PicoScope 6.0
PC Oscilloscope Software
User Guide
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Contents
II
..................................................................................................68
......................................................................................................69
Index
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
1
1
Welcome
Welcome to PicoScope, the PC Oscilloscope software from Pico Technology Limited.
8
With a scope device from Pico Technology, PicoScope
turns your PC into a powerful
8
with all the features and performance of a bench-top oscilloscope
7
at a fraction of the cost.
5
2
Software version: PicoScope 6.0 beta v0.8.0.0
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Version 6.0 update
2
2
Version 6.0 update
PicoScope 6.0 is a major new release of PicoScope, Pico Technology's software for PC
Oscilloscopes.
Higher performance
• Faster capture rates, making it easier to see fast-moving signals
• Faster data processing
• Better support for the latest PicoScope USB oscilloscopes
Improved usability and appearance
• Clearer graphics and text
• Tooltips and help messages to explain all features
• Easy point-and-click tools for panning and zooming
48
- you can put all the controls where you want them
New features
• The latest Windows .NET technology helps us get new features to you quicker
• New digital low-pass filtering
27
manager to make it easy for you to use your own probes and
sensors with PicoScope
• Multiple views of the same data, with individual zoom, pan and filter settings for
each view
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
3
3
Introduction
PicoScope is a comprehensive software application for Pico Technology PC
Oscilloscopes. Used with a scope device from Pico Technology, it creates a virtual
oscilloscope, spectrum analyser and multimeter on your PC.
PicoScope 6.0 supports the following scope devices:
PicoScope 2000 Series
PicoScope 3000 Series
ADC-212 variants
PicoScope 6.0 runs on any 32-bit computer with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP. (See
5
for further recommendations.)
4
5
5
How to use PicoScope 6.0
6
Getting started: see using PicoScope for the first time
, and PicoScope's Features.
7
19
44
For further information: see descriptions of Menus
and Toolbars
, and the
63
section.
60
For step-by-step tutorials, see the "How to
" section.
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Introduction
4
3.1
Legal statement
The material contained in this release is licensed, not sold. Pico Technology Limited
grants a licence to the person who installs this software, subject to the conditions
listed below.
Access
The licensee agrees to allow access to this software only to persons who have been
informed of these conditions and agree to abide by them.
Usage
The software in this release is for use only with Pico products or with data collected
using Pico products.
Copyright
Pico Technology Limited claims the copyright of, and retains the rights to, all material
(software, documents etc) contained in this release. You may copy and distribute the
entire release in its original state, but must not copy individual items within the
release other than for backup purposes.
Liability
Pico Technology and its agents shall not be liable for any loss, damage or injury,
howsoever caused, related to the use of Pico Technology equipment or software,
unless excluded by statute.
Fitness for purpose
No two applications are the same: Pico Technology cannot guarantee that its
equipment or software is suitable for a given application. It is your responsibility,
therefore, to ensure that the product is suitable for your application.
Mission-critical applications
This software is intended for use on a computer that may be running other software
products. For this reason, one of the conditions of the licence is that it excludes usage
in mission-critical applications, for example life-support systems.
Viruses
This software was continuously monitored for viruses during production, but you are
responsible for virus-checking the software once it is installed.
Support
If you are dissatisfied with the performance of this software, please contact our
technical support staff, who will try to fix the problem within a reasonable time. If you
are still dissatisfied, please return the product and software to your supplier within 14
days of purchase for a full refund.
Upgrades
reserve the right to charge for updates or replacements sent out on physical media.
Trademarks
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Pico Technology Limited
and PicoLog are internationally registered trade marks.
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
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3.2
Contact information
Address:
Pico Technology Limited
The Mill House
Cambridge Street
St Neots
Cambridgeshire
PE19 1QB
United Kingdom
Phone:
Fax:
+44 (0)1480 396395
+44 (0)1480 396296
Office hours:
09:00 to 17:00 Mon-Fri
Technical support email: [email protected]
Sales email:
Web site:
3.3
How to use this manual
You are using a PDF viewer to read this manual. You can turn the pages of the manual
as if it were a book, using the back and forward buttons in your viewer. These
buttons should look something like this:
back
forward
You can also print the entire manual for reading away from your computer. Look for a
print button similar to this:
print
For your first introduction to PicoScope, we suggest that you start with these topics:
6
7
8
8
3.4
System requirements
PicoScope 6.0 runs on any Windows computer with the following specifications.
Operating system
Processor
Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP
Any 32-bit Intel or Intel-compatible CPU
At least 256 MB
RAM
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Using PicoScope for the first time
6
4
Using PicoScope for the first time
We have designed PicoScope to be as easy as possible to use, even for newcomers to
oscilloscopes. Once you have followed the introductory steps listed below, we hope
that you will soon become a PicoScope expert.
1. Install the software. Load the CD-ROM that is included with your scope
device, then click the "Install Software" link and follow the on-screen
instructions.
2. Plug in your scope device. Windows will recognise it and make the
necessary changes to allow your computer to work with it. Wait until
Windows tells you that the device is ready to use.
3. Click the new PicoScope icon on your Windows desktop.
4. PicoScope will detect your scope device and configure itself, ready to
display a waveform. The green Start button will be highlighted to show
that PicoScope is ready.
5. Connect a signal to one of the scope device's input channels and see
your first waveform!
"It didn't do what I expected!"
Help is at hand! Our technical support staff are always ready to answer your telephone
5
call during office hours (see our Contact Details
). At other times, you can contact
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5
PicoScope and oscilloscope primer
This chapter explains the fundamental concepts that you will need to know before
working with the PicoScope software. If you have used an oscilloscope before, then
most of these ideas will be familiar to you. If not, please take a few minutes to read at
7
8
least the "Oscilloscope basics
" and "PicoScope basics
" topics, and then return
here to read the more detailed topics in this chapter when you need them.
5.1
Oscilloscope basics
An oscilloscope is a measuring instrument that displays a graph of voltage against
time. For example, the picture below shows a typical display on an oscilloscope
screen when a varying voltage is connected to one of its input channels.
Oscilloscope displays are always read from left to right. The blue line, called the
"trace", begins at point A, where the voltage is 0.0 volts. At point B, 0.25 milliseconds
later, the voltage has risen to its positive peak of 0.8 volts. At point C, 0.75
milliseconds after the start, the voltage has dropped to its negative peak of -0.8 volts.
After 1 millisecond, the voltage has risen back to 0.0 volts and a new cycle is about to
begin. This type of signal is called a sine wave, and is one of a huge number of signal
types that you will encounter.
All oscilloscopes allow you to adjust the vertical and horizontal scales of the display.
The vertical scale is called the voltage range (in the most common case, when the
signal is measured in volts). The horizontal scale is called the time base and is
measured in seconds or, as in this example, fractions of a second.
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PicoScope and oscilloscope primer
8
5.2
PCO basics
7
A PC Oscilloscope (PCO) is an oscilloscope
that consists of a scope device and a PC
running a special software program. Oscilloscopes were introduced long before digital
computers existed, and were self-contained electronic instruments with limited
abilities. Later, oscilloscopes began to use the new digital technology to introduce
more functions, but they remained highly specialised and expensive instruments. PC
Oscilloscopes are the latest step in the evolution of oscilloscopes, combining the
measuring power of Pico Technology's scope devices with the convenience of the PC
that's already on your desk.
+ =
PC
scope device
PCO
5.3
PicoScope basics
PicoScope can simple waveforms such as the example we saw in the "Oscilloscope
7
" topic, but also has many advanced features. The screen shot below shows
9
the main window of PicoScope, which in this case contains two capture windows
.
Click on any of the underlined labels to learn more. Also, please see "Windows, views
18
for an explanation of these important concepts.
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5.4
Capture window
68
.
