buttons, this control sets the duty cycle of the signl. A symmetricl squre or tringulr wve hs duty cycle of 50%. Reducing the duty cycle shortens the positive prt of the cycle nd lengthens the negtive prt, nd incresing the duty cycle does the opposite.

152 146 Toolbrs nd buttons Other buttons OK Copies the wveform from the grphicl editor into the rbitrry wveform genertor nd returns to the min PicoScope window. Apply Copies the wveform from the grphicl editor into the rbitrry wveform genertor nd remins in the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window. Import from Chnnel dilog Loction: Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window > Import from Chnnel button Purpose: llows you to copy cptured dt from scope chnnel to the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window Select Chnnel You cn import the ltest wveform from ny vilble chnnel Select Smples By defult, the entire cpture is imported. This control llows you to specify subset of the cpture, either between specified smple numbers or between time rulers. The subset will be scled to fit the number of smples specified in the Smples control in the Arbitrry Wveform window.

153 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Import from CSV Loction: Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window > Import from CSV button Purpose: llows you to copy n existing rbitrry wveform to the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window You cn import n existing rbitrry wveform into PicoScope 6 s CSV file, which must be lid out s single column of deciml floting-point vlues, s in this exmple: The minimum number of vlues file my hve is 10; the mximum is determined by the size of the AWG buffer (specified in the dt sheet for your scope device). The vlues re smples between 1.0 nd +1.0 nd re eqully spced in time. The output is scled to the mplitude selected in the Signl Genertor dilog nd the selected offset is dded if necessry. For exmple, if the signl genertor mplitude is set to 1 V nd the offset to 0 V, then smple vlue of 1.0 corresponds to n output of 1.0 V nd smple of +1.0 corresponds to n output of +1.0 V. Your file should contin exctly one cycle of the wveform, which PicoScope will then ply bck t the Strt Frequency specified in the Signl Genertor dilog. In the exmple bove, the signl genertor ws set to 1 khz, so one cycle of the wveform lsts for 1 ms. There re 10 smples in the wveform, so ech smple lsts for 0.1 ms. To import file, click the Import from CSV button in the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window. An Open dilog will pper, llowing you to find nd select your file. The wveform ppers in the window: click OK or Apply to strt using it Export s CSV Loction: Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window > Export s CSV button Purpose: llows you to sve copy of your rbitrry wveform PicoScope 6 llows you to sve the wveforms you crete in the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window. When you hve creted n rbitrry wveform nd re hppy with the result, click the Export s CSV button to open Sve As... dilog nd sve your work s CSV file in the loction of your choice. You cn now use the Import from CSV button to ply bck your wveform whenever you like.

154 148 Toolbrs nd buttons The file will contin between 10 nd 8192 vlues between 1.0 nd +1.0, evenly spced in time. The output is scled to the mplitude selected in the Signl Genertor dilog nd the selected offset is dded if necessry Demo Signls menu Loction: strt PicoScope with no scope device plugged in, select Demo mode, then click the Signl Genertor button Purpose: llows you to set up test signls so tht you cn experiment with PicoScope when no scope device is connected The Demo Signls menu looks like this: Click one of the chnnels to open the Demo Signls dilog, which will llow you to set up signl from tht chnnel Demo Signls dilog Loction: Demo Signls menu > select chnnel Purpose: controls one chnnel of the demo signl source, feture of PicoScope tht cretes vriety of test signls to simulte scope device. Check this box to enble the demo signl source. Signl type. Select from list of stndrd signl types. Crete Arbitrry Wveform. Opens the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window. Frequency. Type the desired frequency in hertz, or use the spin buttons. Amplitude (Pek). Type the desired mplitude in volts, or use the spin buttons.

155 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 149 Offset. Enter number to dd DC offset to the demo signl. By defult, the demo signls hve men vlue of zero volts. 6.5 PicoLog 1000 Series Chnnels toolbr The Chnnels toolbr controls the settings for ech verticl input chnnel. The toolbr hs different ppernce for PicoLog 1000 Series Dt Loggers thn for PicoScope oscilloscopes. See Chnnels toolbr (PicoScope devices) for the stndrd version. Chnnel control. This control contins two buttons in one rectngulr outline. Click the smll tringle on the right to open simplified version of the Chnnel Options menu, with options for probes, scling nd zero offset. Click the chnnel nme to toggle the chnnel on or off. Digitl Outputs button. For controlling the 2 or 4 digitl outputs of the PicoLog 1000 Series device. Opens the Digitl Outputs dilog PicoLog 1000 Series Digitl Outputs dilog Loction: PicoLog 1000 Series Chnnels toolbr > Digitl Outputs button Purpose: controls the dt logger's built-in signl genertor Digitl Outputs dilog for the PicoLog 1216 The rnge of controls vilble depends on which model of dt logger you hve. Digitl Out 4 This set of controls llows you to set up pulse-width modulted (PWM) wveform. This is logic signl tht is toggled with specified period nd duty cycle. The verge vlue of the signl is proportionl to its duty cycle, so it cn be processed by n externl lowpss filter to produce signl tht is proportionl to the duty cycle. Off: Disble the PWM output. PWM: Enble the PWM output with the specified controllble Period nd Duty Cycle.

