Pico Technology

Here is your monthly Test and Measurement update from Pico Technology.

1.  Tech Tip: USB 1.1 Versus USB 2.0

You have probably noticed that PC-based instruments are moving away from serial COM ports and parallel printer ports and are now mostly being offered with USB (Universal Serial Bus) ports. USB has many advantages over these earlier interfaces, including automatic setup in Windows operating systems, faster performance, and smaller and cheaper hardware.

USB is so easy to use that you don’t usually need to think about how it works. However, you might be confused by the two versions of USB that are sometimes advertised: USB 1.1 and USB 2.0. From a user’s point of view, the only difference between the two is speed. USB 1.1 supports only Low Speed and Full Speed modes, and is suited to slow devices like mice, keyboards and PC Data Loggers. USB 2.0 usually supports “Hi-Speed” mode, which varies in speed but is typically 20 times faster than USB 1.1. This makes it the best choice for fast devices, including PC Oscilloscopes.

Here is what happens when you connect a USB device to your computer’s USB port:

• USB 2.0 port + USB 2.0 device: device works normally
• USB 2.0 port + USB 1.1 device: device works normally
• USB 1.1 port + USB 2.0 device: device performance is reduced
• USB 1.1 port + USB 1.1 device: device works normally

2.  PicoScope 2104 and 2105 Reach the EE Times ACE Award Finals

Our two handheld USB PC Oscilloscopes, as well as being among our top-selling products, have now been chosen by EE Times readers and editors to compete for the title of 'Ultimate Products of the Year' in the 2007 EE Times ACE award finals. ACE stands for Annual Creativity in Electronics, which we think is a fair description of the PicoScope 2104 and 2105. We applied our 15 years of experience in test and measurement design to the needs of today’s engineers, and came up with scopes that fit comfortably in the hand, are easy to use, and still deliver excellent performance for use by hobbyists and technicians. They may be small, but they have full-sized specifications including (for the 2105):

• 25 MHz bandwidth
• 100 megasamples per second
• 24 k record length

Most of our competitors in this award are conventional bench-top instruments which may work well, but are they as creative as our products? The judges will decide on April 3, 2007.

Find out more about the PicoScope 2104 and 2105

3.  PicoScope 5000 Series News

The new PicoScope 5000 Series scopes will be on show at MTEC, the sensors, measurement & instrumentation exhibition, at the NEC in Birmingham, UK this month. See the 'Exhibitions' section below for details and dates.

The PicoScope 5204 has the world’s fastest sampling rate for a USB PC Oscilloscope: 1 gigasample per second. We haven’t compromised on the other specifications either, giving the scope a huge 128 MB memory and a 250 MHz probe-tip bandwidth.

Find out more about the PicoScope 5203 and 5204

4.  Automotive News

New ‘Real-Life Diagnostics’ article

Our latest vehicle diagnostics case study is entitled ‘Diagnosing Poor Interior Temperature Control’. Nick Hibberd explains how he tracked down a fault in a climate control system that would occasionally get stuck at the wrong temperature. Along the way, Nick gives plenty of general tips on vehicle diagnostics using a PicoScope automotive oscilloscope, and shows how a few minutes spent with a scope can replace lots of unnecessary part-swapping and guesswork.

View this and other automotive tutorials

‘Engine Management Diagnostics using PicoScope’ training course

Preston College, Preston, UK
13 - 14 February 2007

The ‘Engine Management Diagnostics using PicoScope’ training course is run on behalf of Pico Technology by Bill Phillips of V-Tech Training, assisted by Pico staff. Bill has spent most of his career in the automotive sector and is highly regarded within the industry for his knowledge and expertise.

The two-day course covers the basic working principles of Engine Management systems, testing components, and system diagnostics using oscilloscopes. The focus will be on using PicoScope to evaluate engine systems and their components including sensors and actuators such as injectors, lambda sensors and ignition components. The course is split between theory and practical demonstrations in a workshop using the Pico Automotive Diagnostics Kit.