14
more views by clicking Add view in the Views menu. The screen shot below shows all
the main features of a capture window. Click on the underlined labels for more
information.
To open a new capture window
45
Click the capture window button
display many capture windows, but only one window can be "in focus
in the capture window toolbar
, or select
20
menu. PicoScope can
68
" at any time.
Any commands you issue — by clicking on buttons, for example — will affect only this
window. To bring a window into focus, just click on it.
To arrange the scope views within the capture window
9
14
If the capture window
arrange them in a grid. This is laid out automatically, but you can customize it if you
68
68
wish. Each location in the grid is called a viewport
to a
62
different viewport by dragging its name tab (show me
), but you cannot move it
outside the capture window that it belongs to. You can also put more than one view in
a viewport, by dragging a view and dropping it on top of another.
For further options, right-click on a view to obtain the View menu, or select View from
19
the Menu bar
, then select one of the menu options to arrange the views.
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5.5
Custom probes
A probe is any connector, transducer or measuring device that you connect to the
68
input channel of your scope device
. PicoScope has a built-in library of common
probe types, such as the x1 and x10 voltage probes used with most oscilloscopes, but
27
if your probe is not included in this list you can use the Custom Probes dialog
to
define a new one. Custom probes can have any voltage range within the capabilities of
the oscilloscope, display in any units, and have either linear or nonlinear
characteristics.
Custom probe definitions are particularly useful when you wish to display the probe's
output in units other than volts, or to apply linear or nonlinear corrections to the data.
5.6
Frequency legend
15
on a scope
14
. It shows 1/D in hertz, where D is the time difference between the two rulers.
You can use this to estimate the frequency of a periodic waveform, but you will get
more accurate results by creating a frequency measurement using the Add
52
.
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5.7
Measurements table
A measurements table contains the automatic measurements that you have
14
instructed PicoScope to make on a particular view.
measurements from this table.
You can add, delete or edit
To add a measurement
52
Click the
.
To delete a measurement
Select a measurement in the table by clicking once on it, and then click the
Delete
52
. If you delete the only
measurement in the table, the table will be removed.
To edit a measurement
If the measurement you wish to edit is selected, click the
Edit Measurement
52
. Otherwise, double-click on the
measurement.
To change the width of a measurement column
Drag the column's border to create
the column width you need. The
cursor will change to a column
resize symbol as shown here.
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12
5.8
Oversampling
Oversampling is a technique of capturing samples n times faster than the requested
sampling rate, then replacing each group of n adjacent samples with the average of
that group. If the signal contains a small amount of noise, the result of oversampling
is a waveform with increased effective resolution. The amount of oversampling
68
available depends on how fast your scope device
can sample.
Procedure
53
44
" topic.
Use the Oversampling control to adjust the oversampling factor (n). PicoScope
allows oversampling factors in the range 1 (no oversampling) to 256.
How to choose the oversampling factor
To obtain an increase in effective resolution of n bits, you should choose an
oversampling factor of 4n. Conversely, an oversampling factor of f will give an
increase in effective resolution of log(f) / n log(4).
For example, if a scope device has a stated resolution of 8 bits, then an oversampling
factor of 4 will, under ideal conditions, increase this to 9 bits. An oversampling factor
of 16 will increase the effective resolution to 10 bits, and a factor of 256 will increase
it to 12 bits.
These calculations assume that the noise is Gaussian (follows a normal distribution).
This is approximately true for noise from natural sources, such as thermal noise in
resistors and sensors, but not be true for man-made noise such as radio interference
and mains (line) hum. The scope device itself often produces enough low-amplitude
noise to make oversampling successful.
The benefit of oversampling comes at the cost of having to increase the sampling rate.
If your scope device is already running at its maximum sampling rate in order to
capture high-frequency details in the signal, then it will not be able to oversample.
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5.9
Post-trigger arrow
The post-trigger arrow appears temporarily while you are setting up a post-trigger
delay, or dragging the trigger marker after setting up a post-trigger delay. (What is a
66
)
The left-hand end of the arrow indicates the trigger point, and is aligned with zero on
the time axis. If zero on the time axis is outside the scope view, then the left-hand
end of the post-trigger arrow appears like this:
16
The right-hand end of the arrow (temporarily replacing the trigger marker
indicates the trigger reference point.
)
57
Use the buttons on the Triggering toolbar
to set up a post-trigger delay.
5.10
Ruler legend
68
you have placed on the
14
For a reminder of which row refers to which signal, point using the mouse to one of
the colour-coded boxes in the left-hand margin and a label will appear, like this:
.
You can drag the legend around the scope view, resize it by dragging one of its edges,
or minimise it by clicking the minimise button
in the top right-hand corner.
10
See also: frequency legend
(which shows 1/D, where D is the time difference).
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14
5.11
Scope view
9
. Each capture
window opens with a single view, but you can add more views by using the views
menu. Similar to the screen of a conventional oscilloscope, a scope view shows you
one or more waveforms with a common time axis. A waveform is a diagram of signal
level on a vertical axis plotted against time on the horizontal axis. Each view can have
as many waveforms as the scope device has channels. Click on one of the labels below
to learn more about a feature.
5.12
Cursor position tool tip
The cursor position tool tip is a box that displays the signal and time values at the
14
cursor. It appears temporarily when you click the background of a scope view
.
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5.13
Time rulers
14
or frequency on a spectrum view (if
available).
14
In the scope view
above, the two white squares on the time axis are the time ruler
handles. You can drag these from the bottom left corner to the positions on the time
axis you want to measure. The two vertical dashed lines are the time rulers.
Ruler tool tip
If you point to one of the rulers, as we have done in the example above, PicoScope
displays a tool tip with the ruler number and the time value of the ruler.
Ruler legend
The table at the top of the view is the ruler legend. In this example, the table shows
that time ruler 1 is at 148.0 microseconds, ruler 2 is at 349.0 microseconds and the
difference between them is 201.0 microseconds.
Frequency legend
The frequency legend in the bottom right-hand corner shows 1/D, where D is the
time difference between the two rulers. 1/D is 4.975 kilohertz in this example. The
accuracy of this calculation depends on the accuracy with which you have positioned
the time rulers. For greater accuracy with periodic signals, use the frequency
63
function built in to PicoScope.
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5.14
Trigger marker
The trigger marker shows the level and timing of the trigger point.
The height of the marker on the Y axis shows the level at which the trigger is set, and
its position on the X axis shows the time at which it occurs.
You can move the trigger marker by dragging it with the mouse or, for numerical
57
control, use the buttons on the Triggering toolbar
.
13
while you adjust the post-trigger delay.
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5.15
Signal rulers
The signal rulers are to help you measure signal levels with respect to ground, or
14
signal differences, on a scope view
.
14
In the scope view
above, the two coloured squares to the left of the vertical axis
are the ruler drag-handles. You can drag these from the top-left corner to the
positions you want to measure on the waveform. The two horizontal dashed lines are
the signal rulers.
Ruler legend
The table at the top of the view is the ruler legend. In this example, the table shows
that ruler 1 is at 807 millivolts, ruler 2 is at -811.0 millivolts and the difference
between them is -1.618 volts. If you prefer to see the difference as a positive value,
swap the positions of the two rulers by dragging them.
Ruler tooltip
68
If you move the mouse pointer over one of the rulers, PicoScope displays a tooltip
with the ruler number and the signal level of the ruler. You can see an example of this
in the picture above.
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18
5.16
Windows, views and viewports
9
PicoScope's display area contains one or more capture windows
corresponds to a block of data captured from a scope device
. Each one
68
. The simplest case is a
single scope device that produces a single capture, with the result shown in a single
capture window.
14
A capture window contains one or more views
. When you first open a capture
58
window, it contains a single view. You can zoom and pan
this to show various
different waveforms based on the data that the scope device captured. If you wish,
you can add more views to a capture window (how?). Each view is a differently
zoomed and panned section of the same capture.