156 150 Toolbrs nd buttons Period. Select the durtion of one cycle of the PWM output. Duty Cycle. The percentge of the PWM signl period tht the signl spends t the logic high level. For exmple, if the period is 1 ms nd the duty cycle 25%, then the signl will spend 25% of 1 ms = 250 µs of ech cycle t the logic high level, nd the remining 750 µs t the logic low level. The voltges of the logic high nd low levels re specified in the User's Guide for the dt logger, but re typiclly 0 volts (low) nd 3.3 volts (high). Using our exmple figures, the verge vlue of the PWM output will be 25% x 3.3 volts = volts. Digitl Outputs PicoLog PC Dt Loggers hve one or more digitl outputs cpble of driving lowcurrent lods. Ech output cn be set to high or low logic level by moving the slider. 6.6 USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr The Chnnels toolbr for the USB DrDAQ controls the settings for ech input nd output chnnel. Click the chnnel nme to toggle it on or off. Sound wveform sensor control. The smll rrow sets options for the sound wveform input (mesured in unclibrted mplitude units) using the on-bord microphone. Sound level sensor control. The smll rrow sets options for the sound level input (mesured in decibels) using the on-bord microphone. Scope input control. The smll rrow sets options for the oscilloscope input (the BNC socket mrked Scope), with options for probes nd scling. Resistnce input control. The smll rrow sets options for the 0 to 1 MΩ resistnce-mesuring input on the screw-terminl block. ph input control. The smll rrow sets options for the ph nd redox/orp (oxidtion/reduction potentil) mesuring input. Temperture sensor control. The smll rrow sets options for the onbord temperture sensor. Light sensor control. The smll rrow sets options for the on-bord light level sensor.

157 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 151 Externl sensor controls. The smll rrows set options for externl sensor inputs 1 to 3. Signl Genertor button. Opens the Signl Genertor dilog, which llows you to set the chrcteristics of the signl genertor output. RGB LED button. Opens the RGB LED control dilog, which llows you to set the color of the on-bord LED. Digitl Outputs button. Opens the Digitl Outputs dilog, which llows you to control the sttes of the four digitl outputs USB DrDAQ Signl Genertor dilog Loction: USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr > Signl Genertor button Purpose: controls the USB DrDAQ's built-in signl genertor Signl genertor dilog for the USB DrDAQ Controls Signl On. Check this box to enble the signl genertor. Wve Type. Select the shpe of the wveform to be generted. Crete Arbitrry Wveform. Opens the Arbitrry Wveform Genertor window, llowing you to define your own wveform shpe. Frequency. Type in this box or use the spin buttons to select the frequency of the output wveform. Amplitude. The mplitude of the wveform mesured from pek to pek. For exmple, if Amplitude is 1 V nd Offset is 0 V, the output will hve negtive pek of 0.5 V nd positive pek of +0.5 V.

158 152 Toolbrs nd buttons Offset. The men vlue of the signl. For exmple, when Offset is 0 V, sine or squre wve will hve equl positive nd negtive pek voltges USB DrDAQ RGB LED control Loction: USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr > RGB LED button Purpose: llows you to set the color of the on-bord LED to ny one of 16.7 million colors Enble LED Control Box checked: you cn set the on-bord RGB LED to ny color Box cler: the LED hs its norml function of flshing red to indicte dt cpture on the input chnnels Other controls Experiment with these to see wht they do!

159 PicoScope 6 User's Guide USB DrDAQ Digitl Outputs dilog Loction: USB DrDAQ Chnnels toolbr > Digitl Outputs button Purpose: llows you to set the chrcteristics of the four digitl outputs on the screw-terminl block. Ech output hs its own set of controls: Out: you cn set the output to either fixed logic low (ner 0 V) or fixed logic high (ner 3.3 V) PWM: the output is two-level pulse-width modulted (PWM) wveform (lternting between 0 V nd 3.3 V) with vrible Period nd Duty Cycle. The signl cn be filtered to produce DC level proportionl to the duty cycle. Period. The time between successive pulses on the output Duty Cycle. The percentge of the Period for which the output is high

160 Toolbrs nd buttons Trigger toolbr The Trigger toolbr is generl nme for the collection of toolbrs found t the bottom of the PicoScope 6 window by defult. You cn move the Trigger toolbr to the top of the window, directly below the Chnnels toolbr, by checking the box on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog. Click button below for more informtion: Stop nd Go buttons The Stop nd Go buttons llow you to strt nd stop the scope device. Click nywhere on this prt of the toolbr, or use keybord shortcut (by defult, the spce br), to strt or stop smpling. Go. Highlighted if the oscilloscope is smpling. Stop. Highlighted if the oscilloscope is stopped. These buttons re usully t the bottom of the PicoScope 6 window, but you cn move them to the top by selecting Move Trigger toolbr to top on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog Trigger controls The Trigger controls tell the scope device when to strt cpturing dt. See lso Trigger. Trigger Mode. The list of vilble modes vries depending on the type of scope device in use. None: PicoScope cquires wveforms continully, without witing for n event to trigger on. Auto: PicoScope wits for trigger event before cpturing dt. If there is no trigger event within resonble time, it cptures dt nywy. It repets this process until you click the Stop button. Auto mode does not set the trigger level utomticlly. Repet: PicoScope wits indefinitely for trigger event before displying dt. It repets this process until you click the Stop button. If there is no trigger event, PicoScope displys nothing. Single: PicoScope wits for one occurrence of trigger event, then stops smpling. To repet the process, click the Go button. The Single trigger is the only type tht llows one cpture to fill the entire buffer memory.

