Pico expands USB scope approach to multifunction T&M, in handheld format

New Products | April 25, 2016

By Field Editor

Test and Measurement

PicoScope two-channel, four-channel and mixed-signal models have the functionality of an oscilloscope plus a logic analyzer (on MSO models), spectrum analyzer, function generator, arbitrary waveform generator, and serial bus analyzer with support for 15 protocols* included as standard. They are USB-powered and come in an portable package that can be easily transported in a laptop bag.

PicoScope 2000A 2- and 4-channel models are aimed at technicians, trainers, students, and hobbyists doing fault-finding on signals up to 25 MHz. The 2205A MSO (mixed-signal oscilloscope) has two analogue plus 16 digital channels for viewing and making measurements on digital or mixed technology designs.

PicoScope 2000B Series models are equipped with deep buffer memory from 32 to 128 M samples, and bandwidths of 50, 70 or 100 MHz supported with sampling speeds to 1 Gsample/sec, and hardware acceleration, to deliver over 80,000 waveforms per second update rates. Like the “A” models they are available in 2- and 4-channel models, plus 2+16 channel MSO versions. The “B” series models are packaged in the same size portable enclosure as the “A” Series, suiting them for use in the lab or on the move, or for fast low-cost shipment to wherever they are needed.

The 2000 Series models connect to a host PC or tablet, and are powered via the USB interface. They are controlled and operated with PicoScope 6 software that takes advantage of available PC processing power, display, touchscreen and traditional control capabilities. Advanced features such as segmented memory, mask limit testing, advanced waveform math and decoders for popular serial buses are included as standard.

[click to expand]

“Many of our customers are users of traditional benchtop oscilloscopes who tell us it was cheaper to buy a new PicoScope than to enable an optional feature, such as serial decoding, on their old oscilloscope.” said Trevor Smith, Business Development Manager for Test & Measurement products at Pico. “They buy a PicoScope for one specific task but it quickly becomes their main oscilloscope and the benchtop one gathers dust!”

“With the 2000A and B Series we’ve delivered an all-inclusive instrument with capabilities normally found in high-end benchtop instruments, yet they fit in the palm of your hand. Engineers and consultants can have a 2000 Series PicoScope as their personal waveform laboratory and take it with them anywhere that it’s needed.”

PicoScope 6 software, included with the 2000 Series scopes, has also been updated, with support for touchscreen PCs and tablets, and colour-keyed serial bus decoding that highlights individual field types in a message frame with different colours for easy interpretation. New releases of the software, that further enhance performance and functionality of PicoScope products, are posted regularly on picotech.com and are available to download free of charge for the lifetime of the product. In addition to Windows, there are Linux and Mac OS X versions of the software.

The PicoScope Software Development Kit (SDK) enables engineers to write custom applications for the 2000 Series, for OEM applications such as power system and machine health monitoring, high-energy physics, and medical electronics applications.

Pricing ranges from $129 to $1235, depending on specification and features.

Serial protocol decoders included:

1-Wire

ARINC 429

CAN

DCC

DMX512

Ethernet 10Base-T

FlexRay

I²C

I²S

LIN