Multiple views in a capture window are always arranged in a grid. Each location in the
grid is called a viewport, and can be empty or occupied by one or more views.
Upgrading from PicoScope 5
PicoScope 5 allowed you to have multiple scope views. PicoScope 6.0 retains this
9
14
ability, although it calls them capture windows.
PicoScope 6.0.
The views
feature is new to
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6
Menus
Menus are the quickest way to get to PicoScope's main features. The Menu bar is
always present at the top of the PicoScope main window, just below the window's title
bar. You can click any of the menu items, or press the Alt key and then navigate to
the menu using the cursor keys, or press the Alt key followed by the underlined letter
in one of the menu items.
The list of items in the menu bar may vary depending on the windows that you have
open within PicoScope.
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Menus
20
6.1
File menu
19
.
.
Create New Scope Window This command is equivalent to the New
45
. If PicoScope
46
has not yet found a scope device, it will first open the Open Device dialog
68
to ask you which scope device
to use; otherwise, it will assume that you
wish to use the same scope device as was used for the previous capture
9
window. PicoScope will then open a new capture window
for the chosen
14
open up to five capture windows.
Open. Allows you to select the file you want to open. PicoScope can open
*.
and
settings, and
files, which contain both waveform data and scope device
psdata
*.psd
*.pssettings
and
files, which contain only scope device
*.pss
settings. You can create your own files using the Save and Save As...
commands, described below. If the file was saved using a different scope
device from the one that is presently connected, PicoScope may need to
modify the saved settings to suit the present device.
Opening a new file will close any capture windows that are currently open.
Merge. Opens a settings or waveforms file without closing any that are
currently open. You cannot exceed a total of ten capture windows.
21
, which allows you to save the settings
9
and waveforms for all capture windows
in various formats.
Save Default Settings. Saves the current settings so that they become the
defaults. The new default settings will then be loaded the next time you start
PicoScope.
Print Preview. Opens the Print Preview window, which allows you to see
how your workspace will be printed when you select the Print command.
Print. Opens a standard Windows Print dialog, which allows you to choose a
printer, set printing options and then print the selected view.
Exit. Close PicoScope without saving any data.
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6.1.1
Save As dialog
The Save As dialog allows you to save your waveforms and settings to a file in
20
various formats. To open it, go to the File menu
and click "Save As".
Type your chosen file name in the "File name" box, and then select a file format in the
"Save as type" box. You can save data in the following formats:
Data files (*.psdata)
Stores all waveforms and settings from the current
scope device. Can be opened on any computer
running PicoScope.
Settings files (*.pssettings)
Stores all settings (but not waveforms) from the
current scope device. Can be opened on any
computer running PicoScope.
CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv) Stores waveforms as a text file with comma-
separated values. This format is suitable for
importing into spreadsheets such as Microsoft
Excel. The first value on each line is the time
stamp, and it is followed by one value for each
active channel.
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Menus
22
Text (Tab delimited) (*.txt)
Bitmap Image (*.bmp)
Stores waveforms as a text file with tab-separated
values. The values are the same as those in the
CSV format.
68
68
Stores the graticule
, rulers
and waveforms
in Windows bitmap format. The image is 800
pixels wide by 600 pixels high, in 16 million
colours, and uncompressed. BMP files are suitable
for importing into Windows desktop publishing
programs.
68
68
GIF Image (*.gif)
Stores the graticule
, rulers
and waveforms
in Compuserve GIF format. The image is 800
pixels wide by 600 pixels high, in 256 colours, and
compressed. GIF files are widely used to illustrate
web pages.
68
68
PNG Image (*.png)
Stores the graticule
, rulers
and waveforms
in Portable Network Graphics format. The image is
800 pixels wide by 600 pixels high, in 16 million
colours, and compressed.
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6.2
Edit menu
19
.
Copy as Image. Copies the active view to the clipboard as a bitmap. You
can then paste the image into any application that accepts bitmap images.
Copy as Text. Copies the data in the active view to the clipboard as text.
You can paste the data into a spreadsheet or other application. The text
format is the same as that used by the Save As *.txt command, and is
21
explained in the Save As dialog
topic.
23
at the bottom of the active capture window.
You can enter any explanatory text that you wish to in this area.
6.2.1
Notes area
A Notes area can be displayed at the bottom of any capture window. You can enter
any text you wish in this area.
To display the Notes area, click on the Edit menu, then select Notes.
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Menus
24
6.3
Help menu
19
.
What's This? Select this item, then click on a toolbar button to see a brief help
message on that button. The toolbar must be docked - that is, attached to the
main window - to work with What's This?
Reference Manual. This is the main help manual, containing information on
every menu item, button and dialog in the program.
About PicoScope... Shows information about this version of PicoScope.
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6.4
Measurements menu
19
.
11
, and opens
26
. You can also find this button on the
52
.
26
You can find this button on the Measurements toolbar
.
52
, or you can edit a
measurement by double-clicking on a row of the measurements Table
11
.
11
52
. You can also find this button on the Measurements toolbar
.
11
.
Column Auto-width. If this button is pressed, the columns of the
11
will continually adjust to fit the contents whenever
the table changes. Click again to release the button.
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Menus
26
6.4.1
Add / Edit Measurement dialog
This dialog allows you to add a measurement of a waveform to the selected capture
9
, or edit an existing measurement. PicoScope automatically refreshes the
measurement every time it updates the waveform. If this is the first measurement for
11
the capture window, PicoScope will create a new measurements table
to display the
measurement; otherwise, it will add the new measurement to the bottom of the
existing table.
Where to find it
Click the
Add Measurement or
Edit Measurement button on the
52
or in the Views menu, or double-click a measurement in the
11
.
68
's channels to measure.
Type:
PicoScope can calculate a wide range of measurements for waveforms.
63
for details.
68
, or a
single cycle that you point to using one of the rulers.
Where to find it
52
Click the
or in the
Views menu,
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6.5
Tools menu
19
.
27
dialog, which allows you to
define new probes and copy, delete, move and edit existing ones.
40
, which contains various
options that control PicoScope's behaviour.
42
, which allows you to control which
44
appear and which are hidden.
6.5.1
Custom Probes dialog
10
This dialog allows you to define your own probes and set up custom probes
. To
27
or click the
Channel Advanced Options button.
Understanding the probe list
All the probes that PicoScope knows about are listed under three main headings:
Built-in, Library and Loaded. The probe list is preserved between sessions, so that
PicoScope will never forget your custom probes unless you delete them.
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Built-in probes. The built-in probes are supplied by Pico Technology and do not
change unless you download an authorised update from us. As a safeguard,
PicoScope does not allow you to edit or delete these probes. If you want to modify
one of them, you can copy it to your library by clicking Duplicate, and then edit
the copy in your library.
Library probes. These are the probes that you have created using any of the
methods described in this topic. You can edit, delete or duplicate any of these
probes by clicking the appropriate button in this dialog.
Loaded probes. Probes in PicoScope data files
or settings files
(*.psdata)
(*.
that you have opened appear here until you copy them to your
pssettings)
library. You cannot edit or delete these probes directly, but you can click Duplicate
to copy them to your library where you can edit them. You can also import probes
from the custom ranges stored in PicoScope 5
and
files, but these lack
*.psd
*.pss
many of the features provided by PicoScope 6. (See "Upgrading from PicoScope 5
2
" for more details.)
Adding a new probe to your library
There are three ways to create a new probe:
1. Create a duplicate of an existing probe as described above.
2. Click New Probe... to define a new probe.
3. Click Import to load a probe definition from a
file and add it to your
*.psprobe
library. These files are normally supplied by Pico, but you can also create your own
by defining a new probe and then clicking Export.