161 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 155 Rpid: PicoScope instructs the scope device to cquire sequence of wveforms with the minimum possible dely between them. The disply is not updted until the lst wveform in the sequence hs been cptured. When the opertion is finished, you cn step through the wveforms using the Buffer Nvigtion toolbr. Note: rpid triggering is vilble only on certin devices nd with collection times of 1 ms/div or shorter. ETS: Equivlent time smpling. PicoScope cptures mny cycles of repetitive signl, then combines the results to produce single wveform with higher time-resolution thn is possible with single cpture. For ccurte results, the signl must be perfectly repetitive nd the trigger must be stble. ETS is not vilble on mixed-signl oscilloscopes when digitl chnnels re enbled. Note: if you select ETS when n dvnced trigger type is enbled, the trigger type will revert to simple edge nd the Advnced Triggers button will be disbled. Advnced Triggers. Click to open the Advnced Triggers dilog, which gives you extr trigger types beyond the simple edge trigger. If this button is disbled, it is either becuse the Trigger Mode hs been set to None or ETS, or becuse your scope device does not support dvnced triggers. To enble the Advnced Triggers button, set the Trigger Mode to Auto, Repet, Single or Rpid. Trigger Chnnel. This is the chnnel tht PicoScope monitors for the trigger condition. You cn set it to ny of the scope chnnels, or to Ext or AuxIO. Rising Edge. Click to trigger on the rising edge of the wveform. Flling Edge. Click to trigger on the flling edge of the wveform. Threshold. Sets the voltge threshold for the trigger. You cn lso set the threshold by drgging the trigger mrker up or down the screen. Pre-trigger (0% to 100%). This prmeter controls how much of the wveform ppers before the trigger point. It defults to 50%, which puts the trigger mrker in the middle of the screen. You cn lso control this prmeter by drgging the trigger mrker left or right. Time-dely Enble. Click this button to toggle the Time-dely control. You cn use this button to switch the scope view between the trigger event nd the trigger reference point.

162 156 Toolbrs nd buttons Time-dely. The time-dely function llows you to view nd nlyze dt from certin time fter the trigger event, by introducing n offset between the trigger event nd the trigger mrker. For this control to tke effect, mke sure tht you hve clicked the Time-dely Enble button nd tht it is highlighted in blue. You cn reposition the trigger mrker, while preserving the time dely you hve set, by drgging it with the mouse. As you drg the mrker, the time-dely rrow ppers on the screen: it is displyed until you relese the mouse button. See Trigger Timing for informtion on how the Pre-trigger nd Time-dely controls interct. Rpid Cptures. In Rpid trigger mode, this is the number of wveforms to cpture in sequence. They will be cptured with the minimum possible ded time between them. These controls re usully t the bottom of the PicoScope 6 window, but you cn move them to the top by selecting Move Trigger toolbr to top on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog Advnced Triggers dilog Loction: Trigger controls > Advnced Triggers button Purpose: llows you to set up more complex trigger types

163 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 157 List of dvnced trigger types. This control lists ll the vilble dvnced trigger types. Click on the condition you require, nd digrm nd description will pper longside the dvnced trigger options on the right. If ETS triggering is enbled in the Trigger controls, the trigger type will be set to Simple Edge. Advnced trigger options. The options vilble depend on the trigger type selected: see Advnced trigger types for list Advnced trigger types The dvnced trigger types cn be switched on in the Advnced Triggers dilog. For ll trigger types except Digitl, the first step is to select which signl the scope should use s the trigger; so set Trigger Chnnel to the desired chnnel, or to Ext or AuxIO. These nmes correspond to the BNC input connectors on the scope device. Then choose one of the trigger types below. Simple Edge. This type provides the sme Rising nd Flling edge triggers tht re vilble from the Trigger controls. It is included in the Advnced Triggers dilog s n lterntive setup method. You cn set the trigger threshold in this dilog, or you cn drg the trigger mrker on the scope view. This is the only trigger type tht is comptible with ETS mode. Advnced Edge. This trigger type is similr to the simple edge trigger, but with two dditionl options. The Rising or Flling option triggers on both edges of wveform, nd is useful for monitoring pulses of both polrities t once (dul-edge triggering). Hysteresis cn be set to reduce the number of flse triggers on noisy signl, nd is described in seprte topic. Window. This trigger type detects when the signl enters or leves specified voltge window. The Direction control specifies whether the trigger should detect the signl entering the window, leving it, or both. Threshold 1 nd Threshold 2 re the upper nd lower voltge limits of the window. The order in which you specify the two voltges does not mtter. Hysteresis is described in seprte topic. Pulse Width. This trigger type detects pulses of specified width. First set the Pulse Direction to either Positive or Negtive ccording to the polrity of the pulse you re interested in. Next, set one of the four Condition options: Greter thn triggers on pulses wider thn the specified time.

164 158 Toolbrs nd buttons Less thn triggers on pulses tht re nrrower (useful for finding glitches). Inside time rnge triggers on pulses tht re wider thn Time 1 but no wider thn Time 2 (useful for finding pulses tht meet specifiction). Outside time rnge does the opposite: it triggers on pulses tht re either nrrower thn Time 1 or wider thn Time 2 (useful for finding pulses tht violte specifiction). Now set the trigger Threshold in volts or other units, or drg the trigger mrker on the scope view. Finlly, set up Time 1 (nd Time 2 if present) to define the pulse width. Intervl. This type lets you serch for two successive edges of the sme polrity tht re seprted by specified intervl of time. First, set the Strting edge to either Rising or Flling ccording to the polrity of the edges you re interested in. Next, select one of the four Condition options: Greter thn triggers when the second edge occurs lter thn Time 1 fter the first edge (useful for detecting missing events). Less thn triggers when the second edge occurs erlier thn Time 1 fter the first edge (useful for detecting timing violtions nd spurious edges). Inside time rnge triggers when the second edge is lter thn Time 1 fter the first edge nd erlier thn Time 2 (useful for finding vlid edges). Outside time rnge triggers when the second edge is erlier thn Time 1 fter the first edge or lter thn Time 2 (useful for finding spurious edges). Finlly, set up Time 1 (nd Time 2 if present) to define the time intervl. Window pulse width. This is combintion of the window trigger nd the pulse width trigger. It detects when the signl enters or leves n input rnge for specified period of time. Level dropout. This detects n edge followed by specified time with no edges. It is useful for triggering on the end of pulse trin. Window dropout. This is combintion of the window trigger nd the dropout trigger. It detects when the signl enters specified input rnge nd stys there for specified time. This is useful for detecting when signl gets stuck t prticulr level. Runt. Detects pulse tht crosses one threshold nd then flls below the sme threshold, without crossing the second threshold. This is typiclly used for finding pulses tht fil to rech vlid logic level. Digitl (MSO devices only). Triggers on combintion of the stte of the digitl inputs nd trnsition (edge) on one digitl input. See Digitl trigger.