Find out more about our automotive training courses

MechanEx Mechanics’ trade show

Coventry Ricoh Arena, UK
21 - 22 February 2007
Stand 25

MechanEx 2007 is a hands-on event featuring the very best in tools, diagnostics and the latest products from most major manufacturers. Designed for independent motor trade professionals, the event is brought to you by Professional Motor Mechanic and endorsed by IMI, The Institute of the Motor Industry.

Visit the Pico stand to try out our multi-award-winning Automotive Diagnostics Kit, which is widely used by automotive dealers and garages, and to put your automotive questions to our experts. You can also check out our wide range of diagnostic accessories including the Coil-on-plug Ignition Probe, the Mixmaster 12-Channel Ignition Signal Mixer, the FirstLook pressure sensor, and the Universal 6-Way Breakout Leads (elected to the MOTOR magazine Top 20 Tools 2006 list).

If you buy an Automotive Kit at the show, you can choose either a FREE place on the 'Engine Management Diagnostics using PicoScope' training course described above, or a 10% discount on the price of your kit.

See the FirstLook sensor in action

The FirstLook engine diagnostic sensor is a valuable add-on to your Pico Automotive Diagnostics Kit. By showing the pressure variations in the inlet manifold, fuel pressure regulator or exhaust tailpipe, it lets you track down misfires that purely electrical diagnostic tools can’t detect.

A new application note from the manufacturers of the sensor, SenX, shows how one technician, Wilf Breyfogle, successfully used it to diagnose a worn cam and lifter in a Safari Van. It is a dramatic demonstration of the unique sensitivity of the FirstLook sensor on the vacuum side of the engine.

According to Wilf, “This mystery could not be solved without the FirstLook Sensor hooked up to a Pico Scope and the training and support from Tom Roberts (Autonerdz)”

• Find out more about the FirstLook sensor

5.  Exhibitions this Month

See also: automotive events under 'Automotive News' above

MTEC Sensors, Measurement & Instrumentation Exhibition

NEC, Birmingham, UK
14 - 15 February 2007
Stand B50 Hall 11

The sensor, measurement and instrumentation industry thrives on technological innovation and is developing very rapidly, so it is vital for users to keep up with the latest product developments. MTEC 2007 makes this possible as the only UK show dedicated to sensors, measurement and instrumentation.

Visit the Pico stand to talk to our technical experts, and to learn about our Data Logging products such as the USB TC-08 Thermocouple Data Logger, the HumidiProbe USB Temperature and Humidity probe and the ADC-20 and ADC-24 High-Resolution USB PC Data Loggers. We will also be demonstrating our new top-of-the-range PC Oscilloscope, the PicoScope 5204, with 1 GS/s sampling rate, 250 MHz probe-tip bandwidth and up to 128 MB memory.

Visitors to our stand will be able to pick up a PicoScope 2105 handheld PC Oscilloscope (as mentioned above, now an EE Times 2007 ACE Award finalist) at 15% below the list price.

Find out more about MTEC 2007

6.  Forthcoming Exhibitions and Training Dates

Full details of upcoming exhibitions and training dates can be found on the exhibitions page.

7.  Employment Opportunities

Due to our continuing growth, we have vacancies for the following positions:

• Development Engineer - Device Driver Software
• Development Engineer - Hardware
• Marketing Coordinators (two vacancies)
• New Product Introduction Engineer
• Development Engineer - Windows Desktop Application Software
• Technical Support Engineer

8.  Latest Software Releases

As soon as we release new software, it is made available for FREE download from our website. To check which version you are using, start the software (PicoScope, PicoLog or EnviroMon) and select HELP | ABOUT.

The current releases are:

• PicoScope R5.15.6
• PicoScope Automotive R5.15.4
• PicoScope Automotive R6.0.1 (beta)
• PicoLog R5.15.6
• EnviroMon R5.15.7

To download the latest software please visit the software downloads page

(Note: the above web page also contains a link to our ‘release notes’ page which describes recent changes and additions to the software.)

9.  Back Issues of this Newsletter

Back issues of this newsletter are available online at http://www.picotech.com/newsletter/

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