28
The second and third methods open the Custom Probe Wizard
the probe definition process.
to guide you through
6.5.2
Custom Probe wizard
10
and set up custom
ranges.
29
The first dialog in the series is either the Create a new Custom Probe dialog
or the
30
.
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6.5.2.1
Create New Custom Probe dialog
This dialog introduces you to the process for creating a new custom probe. To open it,
27
.
How to use the dialog
31
.
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6.5.2.2
Edit Existing Custom Probe dialog
This dialog introduces you to the process for editing an existing custom probe. Get
27
.
How to use the dialog
31
, where you can edit the
custom probe.
Click Jump forward... if you have already set up the custom probe's basic
characteristics and want to add or change a custom range manually.
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6.5.2.3
Probe Output Units dialog
29
This dialog follows the Create new Custom Probe dialog
. It allows you to choose the
68
units that PicoScope will use to display the output of your custom probe
.
How to use the dialog
To choose a standard SI unit, click Use a standard unit from the list and select
one from the list.
To enter a custom unit, click Use the custom unit defined below and type the
unit name and symbol.
32
.
29
probe, or the Edit Existing Custom Probe dialog
if this is a new
30
if this is an existing probe.
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6.5.2.4
Scaling Method dialog
31
This dialog follows the Probe Output Units dialog
. It allows you to define the
characteristic that PicoScope will use to convert the probe's voltage output to a
measurement on the display.
How to use the dialog
If you do not require any scaling or offset, click the Don't apply any scaling
button.
If the probe requires linear scaling, click the Use a linear equation button and
enter the gradient (or scale factor) m and the offset c in the equation y = mx + c,
where y is the displayed value and x is the probe's voltage output.
If you wish to apply a nonlinear function to the probe's output, choose Use a look-
up table..., then click the Create a Lookup Table... button to create a new
33
lookup table. This will take you to the Lookup-table Scaling dialog
.
34
.
31
.
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6.5.2.4.1 Lookup-table Scaling dialog
This dialog allows you to enter a look-up table to calibrate a custom probe. You can
get here by clicking the Create a Look-up Table button or Edit the Lookup Table...
32
button in the Scaling Method dialog
.
Editing the Look-up Table
First, select suitable values in the Input units and Scaled units drop-down boxes.
For example, if your probe is a current clamp that outputs one millivolt per ampere
over the range -600 to +600 amperes, select Input units of millivolts and Output
units of amperes.
Next, enter some data in the scaling table. Click the first empty cell at the top of the
table and type "-600", then hit the Tab key and type "-600". When you are ready to
enter the next pair of values, press the Tab key again to start a new row. You can also
right-click on the table to obtain a more detailed menu of options, as shown in the
picture. In the example above, we have entered a slightly nonlinear response; if the
response had been linear then it would have been easier to use the linear option in
32
.
Import/Export
Using the Import and Export buttons, you can fill the look-up table from data in a
comma-separated or tab-delimited text file, and save the look-up table to new file.
Finishing
32
.
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6.5.2.5
Range Management dialog
32
This dialog follows the Scaling Method dialog
. It allows you to override PicoScope's
automatic range-creation feature for custom probes. In most cases, the automatic
procedure will be ideal.
How to use the dialog
If you select Let the software manage my ranges for me automatically, then
38
.
PicoScope's automatic ranges should be ideal for most applications.
If you select I will manage the Custom Probe Ranges manually, clicking Next
35
will take you to the Manual Ranges Setup dialog
What is Auto-ranging?
.
32
.
When the Auto-ranging function is selected, PicoScope continually monitors the input
signal and adjusts the range when necessary to allow it to display the signal with
maximum resolution. This function is available on all standard ranges, and can be
used with custom ranges only if you select Let the software manage my ranges
for me automatically in this dialog.
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6.5.2.6
Manual Ranges Setup dialog
34
and then click Next >. It allows you to create ranges manually for your
custom probe.
How to use the dialog
If you wish, you can click Auto Generate Ranges and the program will create a
number of ranges for the selected device. This will create the same list of ranges that
you would have obtained by selecting Let the software manage my ranges for me
automatically in the previous dialog. When you select a range, a diagram below the
list will show its relationship to the scope device's input range — this is explained
36
further under Edit range dialog
. You can then edit the ranges by clicking Edit, or
you can also add a new range by clicking New Range. Both of these buttons take you
36
to the Edit Range dialog
.
38
.
34
.
How to use a new custom range
After you have created
a custom range, it will
appear in the drop-
down list of ranges in
47
like this:
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6.5.2.6.1 Edit Range dialog
This dialog allows you to edit a manual range for a custom probe.
35
.
Automatic mode
If you leave the "Automatic" radio button pressed, the program will automatically
determine the best hardware input range for the device as you change the Scaled
range limits. This is the best mode to use for almost all ranges. You should set the
Scaled range limits to the maximum and minimum values you wish to see on the
vertical axis of the scope display.
Fixed range mode
If you press the "Hardware input range" radio button and select a hardware input
range from the drop-down box, PicoScope will then use that hardware input range
whatever scaled range limits you choose. Set the upper and lower scaled range limits
to the limits you wish to appear at the top and bottom of the vertical axis in
PicoScope's scope view.
What is an input range?
An input range is the signal range, usually in volts, on the input channel of the scope
68
. Your scaled range should match this as closely as possible to make the
most of the scope's resolution.
What is a scaled range?
The scaled range is the range that will appear on the vertical axis of the scope display
when the probe is selected.
32
The scaling that you chose on the Scaling Method
page defines the relationship
between the input range and the scaled range. This dialog enables you to set up
ranges to display the scaled data on the scope view.
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The range utilisation bar
This diagram at the bottom of the dialog represents the relationship between the
scaling and the hardware input range of the scope device.
• Green - The section of the input range that is used by the scaled range. This
should be as large as possible, to maximise the use of the scope device's
resolution.
• Blue - Areas of the input range that are not being used. These indicate wasted
resolution.
• Grey - Parts of the scaled range that are not covered by the input range. These
will result in wasted space on the graph. The range utilisation bar may not
represent these areas accurately when non-linear scaling is being used, so you
should always test the scaled range limits on the scope view.
Finishing
35
.
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6.5.2.7
Custom Probe Identification dialog
34
This dialog follows the Range Management dialog
identify the custom probe.
. It allows you to enter text to
How to use the dialog
34
(or the Manual Ranges Setup
35
if you chose manual setup).
The probe name will appear in the probe list.
The description is not used in the present version of the software.
39
.
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6.5.2.8
Custom Probe Finished dialog
38
This dialog follows the Custom Probe Identification dialog
the custom probe that you have just set up.
. It displays a summary of
How to use the dialog
38
.
27
.
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6.5.3
Preferences dialog
This dialog allows you to set miscellaneous options for the PicoScope software. Click
one of the tabs on the screen shot below to learn more.
Where to find it
27
19
on the Menu bar
.
6.5.3.1
General dialog
This dialog contains general controls for PicoScope.
Reset: Click this button to restore any missing dialogs that you asked PicoScope not
to show again.
Where to find it
27
19
on the Menu bar
.
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6.5.3.2
Performance dialog
The performance settings limit the speed at which PicoScope captures data from the
68
scope device. The other PicoScope settings, the type of scope device
and the speed
of the computer will all affect whether this limit can actually be reached. PicoScope
automatically selects the appropriate limit according to whether your computer is
running on batteries or on mains (line) power.
The settings are in captures per second. By default, the capture rate is set to
"Unlimited" when your computer is running on AC Mains power, for maximum
performance. If other applications run too slowly on your PC whilst PicoScope is
capturing, then reduce the capture rate limit. When your computer is running on
Battery power, PicoScope imposes a performance limit to save the battery. You can
increase this limit manually, but this will cause the battery power to drain very
quickly.