165 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 159 Logic. This detects logicl combintion of the scope's inputs. The conditions tht cn be pplied to ech input vry: nlog inputs cn be edge-, level- or window-qulified; EXT nd D15...D0 (if present) re level-qulified with vrible threshold; nd AUX is level-qulified with fixed TTL threshold. See Logic trigger Hysteresis Hysteresis is feture of the dvnced trigger types in PicoScope 6 tht reduces flse triggering on noisy signls. When hysteresis is enbled, second trigger threshold voltge is used in ddition to the min trigger threshold. The trigger fires only when the signl crosses the two thresholds in the correct order. The first threshold rms the trigger, nd the second cuses it to fire. An exmple will help to illustrte how this works. Noisy signl with single threshold Consider the very noisy signl bove. It is difficult to trigger relibly on this signl with norml rising edge trigger becuse it crosses the trigger threshold, the red line in this picture, severl times in one cycle. If we zoom in on the highlighted prts of the signl, we will see how hysteresis cn help. Noisy signl with hysteresis threshold In these zoomed-in views, the originl threshold is the lower red line. The upper red line is the second threshold used by the hysteresis trigger. The signl rises cross the lower threshold t (1) nd (2), rming the trigger but not firing it. At (3) the signl finlly crosses the upper threshold, firing the trigger. On the flling edge of the signl, t (4) nd (5), rising edges of noise pulses cuse the signl to cross the upper nd lower thresholds, but in the wrong order, so the trigger is not rmed nd does not fire. Thus the trigger occurs t only one well-defined point in the cycle (3), despite the noise on the signl. Hysteresis is enbled by defult for ll the dvnced trigger types. The Hysteresis controls in the Advnced triggers dilog let you chnge the hysteresis voltge s percentge of full scle. The trigger mrker shows the size of the hysteresis window.

166 Toolbrs nd buttons Digitl trigger dilog Loction: Advnced Triggers dilog > Digitl Purpose: sets up triggering on digitl inputs Applicbility: MSO devices only Pttern tble Lists ll vilble inputs s selected in the Select Digitl Chnnels/Groups dilog. Ech one cn be monitored for low or high level or rising or flling edge, or ignored. Any number of levels cn be specified, but no more thn one trnsition (edge). D11 = X (don't cre) D11 = 0 (low level) D11 = 1 (high level) D11 = R (rising edge) D11 = F (flling edge)

167 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 161 Pttern summry This section contins the sme settings s the pttern tble but in more concise formt. The numericl formt to use for this section: Binry or Hex. The complete triggering pttern nd trnsition. In Binry mode the bits re lbeled s follows: X = don't cre 0 = binry 0 1 = binry 1 R = rising edge F = flling edge Logic trigger dilog Loction: Advnced Triggers dilog > Logic Purpose: sets up triggering on combintion of inputs Applicbility: ll devices with more thn one ctive input Input controls There is set of controls for ech ctive input of the oscilloscope. The selection of inputs depends on the model of oscilloscope in use. The selection of controls (thresholds, hysteresis, window mode nd so on) for ech input lso depends on the hrdwre cpbilities of the oscilloscope. Chnnel A

168 162 Toolbrs nd buttons Chnnel B Chnnel C Chnnel D EXT input (if present) AUX input (if present) Digitl inputs (mixed-signl oscilloscopes only). The controls here re the sme s those in the Digitl Trigger dilog. Check this box to include the relevnt input in the Logic Trigger condition. If the box is not checked, the input will be ignored by the Logic Trigger. Logic control Specifies the Boolen opertion used to combine the input trigger conditions. Only inputs with the Used box checked (see bove) re included in the trigger logic. AND All of the input trigger conditions must be met NAND None of the input trigger conditions must be met OR One or more of the input trigger conditions must be met NOR None of the input trigger conditions must be met XOR An odd number of input trigger conditions must be met XNOR An even number of the input trigger conditions must be met

169 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Trigger timing The pre-trigger nd time-dely functions re both described individully under Trigger controls, but it is lso importnt to understnd how they interct with one nother. Here is screenshot of scope view with time dely enbled: The pre-trigger control positions the scope view in reltion to the trigger reference point, llowing you to decide how much of the wveform should pper before the reference point, nd how much fter it. In this exmple, it is set to 30%, so the trigger reference point ppers 30% of the wy cross the disply from the left-hnd edge. The trigger reference point ( ) does not lie on the wveform. This is becuse the timedely control is set to 200 µs, which mens tht the trigger event occurred 200 µs before the reference point, closer to the left-hnd edge of the disply. The time xis is ligned so tht the trigger reference point is t 200 µs. If the time dely is greter thn the pre-trigger, the trigger event itself will be somewhere beyond the left-hnd side of the disply. Note: The number of smpling intervls tht cn elpse over the course of the time dely is limited by the scope device's cpture memory. The trigger event nd trigger reference must both occur within the time tken to fill the wveform buffer. If you set too long time dely, the PicoScope softwre will djust the pre-trigger to prevent the totl from exceeding this limit. Cpture memory vries between oscilloscopes, so refer to the dt sheet for the exct specifiction.