Where to find it
27
19
on the Menu bar
.
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42
6.6
Toolbar menu
44
This menu lists the toolbars
and allows you to display or hide each one.
Where to find it
44
Right-click on any toolbar
or on the background of the toolbar area. The
48
49
has a similar menu on its Toolbars page
.
How to use it
Click one of the ticks
to remove a toolbar, or click in the empty margin next to a
toolbar name to add that toolbar.
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6.7
Window menu
19
.
9
The commands in this menu instruct PicoScope to arrange the capture windows
within its main window.
Tile Horizontal: Arranges the capture windows in a grid that fills the main window,
making the capture windows as wide as possible.
Tile Vertical:
Cascade:
Arranges the capture windows in a grid that fills the main window,
making the capture windows as tall as possible.
Sets all capture windows to a standard size and arranges them in
an overlapping pattern.
Arrange Icons: Arranges any minimised capture windows in a row at the bottom of
the main window.
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Toolbars
44
7
Toolbars
A toolbar is a collection of buttons and controls with related functions. The
52
, for example, looks like this:
Toolbars are normally stored, or docked, in rows at the top and bottom edges of the
window, but you can drag them to new locations if you wish. If you drop them on any
of the four edges of the main window, they attach themselves to the edge. (They are
then said to be "docked".) If you drop them anywhere else, they become individual
"undocked" windows with their own
close button, like this:
If you have closed a toolbar and want to reopen it, right-click anywhere in the toolbar
42
area to open the Toolbar menu
, then select the desired toolbar from the list.
Customizing
You can customize some of the toolbars by clicking their menu button ( or
) to
48
open the Customization dialog
. You can also right-click on any of the toolbars or
42
the toolbar background to open the Toolbar menu
.
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7.1
Buffer Navigation toolbar
The Buffer Navigation toolbar allows you to select one waveform from the buffer of
stored waveforms.
The waveform buffer
56
When you click the Start button
, PicoScope clears the waveform buffer and then
adds a new waveform every time the scope device captures data, until the buffer is
56
full or you click the Stop button
.
You can review the waveforms stored in the buffer using these buttons:
First waveform button. Displays waveform 1.
Previous waveform button. Displays the previous waveform in the
buffer.
Waveform number indicator. Shows which waveform is currently
displayed, and how many waveforms the buffer holds. You can edit the
number in the box and press Enter, and PicoScope will jump to the
specified waveform.
Next waveform button. Displays the next waveform in the buffer.
Last waveform button. Displays the last waveform in the buffer.
7.2
Capture Windows toolbar
9
.
The toolbar contains the following button:
New Capture Window button. If PicoScope has not yet found a scope
46
device, clicking this button first opens the Open Device dialog
you to select a scope device
to allow
68
9
, then opens a new capture window
for
the selected scope device. If a capture window is already open, this button
simply opens another capture window for the same scope device. To
switch scope devices, you must close and then restart PicoScope.
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46
7.2.1
Open Device dialog
68
When PicoScope is not sure which scope device
to use, it displays a list of all the
units attached to your computer and allows you to select which one to use.
Where to find it
PicoScope always tries to locate the correct scope device to use without asking you.
This dialog appears only there is no suitable scope, or when there is more than one
scope and you have not yet specified which one to use.
61
scope device later.
" if you wish to switch to a different
45
You will also see this dialog if you click the New Capture Window button
scope device is connected.
when no
Procedure
To restrict the selection to a particular series of devices, click on the device drop-
down box and select a device series; otherwise, click the Find All button.
Wait for a list of devices to appear in the grid.
Select one device and click the OK button.
PicoScope will open a new capture window
9
14
and scope view
for the selected
scope device.
Use the toolbars
your signals.
44
68
14
to set up the scope device
and the scope view
to display
Demo mode
68
To experiment with PicoScope with no scope device
connected, choose one of the
59
will then appear,
allowing you to set up one or more test signals.
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7.3
Channel Setup toolbar
68
.
68
The screen shot below shows the toolbar for a four-channel scope device
different scope devices may have different numbers of channels.
, but
Each channel has its own set of buttons:
Scale Control. Determines the maximum and minimum signal
levels at the top and bottom of the Y axis for this channel. The
68
number of options depends on the selected scope device
and
68
. If you select Auto, PicoScope will continually adjust the
vertical scale so that the height of the waveform fills as much of
the view as possible.
68
68
or DC coupling
.
47
68
to allow you to select a probe
for this channel.
7.3.1
Probe Drop-Down menu
The Probe drop-down menu appears when you click the
Advanced Options
47
. Use it to tell PicoScope what type of probe is
connected to a channel. By default, the probe is assumed to be x1, which means that
a one-volt signal at the input to the probe will appear as one volt on the display.
Expand probe list. Click this to select from a list of probes.
27
allows you to edit
your library of custom probes.
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Toolbars
48
7.4
Customization dialog
44
. Click on one of
the tabs in the screen shot below for more information on the relevant page of the
dialog.
Where to find it
44
Right-click on any toolbar
button ( or
or on the toolbar background area, or click the menu
) on any toolbar, then select the Customize command.
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7.4.1
Customization Toolbars page
48
44
allows you to make the toolbars
visible or invisible.
44
appear or
disappear.
New:
Create an empty toolbar, with your choice of name, which you can
populate with buttons and controls using the Commands tab of this
dialog box.
Rename:
Change the name of a toolbar that you have created. You cannot
rename the standard toolbars.
Delete:
Reset:
Remove the selected toolbar. You cannot delete the standard toolbars.
Restore the selected toolbar to its default state.
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Toolbars
50
7.4.2
Customization Commands page
48
allows you to add commands to,
44
or remove them from, the toolbars
.
To add a command, select its category from the Categories list, then drag it from
the Commands list to the appropriate toolbar.
To remove a command, drag it from its toolbar and drop it anywhere on the
Customization dialog.
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7.4.3
Customization Options page
48
controls the appearance of the
44
.
Always show full menus. PicoScope can hide the least-used commands in its menus
to save space. Tick this box if you do not want it to do this.
.
Show full menus after a short delay If this box is ticked, PicoScope first shows
abbreviated menus, then after a short delay changes to the full menu.
.
Reset my usage data If you are using abbreviated menus and some of the
commands you want to use have disappeared, click this button to restore all the
hidden commands.
.
Large icons Increase the size of all the toolbar icons.
.
Show ScreenTips on toolbars If this box is ticked, PicoScope displays tool tips
44
(short explanatory messages) whenever you point to a toolbar
control or button.
.
Show shortcut keys in ScreenTips Some toolbar controls and buttons have
shortcut keys (combinations of keys that you can press to achieve the same effect).
You can choose whether or not to be reminded of these shortcuts whenever a
ScreenTip appears.
.
Menu animations This option lets you choose what happens when you click on a
19
menu title in the menu bar
. You can make the menu appear instantly, or you can
experiment with other animation effects.
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Toolbars
52
7.5
Help toolbar
The Help toolbar gives you access to "What's This?" help and the reference manual
that you are now reading.
What's This? Help. Click this button, then click a toolbar control or button to
see a short description. Use it only on toolbars that are attached to the edge of the
PicoScope window.
Reference Manual. Opens this reference manual, which has information on
every menu, dialog and control.
7.6
Measurements toolbar
11
.
It contains the following buttons:
Add Measurement.
Adds a row to the table, and then opens the Add
26
26
Edit Measurement.
Opens the Edit Measurement dialog
for the currently
selected measurement. You can also edit a measurement
11
by double-clicking on a row of the measurements table.
11
. If you delete the last measurement, the table
disappears.
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7.7
Scope Setup toolbar
The Scope Setup toolbar controls the time-related settings of your oscilloscope. It
normally looks like this:
Standard controls
.
Timebase control When the active view is a scope view, this sets the
time represented by a single division of the horizontal axis when the
58
factor is 100%. The timebases available depend on the type
68
of scope device
you are using.
Choosing a timebase of 200 ms/div or slower causes PicoScope to
switch to roll mode. Instead of redrawing the whole waveform many
times every second, roll mode causes the waveform to move
continuously from right to left, with old data disappearing off the left-
hand side and new data being added on the right-hand side. This mode
is more convenient for viewing slowly changing data.
Additional controls
You can customize the Scope Setup toolbar to include the following additional
44
controls. See Toolbars
for instructions on customizing.
Samples control. Sets the number of samples that fit across the width
14
of the Scope view
. Increasing this number increases the time
resolution of the display. If PicoScope will not let you select as many
samples as you would like, try:
1. Reducing the oversampling factor
2. Selecting a slower timebase.
Oversampling control. This is set to 1 by default, so that
12
oversampling is disabled. See Oversampling
for more information.
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54
7.8
Signal Generator toolbar
68
's test signal
output. If the scope device has no test signal output, this toolbar will not appear.
Signal Generator. The "E" on this control stands for "External",
and refers to the "E" label on the scope device's test signal output.
54
Clicking the control opens the Signal Generator dialog
.
7.8.1
Signal Generator dialog
68
This dialog controls the scope device
's built-in signal generator. It is not available if
the selected scope device does not have a signal generator. The number of controls in
the dialog may vary according to the type of scope device in use.
Left:
Signal generator dialog for the PicoScope
3206
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How to use it
Signal On: Tick this box to enable the signal generator.
Frequency: Type in this box or use the spin buttons to
select the frequency. If the scope device has a frequency
sweep generator, then this box will set the start frequency
of the sweep.
Sweep Mode Active. Tick this box to enable sweep mode.
Otherwise, the generator will operate at a fixed frequency
set by the Start Frequency box.
Repeat Signal. Tick this box to generate a repetitive
sweep. Otherwise, the generator will reach Stop Frequency
and then remain there.
Dual Slope. In normal mode, the generator will increase
the frequency linearly from Start Frequency to Stop
Frequency, and then immediately begin again at Start
Frequency. In Dual Slope mode, it will reach Stop
Frequency and then decrease the frequency linearly to
Start Frequency before beginning again.
Stop Frequency. In Sweep Mode, the generator will stop
increasing the frequency when it reaches Stop Frequency.
Frequency Increment. In Sweep Mode, the generator will
increase or decrease the frequency by this amount every
Increment Time Interval.
Increment Time Interval. In Sweep Mode, the generator
will increase or decrease the frequency by Frequency
Increment once every time interval of this duration.
Where to find it
54
Click the
menu button on the Signal Generator toolbar
.
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Toolbars
56
7.9
Start / Stop toolbar
68
68
(the scope device whose scope view is currently in focus
). The Start button is
highlighted if the selected scope device is sampling; otherwise, the Stop button is
highlighted.
Start button. Start sampling on the selected scope device.
Stop button. Click to stop sampling on the selected scope device. Shift-click
to stop sampling only in the active capture window.
You can also use the space bar to start and stop sampling.
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7.10
Triggering toolbar
The Triggering toolbar tells the scope device in the selected capture window when to
start capturing data.
Trigger Mode.
None: PicoScope acquires waveforms repeatedly without waiting for
specific events.
Auto: PicoScope tries to wait for a trigger event before displaying
data. If there is no trigger event within a specified time, it displays
data anyway. It repeats this process until you click the Stop button
56
. "Auto" mode does not set up the trigger level automatically; you
still need to do this yourself.
Repeat: PicoScope waits for a trigger event before displaying data;
but if there is no trigger event, it displays nothing. It repeats this
56
process until you click the Stop button
.
Single: PicoScope waits once for a trigger event, then stops
sampling. To repeat a single trigger, click the Start button
56
.
Trigger Source. This is the channel that PicoScope monitors for
68
the trigger
condition.
Rising Edge. Click to trigger on the rising edge of the waveform.
Falling Edge. Click to trigger on the falling edge of the waveform.
68
level. You can also set the trigger
16
level by dragging the trigger marker
up or down on the screen.
Pre-trigger Time (0% to 100%). This parameter controls how
much of the waveform appears before the trigger point. It defaults
16
to 50%, which puts the trigger marker
is in the middle of the
screen. You can also control this parameter by dragging the trigger
16
to the left or right.
Post-trigger Delay. Click this button to toggle the Post-trigger
Delay control (see next item).
Post-trigger Delay. The post-trigger delay is the time that
PicoScope waits after the trigger point before sampling. You can also
16
modify this parameter by dragging the trigger marker
while the
Post-trigger Delay button is enabled. As you drag the marker,
13
you will see the post-trigger arrow
displayed briefly. For this
control to have an effect, you must first make sure that the Post-
trigger Delay button is enabled.
Technical Note
65
See the reference topic "Trigger Timing
" for information on how the Pre-trigger
Time and Post-trigger Delay controls interact.
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Toolbars
58
7.11
Zooming and Scrolling toolbar
14
.
There is a keyboard shortcut for each button.
Normal Selection tool (Ctrl+S or Escape). This button turns the pointer
68
into a standard arrow that you can use to click buttons, drag rulers
operate any other controls that appear in the PicoScope window.
and
Hand tool (panning) (Ctrl+D). This button turns the pointer into a hand
14
tool that you can use to click and drag the scope view
to pan it
vertically and horizontally when you are zoomed in. You can also pan
using the scroll bars. Press the Escape key to return to the Normal
Selection tool.
Zoom In tool (Ctrl+I). This button turns the pointer into a zoom-in tool.
14
Click the tool on the scope view
to double the magnification of the
horizontal and vertical axes. Scroll bars will appear, which you can drag to
pan around the view, or you can pan by using the Hand tool (see above).
Press the Escape key to return to the Normal Selection tool.
Zoom Out tool (Ctrl+O). This button turns the pointer into a zoom-out
14
tool. Click the tool on the scope view
to zoom out both horizontally and
vertically by a factor of two. You cannot zoom out beyond 100% (normal
size). Press the Escape key to return to the Normal Selection tool.
Marquee Zoom tool (Ctrl+M). This button turns the pointer into a
marquee zoom tool. Use it to draw a box called a marquee on the scope
14
and PicoScope will magnify that box to fill the view. Scroll bars
will appear, which you can drag to pan around in the view, or you can pan
by using the Hand tool (see above). Press the Escape key to return to
the Normal Selection tool.
14
to normal size. The view will no
longer have scroll bars, and panning will no longer be possible.
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59
7.12
Demo Signals toolbar
The Demo Signals toolbar allows you to set up test signals, so that you can
experiment with PicoScope when no scope device is connected. To use this feature,
close PicoScope, unplug all scope devices and then restart PicoScope. The program
46
will prompt you to select a Demo device using the Open Device dialog
.
The toolbar contains the following buttons.
When you click this button, you will see a drop-down list of all the
available channels. Click one of the channels to open the Demo
59
, which will allow you to set up that channel.
7.12.1
Demo Signals dialog
This dialog controls one channel of the demo signal generator, a feature of PicoScope
that creates a variety of test signals to simulate a scope device. Open it by clicking
59
and then selecting a
channel. It is available only when you start PicoScope without having a scope device
68
connected to your computer, and then select a scope device type of "Demo" in the
46
.
Signal On: Tick this box to enable the demo signal generator.
Frequency: Type your desired frequency in hertz here, or use the spin
buttons.
Amplitude: Type your desired amplitude in millivolts here, or use the
spin buttons.
Offset: Enter a number here to add a d.c. offset to the demo signal. By
default, the demo signals have a mean value of zero volts.