170 Toolbrs nd buttons Mesurements buttons The Mesurements buttons control the Mesurements tble. The buttons re s follows: Add Mesurement. Opens the Add Mesurement dilog, llowing you to dd mesurement of wveform to the selected view. Delete Mesurement. Deletes the currently selected row from the Mesurements tble. Edit Mesurement. Opens the Edit Mesurement dilog for the currently selected mesurement. You cn lso edit mesurement by double-clicking on row of the Mesurements tble. These buttons re usully t the bottom of the PicoScope 6 window, but you cn move them to the top by selecting Move Trigger toolbr to top on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog Other buttons The buttons in the bottom right corner of the PicoScope window control the Phse (Rottion) Rulers, Notes nd Chnnel Lbels (PicoScope 6 Automotive only). The buttons re s follows: Rulers Opens the Ruler Settings dilog tht controls the Phse rulers (clled Rottion rulers in PicoScope 6 Automotive) Notes Displys the Notes t the bottom of the window Chnnel Lbels PicoScope 6 Automotive only. Displys the Chnnel Lbels t the bottom of the window. These buttons re usully t the bottom of the PicoScope 6 window, but you cn move them to the top by selecting Move Trigger toolbr to top on the Options pge of the Preferences dilog.

171 PicoScope 6 User's Guide How to... This chpter explins how to perform some common tsks. 7.1 How to chnge to different device 1. Unplug the old device. 2. Cncel the Check USB cble... dilog. 3. Plug in the new device. 4. PicoScope will detect the new device nd begin to use it. Alterntively, close nd reopen the PicoScope softwre fter plugging in the new device. 7.2 How to use rulers to mesure signl Using single ruler for signl-to-ground mesurements 1. Look t the Chnnel controls to find the color code for the chnnel you wish to mesure. The defult colors re shown in the imge below. In this exmple, we will mesure the signl on Chnnel A. 2. Find the ruler hndle (the smll colored squre in the top left or top right corner of the scope view or spectrum view) in this color: 3. Drg the ruler hndle downwrds. A signl ruler (horizontl broken line) will pper cross the view. Relese the ruler hndle when the ruler is where you wnt it. 4. Look t the ruler legend (the smll tble tht ppers on the view). It should hve row mrked by smll squre the sme color s your ruler hndle. The first column shows the signl level of the ruler. Using two rulers for differentil mesurements 1. Follow the steps bove for using single ruler.

172 166 How to Drg the second ruler hndle of the sme color downwrds until its ruler is t the signl level to be mesured. 3. Look t the ruler legend gin. The second column now shows the signl level of the second ruler, nd the third column shows the difference between the two rulers.

173 PicoScope 6 User's Guide How to mesure time difference 1. Find the time ruler hndle (the smll white squre in the bottom left corner of the scope view). 2. Drg the time ruler hndle to the right. A time ruler (verticl broken line) will pper on the scope view. Relese the ruler hndle when the ruler is t the time you wish to use s the reference. 3. Drg the second time ruler hndle to the right until its ruler is t the time to be mesured. 4. Look t the ruler legend (the smll tble tht ppers on the scope view). It should hve row mrked by smll white squre. The first two columns show the times of the two rulers, nd the third column shows the time difference. 5. The frequency legend shows 1/Δ, where Δ is the time difference. You cn use similr method to mesure frequency difference on spectrum view.

174 How to... How to move view You cn esily drg view from one viewport to nother. This exmple shows four view ports, which contin scope views lbeled Scope 1 to Scope 4. Suppose tht you wish to move the Scope 4 view to the top left view port. 1. Click on the nme tb of the Scope 4 view nd hold down the left mouse button. 2. Drg the mouse pointer to the new loction, next to the nme tb of the Scope 1 view.

175 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Relese the mouse button. The Scope 4 view will move to its new loction.

176 How to... How to scle nd offset signl PicoScope offers severl wys to chnge the size nd position of signl during or fter cpture. These methods pply eqully to scope views nd spectrum views. They do not chnge the stored dt, only the wy in which it is displyed. These options re provided in ddition to the nlog offset cpbility of some scopes (see Device feture tble). Globl zooming nd scrolling This is usully the quickest wy to get closer look t the fine detil on your signls. The globl zooming nd scrolling tools move ll the signls t once nd re found on the zooming nd scrolling toolbr. When view is zoomed in, it hs verticl nd horizontl scroll brs tht let you move the signls round s group. You cn lso use the hnd tool to scroll round the grph. Auto-rrnge xes Right-click the scope or spectrum view, or open the Views menu, nd select Autorrnge xes:

177 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 171 PicoScope utomticlly scles nd offsets the chnnels to mke them fit on the view without overlpping. This is the quickest wy to tidy up the scope view: Axis scling nd offset Use these tools if Auto-rrnge xes (see bove) does not give you the results you wnt. It llows you to position chnnels individully on the view (unlike the globl zooming nd scrolling tools, which re pplied to ll of the chnnels t the sme time).

178 172 How to... Click the scling button t the bottom of the xis you wish to modify, nd the xis scling controls will pper. To djust the offset without using the xis scling controls, click on the verticl xis nd drg it up or down. How is this different from scling my dt with Custom Probe? You cn crete Custom Probe to pply scling to the rw dt. A Custom Probe my chnge the scle nd position of dt on the grph but it hs few importnt differences from the other scling methods. Custom Probe scling is permnent trnsformtion. The scling is pplied when the wveform is cptured nd cnnot be chnged lter. The ctul dt vlues themselves re chnged, so the grph xes my no longer disply the originl input rnge of the device. Custom Probe scling cn be nonliner nd so my lter the shpe of the signl. Custom Probes re useful when you wnt to represent the chrcteristics of physicl probe or trnsducer tht you plug into your scope device. All of the zooming, scrolling, scling nd offset tools still pply to dt tht hs been scled with Custom Probe in exctly the sme wy tht they would pply to the rw dt.