Where to find it
59
previously selected a "Demo" scope device
. You must have
68
46
type in the Open Device dialog
.
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61
8.1
How to change to a different scope device
Close PicoScope
Unplug the old scope device
68
Plug in the new scope device
Restart PicoScope
PicoScope will detect that the scope device has changed and will immediately start
using the new scope device. If there is more than one scope device connected, the
46
will appear to let you choose a scope.
8.2
How to use rulers to measure a signal
Using a single ruler for signal-to-ground measurements
47
68
Look at the Channels toolbar
to measure:
to find the colour code for the channel
you wish
Find the ruler handle (the small coloured square in the top-left or top-right corner
14
17
Drag the ruler handle downwards. A signal ruler
(horizontal broken line) will
appear across the scope view. Release the ruler handle when the ruler is where
you want it.
13
Look at the ruler legend
(the small table that appears on the scope view). It
should have a row marked by a small coloured square matching the colour of your
ruler handle. The first column shows the signal level of the ruler.
Using two rulers for differential measurements
Follow the steps above for "using a single ruler".
Drag the second ruler handle of the same colour downwards until its ruler is at the
signal level to be measured.
13
Look at the ruler legend
again. The second column now shows the signal level of
the second ruler, and the third column shows the difference between the two rulers.
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How to...
62
8.3
How to measure a time difference
Find the time ruler handle (the small white square in the bottom left corner of the
14
Drag the ruler handle to the right. A time ruler
15
(vertical broken line) will appear
on the scope view. Release the ruler handle when the ruler is at the time you wish
to use as the reference.
Drag the second white ruler handle to the right until its ruler is at the time to be
measured.
Look at the ruler legend
13
(the small table that appears on the scope view). It
should have a row marked by a small white square. The first two columns show the
times of the two rulers, and the third column shows the time difference.
10
The frequency legend
shows 1/D, where D is the time difference.
You can use the same method to measure a frequency difference on a spectrum view,
if this is available.
8.4
How to move a view
18
68
9
You can easily drag a view
from one viewport
to another in a capture window
.
This example shows a capture window with four viewports. The viewports contain
scope views called "Scope 1" to "Scope 4". Suppose you wish to move the "Scope 4"
view to the top left viewport.
1. Click on the name tab of the "Scope 4" view and
hold the mouse button down.
2. Drag the mouse pointer to the new location next
to the name tab of the "Scope 1" view.
3. Release the mouse button, and the view will
move to the new location.
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63
9
Reference
This is where you can find detailed information on the workings of PicoScope.
63
65
67
68
9.1
Measurement types
26
allows you to select one of a range of measurements
that PicoScope can calculate for the selected waveform. Here is a list of the available
measurements:
AC Volts:
The root mean square (RMS) value of the AC component of the
waveform. This measurement subtracts any DC offset from the
waveform. It is equivalent to a ripple measurement.
Burn Time:
For a secondary ignition waveform, the duration of the spark.
Burn Voltage:
For a secondary ignition waveform, the voltage across the spark
gap during the burn time.
Crank RPM:
The turning rate of the crankshaft, as measured by the
crankshaft sensor. Expressed in revolutions per minute.
:
Cycle Time
PicoScope will attempt to find a repeated pattern in the
waveform and measure the duration of one cycle.
:
DC Volts
The mean value of the waveform.
:
Duty Cycle
The amount of time that a signal spends above its mean value,
expressed as a percentage of the signal period. A duty cycle of
50% means that the high time is equal to the low time.
:
Dwell Angle
In a primary ignition waveform, dwell time converted to an
angle, using the formula:
dwell angle = (dwell time * crankshaft RPM / 60) * 360 degrees.
Dwell Time:
Fall Time:
In a primary ignition waveform, the time during which battery
current flows in the ignition coil, as the magnetic field builds up
in its winding.
The time the signal takes to fall from 80% to 20% of its peak
values.
Falling Rate:
The rate at which the signal voltage falls, in signal units per
second. Measured between 80% and 20% of its peak-to-peak
value.
:
Frequency
The number of cycles of the waveform per second.
High Pulse Width: The amount of time that the signal spends above its mean
value.
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Reference
64
Injector Duration: The duration of the fuel injector pulse, as battery current flows
through the injector coil.
Low Pulse Width: The amount of time that the signal spends below its mean
value.
Maximum:
Minimum:
The highest level reached by the signal.
The lowest level reached by the signal.
Peak Burn Voltage: For a secondary ignition waveform, the voltage of the initial
peak as the spark begins.
Peak To Peak:
Rise Time:
The difference between maximum and minimum.
The time the signal takes to rise from 20% to 80% of its peak-
to-peak value.
Rising Rate:
The rate at which the signal rises, in signal units per second.
Measured between 20% and 80% of its peak-to-peak value.
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
65
9.2
Trigger timing (part 1)
The pre-trigger time control and post-trigger delay control functions are
57
described individually under "Triggering toolbar
", but the interaction between the
two controls is also important to understand. Here is a screen shot of a capture
9
with post-trigger delay enabled:
First, notice that the trigger reference point ( ) does not lie on the waveform. This is
because the post-trigger delay is set to 3.3 ms, which means that the trigger occurred
3.3 ms before the reference point, somewhere off the left-hand edge of the scope
14
The time axis is aligned so that the trigger reference point is at 3.3 ms.
Second, the pre-trigger delay is set to 30%, which forces the trigger reference point to
appear 30% of the way across the scope view, measured from the left-hand edge.
Third, PicoScope often limits the trigger-to-reference-point delay to the total capture
time. Once you have reached this limit, the program will not let you increase the pre-
trigger delay, and if you increase the post-trigger delay, PicoScope will reduce the pre-
trigger delay to stop the total exceeding the limit.
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Reference
66
9.3
Trigger timing (part 2)
65
57
" introduced the concepts of pre-trigger delay
and the
57
. This diagram below shows how they are related.
9
in relation to the trigger
reference point so that you can choose how much of the waveform should be before
the reference point, and how much after it.
The post-trigger delay is like the delayed trigger of a conventional oscilloscope.
PicoScope waits for this time, minus the pre-trigger delay, before capturing data.
scope devices have a limit to the number of sampling intervals that can pass between
the trigger event and the end of the capture window, so the software may adjust the
pre-trigger delay to keep within this limit.
Tip
If you have set up a post-trigger delay, you can click the post-trigger delay button
while the scope is running whenever you want to switch between viewing the trigger
event and the trigger reference point.
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
67
9.4
Keyboard shortcuts
You can activate all of PicoScope's functions using the menu system, but some
functions also have keyboard shortcuts. These can save time on tasks that you
repeat often.
Ctrl-C
Copy the current view to the Windows clipboard. You can then switch to
another application and paste the contents of the clipboard as a picture.
The method for doing this varies, but many applications use the Ctrl-V
key or a "Paste" button.
Ctrl-D
Ctrl-I
Ctrl-M
Hand tool. Use to pan the waveform when zoomed in. Equivalent to the
"Hand tool" button on the Zooming and Scrolling toolbar.
58
Zoom-in tool. Click on the waveform to zoom in. Equivalent to the "Zoom-
58
in tool" button on the Zooming and Scrolling toolbar.
Marquee zoom tool. Click on the waveform and drag to draw a box (a
marquee), and PicoScope will zoom in to make the box fill the view.
Equivalent to the "Marquee zoom tool" button on the Zooming and
58
Ctrl-O
Zoom-out tool. Click on the waveform to zoom out. Equivalent to the
"Zoom-out tool" button on the Zooming and Scrolling toolbar.
58
Ctrl-S or
Escape
Cancels a zoom or pan mode and restores the pointer to a standard
selection tool. Equivalent to the "Normal selection tool" button on the
58
Ctrl-U
Zoom to 100% scale. Restores a view to its normal state. Equivalent to
the "Zoom to 100% scale" button on the Zooming and Scrolling toolbar.