179 PicoScope 6 User's Guide How to set up the spectrum view Creting spectrum view First, mke sure tht the trigger mode is not set to ETS, s it is not possible to open spectrum view in ETS trigger mode. There re three wys to open spectrum view: Click the Spectrum Mode button in the Cpture Setup toolbr. We recommend using this method to get the best spectrum nlysis performnce from your scope. Once in Spectrum Mode, you cn still open scope view to see your dt in the time domin, but PicoScope optimizes the settings for the spectrum view. Go to the Views menu select Add view, then select Spectrum. This method opens spectrum view in the currently selected mode, whether this is Scope Mode or Spectrum Mode. For best results, we recommend tht you switch to Spectrum Mode, s described in the method immeditely bove. Right-click on ny view, select Add view, then select Spectrum. The menu is similr to the Views menu shown bove. Configuring the spectrum view See Spectrum Settings dilog. Selecting the source dt PicoScope cn produce spectrum view bsed on either live or stored dt. If PicoScope is running (the Go button is highlighted in blue), the spectrum view represents live dt. Otherwise, with PicoScope stopped (the Stop button is highlighted in blue), the view represents dt stored in the currently selected pge of the wveform buffer. When PicoScope is stopped, you cn use the buffer controls to scroll through the buffer nd the spectrum view will be reclculted from the wveform currently selected.

180 How to... How to find glitch using persistence mode Persistence mode helps you find rre events hidden in otherwise repetitive wveforms. In norml scope mode, such n event my pper on the disply for just frction of second, too quickly for you to stop the cpture nd freeze it on the screen. Persistence mode keeps the event on the disply for predetermined time, llowing you to set up the trigger options to cpture it more relibly. In the exmple below, we will look t wveform with n occsionl glitch, identify it in persistence mode nd set up trigger in scope mode so we cn nlyze it in more detil. Step-by-step guide Set up the scope to disply your wveform, then click the Persistence Mode button. It is importnt tht the wveform disply is stble. We hve set simple rising-edge trigger.

181 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 175 Our originl scope view is replced by persistence view, s shown below. At this point, we hve left the Sturtion control in the Persistence Options dilog on its defult setting of 50%, so the most common smples re shown in red nd the lest common in blue: the ptches of yellow fll somewhere between the two. We cn see tht lthough there is cler nd regulr cycle shown in red nd yellow, there is lso less regulr nd less frequent pttern shown in blue. Looking more closely, we cn lso see tht there ppers to be much nrrower pulse thn usul immeditely fter the trigger mrker. It is lso visible pproximtely 50 µs before the trigger mrker nd bout 55 µs lter. Below is close-up of one of these spikes:

182 176 How to... Persistence mode hs done its job: we hve found our glitch. In order to exmine our wveform in more detil nd crry out utomtic mesurements, we will need to click the Scope Mode button nd return to Scope mode. Now we know wht the glitch looks like, we cn click the Advnced Triggers button nd set up pulse-width trigger to look for positive pulse nrrower thn 10 µs. PicoScope finds it immeditely: We cn now dd utomtic mesurements or drg the rulers into plce to nlyze the spike in detil.

183 PicoScope 6 User's Guide How to set up msk limit test You cn crry out msk limit test in Scope, Spectrum or XY view. In this exmple, we will use scope view. 1. Set up the disply to show stble wveform. Adjust the input rnge nd collection time so tht the feture of interest fills most of the view. In this exmple, we re viewing repetitive pulse, such s you might find on dt bus. 2. Select the Tools > Msks > Add Msks commnd.

184 178 How to The Msk Librry dilog will open: Chnnel A is selected by defult. You cn chnge this to ny ctive chnnel. 4. Click the Generte button to open the Generte Msk dilog:

185 PicoScope 6 User's Guide For now, ccept the defult settings nd click Generte. Mke sure your msk is highlighted in the Msk Librry dilog, click OK nd return to the scope view: You now hve msk drwn round the originl wveform. 6. PicoScope stops cpturing when you enter the Msk Librry dilog, so click the Go button to restrt. If ny cptured wveform fils to fit inside the msk, the offending prts re drwn in contrsting color. The Mesurements tble shows the number of filures: 7. You now hve functioning msk limit test. Plese refer to Msk limit testing for informtion on editing, importing nd exporting msks. It is lso possible to set up msk limit test on spectrum or XY view.

186 How to... How to sve on trigger Sve-on-trigger is just one of number of functions tht re possible with the Alrms feture. 1. Set up PicoScope to disply your wveform, nd enble triggering: 2. Select the Tools > Alrms commnd:

187 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 3. The Alrms dilog will open: 4. Set Event to Cpture, mking sure tht you hve checked the box: 181

188 182 How to Select the first item in the Actions list, click Edit, nd chnge Action to Sve Current Buffer: 6. Click the button to the right of the File box, browse to the loction you wish to sve to, enter the file nme nd click Sve.

189 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 7. Click OK in the Alrm Action dilog: 8. Mke sure tht both the Sve Current Buffer check box nd the Enble externl code execution check boxes re set: 183

190 184 How to Click OK. PicoScope will now sve file on every trigger event. 10. Switch off the lrm when you hve finished using it, to void creting unwnted files.

191 PicoScope 6 User's Guide How to crete link file When you perform Seril decoding, the Tble view uses link file to convert numeric dt to text. This is useful for displying decoded pckets in humn-redble formt. The exmple below shows the cretion of link file for the DCC bus used by digitl trin set, but lthough different protocols hve different fields, these steps will work for ny seril protocol supported by the PicoScope softwre. The Seril protocols section lists which dt fields ech seril protocol uses. 1. Use the Seril Decoding dilog to select the required seril protocol nd crete seril decoder. Mke sure the Tble view is enbled. 2. PicoScope will show the decoded dt in numeric formt: 3. To crete link file, begin by creting blnk templte. Click the Link button in the Seril Dt Tble toolbr nd select Crete Templte: 4. A Sve As dilog will pper. Choose the file type from the Sve As Type box (.ods for OpenDocument Spredsheet formt, or.csv for comm-seprted text formt) nd sve the link file to convenient loction. 5. Open the link file with n pproprite text or spredsheet editor, nd dd number/ string pirs pproprite to the trget system.