58
Space bar Starts and stops the active capture window.
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Reference
68
9.5
Glossary
AC coupling. In this mode, the scope device very low signal frequencies below a few
hertz. This allows you to use the full resolution of the scope to measure a.c. signals
accurately, ignoring any d.c. offset. You cannot measure the signal level with respect
to ground in this mode.
.
Channel A scope device has one or more channels, each of which can sample one
signal. High-speed scope devices typically have one BNC connector per channel.
DC coupling. In this mode, the scope device measures the signal level relative to
signal ground. This shows maximum information about the signal, including d.c. and
a.c. components.
Graticule. The pattern of broken grey lines in every scope view window. These help
you estimate the amplitude and time of features on the waveform.
68
in a capture window. The number of grid rows
and the number of grid columns can each be either 1, 2, 3 or 4.
In focus. PicoScope can display several capture windows, but one window is drawn in
stronger colours than the others. This is the window that is in focus. When you click a
toolbar button, it will usually affect only the window that is in focus. To bring a
window into focus, click on it.
.
Oversampling Collecting samples at a faster rate than requested, then combining
the excess samples by averaging. This technique can increase the effective resolution
of a scope device when there is a small amount of noise on the signal.
Probe. An accessory that attaches to your oscilloscope and picks up a signal to be
measured. A probe can pick up any form of signal, but it always delivers a voltage
signal to the oscilloscope. PicoScope knows about standard probes, but also allows you
to define custom probes.
Roll mode. Normally, PicoScope redraws the waveform in a scope view many times
every second. At timebases slower than 200 ms/div, however, it switches to roll mode.
This causes the waveform to move continuously from right to left, with old data
disappearing off the left-hand side and new data being added on the right-hand side.
This mode is more convenient for viewing slowly changing data.
.
Ruler A vertical or horizontal dashed line that can be dragged into place on a
waveform in a Scope View. PicoScope displays the signal level, time value or
frequency value of all rulers in a Ruler Legend box.
.
Scope device A box of electronics that, with the help of the PicoScope software, turns
your computer into a PC Oscilloscope.
Tooltip. A label that appears when you move the mouse pointer over some parts of
the PicoScope screen, such as buttons, controls and rulers.
.
Trigger A device that detects when the waveform rises or falls past a preset signal
level. When this event occurs, the program may begin to acquire data.
.
View A presentation of data from a particular scope device. Each scope device may
have zero, one or more views, all of which are displayed inside the capture window for
that scope device. The only type of view currently available is the scope view.
Viewport. A rectangular space in a capture window that can contain one or more
views, or can be empty.
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
Cursor position tool tip 14
Custom Probe wizard 28
Create New Custom Probe dialog 29
Edit Existing Custom Probe dialog 30
Edit Range dialog 36
Index
.
Finished dialog 39
Lookup-table Scaling dialog 33
Manual Ranges Setup dialog 35
Probe ID dialog 38
.bmp files, saving 21
.csv files, saving 21
.gif files, saving 21
.png files, saving 21
.psdata files, saving 21
.pssettings files, saving 21
.txt files, saving 21
Probe Output Units dialog 31
Range Management dialog 34
Scaling Method dialog 32
Custom probes 10, 27
Custom Probes dialog 27
Customization dialog 48
Commands page 50
A
Options page 51
AC mains power 41
Toolbars page 49
AC volts measurement 63
Cycle time measurement 63
Access
4
Add Measurement dialog 26
Adding a measurement 11, 25, 26
D
Address
Axis
5
DC volts measurement 63
Deleting a measurement 11, 25
Demo mode 46, 59
Demo Signals dialog 59
Demo Signals toolbar 59
horizontal 14
vertical 14
Display elements
7
B
Duty cycle measurement 63
Dwell angle measurement 63
Dwell time measurement 63
Battery power 41
Buffer Navigation toolbar 45
Burn time measurement 63
Burn voltage measurement 63
E
Edit Existing Custom Probe dialog 30
Edit menu 23
C
Capture rate 41
Edit Range dialog 36
Capture window 9, 45
Capture Windows toolbar 45
Channel Setup toolbar 47
Clipboard 23
Editing a measurement 11, 25
Email addresses
Escape key 67
Exit 20
5
Close file 20
Column auto-width 25
F
Contact information
5
Converter, how to change 61
Copy as image 23
Copy as text 23
Fall time measurement 63
Falling edge button 57
Falling rate measurement 63
Fax number
File menu 20
Fitness for purpose
Frequency legend 10, 15
Copyright
4
5
Crank RPM measurement 63
Create New Custom Probe dialog 29
Create New Scope Window 20
4
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Index
70
Frequency measurement 63
Merge 20
Minimum measurement 63
Mission-critical applications
4
G
General dialog 40
Glossary 68
N
Graticule 9, 14
New features
2
Normal Selection tool 58
Notes area 23
H
Hand tool 58
Help menu 24
O
Help toolbar 52
Open Device dialog 46
High pulse width measurement 63
Horizontal axis 14
Open file 20
Oscilloscope
Oscilloscopes
7
7
Oversampling 12, 53
I
Image, saving as 21
Injector duration measurement 63
P
Introduction
3
PC Oscilloscope
8
PCO
8
Peak burn voltage measurement 63
Peak to peak measurement 63
Performance dialog 41
K
Keyboard shortcuts 67
PicoScope
how to use 3, 6, 7
version
version 6.0
8
1
L
2
Legal statement
Liability
4
Post-trigger delay 65
arrow 13
4
Lookup-Table Scaling dialog 33
Low pulse width measurement 63
control 57, 65
Preferences 27
dialog 40
Pre-trigger delay 65
control 57, 65
Print 20
Print preview 20
Probe ID dialog 38
Probe Manager 27
Probe Output Units dialog 31
Probes
M
Mains power 41
Manual Ranges Setup dialog 35
Marquee Zoom tool 58
Maximum measurement 63
Measurements
adding 11, 26
deleting 11
custom 10
editing 11
font size 25
list of types 63
menu 25
table 11
toolbar 52
R
Range Management dialog 34
Reference manual 24
Reset 'Don't show this again' dialogs 40
Resolution 12
Menus 19
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PicoScope 6 User Guide
timing 65
toolbar 57
Rise time measurement 63
Rising edge button 57
Rising rate measurement 63
Ruler legend 13
Rulers
U
handles 14
time 14
voltage 14
Upgrades
4
Usage
4
V
Version
Version 6.0 update
Vertical axis 14
Viewports 18
Views 18
S
1
Sales email address
Save As 20
5
2
dialog 21
Save file 20
Scaling Method dialog 32
Scope Setup toolbar 53
Scope view 14
Selection tool, normal 58
Signal difference, how to measure 61
Signal Generator
how to move 62
scope views 14
Viruses
4
W
Waveform 7, 14
dialog 54
toolbar 54
What's new
2
Signal rulers 14, 17
What's This? help 24
Window menu 43
Windows 18
Software version
Space bar 56, 67
Spreadsheet, exporting to 21
Start/Stop toolbar 56
1
Support
System requirements
4
Z
5
Zooming and Scrolling toolbar 58
T
Technical support email address
Telephone number
Text, exporting as 21
5
5
Time difference, how to measure 62
Time rulers 14, 15
Timebase controls 53
Toolbar menu 27
Toolbars 44
customizing 44, 49
menu 42
reopening 44
Tools menu 27
Trace
7
Trademarks
Trigger
4
marker 16
mode control 57
reference point 65
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Pico Technology Ltd
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Cambridge Street
St Neots PE19 1QB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1480 396 395
Fax: +44 (0) 1480 396 296
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