192 186 How to... In this exmple we hve specified tht the string "Ivor" will pper in plce of the vlue " " in the Address field, nd so on. The numeric vlues re treted literlly, so if the Chnge numeric disply formt control (next to the Sttistics button) in the dt window is set to Hex, the link file must contin the string "0D" to mtch the hexdeciml vlue 0D. If you chnge the numeric disply formt to Deciml, for exmple, you will need to crete new link file contining deciml vlues. Note: spredsheet editors such s Microsoft Excel will often delete ny zeroes before number, so tht " " becomes "11". Mke sure you formt ll numbers in the link file s text nd preserve ll preceding zeroes. 4. Sve the link file. 5. Click the Link button gin nd select Open: 6. An Open dilog will pper. Select the link file nd click OK. 7. PicoScope will now replce the numeric dt with the text strings tht you hve defined:

193 PicoScope 6 User's Guide How to convert files in Windows File Explorer You cn convert PicoScope dt files to other formts for use in other pplictions, or to different forms of dt for use with PicoScope. The esiest wy to do this conversion is through the context menu in Windows File Explorer. The context menu is the menu tht pops up when you right-click the file icon with the mouse or ctivte it with the menu button on Windows keybord. When you instll PicoScope, Convert entry is dded to the context menu to enble you to convert PicoScope dt files. The PicoScope context menu in Windows Explorer Converting to PicoScope formt The exmple bove shows four pre-existing PicoScope dt files represented by stndrd PicoScope icons. PicoScope introduced new feture tht llows PicoScope dt files to pper s wveforms insted of icons. To enble this feture for old dt files, you need to convert them to the new formt using the context menu of Windows Explorer. If PicoScope is running, close it. In Windows Explorer, right-click PicoScope dt file. Select Convert > All wveforms >.psdt. A PicoScope icon will pper in the Windows notifiction re while the conversion is in progress. PicoScope will sk you to confirm tht you wish to overwrite the.psdt file with new version. Click Yes. Wit for Windows Explorer to updte the disply. Repet for ll.psdt files.

194 188 How to... The.psdt files should now pper s in this picture: Converting to other formts For ll of these conversions, you cn choose either All wveforms or Current wveform. A.psdt file cn contin either single wveform or the entire contents of the wveform buffer, which cn hold number of wveforms from successive trigger events. If the.psdt file contins more thn one wveform, then you cn choose to convert ll of them or just the one tht ws lst viewed in PicoScope. Right-click PicoScope dt file. To convert ll wveforms in the file, select Convert > All wveforms or Convert > Current wveform nd then the file formt tht you require. A PicoScope icon will pper in the Windows notifiction re while the conversion is in progress. Complex opertions For more complex opertions, such s converting ll files in directory, you cn run PicoScope in commnd window (see Commnd-line syntx).

195 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Reference This is where you cn find detiled informtion on the opertion of PicoScope. The topics covered re: Mesurement types Signl genertor wveform types Spectrum window functions Seril protocols Commnd-line syntx Trigger timing Flexible power This section is lso home to the Device feture tble nd the Glossry. 8.1 Mesurement types The Add/Edit Mesurement dilog presents choice of mesurements tht PicoScope cn clculte for the selected view. This list vries depending on whether you re using scope view or spectrum view, s some re bsed on the time domin nd others re bsed on the frequency domin. The topics in this section explin the different choices vilble for Scope mesurements nd Spectrum mesurements Scope mesurements The mesurements vilble in scope view re: AC RMS. The root men squre (RMS) vlue of the wveform minus the DC Averge. It is equivlent to ripple mesurement. Cycle Time. PicoScope will ttempt to find repeted pttern in the wveform nd mesure the durtion of one cycle. DC Averge. The men vlue of the wveform. Duty Cycle. The mount of time tht signl spends bove its men vlue, expressed s percentge of the signl period. A duty cycle of 50% mens tht the high time is equl to the low time. Edge Count. Counts the number of rising nd flling edges in the signl. Flling Edge Count. Counts the number of flling edges in the signl. Flling Rte. The rte t which the signl level flls, in signl units per second. Click the Advnced button in the Add Mesurement or Edit Mesurement dilog to specify the signl level thresholds for the mesurement. Frequency. The number of cycles of the wveform per second. Fll Time. The time the signl tkes to fll from the upper threshold to the lower threshold. Click the Advnced button in the Add Mesurement or Edit Mesurement dilog to specify the signl level thresholds for the mesurement. High Pulse Width. The mount of time tht the signl spends bove its men vlue. This is the verge vlue for ll the pulses in wveform tht hve rising edge.

196 190 Reference Low Pulse Width. The mount of time tht the signl spends below its men vlue. This is the verge vlue for ll the pulses in wveform tht hve flling edge. Mximum. The highest level reched by the signl. Minimum. The lowest level reched by the signl. Pek To Pek. The difference between mximum nd minimum. Rise Time. The time the signl tkes to rise from the lower threshold to the upper threshold. Click the Advnced button in the Add Mesurement or Edit Mesurement dilog to specify the signl level thresholds for the mesurement. Rising Edge Count. Counts the number of rising edges in the signl. Rising Rte. The rte t which the signl level rises, in signl units per second. Click the Advnced button in the Add Mesurement or Edit Mesurement dilog to specify the signl level thresholds for the mesurement. True RMS. The root men squre (RMS) vlue of the wveform, including the DC component. Msk Filures. A specil mesurement tht counts the number of filed wveforms during msk limit testing. This mesurement is dded to the tble utomticlly when you use msk limit testing, so there is usully no need to select it mnully Spectrum mesurements The mesurements vilble in spectrum view re s follows. Note: the term dtum refers to the noise-free signl. Frequency t pek. The frequency t which the pek signl vlue ppers. Amplitude t pek. The mplitude of the pek signl vlue. Averge mplitude t pek. The mplitude of the pek signl vlue verged over number of cptures. Totl power. The power of the whole signl cptured in the spectrum view, clculted by dding the powers in ll of the spectrum bins. Totl hrmonic distortion (THD). The rtio of the sum of hrmonic powers to the power t the fundmentl frequency. Totl hrmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N). The rtio of the hrmonic power plus noise to the fundmentl power. THD+N vlues re lwys greter thn the THD vlues for the sme signl.

197 PicoScope 6 User's Guide 191 Spurious-free dynmic rnge (SFDR). This is the rtio of the mplitude of the highest pek in the spectrum to tht of the second highest pek. The second pek is not necessrily hrmonic of the fundmentl frequency. For exmple, it might be strong, independent noise signl. Signl to noise nd distortion rtio (SINAD). The rtio, in decibels, of the signlplus-noise-plus-distortion to noise-plus-distortion. Signl to noise rtio (SNR). The rtio, in decibels, of the men signl power to the men noise power. Hnning or Blckmn windows re recommended becuse of their low noise. Intermodultion distortion (IMD). A mesure of the distortion cused by the nonliner mixing of two tones. When multiple signls re injected into device, modultion or nonliner mixing of these two signls cn occur. For input signls t frequencies f1 nd f2, the two second-order distortion signls will be found t frequencies: f3 = (f1 + f2) nd f4 = (f1 - f2). IMD is expressed s the db rtio of the RMS sum of the distortion terms to the RMS sum of the two input tones. IMD cn be mesured for distortion terms of ny order, but the second-order terms re most commonly used. In the second-order cse, the intermodultion distortion is given by: where F3 nd F4 re the mplitudes of the two second-order distortion terms (t frequencies f3 nd f4 defined bove) nd F1 nd F2 re the mplitudes of the input tones (t frequencies f1 nd f2, s mrked by the frequency rulers in the spectrum window). For reference, the third-order terms re t frequencies (2F1 + F2), (2F1 F2), (F1 + 2F2) nd (F1 2F2). Note: Hnning or Blckmn windows re recommended becuse of their low noise. An FFT size of 4096 or greter is recommended in order to provide dequte spectrl resolution for the IMD mesurements. Msk Filures. A specil mesurement tht counts the number of filed wveforms during msk limit testing. This mesurement is dded to the tble utomticlly when you use msk limit testing, so there is usully no need to select it mnully.

198 Reference Signl genertor wveform types The list of wveform types vilble in the Signl Genertor dilog vries ccording to the type of oscilloscope connected. The full list is s follows: Sine Sinusoid Squre Squre wve Tringle Symmetricl tringle wve Rmp Up Rising swtooth Rmp Down Flling swtooth Sin (x)/x sin(x)/x, truncted on the x xis Gussin The 'bell curve' of the norml distribution, truncted on the x xis Hlf Sine A rectified sinusoid White Noise Rndom smples t the mximum updte rte of the AWG PRBS Pseudo-rndom binry sequence - rndom sequence of bits with djustble bit rte DC Voltge Constnt voltge, djustble using the Offset control Arbitrry Any wveform creted by the rbitrry wveform editor

199 PicoScope 6 User's Guide Spectrum window functions To crete spectrum view, PicoScope cptures block of smpled dt over finite time intervl nd then uses fst Fourier trnsform (FFT) to compute its spectrum. The lgorithm ssumes signl level of zero t ll times outside the cptured time intervl. Typiclly, this ssumption cuses shrp trnsitions to zero t either end of the dt, nd these trnsitions hve n effect on the computed spectrum, creting unwnted rtifcts such s ripple nd gin errors. To reduce these rtifcts, the signl cn be fded in nd out t the strt nd end of the block. There re severl commonly used window functions tht cn be convolved with the dt to effect this fding, nd which re chosen ccording to the type of signl nd the purpose of the mesurement. The Window Functions control in the Spectrum Options dilog lets you select one of the stndrd window functions for spectrum nlysis. The following tble shows some of the figures of merit used to compre the functions. Window Min pek Highest width (bins side -3 db) (db) Side lobe Remrks roll-off (db/octve) Blckmn Often used for udio work Gussin 1.33 to to Gives miniml time nd frequency errors Tringulr Also clled Brtlett window Hmming Also clled rised sine-squred; used in speech nlysis Hnn 1.20 to to to 30 Also clled sine-squred; used for udio nd vibrtion work Blckmn-Hrris Generl-purpose Flt-top Negligible pss-bnd ripple; used minly for clibrtion Rectngulr No fding; mximl shrpness; used for short trnsients

200 Reference Seril protocols The seril decoding feture of PicoScope understnds rnge of seril protocols. Ech one will show different sets of dt, s detiled in the following sections. To see ll of these dt fields, mke sure Tble is selected in the Decoder settings. You cn decode the following seril protocols in PicoScope 6: 1-Wire ARINC 429 CAN CAN FD DCC DMX512 Ethernet 10BASE-T Fst Ethernet 100BASE-TX FlexRy I²C I²S LIN PS/2 SENT Fst SENT Slow SPI UART (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485) USB There re some fields which every protocol will disply: Pcket Seril number of the frme (deciml). If All Buffers is selected, this is counted from the strt of the selected wveform. If Current Buffer is selected, this is counted from the strt of the first wveform in the current wveform buffer. Strt Time Vlue of the PicoScope collection time t the strt of the frme End Time Vlue of the PicoScope collection time t the end of the frme When you click the Sttistics button, further four columns pper: Min Voltge Minimum voltge Mx Voltge Mximum voltge Voltge Pk-Pk Voltge rnge of the signl, from Mx Voltge to Min Voltge Pcket Time The durtion of the pcket, from Strt Time to End Time